We Made It!!

We have arrived safely in Uganda! Please continue to follow us on: http://blogs.westmont.edu/athletics/category/womens-soccer/

Silent Auction Success!

Two weeks ago the Silent Auction was a success, much of that because of former player and Africa '06 coordinator, Jane Wyche, who graciously coordinated and put-on the event for us. Everything from Dodger tickets, to quilts, SeaWorld baskets, and purses were bought. There were so many great items, and almost everything sold.

It was also a sweet time for us current players to connect with past women's soccer players, alumni, Westmont supporters, and parents. Thank you to those who were able to come, spend time with us, and and support our trip.

A HUGE thank you to Jane who is the reason we are able to go on this trip. Jane, thank you for paving the way for us. Your heart for Africa and Westmont soccer is to be admired and we are so grateful for all that you have done for us.

{Pictured above left: our soccer team, plus Jane (middle), Dan Ribbins, and Jeremiah Kiely. Pictured above right: Bridgett Duffy, Nicole Yankey, Brooke Johnson}

Prayer: How we go.

Our team has been so blessed by the presence and support of Marty Love (Rox's dad) for the past 3 years. Not only has he been a faithful fan, but such a source of wisdom for us all. He challenged me the other day with this:

Now that the trip is here, it’s not what you do, or where you go, but how you go.

Please be praying that we go in humble boldness and with servant's hearts. That in every situation, we will represent Christ.

12 DAYS!!!!

Prayer: Thankfulness

As we approach the final deadline for the money, it's so amazing and encouraging to look back and see the generosity from our family, friends, peers, alumni, and organizations that have gotten us this far. God's providence has been so completely evident and I know we are all blown away by His faithfulness and blessings. We have been blessed.

We keep praying for the means to go on this sports-missions trip and for everyone to be able to go.

Prayer: Silent Auction

Please pray for the Silent Auction being held this Saturday, the 17th. Pray that people will come, items will be bought, donations will come in, and it will be a success. We pray and ask because He answers and gives, all according to His will.

Prayer: Opportunity...and thankfulness

Praise God, thank you Lord! Such an answer to prayer, everyone made the April 5th ($1900) due date! God is so good. Please pray for fundraising opportunities in this next month. Now that the $1900 deadline has passed, the total ($4000) deadline (May 1st) is quickly approaching! Pray that there will be opportunities for us to serve, help, make, and do anything to fundraise the rest of the money. Our God provides and it is SO evident!

Silent Auction Fundraiser!

What: Silent Auction

When: Saturday, April 17th

Time: 2-5 pm

Where: 710 East Cerritos Ave. Anaheim, CA 92805

RSVP: 714.345.4004 (Jane) or janewyche@gmail.com

We will be holding a Silent Auction to help raise money for Sports Outreach and our trip to Uganda. There will be a variety of great

items: sports/spa packages, gift baskets, electronic items, SeaWorld passes, purses, cabinetry, etc. There will be seating and refreshments, so please RSVP by April 7th. Please continuing praying. Please attend the silent auction. Please, if you have any donations, let us know. And as always, financial donations would be gladly appreciated. We hope to see you there!!!

If you have questions please call:

Jenna: 916.539.1110

Jane: 714.345.4004

Prayer: Thankfulness

With Easter this weekend, we have so much to be grateful for. Join us in thanking Jesus for conquering death, giving us salvation and hope, and for being such an example as to how we are to live here on earth. Let us not worry about details, finances, and paperwork, but rejoice that we believe in a God who is bigger than life and death and everything in between, including our trip to Uganda.

And we are so thankful for you. For your support, prayers, thoughts, and help. We pray God blesses you for your faithfulness to Him and us.

Prayer: Time

With a little more than one month left, please pray we will properly use this time to prepare for our trip. Pray that we will be committed to prayer, seek God, invest in each other, and fundraise with determination. Let us not worry about the little time left, but wholeheartedly commit these next 6 weeks to God.

Prayer: Financial

With less than two months to go, there are still many players who do not have the money to go on this missions trip. Please pray we will be diligent with our time and work towards this goal we have set and this trip that has been laid out before us. Pray against discouragement, as it is easy to come across with thousands of dollars still needed. Let us be joyful in this struggle and put complete faith in God, our provider.

Prayer: Willingness

Pray with us tonight. Pray that God will give us the willingness to touch the untouchable and suffer with those that are suffering. Like Jesus was moved with compassion for the leper, pray that we will be moved by the marginalized and outcast in Uganda and in whatever context we find ourselves . We have been given this opportunity, so pray we do not neglect in doing good and doing God's will.

2 months exactly until Africa. We are so grateful for your faithfulness in prayer. Please continue to lift us and this trip up, not only on Wednesday nights but daily. Thank you, thank you. And we pray God blesses you in return.

Prayer: Family

Join us Wednesday night at 9pm in the Prayer Chapel to prayer for Africa and our families!

We will focus on the impact of our trip on our parents, siblings, and those closest to us:

-spiritually

-financially

-emotionally

-physically

-and more...

In so many ways our parents and families are preparing for this trip just as much as we are and tonight our goal will be to shower them with prayers of strength, wisdom, blessings and thankfulness!

¹⁴For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being" -Ephesians 3:14-16

Prayer: Growth

Please join us in praying for spiritual growth. We pray the next two and half months will be a sweet time seeking the Lord in prayer, worship, thankfulness, and are committed to reading His word. Pray that we establish God as our firm foundation and become so deeply rooted in Jesus Christ, so that we may be a glimpse of Him to those we meet.

Prayer: Reliance

Pray that we will put full reliance in God. That we will have an unwavering faith that the Lord will provide as much and as little as He desires.

"But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on His unfailing love." -Psalm 33:18

Prayer: Praise and Thankfulness

We are humbly grateful for the opportunity we have been given to go to Africa. We pray we do it all in the name of the Lord. We praise Him in the midst of fundraising when it seems overwhelming, we praise Him for His presence among our team, and we praise Jesus for using us to be His hands and feet. We are so thankful and want to return all glory and praise back to Jesus.

Prayer: S.O.I. Men

For our trip we are partnering with Sport Outreach Institute, a ministry using sports as the vehicle to fulfill Christ's command to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. They currently have trained and committed leaders living in Uganda who will accompany us while we are there. Please pray for the protection, guidance, strength, and boldness for them now, while we are there, and after we leave. These are faithful men serving the Lord. Let's ask a blessing upon them.

Prayer

"The cultural captivity of the church has meant that the church is more likely to reflect the individualism of Western Philosophy than the value of community found in Scripture." -Soong-Chan Rah.

Tonight we will first and foremost, thank God, for the gracious action he has already taken in and through these prayer meetings. Then we will dive into the importance of ministering to Africa (and America, our team, our family, our friendships, etc) as a community that needs to be restored to God.

This will lead us into our next topic which will be pride. We will be praying that our pride can be fostered into desire and motivation, which God will use. How? Through humility and service. That again, must require us to look past the individual and into the community of believers/nonbelievers.

Tie-Dye T-Shirts

Another great idea coming out of the $10 microfinance fundraiser: TIE-DYE T-SHIRTS! These shirts have been carefully and creatively hand dyed by Nicole Yankey and Talia Sheets. Each shirt is unique and made with love. They are $8 and 100% directly supports Westmont Africa 2010. Place your orders at

muckandmuck@

yahoo.com.

Prayer: Those we come into contact with

Please pray for those men, women, children, refugees, prisoners, and many others with whom we will come into contact with during our time in Uganda. Pray God will begin working in us by softening our hearts for the broken.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God to comfort all who mourn." -Isaiah 61:1

Prayer: New Semester

Please pray for this new semester that is upon us. As we strive to be academically successful, pray that we will be diligent with our time. That over the course of these next 5 months, we will remain fervent in prayer, faithful to God's word, active in financial ventures, and steadfast women of God. We lay this semester and our trip at the foot of the cross, confident it is in the Lord's hands.

Headbands For Sale

For the microfinance fundraiser, Britney Scannell and I decided to create pretty things and sell them. These flower headbands, bobby pins, and hair-ties were all made for under $10! The fabric was bought from Art From Scrap, hair accessories from the Dollar Tree, creative ideas, hot glue, buttons, and lessons all donated by Ali Nelson-White.

We made regular headbands with flowers ($10, {see below}), elastic headbands with flowers ($10, {see below}), ponytail bands with flowers ($10), and bobby pins some with flowers and others with buttons ($5). 100% of the proceeds go directly to Westmont Africa 2010.

If you wish to buy one for yourself or give as a gift please email us at:

jennelson@westmont.edu or bscannell@westmont.edu

Microfinance Fundraiser Challenge

I recently heard Peter Greer from HOPE International speak about his work in lesser developed countries and about microfinance from his new book, The Poor Will Be Glad. Microfinance offers loans and savings, while "providing financial services to poor people so they can increase their income and decrease their vulnerability to unforeseen circumstances" (Greer 101). While using microfinance to help lift countries from poverty, Greer and HOPE are also using it as a way to fundraise here in the U.S. To help raise money for their non-profit organization, they created NeverEndingHope, a way to turn something small into something significant.

With that in mind and using money we have already raised, each player was given $10 and the challenge to multiply that money into the most possible. For example, someone can put on a karaoke night by buying a CD ($8), inviting 10 people, and charging each person $5 for attending...equalling $50. That $50 - $8 (CD) = $42 made from the initial $10!!

Pictured left, Jameisha Washington and Bailey Esquivel show their advertisements for the Christmas cookie grams they sold and delivered to Westmont students. Other girls tie-dyed T-shirts, created crafts, and put on bake sales as ways to earn more money.

So, thank you Peter Greer and HOPE Int. for the microfinance fundraiser idea. This has been our team challenge over Christmas break and we hope this encourages you to make something great out of very little and donate the proceeds to a worthy cause. Be sure to check back for updates on our microfinance endeavor and the $5 YogurtLand (team favorite) gift certificate winner for the player who raised the most!

Prayer: Direction

Please pray that God will open and close doors according to His will. It's our prayer that we go only where He has gone before us, so let us be obedient to His calling and direction. Let us have a peace about the itinerary and all that planned for us.