"Mississippi Meets Ethiopia"

As a designer, every now and then, you'll get those clients that mention a project that touch your soul and stay close to you heart for years to come. True, everybody that asks me for designs has a story, and, never once, has the story been the same. And those stories are what allows me to do what I do - design to the person's particular needs or character.

I've been knowing the Powell family for years. I grew up with the middle daughter, Megan, of Frank and Lisa Powell and we went to church together.  Every single Sunday me, Megan, our other friend Kaitlin would play after church. Surprisingly, after all these years, we all got married in the same year, same month. Totally cool.

Now for the story...

Megan's older brother, Matthew, married Tiffani.  Tiffani and Matthew had Noah – he's one. Tiffani is now pregnant with a second child, Micah.  

For months, the couple knew God was calling them to do something special.  Little did they know, he had adoption in their plans.  They thought, with one child and another on the way, how could this be true?

Allowing God to show them that he would provide for them, they decided to adopt a little girl from Ethiopia and name her Matsy Grace.  Here's the video that was the ultimate deciding factor on the country they would be choosing to adopt from: http://thephilpotfamily.blogspot.com/2011/01/why-ethiopia.html

In addition to prayers, their greatest need is financial - and by that I mean $30,000!  Apparently, adoption in the U.S. in extremely expensive, but even more so in other counties and God was 100% leading them into Ethiopia.  The expenses include document preparation, translation, agency fees, travel, government fees, medical and orphanage fees.  Whoever thought it would be so much involved??

They are totally relying on God, but also friends and family to make this adoption possible for them. Tiffani asked me do help her with fundraising. My part – to create a postcard mailer to send to everyone to make them aware of their perfect situation.  I was so pleased in their decision, that the rest was easy.

And this is why I love my job.

Follow their journey at mississippimeetsethiopia.blogspot.com.

If you'd like to make a donation, you can in the following ways:

     •  Join the journey by faithfully praying.

     •  Mail a check to Frank & Tiffani Powell, 118 Appleridge Drive, Brandon, Mississippi 39047

     •  Make a donation to their PayPal account on www.mississippimeetsethiopia.blogspot.com

     •  Make a tax-deductible donation through AWAA's Eternal Family Program by visiting: https://www.awaa.org/forms/payment.aspx and 100% of your donation will be applied toward adoption expenses. *If choosing this option, be sure to select Eternal Family Program and type Frank & Tiffani Powell - Ethiopian adoption in the notes section.