Kerri's New Blog from Africa I think I Got What I Came Here For.....

I knew coming over here..God would break my heart..I prayed for it..asked for it. So much has happened but words escape me.

We attended church today and I saw God..I heard God..in the singing..in the words...in the words over the church wall "The curse is broken the future is Bright." I pray God will give me time to process all of this...so I can properly share.

Today I went to a junkyard...a real junkyard...nothing there...and outcome 7 little faces....7 children..twins that are 3 up to 14 years old... a family of children that live there.

Their mom is a prostitute and dad a drug dealer. They raise themselves...they walk to school. We brought them sandwiches. This is the only food they may get for a week. They are not in the orphanages because they have parents so the law won't allow it. The plan for this family is that when the new home is built ...they will all move in as a family. Strangely enough the couple is still married....one of their babies died. They are both young parents.

The Heart for Africa team feeds them....they put beds in their old abandoned garage. I got to see it. There was nothing in it but the bunk beds...some blankets but an old newspaper comic on the stone wall..no windows....no lights...no nothing. It was unspeakable..but yet they came out and hugged me..smiled at me. They showed me their report cards. The boy showed me" 1st in class" He was number one!

The girls didn't get report cards because they couldn't afford the school fees/taxes. So if they don't get those paid they may have to drop out. Girls are of no value here. They take care of the younger children. They have been living in this abandoned garage for several years. Do they cry? Do they complain? Do they whine like I do about not having enough finances in the bank? NO...they smile..they smile so big...they play.....they ate up the sandwiches so so so fast. They know when the Heart for Africa truck comes..it's a happy day. The plan is to do more of course...there are just thousands of children like them so it's just one day at a time. The children sing a song "My Heart is In Africa."

I know my God is in Africa...I know He loves me..I know He loves them...He cares so very much . I will have pictures soon. My heart is in Africa. I wish there was more we could do besides finances..we can pray. I went to the market today and prayed for healing for a pregnant woman..her husband died and she's scared. I prayed for Margaret who has diabetes who is now healed in Jesus name we pray. I prayed for Belinda who wants to go to school.
I know God hears.. I Know if you join me...it all counts..it all helps!

Thanks for listening..I could write for days....my heart is here..who would have thought it? Me? Diva.....the least likely girl to be hiking hills....doing laundry( not very well I mind you) gardening( with help from my kids here). It is my honor..my joy..to love on these children. They give me so very much more....I hope and pray I can pass it on..please keep praying..I think the hardest part in the world will be to come home.

Tonight we will be having a prayer meeting God told me to lead for the team. Some of them aren't saved yet but they are here.
Last night Ron and I did an impromptu comedy show for the team...LOL go figure:)

Ok..I'll stop...I really will stop writing now..I don't want to but I will!
Love,
Kerri

P.S. Do you want to see something amazing? The orphan kids have no toys..there are 65 in the home..they barely have food to eat..we prayed..we laid hands and prayed for provision..the next day..angels came....the US military..food...dolls...toys....ketchup (never had it)...the kids sang...I tried to join in! Later we had a dance off I showed them my 80's moves!

Ron Brings Christian Comedy To The World Famous Hollywood Improv For The First Time!

Kerri Performs - "The King of Clean" Michael Jr. to Headline. We're Asking Everyone to Show Your Support For Clean Comedy And Come To The Show on August 23 ! click here for more information

Cult of Personality- Facebook Friend or Foe?

I have a confession to make. I recently joined a cult. It’s called FACEBOOK! All the other members reading this (you know who you are) are laughing because you too have found yourself up at 4:00 am browsing profiles, adding glamour shots of yourself and most importantly checking out all the people that were mean to you in high school including your ex's. Facebook is the new "internet dating for married people!" Some say it's harmless! Some call it dangerous. I say it's a bit of both.
Facebook is a worldwide phenomenon where you can post a personal profile with all sorts of information about yourself and get in touch with everyone you ever did or didn't want to hear from in your past life -including high school. It seems to be a huge internet high school reunion where I find myself asking to be "friends" with the popular kids and crying myself to sleep if someone doesn't "confirm" my request asap!
Then there is the issue of people having the power to find that ex boy or girlfriend and see photos and updates with the click of the keyboard. You know you do it! You look at their new pictures and just pray they are either balder or fatter than you are! Then you can send personal messages that are private or write cute sayings on their "wall" that everyone can see. The point of this is really just a bunch of people wanting their exs to know two things:

1. I’m over you, well adjusted and still good looking. And when you look at my wonderful photo shopped family pictures you will curse the day you broke my heart and left me for that cheerleader.

2. I'm better than you!
There are even status updates where people write exactly what they are doing such as “Kerri is sitting here typing.” "Kerri ate an apple." But what Kerri really means is" Kerri is better than you are and wants you to validate her with some flirty comment on her wall about how fantastic she looks now!" Some people can keep this communication at the harmless stage. I think I'm one of them. I may be neurotic in my own mind but that’s where it stops. I don't cross the line and do my best to mention my husband and baby a lot in my emails to old flames.

I thought it was funny when my high school boyfriend literally looked me up and said "If you still think I suck you don't have to write back!" Well that was enough for me to know I made the right choice in moving on 15 years ago!

I believe it's in the spirit of how you're using this new millennium communication tool. One male married friend of mine canceled his account because he said it was "too easy to flirt" with ex's. At least he's honest and knew when it was getting to be too much. Because people treat flirting on email as if it somehow “doesn’t count!" But in my book it does. I just have to keep in mind that everything I say is literally in writing and can and will be used against me in the court of my "husband!" So I'm good to keep up with my status updates and posting fabulous pictures of me and my cute family in my skinny jeans!

Why I Still Watch Chick Flicks

When I was single I wrote a very empowering piece, or so I thought, titled Why I Don't Watch Chick Flicks basically explaining why they are bad for women. I expressed how they were hurting society by portraying relationships in a totally unrealistic way. They also caused me to go into a serious chocolate chip cookie binge late at night under the covers crying myself into a chocolate coma then drifting off to sleep only to dream of the leading man in the movie. When I was single, and pushing the dreaded age 30, I just couldn't find any reason to hope my life would turn out like Julia or Reese or worse yet Rene in the ever popular Bridget Jones movie! My heart goes out to women everywhere who watch these movies - where the girl always gets the guy. Why? Why ? Why do we do this ourselves? Real life never works itself out in 90 minutes and I myself have never been picked up by a guy in a horse drawn carriage, limousine or private jet.


However, I did fall in love with a guy who offered me chocolate chip cookies and had no car! I did get married and walk down the aisle in a rented pretty white dress. And to top it all off we had a little girl named Lucy join the crew last year. No it didn't take 90 minutes, it took 32 years!

But tonight after another long exhausting day of chasing my one year old, playing 15 games of don't eat that and folding 343 loads of laundry, I found myself engrossed in a rerun of You've Got Mail on Lifetime with my all time favorite Chick Flick actors Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Yeah, I'm old school. Meg was the ultimate romantic and you just can't help but love her. At the end of the movie Tom and Meg find out that they really are meant to be together and when they embrace, I'm a goner. I can't help but notice I've got the same goose bumps I had the first time I saw this cheesy film and the same tear rolling down my left cheek. I'm just so darn happy for Meg because she was lonely and then she found her true love. She even used the dreaded internet. God bless her! We've all been there! I got rejected by E Harmony!

My point is that these movies can't be taken from the shelves because like it or not we need them. Yes I said it! We live in a bitter sarcastic world full of sickness, financial crisis and war. But some of us still want to believe in happy endings. Is that so wrong to admit? I grew up with fantasies of what would truly make my dreams come true. I marvel tonight at what true contentment really is.


I've just recently gone through a very tough time where the love of my life, my husband was battling an illness. I didn't have my cuddling time, my movie buddy, my best friend in my home for a while and it's brought new perspective to the term Happy Ending.

My life may look different than a Lifetime movie and instead of sound track music mine might have Hickory Dickory Dock and Itsy Bitsy Spider. And instead of passionate sex scenes my scenes may involve me, my husband, an entire season of Lost on DVD, popcorn and triple chocolate ice cream, cuddled up for hours on our big fluffy red couch. It's my realization that I don't want Tom Hanks or Tom Cruise. I'm truly content with the man God gave me. I'm truly happy with our little world as corny as it may seem to other people. It works for us.


So instead of watching Meg with bitterness in my heart I can enjoy her journey and realize I wouldn't trade places with her or any other woman for anything in the world. I have my own fairy tale right here every day of my life. So I'm wondering about you out there reading this? No matter what season you're in can you look around and be thankful for all the blessings in your life right now? A mom/dad/friend who loves you? A great job? A roommate who cooks? New shoes you got on sale that go with the skinny jeans you can actually fit into? A child that needs you to hug them goodnight? No matter what trials you're facing I'm challenging you to find some happy endings in your life right now. They make the Chick Flicks more enjoyable because the movies are imaginary and your joy is the real thing.

We're Going To Africa to Serve At An Orphanage And Need Your Help

Hi there,

As you may know part of my testimony has always been that when I gave my entire life over to God I knew He was going to "Ship me off to Africa or somewhere hot to do manual labor!" I've joked about this in my act for years and done many fundraisers to send others while I was safe and comfortable at home.

After reading a book about these orphans I felt God speak to me and said "It's time for you to roll up your sleeves and go!" I am not going as a comedian but simply as a mom, daughter and wife. I know I will get more out of this trip than I could ever give to these children. As I pondered leaving our sweet 1 yr old Lucy I was reminded that these children don’t have a mom or dad to hold them. I hope to go and love on these kids.

Ron and I need to raise $7950.00 to take this 10 day venture Aug 10th-21st. We need funds and we need prayer. This is unlike anything we've ever done and we're taking a step in faith to believe that if we're obedient that God will supply the funds.

Our first funding deadline is April 20th and then the 2nd is June 15th to raise approx. $5000 of the $7900 needed. This will cover our airfare and entire trip cost. If you want to help us by giving $10, $20 or any amount to reach our goal we'd be so grateful.

We're going with www.heartforafrica.org an organization that goes and takes children off the streets and gives them a place to live, grow up and be loved. These are real kids and when I read Janine's book "It's Not Ok With Me" I realized I couldn't just do nothing. There are some awesome videos on this link http://www.heartforafrica.org/video.htm. If they speak to your heart I'm asking that you send Ron and I as your representative of Christ's love to the little ones. Maybe you will be inspired to go yourself? This whole thing is about God and not us. So we're writing this and taking a step back to see how God will work. We know times are tough. All we can ask is that you pray and seek God. That's what we did and He told us to write this letter.

Thanks for taking your time to read this. Thanks for praying for our family and our ministry. Maybe there are some future comedian children over there who can teach us a few things?

Love,
Kerri Pomarolli McGehee

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Greetings from Ron!

I know most emails & letters you get about Africa usually involve some really banished royalty, wire transfers, your personal bank account numbers, and a reward for your good deed. This is not one of those letters.

I have been introduced to the great need for orphans who, some, literally watched their parents wither away and die right before their young eyes. My wife, Kerri, and I prayed and we both received word from God that we need to go to Africa. We have been part of many fund raising efforts for missions, but now we are the ones going.

As you know we love to spread laughter and joy wherever God sends us. This is where you come in. We need to raise money to go on this trip. We know we are in tough financial times, but when giving as one gives to the Lord in faith, you will be rewarded.

You won't be helping African royalty, we don't want your bank account number, but we do want your support. Please give even if it is a small amount, because every little bit helps. And please don't forget our prayer support as well. We will be sending pictures and updates as much as we are able. For all the miracles that will happen are yours to share in glorifying God.

God Bless you & Keep you,
Ron McGehee

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You can support us financially in one of three ways:
1. Mail your check and the form linked on the homepage to Heart for Africa at Heart for Africa, P.O. Box 573, Alpharetta, GA 30009.
2. Go to www.heartforafrica.org to donate with your credit card
3. Call (800) 901-7585 to donate with your credit card by phone

Please keep in mind that this donation must be received by July 5th 2009. Your gift will be applied towards my trip and you will receive a tax receipt. Please use our participant code #7001442 when you give.

Thank you for your support!

Red Rock Rave Review

Hey guys! I recently performed at Red Rock, one of my favorite L.A. secular comedy clubs. It's a hot room and they always have some of the top secular headliners in the country. It's my ministry to go there and do clean, God honoring comedy and also be open about my faith in a fun way. I got so nervous because of all nights the comedy seemed dirtier than normal. The girl who performed right before me was the winner of "Last Comic Standing." She was hilarious and the crowd was going nuts. My good friend Andy Kozel was performing as well. I prayed a lot that night, praying I'd bring the Holy Spirit with me on stage. I even had a conversation with producer Matty Balaker that my friends were praying. Finally it was my turn, followed by a wonderful intro from Matty, "Kerri is not only one of my favorite comics but one of my favorite people", I took the mic. God Blessed me. I felt really good about my set. I was the only clean comic and even talked about being Christian. The audience had already been conditioned with dirty jokes but when I did my act they responded with laughter. I felt so Blessed by God and that he again used me in Hollywood right there on Sunset Blvd. I had some friends in the audience and I knew that they had also been praying for me - and for the crowd.

This review came out on www.livecomedyla.com by Brendon Malvihill, who isn't a comedian but reviews the best comedy shows in Hollywood. It means a lot to me that he sees clean comedy can be just as funny. Please read his review (linked below) of our March 3rd show and write a comment supporting clean comedy. I would really appreciate that! It's all about going where God leads us, one show at a time. It's just fun for me to know God may have us in a comedy club, preaching his message and doing an alter call on Sunset Blvd next!

Kerri Delivers and Receives Rave Review at Red Rock's Ballgame Laugh Lounge in Hollywood

Somebody Stop Me

This is a chapter from my upcoming book "It's My Wedding and I'll Cry if I Want to!" Hopefully coming out in early 2009. Enjoy!
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Okay, it's 2:28 a.m., and I'm in the guest bedroom of our parent's friend's condo in Naples, Florida. The situation's a red alert. I repeat, red alert. We're nine-and-a-half weeks away from "Wedding Day" and counting.

Ron and I booked a show in Naples together. It's a singles' conference. We're both doing our stand-up and comedy acts separately but on the same roster. I'm still legally allowed to do my bitter single act, and so is he. The audience will have no idea we even know each other outside of comedy. My act hasn't changed yet and the "single" thing is so much fun. Ranting and raving, I'm not too anxious to stop it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, I always say.

Okay, back to the issue at hand. Ron and I have both committed to going on pre-wedding diets for many reasons - health, our mothers' nagging about my size-zero dress, and mainly because those wedding pictures last forever and they ain't cheap. Oh yeah - it can't hurt to be fit for our Hawaiian honeymoon either.

We've been doing pretty well on our diets in California. I found a trainer, and Ron joined a gym. We've made dietary changes as well and have been very disciplined about it. My biggest challenge was getting off the crack, I mean sugar. It's my big vice. As you may remember from my last book, I have a severe problem with sugar. It's a disease I tell you. I read in a medical journal that sugar is as addictive as any drug. I'm living proof of that, one-hundred percent, especially if I am within a 100-yard radius of doughnuts or candy. The only plan for me is cold turkey; out of sight, out of mind; see no evil, eat no evil.

Going home is when Ron and I fall off the wagon because my parents' house makes Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory look like a Slim-Fast warehouse. Seriously, my parents have candy in every dish in every corner and three kinds of ice cream in all three, yes, three, freezers. Remember my mom's theory on most everything: more is more! The cruel joke here is Barb weighs a whopping 109 pounds and calls me complaining that she just can't put on any weight. My dad is a steady 170-180 lbs, and the chocolate addiction gene comes from him. He's also addicted to those "nectar" drinks he gets at the dollar store that he thinks count as a serving of fruit. In reality, it's all fructose syrup; five thousand calories and 32,178 grams of sugar per sip.

So anyway, yesterday we arrived at Tom and Becky's condo. They are good friends of my parents and all around great folks. In true hospitable fashion, Becky shows me the kitchen and starts putting out snacks for me: Cheetos, chips, popcorn, Snickers, ice cream and then the dreaded Oreos. Not just any Oreos; double-stuff mint Oreos. I do my best to hold strong, but 12 minutes later, I wander back in her kitchen and help myself to one; Ah, the taste of heaven. I quickly remember why these snacks of satan are not allowed in my house.

All over the house, Becky also has the mini candy bars and York peppermint patty mints. I rationalize that just one couldn't hurt me. It had been a long day of flying. I did 50 sit - ups, 20 jumping jacks and 100 leg lefts before I went to bed last night and called it even.

I awoke early this morning to remember the M&M's in my travel bag. They were a wedding shower gift from our friend Christina. I got lingerie and M&M's. She always has had a sick sense of humor.

This morning I did more leg lifts after eating a grapefruit and M&M's breakfast. Then Ron and I took a leisurely stroll through the park. The fun part about our walk was when we snuck into this condo clubhouse to use the restrooms, and Ron decided to shave his beard because the bathrooms had free razors and lotions. He cut himself and came out with all this tissue all over his face. I said, "Why'd you do it?" He said, "It was there. I needed a shave, and it was free!" Ah, I love that guy.

Later we decided to drive to downtown Naples and have a nice dinner. Well, all the restaurants were pretty expensive, and we just couldn't rationalize paying over $19.99 for some seafood entree. So we kept going to every single, solitary eating establishment in search of a cheaper menu. Even if the meals were $16.99 we would have been satisfied. It quickly became a Seinfeld episode; we'd drive a bit, park the car, go into the restaurant, look at a menu, and shake our heads in dismay and leave. We did this at about 15 places until we found this little Chinese joint with the lights on and settled in for the night. To think we'd end up eating Chinese food in Florida after all of that, but then again, it was affordable. Tomorrow, we're hitting the early - bird buffet at 4 p.m. for $9.99. I need to find some senior citizen to get me in but in Florida this should not be hard.

Ron and I came home and sat down and had a nice chat with our hostess Becky. Upon arrival, I snuck some M&M's because I wanted something sweet. Then I discovered she had Hawaiian Punch juice boxes from her grandkids' last visit. I tore into one of those fructose delights. Wow, Oreos and juice boxes in one house - this was heavenly. I love Florida! I love Grandparents.

As we sat talking, I decided to partake of one of Becky's Snickers that was calling my name from the dish on the table. Ten minutes later, I got up and went to her cupboards only to discover she too had M&M's. I realized that eating some of her stash wouldn't diminish mine, so I did just that. I was on a roll and back on the sugar train with no sign of a pit stop.

How did this happen? I didn't see it coming - a little bit here and there didn't seem to hurt. By now I was definitely out of control. Every time I'd go into the kitchen, I'd find some sugar snack to nibble on.

At about 11:30, we started talking about our parents' love for chocolate, and I brought up the fact that my dad had converted me from being a Godiva girl to an Esther - Price chocolate disciple. Esther Price is a rare, but decadent, maker of fine chocolates made in Ohio. No I'm not kidding! But seriously they are the best! Becky's eyes lit up, and she smiled and said, "Would you like an Ester Price chocolate tonight? I've been saving some for a special occasion."

Of course, we jumped up and followed her back into the kitchen (Sin City), and she pulled out this lovely gold box of chocolates. I picked the biggest one, and Ron selected a small piece as well. He's disciplined but not stupid. As usual, I had to try a bite of Ron's piece because whatever he's eating automatically seems more appetizing. He should have been around when I was a kid and wouldn't eat my veggies. If they were on his plate, I guarantee I would have eaten them. So I ended up eating my piece of candy and half of Ron's. Then I went for just one more for good measure. I was getting a stomach ache but it was well worth it! I'm like that little kid that eats himself sick and then doesn't know why they feel horrible the next morning and can't go to school.

That night, I resigned myself to going to bed without doing sit - ups first, but ritualistically grabbed for the bag of M&M's and started gobbling them down. Ron came in my room and saw the guilty look on my face and said knowingly, "What are you eating right now?"
"Nothing," I said, swallowing hard.
"You're lying," he laughed.
"No, I'm not," I said, "because technically I wasn't chewing the M&M's by the time you asked."

We said our goodnights, and it was past 12:30 a.m. and I drifted off into my chocolate coma. At about 2:20, I found myself sleep - walking into the kitchen and going for the box of Esther Price Chocolates that were still sitting on the counter. I didn't even have to turn the light on. I found my way by touch. It's in my genes I tell you. I'm just that good.

I took out a piece, and it melted in my mouth. But even that wasn't enough! I went back to my room and dove into the bag of M&M's as if I hadn't eaten in 10 years! It was like an out - of - body experience, and of course by then I was thirsty, so I went back to finish my Hawaiian Punch juice box.

Now I'm sitting there and it's 2:28 in the morning. My stomach is aching and not to mention, huge! I have not just fallen off the wagon. The whole wagon train has pulled over and camped on the side of the road. There's no end in sight.
What have I done? What about the dress I'm getting fitted for in three weeks? This is ridiculous - it's a disease. I tell you, I have a disease. Someone save me before they have to roll me down the aisle!