Help A Family Adopt!!

Those of you who've known me for a while have heard about Kanakuk... a Christian athletic camp that I was a camper and staffer at .... and here's what one of the directors is up to:

Links:
http://www.ablissfulheart.blogspot.com/
http://www.kanakuk.com/
http://andybraner.typepad.com/

Calling All Bloggers....LETS ROLL!
Ok everybody, here's a GRAND opportunity to do something AWESOME!!!
Most of you know, Jamie Jo and I are involved in an adoption fellowship group. It meets every month, and we've had an incredible journey getting to know families from around our area that are interested in adoption.

Well, one of the families that come each Thursday are the Gillmans. Bryan, Kim, and Jenna have been coming faithfully, as they've been waiting on their referral from Ethiopia. Bryan is a police officer working to help keep the city clean from crime, and his heart is as big as Texas. They both would love to open up their home to help the global orphan problem, and they've been on the the long journey waiting on that referral call.

Well, guess what?

They got the call.

Every family that's been involved in Adoption knows that the referral letter is the call you wait on, so you can go over and pick up the orphan child that's waiting on a mom and a dad. It's a moment of anticipation, and the Gillman's have been waiting a LONG TIME. Finally, there is a little orphan child that's going to have the chance of a lifetime to grow up in a loving home.
They waited forever...Got the call...Expecting to go and help One orphan...But Guess What!!

Last week, They got a referral for TWO!!!

So, as our group sits around to try and find ways to help people raise the money to fulfill their God given desire to help orphans, The Gillmans came up with a Wii raffle idea.

Starting tonight at 5:00, you can buy a raffle ticket on their website to win a Wii game system.

They wanted to do something that reached out and seemed more like they were taking financial risks as well as people who were willing to give. So this raffle is going to be for the game and all the proceeds are going to go to helping them raise over $10,000.

If you're interested you can participate on Facebook, just Click Here , or you can go to their website A Blissful Heart to buy a raffle ticket.

1 Ticket is $105 Tickets for $2515 Tickets For $50

What a great opportunity to pick up a game system for your kids, the neighbors kids, or whoever; while helping this family help kids from around the globe.

So I was thinking...

WHAT IF....

What if the people who read andybraner.com blogged on their own sites for the Gillmans this week?What if we created a cyber movement to help them pay ALL THEIR BILLS to get these kids back to the STATES?What if the news media picked it up?What if a Church decided to sponsor them?What if there were people out there that used their own networks to help the Gillmans?

WOULD YOU?

If you have the desire to reach out and help this family, let's put together a network of people who take James 1:27 seriously, and can help the Gillmans bring their kids back home.
Let's make use of this blogosphere!!!! Blog on for the Gillmans sometime this week, and LETS ROLL!!!
Will you help?

Awarding the Bronze Star to...

Gabriel Burkman!!

Actually, I had the honor of pinning Gabe with the Bronze Star he earned through this last deployment.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2125402&id=25104255&l=19b5a

Sorry there aren't many pictures. We did the ceremony at the shop this morning, just the unit was there.

In Gabe's acceptance speech he honored our true hero: SSG Brian Studer, who was killed in action during this deployment.

Armed Forces Network: Purple Heart Interview

Here's a link to the video link shown on AFN Europe, our "hometown" new! ;)

We are briefly in it after Gabe had been presented his 2 purple hearts. N. Williams did an interview with AFN, and did a great job!! He represented EOD well, and clearly described the feelings the ceremony brought about. This is not the ceremony that you hope for when you climb on the bus to head off to war; it's not the phone calls you want to receive as a spouse .... but nonetheless, it's an honorable and noteworthy medal that was well deserved by these men.

N. Williams (Willie) was Gabe's team member back in SC... and he was in JERRV with Gabe during the 3rd IED hit (in Feb). We're all glad to have them home safely!!

http://afneurope.net/Home/ArticleDisplayDD/tabid/649/aid/6848/Default.aspx
February 12, 2009
We're in the 2nd story, so it takes a few minutes to get to it.
http://afneurope.net/Portals/main/Media%20Assets/2009/02%20FEBRUARY/12%20FEB/AER/AER12FEB09.wmv

A Day To Remember!

Today was a day that I shall not soon forget.

Early this morning Gabe and I headed out to Coleman Barracks here in Mannheim, Germany, for a special awards ceremony. Today our 720th EOD soldier's were honored for their sacrifices... 4 of our soldiers were issued the Purple Heart.

This award brings a whole new realm of emotions to the table. This award is not something strived for, and yet is a great honor. It was a little awkward, no one really knew what to say.

Gabe was presented with 2 Purple Hearts.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2124605&id=25104255&l=3a4a7

All in all, during the deployment, 6 of our 28 soldiers were unfortunate enough to earn this distinction. The 4 soldiers that were present today, as well as Ryall and Studer. Ryall was injured and sent stateside in August (and has made a great recovery!), and Studer was KIA on the same day.

On Tuesday Gabe will receive the other awards earned during the deployment. He will be presented with the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge.

Eady is off to Ft. Carson!

Well, I got to talk to one of the greatest women today... Eady!! Roy, her husband, joined the Army in Oct 2008, and he's just about to finish up AIT. They just found out that they are heading off to Ft. Carson!!

Both of them are from the South, so this will be a great experience!! Unfortunately though, Roy will be heading off this year for his first deployment too. Please keep them in your prayers!!

Roy & Eady... CONGRATS!!! I hope you take advantage of all the great opportunities that will come your way!! Dive in, and explore your new community!