We just want to know we haven't been forgotten

**We were so amazed with these sweet kids. Mom + baby and 8 children came out of South Sudan to the refugee camp for safety. Mom left the wood poles and the tarps while she left to take baby to the doctor a few hours away. These brothers and sisters worked together to sew this 'home' together. The oldest brother(14) is cooking and caring for all the younger while mom is away. She will be so proud when she returns and sees how well they've done.️ They are my heroes. Please pray for this family and the thousands of others just like them that have left their 'homeland,' and pray that we may be a light to them. Greetings from Uganda! We have had our feet back in Uganda for 6 weeks. Everyone has settled in nicely and we are ready to start our new school year. The kids have all adjusted well and have only struggled with some boredom. School will fix that I am sure. Thank you for continuing to pray specifically for our children as we begin a new homeschool year with a new curriculum + a new teacher. So much is going on here and we feel that we need to share more details with you so that you can specifically pray for the people we work with here in Northern Uganda and South Sudan. Below are updates on the YWAM bases that we work with in South Sudan. Some have evacuated and some have stayed. Please join us in praying for these families as many are separated and many have no idea when they will be able to return to their homes. The following was compiled by our fellow YWAMer John Wright and it gives a good break down of what is happening currently with the 4 South Sudan bases. Our Arua Uganda base it quite full and we are loving on and encouraging those who are here with us. The outbreak of fighting has had a serious impact on our YWAM teams across South Sudan.  The photo above shows the team we had in Juba, including a South Sudanese/French family, Paremmi and Nathalie (on the right) and their 3 children, who had previously been in Malakal when the fighting broke out there several years ago. The flighting in Juba broke out while Nathalie and the children were visiting friends with MAF. They ended up staying in the MAF compound while the fighting continued on the streets outside. After a number of days they were able to get to the French embassy, and from there were flown to Entebbe, Uganda. We were able to organize a taxi to pick them up and bring them to Arua where they are now. Paremmi has chosen to remain in Juba to protect their house from looting. Other South Sudanese staff have also chosen to remain.   In Wau, in the northwest of South Sudan, the fighting in Juba sparked off similar fighting between the Dinka and non-Dinka. All of the local people sent their families to the villages, a place of relative safety. Christopher and Hanan, who lead the new team in Wau, are from a different part of South Sudan, so with nowhere to go, they felt unsafe. With the generosity of the supporters in the US and the help of AIM AIR we were able to fly them out of Wau to Arua. It was all touch and go as the government at first was not allowing South Sudanese out of the country. But God opened the door and they are now here in Arua. In Yei, things have been quieter. With very few Dinka in the town, the Dinka have felt unsafe and (both civilian and military) have largely remained in the army barracks. However, many young Kakwa men have been joining the rebels. Although they have lacked firepower they are an increasing and unknown force. Incidents of robbery and lawlessness have increased. However on the YWAM Base they had just started a Discipleship Training School with eleven students. Staff were pouring their hearts into the students. With all the insecurity and rumours flying around town the foreign staff (six staff and two children) eventually and reluctantly, decided to come out of South Sudan to Arua. For our friends, the Becks, this was their second evacuation from South Sudan in three years. The South Sudanese staff have for now decided to remain in Yei. However access to food is becoming a problem as there is very little being brought into the town, so prices are rising. They are now thinking of trying to get their families out of Yei.  In Lobone, in Eastern Equatoria there has not been any fighting, however, it seems that the local leaders and administration in the region have sided with the rebels. Everyone remains on edge because they don't know if an attack is coming. For our YWAM team, most of the staff are now in Uganda, in a town called Kitgum, although it is still possible for South Sudanese to move back and forth to Lobone. We have been going to the Rhino Refugee Camp weekly helping in practical ways, listening to stories and encouraging those who have been forced from their homeland. The stories are hard, the people are strong and they simply need to know that "they have NOT been forgotten" Please pray for us as we minister to these broken people. Pray that they would see the light of Christ in us & that we would be able to share Jesus with them and their lives will be redeemed. For Him~ Sid, Wendy + the Tribe

Thursday we spent time listening to people's stories of coming to Northern Uganda from South Sudan. Stories of loss. Stories of grief. We met orphaned children that strangers had brought across the border and continue to care for. We met an elderly widow desperate to just have a roof over her head. My heart is broken for these mamas, daddy's & children. People just like you and me who love their country yet fear for safety + not having things to meet their daily needs like food and medicine. We prayed over a sick mama. Transported an injured young man to a clinic. We played games and sang songs about Jesus with sweet little ones that have only been in their new home 2 weeks. This home. And yet there was chatting & laughter and playing. People surviving. People helping one another. People loving one another. My heart has been broken (Again) for what breaks His heart.   Levi back at school with his friend Lynette. He has finished this term of school and will return for the final term Sept.26th. Please pray for Levi as he continues to have chronic ear infections. We will see an ENT in Kampala in September to see if it's possible to place tubes in his ears again.   This young man was making his way through the bush walking out of South Sudan when he found these 3 little girls + their baby sister. They do not know where their parents are or if they are alive. The woman next to him is helping to care for the children. Please pray that these girls can be reunited with their family.

Thank You for your continued prayer for our family as we serve in Northern Uganda and South Sudan. Please continue to pray for these current prayer points. Blessings to ALL of you! Pray for the start to our homeschool year Pray for our Teacher Kayla that is joining us Sept. 1st Pray for our ministry at the refugee camp Pray for Baylie as she serves for 2 weeks with No.41 in Rwanda Pray for Health for the WHOLE family Pray as we continue the Ugandan adoption process How You Can Help... Prayer is first and foremost essential to our ministry. We cannot thank you enough for faithfully praying for us. Partnership through monthly support or one-time tax deductible donations through our DONATE button below or via check to:                  LINKS USA                  503 FM 359, Suite 130 #116                  Richmond, TX 77406                  Re: Harper Family

It Takes A Village Ya'll ~ #harpertribeadoption

#ittakesavillageyall

We know it really does take a village! 

Fall is in the air ya'll. 

Check out this super soft, super comfy Raglan. Great for cooler weather, football games & so cute!

ALL Proceeds go towards our adoption of two sweet little Ugandan cuties 

(referral coming SOON!)

Grab Yours TODAY!!!

Don't want a B-ball T but want to make a tax-deductible donation 

CLICK HERE 

READ About our Adoption HERE

Because of His GREAT LOVE for us before the world even began... We were chosen BY GOD to be adopted as His children... WE LOVE because HE FIRST LOVED us... A pure act of FAITH is to care for HIS CHILDREN just as He cared for us...ADOPTION is partnering with JESUS to see lives transformed... Adoption is a Miracle!

Home Again Home Again Jiggety Jig... #thisugandahome

Thank you for Praying us HOME! Our #furloughfun started with traveling from North Carolina to Texas followed by Prom, Sydnie's Graduation Party, Granny's 90th Birthday, seizures, stitches, Church camp x5, Kayaking the Llano River, VBS, Eye appt.'s, Dentist appt.'s, Heart checks, Dentist x11, Eye doctor x6, hiking Guadalupe peak, hiking Enchanted Rock, Water Park, Texas Ranger's, Six Flags + Family Vacation... All of that plus a lot of amazing time with family, old friends & new friends helped us to reflect and process our first 18 months living in full-time missions. We all had such a wonderful time + we were blessed to have so many opportunities to share about all that God has done since we headed to Uganda in December of 2014. We are now back at our home in Arua, Uganda. Settling back into life in a different culture, reconnecting with our ministry partners + sharing about our time in the States. (Missing Family & Chick-fil-a) We are refreshed and refilled and looking forward to all that God has for us as a family. We can not thank all of you enough for your love and encouragement and for continuing to pray for us. We realize that none of this would be possible without YOU! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Looking forward to updating you on all the crazy wonderful things God is doing here! For Him~ Sid, Wendy + the Tribe

Baylie"s Prom Night Connecting with friends Sydnie Senior 2016

Thank You for your continued prayer for our family as we serve in Northern Uganda and South Sudan. Please continue to pray for these current prayer points. Blessings to ALL of you! Pray for the start to our homeschool year Pray for our Teacher Kayla that is joining us Sept. 1st Pray for housing near the YWAM base Pray for Health for the WHOLE family Pray as we continue the Ugandan adoption process How You Can Help... Prayer is first and foremost essential to our ministry. We cannot thank you enough for faithfully praying for us. Partnership through monthly support or one-time tax deductible donations through our DONATE button below or via check to:                  LINKS USA                  503 FM 359, Suite 130 #116                  Richmond, TX 77406                  Re: Harper Family

Adoption ~ Something to Live & Die For

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 that we know and holds us responsible to act.”

If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done? ~Proverbs 24:12

It's been 6+ years since God first laid adoption on our hearts, and we thought He was crazy because you know We. Already. Had. 7 children!!! But Hey, we serve a crazy radical Savior. God has a way of transforming our hearts and opening our eyes and once they're opened there's no going back. That's what God has done to us! It's been almost 6 years since we traveled home from Ukraine with Charlie & Levi. In so many ways it seems like yesterday & in other ways it seems like they have been ours forever. They've become wholly and completely part of our family and we can not imagine life without them.

Since 2011 we knew that one day we would adopt again. In God's timing not ours. 7 months ago we began the process to adopt and we have now been submitted to USCIS and are waiting for our approval. Once that happens we will get a referral for 2 sweet children from Uganda. Since we live in Uganda we will be able to foster the children for one year and then finalize the adoption. We are excited and looking forward to finding out who God has handpicked for our family.

We have set up a tax-deductible place for people to join us in this journey through donating to bring our little ones home. Our immediate need is $8150 due within the month and our total adoption costs will be approx. $36,000 $27,859. Would you be willing to pray about coming alongside us and giving towards our adoption? We are stepping out in faith, trusting and knowing that God will provide. We know adoption is costly but It. Is. Worth. EVERY. Penny.

Thank you ahead of time for your donation and most of all for covering our adoption in prayer as we move forward. You can visit the link below to read more and to DONATE towards the 2 newest Harper's.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

My favorite quote EVER!

"I wanted something to live and die for...to breathe and bleed for. I'm not interested in trying to figure out ways to make my life safe and preserve my comfort...That's one of the reasons why we adopt in a radical way. I on purpose set myself up to where I've got so much pressure I gotta run after Jesus..."

~Derek Loux

~~~~DONATE~~~~

It Takes A Village ~ #harpertribeadoption

It Takes A Village Tank
48 hour PRE-SALE
May 11th & May 12th

Grab one of these super soft tanks designed by the talented Michal Moffitt and be apart of our adoption journey to add two sweet little ones to our family. These are my favorite tanks & you will love them! Tanks run true to size and are super comfy. Order yours TODAY!!!!

SIZE

X-Small $30.00 USD Small $30.00 USD Medium $30.00 USD Large $30.00 USD X-Large $30.00 USD

COLORS

Blue Brown Gray

Thank You for loving, supporting and most of all praying for our family as we continue through the adoption process.

Furlough Fun + Reflecting & Processing

Hello USA, We have had our feet in the states for over a month already! We finally arrived in our hometown & it has been wonderful to see family and friends. We are looking forward to a time of R & R + processing and reflecting on the past 18 months. Here's a quick rundown of what the past month has looked like. It has been amazing and we have been blessed every step of the way. We traveled 9hrs by car to Kampala where we spent a couple of nights before flying out of Entebbe. Our flights were changed last minute due to the airport closure in Brussels, but we were able to get on a new flight and actually arrived in the states a few hours earlier. Whew! After 35hrs of travel we landed into Charlotte, NC and we were greeted by a dear friend and spoiled for 5 days by their family and The Refuge - Salisbury. We were pampered, filled with yummy food + spiritual food. It was such a welcoming place to spend our first few jet-lagged days. We were fortunate to find a 15 passenger van in NC for our time in the states. We then traveled on to Knoxville, TN where we spent time with our sweet friends the Spencer family and Grace Chapel Knoxville. We continued to put on our "Furlough Fifteen" and had an amazing time with 4 parents & 14 kiddos. It was so great! They sent us on our way to Nashville, TN where we shared with a group of friends at the Stowe families home + roasted hotdogs and s'mores. Yum! We also shared at The Refuge - Smyrna and Grace Chapel- Leiper's Fork where we were spiritually filled and loved on by our Grace Chapel family where we worshipped for many years. So thankful for all of our friends there who love and pray for us and who are all a part of our story to the mission field. We hit the road and headed to the warmer state of TEXAS {home} We had a great time visiting my (Wendy) brother in Dallas And Sid's Aunt & Uncle + sharing with a wonderful small group fromThe Village-Dallas. The Jennings Family opened their home to us and it was so fun to catch up with them and meet their newest baby. We ventured just a little ways down the road to Red Oak and attended The Oaks where ironically they are doing a series on "ALL IN" and blessed us by opening their special needs class for Charlie & Levi. We shared at our friends the Garcia's and loved on their sweet baby girls. Next we moved on down the road to Bryan, Tx where we spent a few days with the Elder Family andDeclaration Church and enjoyed a few days of rain. The kids were troopers the whole time as we drew closer to home. We headed to warmer weather in Houston, Texas where we shared with a group from The Met &Crossbridge + spent time with our #linksfamily. So encouraging. Finally we landed in Brady, Tx with Sid's brothers family and had a fun few days playing in the sun and sharing with friends from Redeemer Church. Every bit of this crazy month has been amazing and we are SO thankful for every one of you that welcomed us with open arms and open hearts. We are excited to meet and share about all God is doing with our home churchStonegate Fellowship here in Midland, Tx and thankful for First Baptist Church for providing a place to call home while we are here. We hope to see each of you while we are here. Thank you! Thank You! Thank You! to everyone that has loved on us the past month. You have blessed our entire family and we have made some great friends and great memories along the way. For Him~ Sid, Wendy + the Tribe

Meeting our niece for the first time Great time with the Elder's and Declaration Church in Bryan, TX Thank you to The Bollinger's and Links International

Thank You for your continued prayer for our family as we serve in Northern Uganda and South Sudan. Please continue to pray for these current prayer points. Blessings to ALL of you! Pray for Rest & Restoration while on furlough Pray for time of Processing and Reflecting on the past 18 months Pray for Health for the WHOLE family Pray as we continue the Ugandan adoption process How You Can Help... Prayer is first and foremost essential to our ministry. We cannot thank you enough for faithfully praying for us. Partnership through monthly support or one-time tax deductible donations through our DONATE button below or via check to:                  LINKS USA                  503 FM 359, Suite 130 #116                  Richmond, TX 77406                  Re: Harper Family

New Believer's, South Africa + Furlough

Greetings from Uganda! We hope this newsletter finds you all doing well and that you have had a wonderful Spring Break! We are excited that a little rain has returned to cool things down a bit. Today's high... 94. We are in the final stretch of wrapping things up here in Uganda so that we can head stateside for 3 months. It is such a challenge to take care of all that needs to be done here so that we can be gone, as well as plan our time stateside. We are looking forward to meeting with many of you to share about all God is doing here. What's been going on????  We just finished a busy season of hosting outreach teams and have been super blessed. We have seen lives transformed because of their hearts for the lost. We are already gearing up for another influx of DTS(Discipleship Training School) outreach teams and look forward to seeing them minister to people and share the gospel. It's truly amazing to see these young people's lives transformed and watch as they use all they've learned in DTS to teach, preach and reach people for Christ. Read DTS Student Emily's post about leading people to Christ HERE We had a wonderful week long teaching with Paul Ford from Church Resource Ministries learning more about leadership and teambuilding. It was truly an amazing time of bringing our YWAM staff together so that we may work better together to bring glory to God. Wendy traveled to South Africa to surprise Sydnie at her DTS(Discipleship Training School) Graduation. She never suspected a thing and there were lots of tears when she saw her. They enjoyed a few days seeing the beautiful sites of Cape Town and Wendy enjoyed meeting the YWAM staff and Sydnie's classmates. Sydnie has returned to Midland and is praying about what her next steps will be. Lacey has settled in Midland, Tx working and preparing to start back to school to work towards getting her photojournalism degree. We are looking forward to spending time with her. The rest of the kids are finishing up there homeschool year and are so excited about having a break from school. When I asked them what they were most looking forward to, this is what I heard:  seeing family and friends, water pressure, hot water, clean feet, electricity that stays on, air-conditioning, church camp, cheddar cheese, Rosa's & Chick-fil-a. LOL! All things that they've missed. Sid has continued to work in the administration office training new staff on all things financial + overseeing the building projects on the base. He has his hands in so many things and is really impacting peoples lives here. As much as we LOVE where God has our family right now, we are really looking forward to some downtime to reflect and look forward to all God has for us in the next couple of years. We are anxious to see family and friends and are praying that this 3 months will be a time of refilling for all of us so that we can continue to serve here in Northern Uganda and South Sudan. Blessings to ALL of you ! We will be looking to hug your necks in just a few weeks! Can't Wait! For Him~ Sid, Wendy + the Tribe

We are headed stateside April 1st- July 15th Hope to see you! Wendy & Sydnie on Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa Sid at the Nile River just above Murchison Falls

Thank You for your continued prayer for our family as we serve in Northern Uganda and South Sudan. Please continue to pray for these current prayer points. Blessings to ALL of you! Pray for us as we travel March 31st Pray for Sydnie as she fundraises for her Bible School Pray for Health for the WHOLE family Pray as we continue the Ugandan adoption process How You Can Help... Prayer is first and foremost essential to our ministry. We cannot thank you enough for faithfully praying for us. Partnership through monthly support or one-time tax deductible donations through our DONATE button below or via check to:                  LINKS USA                  503 FM 359, Suite 130 #116                  Richmond, TX 77406                  Re: Harper Family