update on many things

thanks to everyone who has been praying for my family over these last few weeks.. many apologies that i have not updated very well. I plan to do that now. My sister went to trial last week, and they now have partial custody restored. This is good because they will continue to fight for full custody, and they still stand some sort of chance. Also they got permission to take ashton this summer to see my parents in Egypt, for about a week. They had already bought the tickets when all this came up, so luckily they were able to work it out to get that. Please continue to pray for them as the real trial will start again in June or July (which likely means the first delay of trial will be in june or july) My sister was also excited to find out that she is pregnant again. Their daughter Hailey is only 7 months old, so this was quite a suprise, but very exciting. My sister-in-law unfortunately lost the pregnancy she had, but they have decided to go on a consolation trip to Europe. So they still have something exciting to look forward to. Wow what a plethora of family information i just filled everyone in on. I love and miss you all, and i will go to sleep now. goodbye

oh my...

awesome. (click here)

can we all go next year?

The Rescue

From John Parkhurst

Friends,

I would like to make you aware of an event happening this Saturday, April 25, to raise awareness and encourage the rescue of the abducted child soldiers in Central East Africa, particularly in Uganda, the Congo, and Sudan. The event is called “The Rescue” and is being held in 100 cities in 10 countries. There are already 65,000 signed up worldwide, nearly 200 in Birmingham, and over 400 in Chattanooga. For more information about the current situation as well as the event, please visit therescue.invisiblechildren.com; there is a 35 minute documentary online that is well worth watching, even if you are familiar with what is happening; also see the entry “Arrow Boys” on Jen’s blog [http://jenwilmore.blogspot.com]. The basic concept behind the event is “abducting yourself for the abducted child soldiers”. Participants will travel by foot to a pre-determined location in their city that will serve as their “LRA Camp”. There, they will remain ‘abducted’ until a person of great influence or cultural significance arrives and ‘RESCUES’ them by making a public statement on behalf of the child soldiers. Basically, we don’t go home until these designated leaders arrive. If you want to participate in the event, make sure to sign up on the website. Even if you can’t attend, consider contacting these leaders, as well as the media, and encourage them to come; there is a document on each city’s page that tells what to do.

If you are cynical about whether on not this will make a difference, watch this short 3 ½ minute video: http://behindthescenes.invisiblechildren.com/post/96932852/it-will-work-it-must

If are still cynical after watching that, watch this 5 minute video: http://behindthescenes.invisiblechildren.com/post/98392647/the-rescue-riders-are-real-together-were-free?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=willitworkemail

My favorite line is “don’t sleep through a revolution”. Seriously, don’t.

(even if you already know this will make a difference, watch the videos anyway…they’re good)

And if doing it for the child soldiers isn’t motivation enough, do it for Jen. It’ll make her life a little bit safer.

I trust all of you are doing well and I hope to see you soon.

John

Arthur Alligood CD

Hey, I hate to promote shamelessly, but I am about to promote shamelessly. One of my favorite artists has come out with a CD and I want to let you guys know in case you want to give him a chance.

Well, he's really cool. One time I bought his CD and he wrote me an email thanking me and when he sent the CD put a handwritten note with it. His lyrics rock. So deep and thoughtful. They keep on getting better the more you listen to them. He talks alot about the journey of discovering how little we know of Christ and what it looks like to walk through suffering, ect.

Ask me one day and I'll play a song for you on guittar.

Anyway, this is his third CD and they're awesome but I don't thing people are buying many and he's going to seminary so this may be his last. For the past year he has been letting people download five of the songs for free and only now has he made an actual CD to buy. The five songs are great.

If you have an extra $8 and want to give it a try go here.

That's all. I think you all are great. Super great. TTFN.

(James the giraffe lives in my apartment. He's our new pet.)