A Beautiful Surprise. Angels!!

          I just had the privilege of attending the first day of the IGNITE JUSTICE conference 2013, at Forest Hill Church, I went on Thursday afternoon to set up,(after staying up until about 4am the night before working on a poster and display items for our table) then that evening I went to the community meal for The Grove Church to fellowship with beloved members and to promote Neighborhood After school Ministries(NAM) http://thegrovecharlotte.org/youth/neighborhood-afterschool-ministries/  for this upcoming semester(I still need more gardening and green art students if you know anyone interested! http://www.facebook.com/events/515491638471261/?ref=22 ) .  That evening I stayed up working on etsy items and promoting NAM and my store, and promoting fundraising efforts(Set up a Gofundme page!!)  for this Cameroon trip which is in      5 days!  (oh my goodness, breathe!) Anyway, I ended up only sleeping 30minutes.  The conference was wonderful and inspirational it was like being at a ministry fair and church and so many wonderful awesome people and organizations were there! My top three favorites:

*ALARM African Leadership and Reconciliation Ministries 
http://alarm-inc.org/
~Special connection to these guys, Michele Dudley, who was the brains and beauty behind the whole conference (besides God) hooked us up with ALARM, who hosted us(02A) in Rwanda May 2012 and had IWE-Institute for Women's Excellence, where we did the sustainability projects(rainwater harvesting, chicken coop, rocket stoves)

*SILENT IMAGES
http://silentimages.org/
~Special connection to David Johnson and Silent Images, I met him in college speaking for our organization after I had joined STAND (A Student led anti genocide coalition) and then after I became president of the organization, I had him speak on several occasions and he was more than inspirational every single time.  

*SAMARITANS FEET
http://www.samaritansfeet.org/
~I just love what they do.

and of course
*Orphans To Ambassadors who I and Jake were representing! 
http://www.orphanstoambassadors.org/
and heading to Cameroon with in 5DAYS!

Anyway, so that day at the conference I was so inspired and talking to a lot of people there was great because repeatedly discussing what we do, why we do it, why I'm excited to be going on another trip so soon, my passions, my desire to go back and check in on the past projects, all really revved me up to go on this project, and re-affirmed my purpose to be doing this work!  Its not always easy to communicate your heart and life passions to others verbally, but we did our best, and met a lot of amazing people!  

We didn't win any of the three grant awards, but great organizations did, so still a success. 

6hours into this awesome conference, I was a zombie.  30minutes of sleep does not work.  I remember thinking, "Why am I doing this? I thought this was only for college?, Apparently this lifestyle can just continue after college if you just set it up that way?" and at probably 5am I was thinking to myself, I just long to jog or read a book or meditate with no long todo list or deadlines looming over me like a dark angry cloud!  And I promised myself I would take better care of myself before the trip! (5days) So after those 6hours of conferencing, I shuffled out to the care and laid down where I took a disheveled hungry nap in the backseat, leaving Jacob to run the table for an hour alone.(I know, I know, I'm not proud of it!)  After an hour, I woke up desperately having to use the bathroom, and when I tried to get out of the car, Jacob's weirdo Lexus locked me inside, beeped at me, and I was trapped!!!! with the keys!!! How does this even happen?! I remember hating that moment and looking around desperately for a cup, a jar, anything but there was nothing and I thought, how can I pee in my pants while napping at a conference and how could Jacob ever consider marrying me?! So a few minutes and panicked texts later Jake came and freed me and I helped run the table for another hour. 

Then we ran a ton of errands getting more supplies for the conference, Staples, Target, probably some other places I don't remember, and then by the time we were driving home I hadn't been able to eat all day and Jake suggested a $5dollar Big Deal Pizza from Dominos.  Sure, Let's do it I said.  It was one of the BEST. PIZZAS. IVE. EVER. HAD. and I scarfed down many, many, pieces loving every minute of it.  I woke up at 6am spewing and hurling and napping on the bathroom floor.  I was like wow, I really set myself up for this!  By not taking care of myself whatsoever.  By pretending I'm a robot of production and not a human being who needs nourishment in so many ways.  

So I could not attend the second day of the conference, but at 2drove to Claremont for dads birthday, where I forgot his presents and my shoes and cried about it in loud scream-sobs (My shoes were in the backseat the whole time, we didn't realize this until the next night when we returned home and after I ended up wearing old cross country sneakers from high school around everywhere) For dads birthday we went to a lovely antique store( I adored it, but I got sick there several times) and then a Mexican Restaurant (yum..)  We played Scrabble, it was my absolute worst game in history(I also couldn't add for some reason and destroyed the scoresheet), but I have to say that no matter how sick I was, being with my soul mate and family was my favorite place to be, even in my miserable state!!!  So anyway, slept, woke up to pancakes and my wonderful family the next day, was a brat to Jacob all day because my stomach was in such horrible pain I couldn't even stand up straight (I had food poisoning if I forgot to mention that this whole time) ate lunch with Jacobs awesome daddy and then went home.  Passed out for several hours and then just out of curiosity checked the Gofundme page and I had raised... FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY FIVE DOLLARS!!! What?! There's no way!!! I scrolled down the list of loving supporters and cried.
ALEX & KATIE WOLPERT
JEFFERY HANKS (DADDY IN LAW! wait, wait.. not yet. too eager....wayyy too eager!)
HALLIE WHITE (JAKES NANA!)
SUSAN MIKHAIL
DEBRA HARWELL-BRAUN AND STEVE BRAUN (MADRE &PADRE!!!)
DANA FRADY
These beautiful people said wonderful things to me and were so loving and supportive I was shocked and totally re-inspired.  It feels so good to know that people believe in me!! It makes my trip so much more important to me and it makes me feel even more passionate about making as big a difference as I can while there.  Thank you guys, You are sweet angels, And the biggest thanks to the MOST HIGH for placing these supportive angels in my life to uplift me and guide me through my travels.  It's hard to breathe knowing how much we are really loved and cherished, each and every one of us.  Every body heaving, aching moment of that sickness was nothing compared to the intensity I felt from these gifts and inspiration!!! Thanks GOD!!!!! 

http://www.gofundme.com/1toctc

Cameroon Trip GOFUNDME Page!

http://www.gofundme.com/1toctc

Transition from Wilderness to Complete Servitude!

So I haven't blogged on here in forever, and would love to blog about my adventures with youth in the wilderness all year long, but there's no time!  Maybe later, but as of right now, I am juggling starting my own art business, setting up for a conference, and promoting an after school ministry program I will be teaching in February.  Not to mention I never finished totally moving, my stuff is still disorganized... oh yeah and, I'm leaving for Cameroon in EIGHT DAYS and haven't finished fundraising! HELP!

RWANDA 02A TRIP MAY 2012!

SO THERE'S A LOT GOING ON!  I would love to elaborate on all of these things later, and REALLY need to make time for more writing in 2013, but for now, here is my support letter I sent out in my Christmas cards, with a few tidbits about my life and the upcoming trip! Whew!

Thanks for reading, I'm off to mail some thank you cards, and ship some art that was purchased from  my new store, (YAY!) Then buy dad a Birthday present, Set up for the Ignite Justice Conference at Forest Hill for 02A, go buy some Orange Juice at Trader Joes (I'm totally getting some roasted seaweed while I'm there, YUM!), then go to The Grove Church Community Meal to try to promote the Neighborhood After school Ministries Registration before it's too late, and do an activity with the kids.... I haven't planned the activity yet...

Anyway, here's the letter, EIGHT DAYS!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!  I WISH YOU PEACE AND COMFORT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

Hi!  I wanted to write you and update you on what God is calling me to do in my life!  After several months of prayer, I left my job at the wilderness treatment center to pursue more ministry.  I am planning to return to Africa on another Orphans To Ambassadors trip, January 18^th through February 8^th, to Fundong, Cameroon.  We will be implementing 3sustainable solutions to the Harvest Children’s Home, an orphanage of 56 boys and girls.

Our team consists of Jacob Hanks, my soul mate, Orphans to Ambassadors project leader and first part-time employee, Michael Lowe, Engineers without borders rocket stove expert, and myself.  All three of us did identical projects in Rwanda in May so although with different variables I think we will make an excellent team and the projects will go smoothly and efficiently!

My last trip with Orphans to Ambassadors was supremely rewarding in so many ways!  We did the same three projects in Rwanda as we will be doing in Cameroon: chicken coops, rainwater harvesting systems and rocket stoves, at a boarding school of over 400 girls.  We got to teach the girls about sustainability and our projects, show them how to do construction work, dance, play, and talk with them, and worship with them at their church service!  I really bonded with the girls as well as the staff, and some masonry workers in the local community that helped out.  I felt God’s presence every day there and I felt that the work we were doing was meaningful to the girls and community! 

For now I am volunteering, gift-wrapping at the mall every day fundraising for Orphans to Ambassadors 2013 project budget, and in my tiny bit of spare time I will be working on starting my online shop at: beautiful pursuit.etsy.com where I will be selling different types of art God has inspired me to create! I am thrilled to be going back to Africa with such a wonderful organization, and I am excited to see what other ministry opportunities will arise for me this upcoming year!

I strongly believe that there are two kinds of missionaries, those that go and those that send them, the trip wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of others. Even small gifts multiplied by many will get me there to fulfill the calling. I took a risk in leaving a job with a steady income to follow Jesus, and now I am responsible for raising $1700 to cover the cost of the flight and visa.  I am more than confident he will provide!

I ask that you prayerfully consider partnering with me in this ministry opportunity.  First, I ask for your prayer support. Second, I ask that you consider giving a financial gift of any size. If you decide to give financially (your gift is tax-deductible), checks can be written out to:  Orphans to Ambassadors International; 126 SW 148^th Street     Suite C100-26     Seattle, WA   98166. (Please write Stephanie Braun in the memo line.) Or go to www.Orphanstoambassadors.org to make an on-line donation with a credit or debit card through PayPal.

I trust that God will work through this team, and that we will greatly impact as well as be impacted by, the individuals we serve.  I appreciate your support!

There are no orphans of God! Blessings and Peace!

Stephanie Mauvlyn Braun

stephaniemauvlynbraun@gmail.com

828-291-6467