Open Arms for Asia

Our daughter Haylie dances with a group led by Sarah Grace McDaniel called "Reflections of Grace" and they performed a ballet version of "The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe" last Saturday at Cornerstone University. Ticket proceeds went to the ministry of 

Open Arms for Asia.  

The vision of Open Arms for Asia is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the community in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, India, thru the children of Open Arms for Asia’s orphanage. The children are nurtured physically, emotionally and spiritually in a family Christ-centered atmosphere.

Here are some pictures of the performance:

Lucy (Kaitlyn Kyte), Edmond (Rachel Goodrich), Susan (Sarah Grace McDaniel),

and Peter (Ruthann Goodrich)

Maugrim (our daughter Haylie) fighting with Peter

Aslan's Death Scene

Aslan's Death Scene

Whole Cast

Lucy--Kaitlyn Kyte

Mr. Tumnus--Emily Peerbolt

Peter Pevensie--Ruthann Goodrich

Susan Pevensie--Sarah Grace McDaniel

Edmund Pevensie--Rachel Goodrich

White Witch--Ellen Peters

Mrs. Beaver--Allison Oostdyk

Aslan--Elizabeth McDaniel

Maugrim--Haylie Pastoor

Narnians, trees & Other Creatures:

Jenissa VanAntwerp, Rachel Ermatinger,

Amanda Vasicek, Danica Elder,

Jane McLemore, Teresa Bellamy

& Abigail Rigg

 Breana Brendsel, who is a close friend of our daughter Liz, is actually in India at the orphanage right now doing her college internship and ministering there.  To read about her experiences, 

click on her blog link below:

http://www.breanabrendsel.blogspot.com/

This is a link to photos taken by another person that is currently over there on a mission trip:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jennaburns

Brooke Fraser

Background Info:      

New Zealand singer-songwriter Brooke Fraser is most well-known for her musical contributions to Australian based Hillsong UNITED, but recently she has been doing some beautiful solo work. Commissioned by the tragedies her eyes had taken in on a trip to Rwanda, she wove an album which is sure to affect change for generations to come. Brooke makes it clear she has discovered things and has something to say.

She traveled to Rwanda in 2005 before visiting her World Vision sponsor children in Tanzania (she is an advocate for child sponsorship). Brooke met Albertine, a young orphan girl and after being told of how she was rescued, she decided to dedicate the album to her and what the girl’s story stood for; being saved because of the love of another. She says, “Albertine is alive today because of the selfless, sacrificial love of another. Funny thing is, so am I [referring to Jesus]. And now I want to know what it’s like to love other people like that, so have decided to spend my whole life on the experiment.”

Brooke’s style is poetic and serene, it dives deep in discovery and isn’t afraid to be honest; this is an album will inspire you to live with a heart of justice, compassion, and humility. Her life over the past years has taken her down a path of experiences, which have led to a deeper maturity, and a compassion which can’t help but seep through her lyrics. Her voice is an advocate in an arena, where at times many have been silent. In the below lyrics from the song "Albertine", she makes the promise to tell the world of what she saw in Rwanda.

“I will tell the world, I will tell them where I’ve been
I well keep my word, I will tell them Albertine”

She followed through with her promise, in her songs she reminds us of our responsibility, to make a difference for our fellow man. We can only hope that with more singers like Brooke Fraser taking the stage, a domino effect of change is going to take place throughout the world.

Her summary? Faith without deeds is dead.

Amazing Family

Meet Jim and Laurel Diacogiannis (pronounced DEE-AK-EE-A-NIS).  They have 10 biological children (ages 7-24) and in March 2008 welcomed 3 precious children from Ghana (ages 7-12) into their family.

I "met" Laurel through our blogs and have come to admire and respect her very much.  Laurel is a freelance writer and an inspirational speaker, among other things. Laurel writes and speaks on many topics including parenting, homeschooling and "living your faith" topics such as prayer, miracles, joy and hope. This is Laurel's website for anyone interested in learning more about Laurel and/or having her come to speak at an event.

http://ajourneyoffaith.net

The children in the Diacogiannis family have done and are doing some pretty amazing things.  Here is a link if you would like to meet the individual members of the Diacogiannis family and also to see what they are up to.

http://ajourneyoffaith.net/meet_my_family

One of the reasons I am writing about the Diacogiannis family is because two of Jim and Laurel's children, who are serving the Lord overseas, are in desperate need of support.

Here is a little bit of information about Jeremiah and Carissa:

Jeremiah ... 22 years old ... politics, international relations, ministry ... these are the things that make Jeremiah tick.  Along with ministry and politics, Jeremiah loves sports and music.  He played league baseball for 17 years (also playing varsity football in high school).  In addition to taking 9 years of piano lessons, Jeremiah had lead roles in the high school musical productions (including Thernardier in Les Miserables). He studied Political Science at Liberty University, and was on their National Championship Debate Team. Jeremiah taught school for a year before deciding to travel down another path.  He is currently working with Global Hope International in Amman, Jordan, as they minister to Iraqi refugees.  He is also attending full-time Arabic Language School to increase his effectiveness to those in the Middle East.  He is currently in need of funds for rent, transportation, and food for the next 2 months, until he comes home for the summer (to raise more support). 

Carissa ... 20 years old ... compassion is definitely one of Carissa's spiritual gifts, she loves children, ministry and missions.  In addition to these things, Carissa enjoys running (she was a 300m hurdler in high school), and worship ministry (she is a vocalist and piano player). After participating in short-term mission trips to Costa Rica and Mexico, Carissa decided to attend a 6 month YWAM (Youth With a Mission) Discipleship Training School in Mendoza, Argentina.  After completing her DTS, the Lord called her to stay in Argentina on a long-term basis.  She is now enjoying her status as a full-time, volunteer, YWAM staff member in Mendoza and is currently serving for 2 more years. While she is working on the logistics of starting a new ministry at the Mendoza YWAM Base, an outreach for neighborhood children, she is leaving this week to travel across the country to Buenos Aires for 4 months to attend a YWAM School of Children's Ministry, in order to better prepare herself for the  ministry she will begin in Mendoza next fall.  She is currently in need of about $300 per month for support (which provides all food, lodging, and transportation).

If you feel led in any way to help either one of these two young adults as they are being the Lord's hands and feet, please follow any of the links I've included to get a hold of Laurel to find out how to donate.

Thank you so much for reading this!