Turkey Hunting has an all new meaning

Russ caught his first turkey this year, only not in the way he imagined. Actually, the turkey could have caught his first human if not for God's protection.

The turkey left blood and feathers all throughout Russ' car after going through his windshield.

The turkey went through the windshield and was trying to bite Russ. Russ was able to kick him out of the way so that he could slow his car down. By the time Russ pulled off the road, the turkey had bled out and died. Russ and his friends were going to eat it, but he was pretty mangled and had some glass in his meat. So Russ, you'll have to catch another turkey for Thanksgiving...maybe next time use a gun???

Home Again!

Ever Heard of Anything Called "American Choc?" mmmm, I know that tastes good!

Sam, whom we called our "tour manager," along with his wife Julie, hosted us for the two weeks and set up bunches of speaking opportunities!

"ON AIR"
David and Kristen (I was too chicken) shared on the radio about BMH.

James (5 years old) sat through a record amount of church services (up to three in one day) during our visit in Australia. You did a great job Jamsy! I love you.

Thomas and James were our little Aussie hosts for the two weeks. They let Kristen and I sleep in their room (Kristen even got to sleep in James' really cool Car Bed.) Thanks boys!

Australia Tour

Pictures from the Park

I generally post about BMH stuff, so I thought I would make this one a little more personal. A day at the park with Mary and Abby...and than some pics of an afternoon at the duck pond...which I must add that at the duck pond Beth, Becca, Rose, Mary, and I got attacked by a duck. We survived and are still smiling!

Yippee I made it back to Sunny San Diego

Ohio in the winter....mmmm isn't it beautiful. David, Andrew, and I were in Ohio to share about BMH with churches and Bible studies in the area. We were so blessed to be able to stay in such a beautiful area. John and Joellen McLaughlin were our hosts for the week. I was amazed by the beauty literally right outside their back door.

After Ohio, David and I went to Illinois to share about BMH. While in Springfield, IL we were able to tour Abe Lincoln's home (our only tourist stop of the trip. We need to stop more often cuz there are so many interesting things to see in the different states.) This room that we are in was Mary's room. Check out that wallpaper!

So David and I were pretty amazed at this, but when I showed Kristen this picture, she started laughing (being from PA, seeing ducks standing on a frozen lake isn't such a novelty for K :)

I spoke at an adoption conference in IL that hosted Children of Hope (an orphan choir). They are so adorable. I took this picture thinking of my friend who is starting an adoption from Liberia. These children are from Uganda...a country that is ravished with aids...a country where their parents die at such a young age, that children end up leading families.

Orphan Choir from Around the World

Retreat 08 Pictures

My absolute favorite picture! We go snow on Sunday!

"Mary, whatcha thinking about?"

Dad and I having our morning tea.

We ran out of beds (because there were so many girls on the trip)
so all the boys slept on one futon :)

Nate, What did they do to you???
Were you taking up too much room on the futon?
He must be in futon hogging jail.

2008 BMH Gymnastic Compitition

Wowie look and her go!

How on earth did I agree to this?

Dad, that is really nice...hummm yeah

Go line dancers!

Most of our staff team.

Christmas Photos Bolt Family

November Newsletter

Extreme Emotions
November 25, 2007

It has been such a joy working with Bring Me Hope; however, the reality that this ministry is an emotional roller coaster has fully set in. Earlier this week, I talked with my friend who, through a broken voice, said, “She had the abortion.... I followed her there in a taxi, and I tried to intervene….” I cried with my friend, I prayed for the empty and broken Chinese mother, I ached for the life lost.

The lovely part is BMH is not an all “downer” job. Becca, my sister, just walked in the house saying, “Guess what? ---- (a good friend of ours) just became a Christian.” The agony of abortion and the absolute joy of salvation marked the two extreme emotions for this week.

Over the past few months, BMH’s focus has been fundraising. In October, we spoke at different churches, Bible studies, and meetings in the San Diego area. In November, the BMH team went to NJ for a similar tour there. I love working in a job where I get to watch God transform people and families, as they get involved in an orphan’s life.

In my personal life, God has been showing me how He is the Provider, Jehovah Jireh. If I obey Him and walk in His will, He will provide everything I need. Even in times of my poor planning, He provides. During our NJ Benefit Concert I needed to supply dinner for the “Green Room.” I thought one lasagna, salad, and bread would be plenty. When I walked into the area where the band was warming up, I immediately realized that the lasagna was not enough. These guys were huge, and there were 7 of them. Through a friend of mine God provided miraculously. Thirty minutes later, Deb brought 4 pizzas. Anyways, with the pizzas, lasagna, salad, and bread, the band ate, the BMH staff team ate…and there were leftovers! My takeaway, God provides! And He will provide for you too as you walk in His will and obey Him!

Christmas Staff Photos

David, Beth, Becca, Patti, Peter, Christy, Kristen, Nate, Anna, and Perilla

Peter, Christy, Patti, David, Becca, Beth, Kristen, and Nate

Thank You

Thank you so much for praying for me during my visit in TN. It was a great visit. The sharing times went pretty well and provided me and Becca with the opportunity to share as leaders of BMH! Who knows what the outcome of our sharing will be, but I have confidence that the results are in God's hands. Whether someone will come to China or adopt or if we just planted seeds...it doesn't matter. The goal of my life is to bring glory to God! Not to recruit a certain number of volunteers.

Tennessee to visit Grammy and Grandaddy

Beth, Becca, and I are headed off to TN to visit my Grammy and Grandaddy tomorrow. I am so excited! We have been wanting to make it out there ever since my Grammy moved into her new home. She was widowed over a year ago, and now has a new home...ready to host us girls (her home before was too small). So, for those of you who know Grammy, you know we are in for the time of our lives...

What is really cool about this trip too, is that Becca and I are going to share about BMH at Grammy's church and at Grandaddy's Sunday School class. I'm really kind of nervous, because this will be the first time that I am the leader...in all the other BMH trips I've been on, David or Nate have lead the sharing times, and I just add my story when appropriate. This will be my first time giving the intro into what BMH is in front of a large congregation. Becca will do most of the sharing at the Sunday school, but I just found out from Grandaddy that the Sunday school has 60 single and married young people in it. Yikes! Please pray for Becca, Beth and I as we present BMH.

More Pics from our NJ Tour

Chatting at our Benefit Show.

Jenny, Emmy and Me

The Best News Ever

Dong Li and Dong Ya's orphanage said, Yes! There are so many steps in the adoption process. And a huge one is that the orphanage must be willing to do the girls paperwork. The orphanage didn't file their paperwork before because they thought that no one would want 9-year-old twins. Now, we have to pray that the CCAA (the Chinese Adoption Affairs) will put the girls paperwork in A Helping Hands pile. If they do not put the girls paperwork in A Helping Hands pile, than the family that wants to adopt them, probably won't get them. The good news is, that becuase the orphanage is going to do their paperwork, for sure they will get adopted!!!

We're Back

David, Adam, and I made it back to sunny San Diego. We were pretty cold in NJ...but look at the colors in the trees. It was beautiful there. I never get to see the changing of the colors, unless I travel. While in NJ, we were able to share with so many people about Bring Me Hope. People warmly received us and were really interested in what BMH is doing. We even had one family say they feel called to adopt!!!

Kristen and I stayed at the Padden's house (you can see there daughter in the picture). We felt so loved and taken care of by their family. It was just like being at home. They have 5 girls and 2 boys too! They just adopted Eli, one of the kids that was in the preschool that David and I taught at PHF 4 years ago. I love to see children who were once orphans in a family. They are forever changed. Eli came home 8 weeks ago.

We had a benefit concert as the final event of our tour. The band, Unspoken came and did the music. I was able to speak with some of the band members while we were eating dinner. I was so blessed by how friendly they were and interested in what is going on with Bring Me Hope. The band was able to draw new people to the benefit that otherwise would not have heard about BMH. As a result, 10 people filled out "Go Cards" expressing interest in volunteering Summer 2008.

Now that I'm back home, I'm working on planning future tours, our winter retreat, and starting to think about Summer Camp 2008.