Looking back at the past 8 weeks

Literally wondrous…that one best sums up the past 8 weeks. Wondrous, that is a word that comes to my mind when I think of my Lord and Savior, wondrous like His love for us, like His power, His grace and His mercy. Wondrous like the passion and drive He has placed in Mallory’s heart for the children of Uganda, her desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

The past 8 weeks have been a whirlwind, I never imagined when I opened her email on October 25th what the next 8 weeks would hold. The outpouring from everyone has been incredible. He has placed people and opportunities in her path that would help her reach her goals. She has had the opportunity to talk to people of all ages about the children of Uganda, and raise awareness. Her story has been run on news websites, newspapers and television.

Mallory’s original goal was to raise $600, she raised that the first week. She upped her goal to $1200, she had that by the end of week 5. To date, she has raised $2,477 –  4x what she had originally wanted to raise. Someone once told me, “He funds what He favors” and this is just more proof of His hands being on Mallory throughout this.

Through Project Yesu, Mallory has been able to change the lives of seven beautiful children in Uganda. Providing them with food, medicine and an education. Showing them that people thousands of miles away love them, care for them and are praying for them. She has been able to touch over 600 children when they open Christmas cards that were made especially for them by their new friends here in Clarksville, Tennessee.

But what has been more powerful is watching her change the lives of people here, friends and family and even people we’ve never met before. So many times over the past couple of months we have heard, “if more adults could have the faith and passion of a child, then how different the world would be.” Children don’t see the obstacles that we as grown ups see, they don’t see all the reasons why something may not work, they just have faith that it will. 

As a mom, I am amazed to watch Mallory grow through Project Yesu, to see her passion and watch her dreams come true. I see His light in her eyes when she talks about the children in Uganda, when we read stories or blogs about them. She so desperately wants to be there, to love on them and share their joy.

I sit back in awe when I think of the past 8 weeks, but my mind races with excitement to see what the next 8 weeks, or 8 months or even 8 years brings for Mallory and Project Yesu. She has already started making her plans for 2012. Her challenge through out this has been to “be the change you want to see in the world” she has boldly and proudly accepted this challenge…now will you?

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this amazing journey, we pray you have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed 2012. We welcome the new friends we’ve made, and look forward to all the friends we’ll meet in the new year.

-Rory