Hey Friends!

Over the past year or so, I am sure you have heard me mention wanting to go to Africa! Well, this summer God has made this possible! I am finally going! I will be joining a great friend of mine, Lauren Cray, as well as some others on a mission trip to help move orphans into a new home. My adventure, from New Orleans to Africa, actually began before I met Lauren on a mission trip to New Orleans. This journey begins with a woman named Veronica!

The short version of the story
Veronica gave up everything to follow her calling to give hope to the neglected, orphaned and abused children of Africa. And thus, the birth of Belwop Rescue Center, an orphanage in Nyeri, Kenya. For the past 4-5 years, Lauren and a young lady Kate Johnson, have been joining together with other friends here in the US to support the needs of Belwop. Through hosting fundraising events, putting on dinners, camps, video online campaigns, True Religion concerts they were able to provide for most of the needs of Belwop. However, one large need still remained: SPACE. Belwop had grown and no longer had any more room for children who came daily in need of a home!

But, HOPE has a home, and this year Belwop was entered into a contest through Cultivate Wines and in March WON the $50,000 that enabled them to finally purchase a place to call their own! While the Belwop Project and Friends of Belwop, Inc. are still working to raise the final $30k for a matching grant (to fully pay off the home's balance), Lauren Cray, her boyfriend and other friends of Belwop are headed out this summer to help move the babies into the new place! It's in the small town of Nyeri, Kenya, can be easily expanded as Belwop continues to grow and is perfect for what they need right now! Best part is - Belwop OWNS it! No more renting!!! Everything from here is expansion to welcoming more children into a loving home!

Here is how you can help
So, I am sure you are thinking, how can I help be a part of the Belwop Story? Well, what we want to do is figure out a way to help furnish the new house as much as possible! Turn the house into a HOME! I already bought my plane ticket, as did the rest of the team and have saved up enough to sustain ourselves for the 16 days we are out there! So, here is where you come in! We need your help in 3 simple ways:

1. Through PRAYER. Prayer for travel, safety, provision for what Belwop needs, for Veronica, for the team while we are there serving their needs, for the children through the move and for us to be effective in helping fulfill any needs of Belwop that arise while we are there.
2. Through SPREADING THE WORD. Tell your friends and family about what we are trying to accomplish. Share this post, share the video I have linked to below. Show them how they can be a part of someone else's story far away from our world just by giving of their prayers and/or finances.
3. Through GIVING. You can be a part of financially helping Belwop house become a home and here is exactly how! http://www.indiegogo.com/back2belwop

• 15 new bunk beds ($200 each = $3,000)
• Lights = $300
• Wall decor and paint supplies = $200
• A fruit and vegetable stand = $500
• Contribution for the getting the new children in the home/school expenses = $1000
• OR donate shoes, toiletries, pants, shirts, socks, undergarments, sweaters, blankets, pillows, sheets, books, toys to the children who are already in the orphanage, but also to those that will come in the future.

Please drop off or send these items to my address:

2334 Chippewa Street

New Orleans, LA 70130

If you would like to commit to pray for us, please email me at address below with your mailing address and I will send you a reminder card.

heidismiles157@gmail.com

So, please, consider committing to pray for us before, during, and after our trip, giving financially, and/or just plain telling others about what we are trying to accomplish and how they can help! Together, we can make Belwop a home!!

Below are a few links if you would like to learn more about The Belwop Project.

1. http://www.indiegogo.com/back2belwop - Where you can donate financially towards the items above!

2.http://belwopproject.com/story - The documentary some friends of Belwop (Geoff Spencer) made last time they were there. Please watch this! As it is an incredible story and will definitely show you why God has put this project so heavily on my heart

3. http://friendsofbelwop.org/Friends_of_Belwop/About_us.html - Where you can learn more about Belwop and the kids that currently live there

Thanks to all you friends and family who have always supported me in my adventures! Can't wait for this one!

Love,

Heidi Smiles