HUGE news!

Last Saturday I got a call from my friend Chelsea. Chelsea was on my team in 2007 when we traveled to Africa with AIM and she went back with me this past June. She recently came on board as staff for Roots of Hope and also has a heart for Swaziland. She attends Nyack College in New York and was calling to let me know that the Dean of Students had yet to choose a cause to represent for Homecoming week. Chelsea is involved with student activities and was instructed to make a list of causes for the Dean to choose from.

On the list of well known organizations and campus causes, she put our name knowing that the likelihood of Roots of Hope being chosen was slim but creating an opportunity to for us that would be big. I waited anxiously to hear back from her. Saturday came and went, Sunday, Monday, finally on Tuesday after class I texted her, "Im guessing we didn't get it." From there she told me they still hadn't picked a cause yet and that we were being considered. Immediately my heart jumped. "What! We're being considered amont the competition? This isn't real!"

Not wanted to get my hopes up I tried to remain calm. As I was heading out the door for work a couple hours later I got an update. The logical decision for the Dean of students would have been to raise money for a campus cause, but he didn't go that direction. He replied by saying he wanted to represent Swaziland. There were two organizations in the running that did that: Roots of Hope and Children's Cup. So Chelsea went to her director and asked what to do next because the dean hadn't made a final choice. Her director said, "Which do you like?" leaving it up to Chelsea to decide what organization would be presented to the school! Roots of Hope it was! God wanted this for us! On paper, if you were to write pros and cons for each cause - we wouldn't have looked the best. God made the circumstances right for RHM to get picked. God was and is totally in this.

This Saturday, October 10, 2009, Roots of Hope Ministries will be the featured cause at Battle of the Bands drop-a-dime event. Throughout the day, Chelsea will have the opportunity to raise awareness on the platform to hundreds of alumni and students about who we are and what we do. We will also have a table with information, flyers, sign up sheets. Awareness is going to spread quckly!

Just a week ago I was asking God where He was in all of this. I knew He was the one that gave me a passion for Swaziland, He was the one that started Roots of Hope, He was the one who wanted the Prayer Sponsorship program but I wasn't seeing growth in all of it. Now, I'm blown away by the Lord's goodness. This opportunity is huge!

We've launched our Battle: 2050 campaign. Our battle plan to help Swaziland recover. Check out the updated website at www.rootsohopeministries.com.

Please pray for Chelsea tomorrow at the event - That our mission would come across clearly and that it will resignate in the hearts of the Nyack students and alumni.