Brief Sabbatical 2014

For the first time since Oct 2008, when the vision for AWO was birthed, I feel led to take a “sabbatical” of sorts. Since the death of my father in August I have felt tremendous strain and have struggled with the grieving process. The stresses of life and the world continue to make demands on me and there is so little time to “rest” and really dwell in His presence. In addition to this, I am also having surgery this month and will need some time to rest and recover as my body heals. Because I have been the primary “minister” of AWO since its inception, there is no one to take over in my absence. I will maintain contact with the kids and will see them as often as I am able, but we will not hold regular monthly events until I have time to recover and allow God to restore my spirit. I ask for your blessing on this time of rest, as well as your prayers that God will restore me fully to where He wants me to be.

In addition to this, we ask that all donations be suspended during this time. Once we resume ministry you may sow in as you feel led to do so. Thank you all for your support, encouragement, and prayers in all that we have done for His Kingdom!

Kristi Godwin

Wait Now 2014

Two of my favorite ministries (OptionsNow and FutureNow) partnered up this year to form the Wait Now conference, focused toward promoting future-focused decision making and choosing abstinence before marriage. I was blessed to be able to take the AWO kids to this conference, which turned out to be one of the most amazing nights of worship I have ever attended. With testimony from Chris Musgrove and others, theatrical skits appropriate to life-events, film, and live music, it was a powerful night packed with Christian messages geared toward youth. When an altar call was given ALL of the kids I brought went forward to receive Christ. My heart was overflowing!!

Special thanks to Chris Musgrove, Becky Deas, and the rest of the Future Now and Options Now teams for all they did to make this evening possible. As you saw, it was all worth it when the auditorium was FLOODED with people accepting Christ! :)

Christmas 2013

We celebrated a season of GIVING this year with our kids. For the first time, AWO was able and felt led to give a gift to EACH of our AWO kids. Thanks to generous supporters who lovingly "adopted" and purchased gifts for the kids, most received items of clothing from their "wish list"...much needed shoes, warm sweaters, and other winter items appropriate for the season. All of the kids were excited and overjoyed when they received their gifts!

In addition to these individual blessings, we were also able to help one of our AWO families by having a local organization "adopt" them. Because of this they were blessed with bags full of groceries, household items such as silverware, clothing for all of their kids (including winter coats), and even furniture for their very bare house! For a family that was homeless at Christmas just two years ago, this was a dream come true! We were so grateful to be a part of it!

May we always strive to remember those less fortunate than ourselves during such a season of warmth and love, and always strive to LOVE others unconditionally with the grace and mercy that our Father Himself shows us.