Africa Bound!! Hanna Project!!

As many of you know Africa hold a very special place in my heart. It all started four years ago in Little Rock, AR while I was at our National Association. A friend of mine kept talking about this organization called "The Hanna Project". She told me that they were going to be giving a presentation late in the day. When it was time for the presentation I was beat from walking the convention center all day. I told my friends that I had decided not to make the trip back down to the convention center. They gave up and begin to walk out of the room on their way to the presentation. Something in my mind and heart kept telling me to go. I put my shoes back on and decided to catch up with my group and go to the presentation anyway. Boy am I glad that I did. It was absolutely fantastic! My heart was moved and I begin to weep as I watched a forgotten people struggle to find hope in a dying world. I was hooked. I felt in my heart that I would take this journey at some point in my life. Little did I know that it would be seven months later.

I took an application home with me from the National's and sent it right in. The director of The Hanna Project contacted me and we chatted on the phone about my eagerness to get on a team for the next trip. He asked me to take on a project in my home church that involved collecting school kit items. School kits consist of a pack of pencils, pack of pens, two packs of paper, ruler, erasers, color pencils, and sharpener. These kits would go to Africa and be given out at the village schools. What cost us $3 at the dollar store cost African parents a weeks wages. I took on that project and collected over 200 school kits from our church.

I set up a meeting with the director of THP and personally delivered the school kits and was able to sit down ant talk about the trip. I was accepted as part of the Save A Live III team to West Africa. I can not tell you how excited I was. We left for the trip in February of 2008! Here are some pictures that I was able to take on that trip. 




































This trip changed my life and ministry forever! It has been four years since that trip. I have had a desire in my heart every year since to return. Unfortunately, the timing just has not been right and the doors did not open for me. Well, this year they have. I sent in my application and have been accepted! I will be a team member on the Save A Life VII team to Africa in August! I can not tell you how excited I am to be going! I love the people and have longed to go back there. Especially since Lauren and I have decided to adopt from Africa. It means even more to me now. We will be leaving the US August 30th and coming back September 10th. I can't wait to see what God is going to do.

This project will take place in the area of Bondoukou and will consist of both medical and building work. Our building team will be replacing a roof on the local school while our medical team will assist in eye care and provide much needed basic medical care in the surrounding villages. Please consider making a gift to help me impact lives in the city of Bondoukou. You can visit my fundraising page at http://www.hannaproject.com/fundraising/profiles/zackanderson Most of all we need your prayers. Pray for our team to be ready mind, heart and soul! Also, pray for the people of Bondoukou as we reach out to them in many ways. May God bless and keep you.

BIG BIG DAY!!!!!!!!

It has been forever since my last blog entry. Oh my, where to start. We have been so busy with so many things. Trips to see family, Memorial Day, Our first adoption fundraiser, planning VBS, planning Mission trip to New York and the list goes on. I am so glad to be able to post something today. Since this is the first post in some time, it will be a long one lol.

I will start off telling all of you about the miracle that was our first adoption fund raiser. A few months ago we decided to have two yard sales to help raise money for our adoption. Each step of the adoption process takes a certain amount of money. We have been gathering enough money for one step at a time. Once that step is complete we begin gathering for the next step. We decided to have one yard sale in Paducah, Ky where my wife Lauren is from, and one here in Owensboro, Ky where I am from. Our friends and family began cleaning out their attics and donating those items for our yard sale. My fist thought was, will this really make us any money? You know me, always the realist. Well, by the time June 3rd got here my Father-in-law's garage was packed to the max. We had so much stuff I could not believe it. Then the overwhelming thought of, how in the world will we ever get rid of all this stuff really hit me. lol

Our family and friends worked extremely hard unpacking everything and getting it separated and tagging it all. After a very long hard day of unpacking, organizing, hauling, and pricing we were ready to drop. We went to bed excited about the next day. When we got up early the next day I really did not know what to expect. I got up at 6am and was out side by 6:30am. When I walked out we already had people out there looking to buy stuff. 10 hours later we had sold hundreds of items to hundreds of people and walked away with a grand total of $2,056!!!! Can you believe it? Our God is so great! 

This fundraiser made is possible to take our next step. This step for us is the most important step. Today, we are sending off our I600a form. This form will be sent to our governments and they will determine if we will be allowed to adopt internationally or not. This is huge for us!    

We are asking that all who read this blog please pray for this paper to fall into the hands of a Christian person. Pray that they will really read the letters of support and consider them seriously. This is so important to Lauren and I. We want our baby home with us ASAP. The more steps we knock down, the closer we are to holding baby Anderson in our arms. Thank you so much ahead of time for praying.
Our next big fundraiser will be here in Owensboro on July 28th. We have a garage packed to the door with hundreds maybe even thousands of items that we will be selling in our garage sale that day. I can't thank all our friends and family enough for all they have done. We look forward to what God is going to do.

Baby Anderson, Mommy and Daddy are working very hard so that we can see you soon. I have faith that this will happen and that we will hold you in our arms very soon. We love you!

We recognize that adoption may not be possible for everyone, so this might be one way to partner with us in fulfilling our dreams for ministry and family. If you would like to donate toward our adoption, you can make out a check to
             Zachary or Lauren Anderson
Mail to: 2825 West Wayside Dr.
            Owensboro, KY 42301
 PLEASE PUT ADOPTION IN THE MEMO.