Seriously...you keep doing this to us!

You continue to knock our socks off!

Thank you! 

At the beginning of this year Awake and Alive was still almost $20,000 short of reaching our goal of $44k by September. This goal will send 30 street children in Ethiopia to school. It will be giving them education, food, support, and the chance to know Jesus.

So we sent out letters asking for support from our close friends and family members, 

AND THEY SUPPORTED! 

By May we were at $41,000, and only 3k short of our dream goal. 

So we let you all know the need, and boy-oh-boy did you all respond! In less then 2 weeks time Awake and Alive reached the goal of 44k! 

 We were in awe!

So after that big push to raise the $44K it has been pretty quiet around here.

But we know we have another school year to start raising funds for.
 It is time to gear back up.
So we set a goal of three-thousand dollars in a week and a half. And did you all ever show up!?!

 The 1st gift was $25 on the 1st day we posted about it. Then we received a gift of $500 the next day! A day later money came that we had done a fundraiser for previously, then some more gifts of a few hundred dollars and then some more!
The last few days I (Jolene) was posting that Awake and Alive was only about $900 short of the $3K goal,

 Then that evening my husband, Darin got a text message from one of his friends that he wanted to cover what we had left so the goal could be met!!!

Socks knocked off!! 

Here are just a few things we know are true. 

You are generous people.

 God is softening and breaking your hearts for the plight of these children.

God loves the children of Kechene far more then any of us could ever imagine or understand. 

Thank You.

Team Bonding

With a little over two months to go, we are working on team bonding and personal reflection in preparation for Project Presence (wow, that was a lot of Ps!) And we couldn't be more excited!  With the help of modern technology (i.e. yahoo chat and groups), we are managing to build connections and excitement within the team for September's trip.  In fact, we can't think about it enough.


You know that butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling you get when something really scary and/or exciting is about to take place?  Yep.  Got 'em.  And it's the best feeling in the world.  Right now we're working out the details, talking about debriefing, meeting with our video dude, dividing up donations, fundraising (e.g. doing a garage sale in 100+ Midwestern heat!), and, generally, just getting excited to go.  We wish you could come, too!  What's that?  You want to?  Maybe it's not too late.  Or, if it is (no promises), this is DEFINITELY (probably) going to be an annual thing, so start looking ahead to next year.  We'll be sure to tell you all about it.


In the meantime, we'll keep you posted on our progress and make you wish, wish, WISH you were coming, too!  (Can you tell we're a wee bit excited?!?)


To close, we wanted to share with you a snapshot (or four) of Binyam's stay in the United States.  In case you didn't know, our main Ethiopian contact, Binyam, was able to come visit for a few days in May, and it was amazing.  We talked, prayed, visioned, shared, laughed, ate, and tried to cram absolutely too much in (in total American style) since he was only here 4 days!  Thank you, Binyam, for all you do to make this dream a reality.  We are SO BLESSED and THANKFUL by and for you!!

Here we go again!

We celebrated!

 We stood silently in AWE. 

We giggled, laughed,  prayed and gave thanks to our All Mighty God,

 and cried at the fact that because of our awesome God,

 the Spirit moving in YOUR hearts and the hard work of Awake and Alive 

it only took 9 months and we were able to reach our (what felt like unattainable) goal!

So what does this mean? 

Because of you and your faithfulness to be broken and Awakened to what breaks the heart of Jesus, Awake and Alive will provide 30 of Ethiopia's most vulnerable children with an education. 

But it is much more then an education. It is the hope for a Brighter Future. 

It is protection form the dangers of street life. 

It is 2 meals a day. 

It is an oasis from the stresses of slum life.  

It is a chance to end the cycle of poverty. 

It is the chance to learn about our Lord and Savior.

What you all have done for these children is unmeasurable. 

It is with a truly Awakened heart that I say,

Thank you! 

I see each one of my children in the eyes of the children in Kechene. God has given that, hard to fathom, vision to me. And so I am set on fire to do whatever it takes to help as many children as possible. 

You see, if it TRULY was my child living in these conditions I would stop at nothing to change it! 

So when I say, "Thank You" it is with SO MUCH MEANING.

Thank you for making this vision a reality!

But as you will notice we are now focusing on fundraising for year #2! 

We are EXCITED to see what ways you all come up with to help!

"God is looking for people through whom He can do the impossible--what a pity that we plan only the things we can do by ourselves."  -A.W. Tozer

Project Presence Deadline is in 2 Weeks!

Have you ever been somewhere that you just knew you belonged? When this picture was snapped in 1997, I could not have been filled with more joy! I was sitting under a plastic roof getting ready to worship with some of my favorite people in the world: a group of once-street boys in Nairobi who had come to live at Taraja Home. Just a ten-minute walk from the University where I studied, I spent a lot of time at this amazing place, even going home with the "counselors" who often lived in the slums themselves with their own families. Now, 15 years later, I still smile when I think about the time I spent in Kenya and the relationships that I built there. James, Seti, Bob, Survivor, Charles, and Daniel are just a handful of the boys that I remember for their great senses of humor, dancing skills, and ability to make me laugh. They will be in my heart forever.

But my relationships with these boys and their counselors didn't start in 1997. In fact, they started less than 2 years earlier when, during the summer of 1995 right after I graduated from high school, I went on a Youth for Christ mission trip and stepped onto African soil for the first time. It was there that I first fell in love with this amazing place and its people.

We wanted to bring this up right now because on June 1st, applications and the money for plane tickets - $1800 per person - are due. We have been praying a lot about who's supposed to go on the trip, and the truth is: that someone could be you. We are trusting the Holy Spirit to guide and direct each one that's supposed to go (as well as those who aren't but may be going next year...or the year after that...or the year after that!) We totally trust that you'll know. It's a big commitment to the tune of about $2,800.00. The dates are September 6-16, 2012. We have the application ready to send to you, if you're interested. Just let us know. And while you may not come away from the trip loving Ethiopia as much as we do (because, honestly, is that even possible?! :) ), we do know your life will be impacted and changed.

Our goal is to be a presence in the slum community of Kechene. We want to be a blessing. We hope this will be accomplished by meeting the 30 precious children and their families (widowed moms) and hearing their stories. By doing a VBS for even more children in the community over the weekend. By making final preparations at the school, including potentially painting a mural and putting up artwork on the walls. By celebrating on the opening day of the school on September 12 with the staff and children. By participating in the filming of a documentary by a professional filmmaker. And by spending a day at a local orphanage and loving on the children there. It is true that we want to be a blessing and, Lord willing, we will be. However, we also know that we will be blessed. Far more than we would have thought possible. Because that's what happens. That's what makes the old adage "It is more blessed to give than receive" so true. It is in blessing that we are blessed. Project Presence is no exception.

Are you ready to go beyond wishing and go?!?

A very personal letter to friends.

To our dear Awake and Alive readers: This is the letter that Darin and Jolene sent to their friends and families this spring. Please read and become Alive.

Awake and Alive: Bright Future Academy

Dear Friends and Family,

Darin and I are writing you to be a part of something we believe has the potential to be life changing! We would like to invite you to partner with us & Awake and Alive to build a school for young children in Kechene, Ethiopia. Our prayers are that this school can be the beginning of hope and change in this slum community. Will you partner with us to bring hope to those who need it most?  

As you know, last March Darin and I traveled to Ethiopia to bring home Stella and Ben, who have blessed our lives beyond measure. But what you might not know is that while we were in Ethiopia we visited one of the poorest areas a slum called Kechene. 

 

While we were there we noticed the population was very young.  We found out that this was because of the living conditions that come with living in an extremely crowded, poor and disease stricken area.  We went into homes of orphans and widows; homes that are, at best, an 8X8 shack with dirt floors, no running water, no electricity, and a tattered roof.

We heard stories of extreme hard ship, loss and pain. 

We hugged and kissed children who know loss and feel the pain that comes from HIV/AIDS.  We spent time getting to know the widows who have to leave their young children at home to go make a living. We found out the children are left with no one to protect them. They are at risk for dangerous situations, abuse, child trafficking, or who knows what else!  Most of the mothers can barely afford to provide enough food for their families yet alone an education. So this cycle of poverty will continue for these children and their families.

Since that experience, we have not been the same.

Upon returning home the God-given opportunity to start a school for these vulnerable children showed itself!

My dear friend, Danielle Black and I have founded a Nonprofit Organization called Awake and Alive and our 1^st project is to open a school in Kechene, Ethiopia! The cost is $44,000 to start a school that will remove 30 of the most vulnerable children from the streets of Kechene! 

Darin and I are wholeheartedly committed to this project so we are giving 10% of the school cost. We are asking you to come along side us in supporting this wonderful cause - giving children a brighter future. All money given is tax deductible and 100% of your gift will go to the school.

This fall I will take a trip to Ethiopia to help the project and see the opening of the school. I will come home with amazing stories of hope and redemption from the children who will have a safe place to learn and grow because of your generosity!

Our children have turned our lives upside down. Bringing them home from a third-world country has blessed our lives beyond explanation.  It’s impossible for us to look at the young children in Kechene and not think of our own children.  If our children were on the streets we would stop at nothing to change their situation! It is very real to us! Let it be very real to you as well. And PLEASE – Go beyond wishing it was different and let’s DO something about it! 

Thank you for giving a life changing gift!

Darin and Jolene Shrock

 "Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know, and holds us responsible to act." Prov. 24:12

We are praying for 44 partners to come alongside us and make a onetime gift of $440.00, which would enable us to have enough upfront funding to open the doors to our school in Kechene for the first year. This level of partnership is not for everyone, and there are many ways to help. Thank you.

DONATE NOW
            

Check out the 44 Campaign here

Safe?

I don’t know about you, but in my day-to-day life, I feel very safe most of the time.  In the back of my mind, I realize that there is hunger, violence, and despair going on at every moment.  However, if all I did was think about these things, I would be extremely depressed, so I try not to think of them too often.  However, with my increasing appetite for world news, and PBS’s Al Jazeera, all of the troubles around  the world are brought into my living room every night when I tune into PBS.  From bloody uprisings in Syria, to East Africa famines, the world can be a pretty sad place.  

But as I said, I have always been able to separate the bad things that happen to other people, with those that occur in my own life.  That is, until about a month ago...

My wife Erica and were heading home from a packed Friday night.  It was late, about 1:30.  We were about half a mile from home, approaching a stop sign, when I heard firecrackers.  I looked around, and my eyes focused on a bombardment of flashes of light being exchanged between two cars, about 50 feet away from us.  It immediately registered.  The two cars were shooting at each other.

Before I had time to say anything, one of the vehicles slammed on the accelerator, and came barreling into our lane, on target for a head-on collision.  I’ll remember those headlights for as long as I live.  Upon impact, our two month old Volkswagen Tiguan was pushed back - about 15 feet or so, into 4 parallel parked cars on the street.  At this point, men and women 

start getting out of the minivan that was shooting, and screaming.  

“Oh my gosh.  We are going to die.”  I thought.

The story goes on, but in order to keep this at an acceptable length, I’ll summarize by saying that my wife and I are finally nearing 100% health, which I thank God for.  

There it was.  The violence that I heard about on the news was now infiltrating my life.

In the three weeks since the incident, I have repeatedly thought about how quickly life can change.  Before, I figured that I would never have to deal with a situation that could end up costing me my life in an instant.  However, this experience hammered home the fact that we are truly at God’s mercy.  

Whether it is an event that you experience, or something God has placed in your life on a daily basis, it is all God’s plan.  Some of us are born with above average intelligence, athletic skill, artistic ability.  Some of us are born into ghastly poverty, which is often accompanied by hunger, minimal education, and a life filled with third world disease.

The thing I love about Awake & Alive, is that their entire mission is dedicated to dealing with one of the biggest shortcomings of our world...lack of education for the poor.  In all of history, the thing that has driven prosperity, is knowledge and education.  In a few hundred years, our standard of living has increased an overwhelming amount, all because of the power of knowledge, which is obtained through education.

On good days, I believe that God specifically wants to use me to fight this education epidemic.  On days when I feel down, I have a little harder time accepting this truth.  Despite my skepticism on those days, deep down I believe that it is of the utmost importance for one’s self to feel connected to something bigger than themselves.   It goes beyond spirituality though, it actually makes us happier!  Throughout the years I have repeatedly read (I am a science magazine junky) that being connected to something beyond yourself, makes you a happier person.  It is actually one of the most important factors in happiness.

So, in summary,  life is short.  You are at the mercy of God.  Do extraordinary things for Him, like getting involved with Awake & Alive.  Whether it is through giving financially, or participating in my online Christian bookstore’s fundraising program that gives Awake & Alive 5% cash back whenever you shop.  To participate in the latter, just use the fundraiser code “AwakeandAlive” when prompted at checkout.

Go beyond wishing.  To quote a wise man, “Be the change you wish to see in the world”.

-Justin

Exhausted

Lately we have been keeping you up to date on the cold hard facts about what is going on with Awake and Alive. We have been talking a lot about the great new stuff that is going on and the thermometer that keeps going up!! Thank you!! All of that is really GREAT stuff, but I (Jolene) want to let you all in on some of the emotions behind the passion.

I have really been burdened lately.

I toss and turn and lose sleep these days. I am thinking about the widowed mothers who as I type have to make the horrible decision to leave their children at home so they can go make money to provide food for their little ones! It is their reality and it is impossible for me not to put myself in their shoes! I think about my 3 Ethiopian babies and how if I were to try to leave them to go pick up sticks they would follow me as far as they could …the whole time they would be following me with tears in their eyes, possibly screaming at me to stop and come back…or yelling, “momma, hold me, hold me!” But I would know that I could not stop or they would starve to death. And so, I press on with my 3 crying children behind me, trying my hardest not to burst into tears myself, they would be giving it all they had to follow me for miles until their little legs just got so tired that they stopped and turned around to go home. And so I press on knowing that I HAVE TO FEED THEM!

This haunts me.

I lie in bed and can not sleep. Lately God has been putting this at the for-front of my mind and I had to share it with all of you.

Broken hearted I lay in bed praying for the mothers that I know have to do this…everyday. I pray for them for the strength it takes to daily break their child’s heart to be able to provide for their basic needs. I pray for this cycle to end for them! I pray for the babies who do not understand. I pray for the children, that they do not shut themselves down and become numb to love after being left and let down, in their minds, by their mother everyday. I pray that one day it will be different for all of them. Will you pray with me?

I have been praying for people here in the states who are hearing of this situation, I pray their hearts soften. I pray that their hearts open. I pray they are moved into action for these poor mothers and children. I pray they help spread the word!

Will you help spread the word?

We have the opportunity to give these mothers a safe place for their children! Not only a safe place to be but a place to THRIVE! To take the children off the streets and be fed! To learn about Love.

We have the opportunity to give mothers peace of mind!

I pray that only God’s glory is seen in this movement! I pray only for encouragement from people not praise! All praise goes to God who has given me the passion and opportunity to be the voice…

YOU can be the voice too!

You can spread the word!

They need you!

Awake and Alive needs you!

You can be the change in this cycle!

There is no "giveaway" to entice you to share this, there is no material gain,

There is only this broken momma who is asking you to be the voice for other broken mothers who are hopeless and have no platform to speak for themselves.

They can not speak up for themselves or their children, but we can!