Don't miss out!

A few reminders!  

#1 - DON'T miss out on the chance to win an awesome E-Book from Angela Braniff!  (fellow adoptive momma & photographer)  She's got some amazing tips, guide to technique and just altogether AWESOME book on how to take better pics!  See two posts back for that giveaway!  Deadline to enter is Monday!!!

OR... if you just wanna help them out... they NEED to sell 28 more E-Books to pay for the next part of their adoption fees!  Come on people... help her out!  We all know each of us have been helped out throughout our own adoptions!  At just $25 for a book... you can't beat that!

#2 - Our final court date is on Friday!  Can this really be!  Say a little prayer for us... we're so super duper excited!  :)

#3 - Last, but not least.... our Voices 4 the Voiceless t-shirts are still available!  We would LOVE to have your support with this amazing fundraiser!  The money from the t-shirts will go towards Project Congo!  With your help... we can give these children who are left fending for themselves on the streets of Kinshasa a safe place to sleep, food on the table and a way to go to school!  We're building an orphanage that can house 70 orphans!  That can make a HUGE difference in the lives of these children!  All of this with your help of a t-shirt for $20!  :) Will you be a VOICE?

Huge thank you for all of your prayers... support and even financial donations!  They're greatly appreciated!

Until then... Brantley

the BIG news!

Well, here I am on this Monday morning writing this post that I have been so anxiously awaiting to announce!  I cannot believe today is finally here.  I'm honestly speechless!  I don't know what to say.  God is marvelous and He is good.  He is so incredibly faithful and has the most beautiful ways of showing His presence!  I cannot begin to tell you how humbled I feel this morning!  Knowing that He has chosen me to take on something like this!  Why me?  I continue to ask myself that over and over again.  But He has and I pray I can be His hands and feet on this journey we're about to embark!

A little back story... and please read before continuing down the page.

It all began MONTHS ago.  My heart aching for MORE.  I have prayed for so long for purpose.  "Lord, what is your purpose for this life?"  It wasn't until the face of Teri Lynn came onto my screen that it all became clear to me.  I know you all know who I'm talking about - as she has been in so many of my posts lately.  I will never forget that precious face!  So much confusion came from that face!  Why her?  Why would this happen to children?  How can this be?  Who will reach out and save her?  Why not me?

The questions continued and and I was broken!  My heart was totally broken for this child!  Why NOT me I cried nightly?  God made it clear that we were not her parents.  I could not understand why!  Why on earth would you not have me to adopt this child if we were so willing?  Why not Lord?

Because He had other things in store!  In the broad picture... if only I could see just a little farther down the road... He had so much more!  He wanted me broken so that I could SEE the whole picture!  So that I could SEE where He has me.  After many months of prayer, seeking His will.... He has finally made it CLEAR!

The Lord introduced me to a special person just a few shorts months ago.  Her name is Angela Braniff and you probably remember reading about her here on this blog.  After a facebook encounter... we soon became friends in such a BIG way!  I now know that the Lord brought us together for a reason!  We would soon meet and realize our deep passions for orphans and our desires to make a difference in this world!  To be a VOICE for these children!  Teri Lynn did not have a voice... it was our job to be the voice for her!  If not us... then who???

And that my friends is where Voices 4 the Voiceless became born!  God placed these two people in my life for a reason!  He showed me this face, this human being, this life of this precious child of God - Teri Lynn.  She had a name, a heart... and someone must speak up for these children!  God used her life to touch me, to show me EXACTLY where He wanted me.  And now, together, Angela and myself have started this non-profit organization to do just that!  To be the VOICE for those ALL AROUND THE WORLD!  To stand up for them and tell the world their needs, to be His hands & feet, and to be advocate for the many orphans all over the world!

Lord... you are BIGGER than I am!  You are far more powerful and majestic than me... how on earth are we supposed to make a difference in this world?  So many doors closed as we sought the help from so many.  But every time a door closed, he opened another!  And boy oh boy... the doors he opened were  far greater than the ones that closed!  The last several weeks have been trying and at times, we have felt hopeless.  But God continued to tug and He continued to show us through some pretty powerful reminders that THROUGH Him... anything was possible!  We have met some pretty incredible people, and have partnered with some open hearts who so greatly desire to help!  Thank you Lord!  Thank you for your endless faithfulness!  You are mighty and WORTHY of praise!

Thank you for entrusting us on this incredible journey of a lifetime!

To read more about this journey He has called us on...

Website:  Voices 4 the Voiceless, Inc 

Blog: Voices 4 the Voiceless Blog

I want to personally thank you a few people for their generosity & help over the last several weeks to get our website, logo, etc set up!  You have no idea how grateful we are to each of you!

Erica Anne with The Summer House - For graciously committing to designing our logo for us.  You took this project on during a busy time, and did not charge us a cent.  For her time and talents as she worked so hard with us to come up with something so perfect & fitting!  Thank you for the bottom of our hearts!  We're so grateful to you and HIGHLY recommend your work!

To Jeremy Riddle and his wife, Nicole for graciously allowing us to use your music on our website!  We are touched by the words in your music and thank you for supporting us on this journey!

To Lauren Casper & Leigh Ladd for sharing your images with us to use on our website.  And also to Lauren for also creating our blog button.  You're a doll and we thank you!

And of course to everyone who have so anxiously awaited this news & despite not knowing anything (including my parents, yes, I know... I'm sorry!), supported and prayed for us daily!  Thank you simply just isn't enough!

If you'd like to donate towards one of our projects, you can do so via the PayPal button on our blog, or by sending donations to:

Voices 4 the Voiceless, Inc

P.O. Box 1149

Columbia, SC 29202

Also, we're going to be creating new projects as time goes along.  We will also be working on local projects through the US.  If you have any ideas, or something you'd like us to partner with you on... please send us an email and so we can consider it!  Thanks!

Lord, thank you for breaking my heart, for what breaks yours!  My daily prayer to do, to continue breaking my heart for the things that break yours!  

So, I leave you with this... Will you be a VOICE?

Until then... Brantley

My JOY

Everyday I seek to find joy in this life.  This world I live in is hard, filled with bitterness and a lack of compassion, filled with ungratefulness and even heartache.  But as I sit here this morning, while snuggled up in my warm house, on my couch, sipping coffee out of a clean coffee cup... I cannot help but ask why? Why am I sitting here in this comfortable living environment, while so many are sleeping in the streets, living in shacks and playing with sticks rather than toys bought from a store.  I sit and think about how incredibly blessed I am to have ALL that I have.  No often, its so easy to take all of that for granted.  Especially, during the holiday season when people are buying more, receiving more and doing more! 

I feel moved by Christmas and the true meaning of it.  Some days I wonder why on earth, we're receiving all of these nice gifts, with colorful wrapping paper.  Why are we not doing more for those who have nothing?  Better yet, why am I not doing more for others who have nothing?  I want so badly to make a difference in the lives of others, and bring a sense of JOY to the life of another.  This past year, especially this past month, I have struggled to define what JOY really means.  I know the real definition... but I struggle to find out what it really feels like.  I'm realizing that Joy is something beautiful, and in my opinion comes from the Maker of this crazy, yet beautiful world we live in.  I have never felt such an indescribable amount of joy, as I do when I seek after Him!  When I sit here, and really truly seek Him.  I get this joy that is so indescribable, that it brings me to tears.

So... this year, I pray that you will all join with me to make a difference during the holiday seasons.  Maybe instead of buying so many gifts and toys for your children, buy some extra and let you and your family make a new tradition.  You can teach your children what its like to give, unselfishly to those around who are much less fortunate than we are!  You can go to the homeless shelter, a soup kitchen or maybe even a Children's Hospital and take goodies to those who are suffering.  You can mail out cards and care packages to those over seas.  You can take dinner to a neighbor who you may know is suffering the loss of a loved one.  Or even sponsor a child.  Its unlimited.... the ways we can help others is not really a sacrifice to most of us.  So... join with me this year and help out someone in need!

Find out what that indescribable joy really feels like!  What are your ideas to help out this Thanksgiving and Christmas season?  Would love to hear feedback!