Our Story

Our Story

We are Lacey Klassen and Michelle Maisonville; two Christian mothers privileged to go to Rwanda and Kenya with Home of Hope
from April 30-May 15, 2013. We've had an amazing experience and are happy to share it with all of you! For more information on all of the good Home of Hope is doing, please visit http://www.homeofhope.ca. Thank you so much for all of your support!

Love,
Lacey and Michelle



Thursday 28 February 2013

And then there was you...

I love my church family!  Last night we had an amazing service based on John 13:34


A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

Boy did I feel the love!  The service and the fellowship following brought so much joy and encouragement to my heart.  Sometimes, I just forget to reach out and ask for prayer.  Thank you!

Now, on to the fun stuff!  The online auction is going swimmingly!  So far you have helped us earn an additional $257.00 and today isn't over yet.  We have another gift certificate from Living Earth Massage up today and the bidding is hot, hot, hot!!  

Edited to add our updated totals: Lacey has raised a total of $2,640.00 and I, Michelle, have raised $498.22.

You all are amazing and we are so thankful for your help and prayers!  Please continue to pray for us.  As you can see from yesterday's post, we need strength to battle the negative spirits that may try to keep us from doing this wonderful work.  We know that prayer changes things, so please keep at it!

In closing, I'd like to share with you one of the projects Home of Hope has completed in Cyuru, Rwanda.  It's an amazing story!


Thank you once again for all of your support.  If you haven't already made a donation, you can still do so, just follow the instructions at the top of the page.  Much love do you all!  Most of all, Glory be to our Father in Heaven!!

Michelle



Wednesday 27 February 2013

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

Since we began this blog, I have striven to keep it a positive place.  Whatever goes on behind the scenes has never made it's way on the screen.  Today, though, I can't help but be honest and bring up what has been on my mind.

One of my main struggles has always been trust.  I'm terrible at it.  I have two extremes: either I trust too easily (this happens with people) or I try to trust and end up taking my concerns back for myself (this happens with God).  So here I am, facing my trust issues again.  Oh, and then there is fear.  I'm not afraid of things you can see, the obvious like flying across an ocean, possibly getting a mosquito-born illness or being in a foreign country far from my family.  Nope.  Not afraid of those things.  I'm actually excited at the prospect...well, ok, not the mosquito-born illness; but, I digress.  I am afraid I may not have the funds to be able to go to Africa. There, I said it.

I've had numerous conversations with my husband, my friends, and pastors.  I've been prayed over, prayed for and given a stern talking-to.  Problem is, that doggone fear keeps rearing it's ugly head and I'm not doing my due diligence to trust the Father to take care of it all.  In theory, it should be easy, right?  Take a look at the old "fall back and your friends will catch you" exercise.  It sounds so simple.  Just give it all up to God.  I'm really trying and it's really hard.

I keep feeling down.  I'm working really hard with the blog, organizing the online auction, contacting churches, service groups, and media.  Yet, here I am worrying like crazy that I'm not going to reach my fundraising goal and be able to go to Rwanda and Kenya.  I'm in a unique situation, trying to establish my practice here in a new town (we moved to Lethbridge from Medicine Hat in October). My husband works a couple of jobs with crazy schedules.  It's not conducive to me finding work, though I have tried and tried.  Folks have told me to be patient, that it will come.  (Yup, you guessed it!  I also have difficulty with patience.  Oy!)

Don't get me wrong, we have been so blessed!  The support of my church family has been awesome!  I feel so indebted to those who have donated in my stead already and, of course, to our auction sponsors. I'm also so grateful for those in the media who have wanted to share our story.  The fact is, we all have those down days.  This is one of mine.

I'm thankful that I've been blessed to even know about what Home of Hope is doing in Africa.  I'm thankful that I have been able to share the plight of the widows and children there with more people.  Even if I can't go there to touch them personally,  I have to be thankful that maybe, just maybe I was able to make a difference by sharing their story and praying for them.

I don't exactly know how to close this post.  It's not the greatest piece of literature you will ever read, but it's from my heart.  I had to be honest.  Please continue to pray for us and donate if you can.  Most of all, please share the story of the women and children of Home of Hope.

Thank you and God bless you!
Michelle

Monday 25 February 2013

Stand By Me

It takes one person to make a difference.  It takes a village of support to get them there.  Will you stand by us?
We can't do it alone.

We'd like to extend a special thank you to those who have recently joined us in our mission to raise funds for our trip to Rwanda & Kenya.  Thank you to our newest sponsor, Impact Nutrition of Lethbridge.

Thank you to my friend, Connie Livingston, of Birthsource.com for also sharing our story

Thank you to all of you who have bid on our online auction items.  Your support means so much.

If you haven't donated, yet, please do think of us.  We have about a month to finish raising funds to go directly to Home of Hope (Lacey has finished this portion) to ensure we are able to go on the trip.
God bless you all!

Love,
Michelle

Saturday 23 February 2013

Insert Clever Title Here

As I write this, I'm rocking out to Toby Mac on KLOVE and trying to come up with another clever title.  So far, I've got nothing...though by the time you read this post, there will be a title - clever or not.

I'll start with a quick update.  Our online auction is in full swing!  We began on Thursday, February 21 and have raised $125 so far.  All monies earned through the auction will be divided between Lacey and myself.  We would like to thank all of our sponsors once again for their donations of products and services.  Check out the links to our sponsors on the left side of the blog.  You can visit our auction on Facebook here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/auction4momsmissionofhope/

Lacey is a ROCKSTAR!!  She has compiled the funds required to be donated directly to Home of Hope and her current total is $2080!  Way to go girl!!  Lacey is still collecting cash donations to go toward immunization costs, flight taxes, donations to be left in Africa, and other incidentals. If you would like to send her a cash donation, please email her at lacey.klassen@gmail.com to make arrangements.

I, Michelle, am still at my previous total of $448.22, but I'm confident the Lord will provide.  We're working hard to raise funds and the rest is in His hands. You can still donate to Home of Hope in my stead by using the "Donate" button on the top left of this page and putting my name in the comments box.  If you'd like to send me a cash donation, please email me at michelle.maisonville@gmail.com for my mailing address.

In other fundraising news, we're looking into doing a Tupperware fundraiser as well.  So if you or someone you know needs some kitchen goodies, please keep us in mind.  We'll make sure to post an update when the fundraiser is set-up.  


Children from the feeding programme in Rwanda
We are also receiving donations of baby items, children's items, bras, and other necessities from some of our wonderful friends.  Thank you so much for your generosity.  It touches our hearts and we know how much it will bless the people of Rwanda and Kenya.  We can't wait to see their faces when we give them these gifts.

On Monday, February 25, we will be featured in the BirthSource.com blog run by my friend, Connie Livingston.  Be sure to check it out.  If you are a childbirth professional, you'll also want to browse her online store for a large selection of childbirth education supplies!  Thank you so much, Connie, for thinking of us!

That's all the news for now.  Please keep checking here for updates!  Thank you once again for all of your support and prayers.  We appreciate it!

Hope you and yours have a wonderful weekend!

God bless!
Michelle

Wednesday 20 February 2013

Scene, Heard & Gearing up for our Online Auction!

Here is our segment from Global Lethbridge's Scene and Heard with Mark Campbell!  Scroll to 4:05 to see our interview. Please note: the correct website URL for Home of Hope is http://www.homeofhope.ca



Also, a reminder that our Online Auction begins tomorrow at 10:00 am on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/auction4momsmissionofhope/  You will have 12 hours to bid on one item per day (except for smaller items which we will have several up per day to bid upon).  Further rules are posted on the Auction page.  We'd like to thank the following sponsors for their generous donations:

Birthing From Within Lethbridge
Chris Yauck Photography
From Womb to Cradle Doula Services, Inc.
Jake Klassen Plumbing & Gasfitting
Lacey Klassen Designs
Living Earth Massage
Made by Mallory
The Orange Orchid Boutique

Thank you so much for your thoughtful and generous donations!  We love our sponsors!

That's all for now!  See you at the Auction!

Love,
Michelle

Tuesday 19 February 2013

Lights, Camera, Action!

We're so excited!  As you can see, we've made some updates to our blog to help you see how we're doing with our fundraising as well as make it easier for you to donate.  Thank you so much for your donations thus far.  We are praying God's blessings for all of you!!

A quick update, Lacey is still at about $1681.78 and I, Michelle, have now raised $448.22!  Slowly but surely we are making it!

We will be starting our Facebook auction within the week and will post a link here.  We now have several more items for all of you to bid on including plumbing services, massage, doula services, and more!

The big news for today is that we will be on Global News Lethbridge tonight with Mark Campbell!  Check us out at 6:00 pm.  The broadcast will also be online.  We will share video here when it is posted.

We will also be appearing on the Miracle Channel program entitled INSIGHT.  We will be on-air twice in March.  Once earlier in the month and again on March 25th.  We will keep you updated you on that as well.

Finally, we'd like to leave you with the following video.  As you watch, let these children move your heart.  Look at what God can do!  Look at what you can do and are doing as you support us to reach these little ones.  We cannot wait to hold them in our arms!
God bless you all!

Love,
Michelle

Thursday 14 February 2013

Lead Me Lord, I Will Follow

Via Home of Hope on Facebook -
http://www.facebook.com/homeofhopeint
Lead me lord 
I will follow 
Lead me Lord 
I will go 

You have called me 
I will answer 
Lead me Lord 
I will go 


Over the past several weeks, I've begun to get concerned over my ability to raise all of the funds necessary to make the trip to Rwanda and Kenya.  I've been looking for work to pay for the trip and have had several unsuccessful interviews.  Being a mother of two children and running my doula practice has kept me busy, but unfortunately has also left gaps in my resume.  I posted a status on my Facebook profile about my struggles and last night at church, someone called me on it.  

The question was asked, "Did God call you to go to Africa?"  Yes, He has moved my heart to Africa since I was a child.  I closed my eyes for a moment and asked, "Jesus, what do you think about Africa?"  The first word I heard was "Yes."  I asked, "Jesus, can I trust you?"  Of course, the answer was "Yes."  

Fear has been a part of my life for a long time.  Security has always been what I have sought; but, God doesn't want us to feel secure by our own means.  He wants us to put our lives in His hands and be secure in Him...and, once we give our lives and concerns to Him, He doesn't want us to take them back.

God has called me for this mission trip and I have to trust that He will provide.  I will do what I can, but I will leave it in His hands.  Miracles happen when we believe.  May this trip be a testimony of what He can do.

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV)


Love,

Michelle

Saturday 9 February 2013

Reading in Preparation


I have been doing a lot of reading lately. Two books in particular have struck me as life-changing. The first is called "Children and the Supernatural" by Jennifer Toledo. It is the story of how children all over the world are being filled with the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to work. What makes this book so close to my heart is that her story begins in Kenya. Here is a link to an interview of Jennifer about her experience in Kenya by Sid Roth.                                                          






The other book is "Revolution in World Missions" by K.P. Yohannan. It is a common book in Christian circles, probably because copies are routinely given away free. I had had a copy for a few years, but had never read it. In preparation of our trip to Africa, God told me that I needed to read this book. It is the story of the founder of Gospel for Asia. As a native from India, he does a wonderful job of pointing out how comfortable we are in North America. We just do not realize that outside of our affluence, 2/3 of the world live in such poverty. Here is a quote from page 42-43:

  "Often when I spoke at a church, the people would appear moved as I told of suffering and needs of the native evangelists. They usually took an offering and presented me with a check for what seemed like a great amount of money. Then with their usual hospitality, they invited me to eat with the leaders following the meeting. To my horror, the food and "fellowship" frequently cost more than the money they had just given to missions. And I was amazed to find that American families routinely eat enough meat at one meal to feed an Asian family for a week. No one ever seemed to notice this but me, and slowly I realized they just had not heard the meaning of my message. They were simply incapable of understanding the enormous needs overseas."

What I take away from this is: How many times have I been presented with how great the need is, and I am uncaring, or at the very least completely unable to imagine the suffering and the hunger because I have never suffered or hungered like the 1 billion hungry people in 2/3 of the world. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to go and see how great the need is. I do not doubt that God will break my heart when I see the destitute first hand. It is my responsibility, however, to prepare my heart to perform God's work for me, whether it be in Africa, or here at home.
In a fun "Pray by Numbers Game"*, it was prophesied that God has given me a work to do and that I am to do it. I know He has called me to both Streets Alive and Africa and I thank everyone for their support - in prayers, monetarily, emotional and even physical support (Thanks to my hubby and mom for looking after my kids!)



*The Pray by Numbers Game is a simple exercise. Count the number of people in your group (X), and place papers labelled 1 through X in a hat. Everyone grabs a number, but does not look at it. Then the group prays for the person representing each number. God may give a word, phrase, vision, or a myriad of other things. One person records what is said, and each person gets to see at the end what was prayed over them. It is not uncommon to find that God has given you something about yourself!

Friday 8 February 2013

Awesome Responsibility

First, some updates:  The flights have been booked!  We're counting down to April 30th when we will fly out of Calgary with the HOH Team!  Lacey has raised $1680 so far. (Woo Hoo!!)  I have raised $300. I am looking for a job to help me raise funds, though so far it has been difficult to find something that works around church and our family's schedule.  We will be booking our immunizations soon (ouch!) and are continuing to look for businesses to donate to our online auction, which will unfortunately will not be able to take place before Valentine's Day.

Now to the reason I'm writing today.  I recently received an amazing and completely unexpected donation.  I was so touched by it that I started thinking about how much I feel responsible to each of our donors.  Let me explain.  We, of course, are seeking to do what we can for the women and children of Rwanda and Kenya.  We want to be tools in the hands of our Heavenly Father.  We must not, however, forget that you, our donors, have entrusted us with a great responsibility to see through this mission trip.  We must work hard to raise the funds to completely pay for our trip so that we are able to go to Africa and do this work.  When we are there, we promise to remember each of you as we do the work we are assigned to.  When we see the faces of the children, we will remember that it is because of you that we are able to help them.  It is an awesome responsibility and one we do not take lightly.

In closing I would like to share with you a video about one of the ministries we will be involved in.  It is called The Stella Project.
A special thanks to each of you who has donated, read our blog and said a prayer for us.  May you be greatly blessed!
Love,
Michelle