A Call

Hello friends~

I want to share with you a few things that have been on my heart lately. As you know, about a year and a half ago, I started a program at Lipscomb for Professional Counseling. It has been quite a ride and I've barely just reached the half way point! It has challenged me, opened me, taught me, made me face my own prejudices and judgments, and it has healed me. But by far, I am most grateful for the friends I have made.

One of them, Quincee, has an incredible story! She is an inspiration to me and I am continually blessed by her. One of the first things you realize about Quincee is what a huge heart she has...and that Africa has a huge part of that heart. I've enjoyed hearing her stories & being a part of her life. In the past I've been involved with organizations such as World Vision, WKU's Taking the Initiative under World Vision's ACT:S Program, and Invisible Children...always in working to help orphans. I now have the opportunity to be a part of what God is doing in her life. She is working with an organization called eXile International & has just started a non-profit.

I was contemplating joining her on her trip to Congo this Christmas, but didn't feel like I had a definitive answer from the Lord on whether or not to go. I love to travel. And I like to help people. But I realize how huge the work that Quincee is doing will be and if I'm going to be a part of this, I want to know that it's not just because I want to go. I want to know that the LORD has called me to be a part of His work in this manner. I don't ask this lightly, but if you feel led, please pray with me as I ask Him for direction and discretion. Quincee has spoken with me about how she sees me being involved and I have the opportunity to go with her on her second trip to Congo this coming May. In the next few months I will need an answer. And if that is to go, I will need a lot more to prep for travel.

I have included the email Quincee sent out a few days ago about her non-profit for your information. May the Lord be glorified in your lives!

In Him...





In less than 17 days, I'll be boarding a plane with bags packed and heart awaiting to see my sweet African muffins again! Most of you know that the continent of Africa stole my affections in 2006 when I worked in an AIDS orphans camp in Lusaka, Zambia. My eyes have been opened to an entire continent suffering from impoverishment, rampant disease and warfare. Each time I spent time in Africa, the same thoughts reverberated in my head: How can I even attempt to walk a child, who has suffered so immensely, through healing? I felt I had no training and no skills.

Many things have changed since my initial time in Zambia in 2006. With some graduate training under my belt and the support of such sweet souls across America, I have started a nonprofit organization, The Nameless Project, specifically aimed at the psychological healing of traumatized child soldiers and war-affected children in Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Sudan. These children walk around without any record of their existence, only to be captured by the Lord's Resistance Army (or any other of the 6 militant rebel groups roaming the mountains of Congo) where all semblance of an identity is stolen. The stories of these children are chilling, heartbreaking and heroic. After years of hiding behind AK-47's and being acculturated into the diluted thinking of Joseph Kony and other rebel leaders, these children escape and begin their search for some community to offer refuge. These kids aren't nameless, their stories just go unnamed.

We find these children broken, lonely, sick and seriously traumatized....and I get to spend Christmas with 120 of them in Congo! Each of these former sex slaves has been rescued from the bush after escaping the LRA and the brutal hands of their rebel war leader "husbands." I get to sit across the table from them and walk them through art and expressive therapy. I get to hold their hands while they are dancing by campfires. I get the privilege of singing with them when their tears are too much to handle.

I am so stinking lucky! My hope is that each of you will continue to remember these girls when you are sitting around your Christmas trees, holding candles in midnight Christmas Eve services and opening up gifts from loved ones. I will be blogging while I am over there (although consistency with internet access is bound to be an issue...we're talking about Africa) and I invite you to read along, look at the pictures and watch the change that happens over time. You can follow the blog at namesfornameless.blogspot.com!

One last thing: several people have asked how they can be a part of this journey. There is an immense need with these girls (most of whom are currently pregnant or suffering diseases because of their sex trafficking). I will be taking donated funds to Congo in order to buy supplies while I'm there (because it's less expensive and easier to acquire), but you can't always find everything you need in a third world country. So...I have included a list of things you can donate:

.toothbrushes.
.tooth paste.
.children's books.
.underwear (for girls ranging between ages 3-18).
.art supplies: paint, brushes, construction paper, colored pencils, pencils, crayons, markers, notebook paper, etc.
.soap.


All donations can be mailed to:
The Nameless Project
c/o Quincee
1350 Rosa L Parks Blvd #419
Nashville, TN 37208


I can't wait to share this journey with you!

His,
q


Quincee
Founder
The Nameless Project
1350 Rosa L Parks Blvd #419
Nashville, TN 37208
quincee@thenamelessproject.org
New website launching in January'11: www.thenamelessproject.org