Meeting fellow servants...

Thursday night Joy came in from Boone and we drove to Charlotte to her friend's place.  I must say we hadn't had much time to talk, so I thought we were going down there to hear David Johnson speak at a church or auditorium.  Well, I learn as we are pulling in that we were there just to "hang out" with fellow believers that have hearts for the oppressed.  I asked Joy: "So David Johnson (1) is coming to just 'hang out'"?  She looked at me kinda funny and said "well, Yea."  You see, in my mind he's kind of famous in a way due to his involvement in helping the oppressed people of Sudan.  He is doing something I have dreaming of for the past year and a half.   

Here Chris was trying to send me with a video camera to tape the "speakers", but I told him I wasn't going to take it because I'd be the only dork with a camera.  Boy would I have felt like a ding dong walking up in there with my video camera.  Sure am glad Joy saved the day.  Poor Chris, just wanted to be able to hear. 

Any way, so we ended up being the first ones there. We walk into this super cool apartment in downtown Charlotte and meet the most precious couple.  They were so down to earth and on fire!  There were 12 of us there all together; a few couples, David, Joy and I.  Well, a long story short, David has actually been to the Livingstone House and stayed there!  Later on in the night I asked if he could remember when he first started learning about the horrific acts happening in Sudan.  To which he replied "I was actually sitting at your kitchen table at the Livingstone house about a year and a half ago."  The guy he had traveled to Ethiopia with wanted him to know what he was getting himself into if he wanted to shoot in Sudan.  So he slid him some papers and a book to him, sitting at that kitchen table.  I'm flippin' out!  I just thought that was the coolest thing ever!  I had a million other questions to ask him about Sudan, but forgot most of them.  

... Who knows though, maybe he'll come back to the Livingstone house one day.  

(1.) David has traveled around the world doing documentaries  of oppressed, persecuted, and suffering individuals.  His heaviest involvement being in Sudan.  Purchasing Voices of Sudan is well worth your money as ALL of the proceeds go to provide relief efforts to the Sudanese.  The book is only $20 and is a great way to educate others on what is happening in Sudan. 

Getting Closer

I know, this update is long overdue.  It is getting harder to blog the closer we get to leaving.  June 16th is the official date for those who haven't heard.  Just to catch you up on what we've been doing, here are a few pictures (y'all know I'm crazy about capturing every precious last moment on camera):

Beth, Elizabeth, Levi, and I battled the wind at "Spring Daze" (or May Days) selling jewelry to benefit missions.  Despite the ferocious wind,  we actually did have a lot of fun!

Dinner at Dr. Ben, Hyrine, and Benji Omungu's home.  Hyrine added her Kenyan touch for a delicious meal and wonderful fellowship last night.  What a blessing this family has been to us!  We can't wait to discover how we can help in their visions for Kenya.  We hope to serve along side them in July!

We took our last trip to the coast (with my family in tow) to see Chris' family and speak at Salem Baptist.  It was so fun having both families together and in full support. 

A proud Aunt and Uncle right here.  (I'm always trying to think of ways to sneak pics of our niece and nephew on the ministry blog.)  

   Dad and Levi catching some Z's before Dinner.

We will do our best to keep you updated between trying to spend time with family and friends, pack up, sell, and move. 

I will try to post after this Thursday's trip to Charlotte to hear David Johnson (Voices of Sudan) speak more about genocide.

Darfur Genocide

If you want to know more about this heinous act happening right now, click here and read Darfur for Dummies.  

"Benefit'n it up"

In Random Order- Here are the pics we promised from Saturday night:

Aunt Vicki- servin' it up with her mad sketti skills.

Jennifer and Courtney could sell a pair of running shoes to a turtle.  They were perfect for this table! "Someone's in the kitchen with Dina" or as Chris would say "Someone's in the kitchen with Dianna"  hehe
ahhh... my favorite.  DESSERT!  We had a secret contest on the desserts and Matt Rollins wins with his massively delicious homemade oatmeal cookies.  They were 'slap yo mama" good.  (Unfortunately, I did not get to taste ALL the desserts as I originally planned, but I did manage an oatmeal cookie)

Levi sportin' his Kenya braclet he got for being a helper Saturday Night.  

(He tried to pay me for it, but I snuck it back in his pocket.)

Joy and Emma getting a power snack (aka: cheerio's) before the big night
 If you just thought you didn't want anything, just talk to Courtney about the little naked boy from the bush... that'll get em' every time. 

Praise and Worship with Josh squared, Thad show.  It was nothing short of AWESOME!
Mom, slaving away in the kitchen.  

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PUT ANYTHING INTO THIS EVENING.  ALL YOUR HARD WORK PAID OFF!  WE LOVE YOU ALL FOR BLESSING US WITH YOUR TIME, DEDICATION, AND SWEAT.  THE KINGDOM FURTHERS!

Empty

"I know that you can do all things;  No plan of yours can be thwarted."

Job 42:2

God's word never returns to him void.  We have that assurance from scripture.  This truth was proven, yet again, this past weekend.  We'd like to share how good our Father was and is to us through this past weekend's events:

God did it!  It wasn't Chris & Lindy's plan.  It wasn't our reason for having this event.  This was for His glory and the kingdom's purpose.  Do you know how God blessed these efforts?  Do you have any idea how God blessed us through the giving over this past weekend?  Let me share with you, because you are probably reading this with great anticipation:

God blessed us with over 200!  You read that correctly; over 200!  We are absolutely humbled by that number!  Lindy and I both were so excited Saturday night as we laid in bed talking about the evening.  Can anybody be more rich than us?  Nope, cause we got 200!  200 real, quality-filled, earnestly devoted, proudly supportive, humbly generous family members reminded us that we aren't leaving the palace on June 16th after all.   We will be carrying the wealth of those relationships with us to the uttermost!  Therefore, we are truly rich!

God puts blessings in open hands.  The preliminary monetary total for the evening:  $9634.00 This number has left us speechless.  We are amazed as God did what God said He would.   Yet, even before this weekend, we began to see the most impressive evidence of God's blessing.  And as the evening wore on  we realized that this number was no where near as impressive as watching YOU give us your devotion and love.  

We truly are empty of words.  

~Thomas Christopher Thompson & Lindy Rollins Thompson

PS:  We will give you more highlights and pictures of the evening later this week.

Being a part of this Ministry

As we have shared the story of what God is doing in our lives and in Africa, there have been many people who have asked how they can help.  We have been moved by these requests.  Let me say this, "Yes, you can have a huge part in what this ministry is all about."  Here are the ways we would encourage you and your family to become actively involved in this ministry:

1.  Join our team.  When you supply us your personal information like email and physical address, we are able to update you on multiple levels.  This is a great way to receive continual insight into what God is doing.  Plus, it allows us to mail periodical literature to you that are relevant to the ministry.   If you haven't submitted your information, please do so:  chrisandlindyt@gmail.com 

2.  Develop your Prayer Warrior side.  None of what has been done thus far could have been accomplished apart from serious and earnest prayer.  Nothing from here forward can be accomplished without prayer and obedience.  We cannot do this without your spirit being involved.  Daily you and your family can be affecting lives in Africa for God's kingdom.  When you sign up for updates (via email and our website), you will discover countless ways to be involved from a prayer aspect.  

3.  Faithful Steward.  Yes, we need the financial support from more than just one or two people to continue this ministry.  If you can and would like to be a part of supporting us, then here are a couple of ways to do so:

Send your check to:        Outreach Christian Fellowship

  (taxable donations)                      PO Box 7637

                                             Tyler, TX  75711

 *Please write on the outside of the envelope that it is for Chris & Lindy Thompson.

   Or click here for a quick donation to this ministry:

Livingstone House

In a continuing effort to be as intentional as possible through the ministries we are overseeing, we hope you'll take time to view this promotion of the guest house. It's not a professional commercial, but we think it gives a clear message as to its purpose and capabilities. We hope to have a fully-functioning website soon that will offer even more interaction.

Thank you all for your continuing support and interest in what Our Father is doing through our meager, and often naive, sacrifice of obedience. Our days here may be shortening, but those on glory's side are simply that much closer!

~C&L