birthday gift surprise

Everyone loves a good surprise.  And most of us love giving gifts.  Well this is about BOTH!

Remember my friend Nellie, the director of Haven of Hope in Nakuru, Kenya?  We sent her $1500 a couple weeks ago to pay for her rent, utilities, and food for her kids!

We are going to surprise our friend in Kenya on her birthday.  (Read more about my friend here!)  Her birthday is coming up on January 6th and every momma deserves a present on her special day.

I am worried she will see this post and it will ruin the surprise, but I am taking that risk.  She tells me she reads our blog every day, but I hope she skips today!  Felt like this was too good not to let you all be a part of the fun.

We are going to buy her some washing machines.  As many as we can afford.  She has the space and hook ups for a few.  Also sending a BIG birthday card from all of us!

Do you know this mama of 32 children under the age of 5 washes all her family's clothing and linens by hand with a bar of soap in a bucket?  She spent 7 hours one night last week catching up on the laundry while the kids slept so she'd have time to spend with them during the day when they were awake.  She said she was so tired the next day.

THIS IS NOT OK.  Something as simple as the body of Christ rising up and giving paired with a local Best Buy (which is really called Nakumatt in Kenya) can solve this problem.

You might be asking at this point, how do you know all that Shelley?  You are making that up about her not sleeping and doing laundry in a bucket.  Nope, I am not.  I have been blessed since returning from my trip to correspond with Nellie, my new friend, every day.  She encourages me.  I send her an e-mail about my day and get one about hers.  It has become one of the highlights of my day.  An email in the inbox from Nellie.

We can make this birthday special for Nellie.  We can give a gift that GIVES!

EVERY DOLLAR and PENNY COUNTS!

So, e-mail me if you would like to be a part of the gift giving.  Money and a birthday message from you are the only 2 requirements!

To get it all bought and delivered in time, we will be collecting money and messages through December 20th.