Unveiled Faces

THEIR FACES WILL NEVER BE COVERED WITH SHAME

2011-11-05T15:18:00.000-05:00

I sought the LORD, and He answered me;

He delivered me from all me fears.

Those who look to Him are radiant;

their faces will never be covered with shame.

Psalm 34:4-5

The fate that awaits girls born into poverty in Ethiopia is something that is always with us.

In 2009,when Elle went to Ethiopia, she met Alem. Our sweet Pochi introduced her to Alem, who was being discipled by Covenant Church. Her story is the inspiration for a home that will now provide HOPE for girls like herself.

When my Mercy watched the video below, she was overcome with grief and sorrow for the girls that she knows are suffering right now. She sees herself.

She said, "You would want to die, too Mom. I wanted to die all the time."

How can I hear my child say those words and not be wrecked for the ones who have no mama to share their hearts with?....who live in constant terror?....who see death as the only way out?

Watch what can happen when we answer their cry.

after all.....Christ has no hands on this earth but yours.--Mother Teresa

Will you help them?

The Alem House from One Child Campaign on Vimeo.

One Child Campaign - Alem House-The Challenge

In Ethiopian society, the girl child is discriminated from birth. Culture teaches their inferiority. This leads to a lack of education and self-value, in fact, 66% of Ethiopian women cannot read and 88% of them believe that their husband has the right to beat them. Lack of education, resources or opportunity can often lead to being forced into a very early marriage (sometimes as young as 7 or 8 years old). Prostitution, slavery, sex trafficking, abuse and HIV/AIDS are much too common factors leading to more orphaned children. In our research, we have found that the most vulnerable demographic in Ethiopia are girls between the ages of 12 to 18.

sisters have each others' backs

Please read Alem's story here---

You can give online directly through One Child Campaign's easy online giving program at this link (please specify with a note that it is for the Alem House):

https://www.egsnetwork.com/gift/gift.php?giftid=04C16AF6-AFD6-43CA-964B-5F752B7CC408

OR you may donate for this project via Paypal below:

What You Have Sown...

2011-09-03T09:35:00.001-05:00

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Who ever serves me must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be. My Father will honor the one who serves Me.

John 12: 24-26

I have been waiting to share this news for a while! THANK YOU, THANK YOU to all of you who responded to THIS NEED in LOVE and SACRIFICE

Your reward is eternal!

Elle spent the summer in Ethiopia, Jimmy joined her for the last week-- more on that later-- right now, I am so happy to share through Caleb's words what your giving means to heart of a community......

"Sometimes words cannot capture an experience.

This is just one of those times, but I will commit to doing my best. It was one of our last days in Ethiopia and it was the day that we knew MANY people were waiting for...not just in Holeta, but those of you in the US that caught onto the vision of raising funds for a grain mill for this community.

Truly, this was a team effort. One Child Campaign was able to offer a $1,500 matching grant because of the Stum family and the team of runners from First Baptist of Cleveland, TN who ran a half marathon to raise funds.

It was also championed by the Mihnovich family and shared with the adoption and orphan care community through their blog.

A grain mill. It doesn't sound THAT exciting, right? It's a piece of machinery.

But, when the team stepped into the impoverished community of Holeta and we began to walk around and talk with people, we knew that something special was about to happen. Now, you have to know that things in Africa run completely different than here and it's been an uphill battle trying to get the right power to the building and the right kind of plug and actually purchasing a grain mill in an Ethiopian economy where prices are starting to soar for the nationals due to inflation.

The leadership of Covenant Church and Children's Homes that work in this community were able to secure a more diverse grain mill that will be more productive than purchasing two of the smaller units.

We were escorted around the village with the local government leadership who were proud of their community and grateful that today had finally come.

The day they would dedicate the grain mill.

A small building has been constructed with almost nothing but wood and some mud, that will house this grain mill.

We almost walked right past it without noticing...but then we peeked in to see dozens of women gathered inside and many more outside. We smelled coffee brewing and freshly baked local bread.

The pastor, staff and government leaders brought our team into the building and within minutes, it felt like literally over a hundred women were also crammed in there, peeking in the windows and standing outside the door.

This community of women were warm and welcoming and what amazed us, is that this group of women known as "Let's Have Coffee" are the ones who came up with this idea for their families and village.

They have a plan, they will grind berbere (the local red pepper), package it and sell it. These women were READY to be empowered. It was an experience so humbling and honoring at the same time.

Our team...and those who gave towards this project got to be a part of their lives, their families and their dreams.

The pastor got up and got to share with the women, who were excited to see our team, but were about to find out that the grain mill had been purchased. He shared about the love of God, the Gospel, and that there were people across the world (and in the same room as them) that cared about them enough because of love.

Because of His love.

Then he held up the receipt of purchase, concrete proof that the grain mill was no longer an idea or dream - but a reality!

If I could bottle up the gratefulness, joy, noise and celebration that was palpable in that room - I would! They were praising God, clapping and cheering. Raising $3,000 project wasn't easy, but it also wasn't the hardest thing in the world - in fact, it made us realize that when we all rally around God's vision, anything is possible!

Sacrificial giving from many of you was the reason these women now very soon will have a way to provide for their families instead of begging, working hard labor for pennies or even worse, having to prostitute themselves to put food in their children's mouths.

I say that words cannot quite capture the experience that I had (and our team), but in all my years of working in ministry and missions - it's probably a day that stands out above the rest because it wasn't about me, it wasn't about our ministry, it wasn't about money...but it was seeing with my very own eyes women worship because they were empowered. People from all over the country believed in them, without even knowing them, and they felt love.

Can a grain mill make a difference?

I'd like you to ask those women..."

Caleb

Who of Us?

2011-06-15T08:33:00.002-05:00

Never have I read a poem that expesses the heart of my redeemed children or the lost ones in our own country,

like this-- by John Piper

If you are...

on the fence

wondering what you should do to help

waiting for your own redeemed to come home

------

or tragically....deaf to their cries

Please hear their hope--

The Children
Do you hear the children crying?
I can hear them every day,

Crying, sighing, dying, flying
Somewhere safe where they can play.

Somewhere safe from all the dangers,
Somewhere safe from crack and AIDS,

Safe from lust and lurking strangers,
Safe from war and bombing raids.

Somewhere safe from malnutrition,
Safe from daddy’s damning voice,

Safe from mommy’s cool ambition,
Safe from deadly goddess, Choice.

* * * *
Do you see the children meeting?
I can see them in the sky,

Meeting, eating, meeting, greeting
Jesus with the answer why.

Why the milk no longer nourished,
Why the water made them sick,

Why the crops no longer flourished,
Why the belly got so thick.

Why they never knew the reason
Friends had vanished out of sight,

Why some suffered for a season,
Others never saw the light.

* * * *
Do you hear the children singing?
I can hear them high above,

Singing, springing, ringing, bringing
Glory to the God of love.

Glory for the gift of living,
Glory for the end of pain,

Glory for the gift of giving,
Glory for eternal gain.

Glory from the ones forsaken,
Glory from the lost and lone,

Glory when the infants waken,
Orphans on the Father’s throne

* * * *
Do you see the children coming?
I can see them on the clouds,

Coming, strumming, drumming, humming
Songs with heaven’s happy crowds.

Songs with lots of happy clapping,
Songs that set the heart on fire,

Songs that make your foot start tapping,
Songs that make a merry choir.

Songs so loud the mountains tremble,
Songs so pure the canyons ring,

When the children all assemble
Millions, millions, round the King.

* * * *
Do you see the children waiting?
I can see them all aglow

Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting,
Who of us will rise and go?

Will we turn and fly to meet them
Will we venture something new?

I intend to rise and greet them.
Come and go with me, would you?

The Justice of Your Cause

2011-05-27T17:49:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow my first born baby girl graduates from high school.

I know that I should be saying,

"I can hardly believe that this day has come!" "Where has all the time gone!?"

But, the truth is she could not be more prepared for the path that is marked out for her. She has been marching forward to the beat of her Savior since the day she was born.

From her earliest time of speaking her questions about God have been deep and searching. As a small child, friends and teachers would always comment about her shyness. To which I would always think, "there is nothing as quiet as a seed growing." Her meekness--power under control-- is a mirror of Matthew 5--BLESSED are you beautiful Elle!

She will be spending the summer in Ethiopia, working with orphans in various areas of the country, before going to college in the fall. This mama would LOVE your prayers!

Hannah, Abby, Audrey, Elle and Claire at Senior Oral Defense. Each year of high school, Elle's classical school requires a thesis to be written and seniors must give an oral defense of their thesis and answer questions from a faculty panel. It is the pinnacle of their high school career, incorporating all that they have been taught. They begin working on this in the summer, before school even begins.

Elle's senior thesis was

The Enslavement of Justice:

Slavery in Modern Day America

How can we end slavery?

Only through Jesus! Because freed slaves do not enslave people. WE are freed slaves.

Elle totally rocked her speech.

It was the day of the terrible tornados in the south and the tornado sirens began going off as soon as she began speaking-- and she never skipped a beat. As I began to pray, "Lord, is this not what she is supposed to be speaking up for?" she began to speak louder, OVER the sirens and chaos happening outside. The audience never took their eyes off her.

Afterwards, Dr.George Grant assured everyone that we were in the tornado shelter already in the sanctuary and said that Elle was remarkable.

When she reads this, she will be upset with me for "bragging."

So I'll share-- 2 Corinthians 7:4--I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.--

and keep tracking!

Precious Ana Gabrielle,

Since you were a little girl you have lived a life of open handed generosity and set an example of a selfless, servant leader.

Your determined spirit, clothed with gentle strength and compassion has enriched the lives of our family and has blessed so many beyond our borders.

Your heartbeat echoes our Lord's, as it beats for every nation and breaks for those who have no one to defend them.

You have brought us unspeakable joy as we have watched the Lord mold and shape you, and guide you along His path. He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Psalm 37:6

You are radiant with God's grace and beauty, inside and out!

We love you more than words can express and we praise and thank God for bringing you into our lives!

Mom and Dad, Nash, Nate, Mercy, Isaiah, James and Levi

Adoption PSA- If you know anyone who is adopted, PLEASE READ

2011-05-06T11:14:00.000-05:00

I wisdom, dwell together with prudence;

I possess knowledge and discretion.

Proverbs 8:12

Adopted kids face more challenges than I could even begin to tell you and would never do so on the internet anyway. People are always asking questions about them....their origins?... ...why we went searching for them to graft into our family?...how did they become orphans?...do they miss their old country?...and on and on.

There are questions that come up that I've never even thought of to ask. I'm thrilled that people are curious about adoption. I love that you want to know about the suffering in the world, the 163 million souls who long to be cherished and wanted, the reason we sought after them in the first place, how they have adjusted, obstacles that they have overcome.....

Most of the time I welcome these questions because it

opens the door to share about Jesus.

After all it is ALL about Him.

My kids genuinely do have a broken heart for those left behind and they do want them ALL to have families.

However---

Sometimes I just want to ask the curious questioner---

"Do you really want to be educated, or are you just wanting to share your uninformed opinion with me, their mom."

But, even worse, is when the curious questioner approaches the children without my covering and speaks to them directly. I'm not at all questioning anyone's motives, just informing them that, in their ignorance, they are being used as a tool of Satan to plant doubt and mistrust into the mind of a child.

but whoever causes one of theses little ones who believes in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Matthew 18:6

Orphans are serious to God--those who have been redeemed have an incredible call and purpose in their lives and the enemy is continually out to cause them to stumble.
So, since we all have questions---
Here is a small dose of enlightenment---simple facts that can shine light on some of the wonderings about adopted kids, mine are from Africa, but it could apply to anywhere:
1. They do not know when they were born. Our attorney in Ethiopia doesn't even have a birth certificate and therefore, is uncertain of his exact age. Before leaving Ethiopia the child is examined by a doctor, a birthdate is chosen and a birth certificate is issued. When children arrive home, their parents take them to the pediatrician and the dentist to determine their exact year of birth. Dental x-rays and bone scans aid in setting the year of birth.
When a child who has suffered from extreme malnutrition all his life is given consistent nutrition, if that child is anywhere near adolescence in age, then their bodies are jump started into puberty. This is sad because we all know that when a child enters puberty too early, it means that their bodies will soon cease to grow in height, thereby failing to reach their genetically predetermined height.
Ethiopians are designed by God to be tall people--..."from a people tall and smooth-skinned..." Isaiah 18:7
This is yet another tragedy of the effects of poverty on human potential.
Please keep this in mind before you say to a child,"You look way too tall to be ____ years old!" or consequently, "Are you sure you're old enough to go to kindergarten?" Those are the nicest comments that I can print. Do not ever question a child's birthday.

2. They do not see things through the same lens as a child born into the affluence and ease of America. They hear and see most things in the negative sense. It is simply a survival skill.

3. They have eyes on the back of their heads and supersonic hearing.

4. They are tough as nails physically, and delicate as a butterfly emotionally.

5. It is essential that they understand that they are equal in relation to every other child in their family. So--- please--- if you want to know which ones are "blood related" please understand that everyone in our family has the same blood type---Alpha-Omega!

6. They do not want to entertain you by speaking in their native language.

7. If you are a teacher, Sunday school teacher, coach, etc., please do not ask them about their lives in Ethiopia. They don't want to talk about it, especially in front of the class or team.

8. If you want to know why they run fast, ask me-- just not in front of the kids.

9. They didn't all play soccer in Africa.

10. They are not "lucky to be here" --this is their destiny.

Thank you, thank you for understanding. In addition, please understand that THESE ARE MY CHILDREN!!! I'm not doing them a favor by being their mother. There seems to be a temptation to compare adopted children to someone you helped once down at the shelter, or somehow being an option for you to serve as part of community service work for school credit. This is not the case. I'm so very thankful for everyone who helps anyone in anyway, and maybe adoptive families have contributed to that idea by raising money for adoptions and championing the huge need. It is a double-edged sword. But, the aforementioned attitude is destructive to adoptive families.

They will not toil in vain, or bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, and their descendants with them.

Isaiah 65:23

never EVER doubt the POWER of PRAYER

2011-03-09T11:54:00.000-06:00

Never ever doubt the power of prayer--- even when you are not sure exactly what you are praying for. God knows and HE WILL USE IT!

Remember when I asked you to pray every day at 11:00am,

as darkness fell across the world in Ethiopia, for the release and protection of our children?

God led us to pray at that time because He knew that was the time when they were in the greatest danger.

I had no idea what specifically that they would be in danger of, but it was at that time that 2 of my children were forced to sleep outside with no shelter.

Hyenas are everywhere in the countryside.

If you value your livestock, then it stays in the house with you. However, some orphans are forced outside. Those with no one to speak up for them--- no defender-- no helper-- have no other option.

Our kids still become uneasy at dusk, wanting to be inside, safe from the ferocious hyenas. Last night sweet Isaiah began telling about how he was so terrified of the hyenas when they spent nights outside. Because hyenas can "smell everything--- and they know everything-- and they can see everything!"

"But, they could not see us! They would be right in front of us, but Mom, I believe something was holding them back!"

Yes, baby, SOMEONE was holding them back.

You probably have heard about the announcement from the Ministry of Women's Affairs in Ethiopia that they are threatening to cut the number of adoptions by 90% because of the corrupt acts of a few.

"Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One."

Acts 4:25-26

"Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

Acts 4:29-30

We can help by signing this petition from the

Joint Council Emergency Campaign for Ethiopian Children

Please speak up and let the the Ethiopian government and our United States government know that children will die, children will suffer and children CAN BE SAVED when the people of God move in prayer and action.

It's WRONG to Sell People

2011-02-28T15:07:00.000-06:00

On the way home our with 2 of my kid's, they noticed a homemade sign at an intersection that we pass through a few times a day.

It said

KID'S SALE

"What's that????"

The conversation went like this--

Me: It is a consignment sale for children's clothes.

Do they sell kids?

Me: No of course not!

They sell kids in Africa.

Me: I know, baby, I'm so sorry.

They sell people, too in Africa.

Me: I know. We don't do that in America.

It's WRONG Mom!! It's WRONG to sell people!!!

Me: Yes it is. I'm so sorry, sweetie.

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that this was a conversation that I'd be having with my children.

It is true. It is illegal to sell kids in America. It's illegal to sell them in Africa, too.

However--

Slavery has touched virtually everything we touch--- EVERY DAY.

The clothes we wear.

The electronics we use.

The diamonds on our fingers.

The food we eat.

PLEASE help do something about it!

Sign this petition to President Obama at

International Justice Mission:

to help end modern day slavery.

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.

Proverbs 3:27

When I Cross Over Jordan...

2011-02-20T21:50:00.000-06:00

When your children shall ask you in time to come saying what mean these 12 stones
then you shall tell them how you made it over. Joshua 4:21-22
Memorial stone in Selma, Alabama at the site of a civil rights march-- we visited in 2008

I can hardly believe that it has been a year since we've had our fabulous 4!

This year has been marked by unspeakable joys and innumerable challenges that have been covered by the precious blood of Jesus over and over.

I've been given the gift of living out scripture in ways that would not have been possible any other way.

The little boy who wanted to throw himself into the fire-- is my child--- and he is healed.

Matthew 17:14-21

The Mary who poured perfume on Jesus' feet from her alabaster box lives here--- and her box never runs low on oil.

John 12:1-8

The lost sheep who Jesus leaves the 99 behind to search for and brings back on his shoulders---has been restored.

Luke 15: 3-7
The dove that Noah sent out to look for land, has found a place to build his nest.
Genesis 8:12

More than once I've heard the question,

"Do you ever wonder what you've gotten yourself into?"

Well, I did not get myself into it. God did.

And I can honestly say that I have never doubted that AT ALL-----not even once!

It was His hand that stopped the flow of the Jordan for the Israelites to walk over on dry land.

And it was His hand that

caused our eyes to fall on these sweet faces,

released them from their chains,

led us across the ocean to get them,

and has provided for our every need---- abundantly!

What does give me a sharp pain in my heart is the thought of what if I had just passed on these kids and said we'll choose others when the situation was looking hopeless.

And the most beautiful part about it is that He used His Body to do all this.

When I think back over the past year, what stands out the most is how we have been so incredibly supported by His Body living out His truth in word, in prayer and in deed.

You are the 12 stones of remembrance that will be passed on to our children-
living stones
1 Peter 2:5

Since our kids came home they always define someone as,

"They have Jesus, or they do not have Jesus."

They arrived distinguishing people like that because where they are from, if you love Jesus it shows in everything you do and say.

Not so much here, where the church and the world are hard to tell apart.

Unless they look like this holy bunch of faithfulness who have held us together with PRAYER and with cords of human kindness and ties of love. Hosea 11:4

This is not an exhaustive list-- just the pictures that I could round up--- and each photo tells a story that deserves a whole post to itself!
Each of you has touched our family with kindness beyond measure!

I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Psalm 27:13

eternally grateful!

From the Inside OUT

2011-02-10T13:33:00.000-06:00

We all know that true and lasting transformation has to come from the inside out.
And we know the surest way to impact a family is though the heart of the mama who cares for it.
We have the most amazing opportunity to be a part of totally changing the spirit of an entire community by helping to build a grain mill for the city
where 4 of our children lived.
Covenant Orphanage in partnership with One Child Campaign would like to build a grain mill for the women of Holeta and at the same time, reach out with the LOVE of CHRIST and teach them how to allow Him to transform their families.

It is the most beautiful plan.
There is a group of women, many of them widows, meeting together already called,
"Let's Have Coffee."
By helping them fund a MUCH needed grain mill, they will see that this provision has indeed come from the Hands of JESUS Himself-- your hands-- represencing HIM on this earth to provide sustenance for their families. What could this mean for them?
It could mean no more witchcraft.
It could mean no more adding another wife to the family.
It could mean no more violence.
It could mean no more hunger.
It could mean no more nakedness.

It could mean no longer having to accept working in this greenhouse-- a certain death sentence because of the toxic chemicals they work with.

It could mean no more forced exploitation.

It could mean no more FEAR of death because they will be rescued out of darkness and brought into HIS marvelous LIGHT!

We need just 100 people to donate $20 each through the One Child Campaign donate button on the sidebar. Because of an amazing matching grant provided through a benefit run by our awesome friends

The Stums-- the fruit just keeps multiplying!!!--

this baby will be DONE!

---and we need your prayers that the seeds planted will take root quickly to turn this town around!

Any overflow will go to fund the many other projects that One Child Campaign has underway in Ethiopia helping orphans and widows.

Thank you!!!

There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you.

Deuteronomy 12:7

Poured Out and Filled Up

2011-01-07T09:42:00.000-06:00

Melkam Genna!

I hope you all had an incredible Christmas! We were so blessed with a peaceful break and I know that is due to so many prayers from the faithful!

I just have to share my most special gift from Nate. You might know that in Ethiopia they usually don't exchange gifts as part of celebrating Christmas. Our kids were so excited to be able to include presents as part of Christmas, but they were most excited about getting to GIVE gifts. They each spent their birthday money that they had saved to shop for meaningful gifts for each member of our family; and Isaiah even shopped at his school's book fair with the $$ I had given him to shop for books that he had asked for. My mom took each of them shopping and they kind of drove her a little crazy by being so particular over each and every purchase. :)

I'm thinking that they may have been inspired by Little House on the Prarie, Christmas at Plum Creek.

Remember the one where Laura sells her horse, Bunny to Mr. Olson to buy a stove for Ma? They LOVE Little House, especially Mercy......following in big sister's footsteps.

Nate gave me this snow globe with our family picture inside.

He chose it because it says, "Baby's First Christmas."

He said because, "I am your baby."

I do tell him that all the time!

This little globe represents more than I can even tell you to me!

It speaks of how God has us in his embrace-- even though I am being poured out like a drink offering, Philippians 2:17-- it speaks of how being in the center of God's will is the most dangerous place to be, yet safe in His hold, at the same time-- it speaks of how the old is gone and the new is here, 2 Corinthians 2:17--

and so much more.

Elle had the amazing opportunity to go to Ethiopia with our dear friend Courtney to help her bring home sweet Teddy. Read about their story. It is a movie in the making. Elle had wanted to go with her from the beginning, but didn't have the funds for a plane ticket. On New Year's Day, she cleaned out her bank account and paid for the ticket with the EXACT amount of money she had in her account ---and left the next day.

God always demands it all doesn't He?

-- and He always provides when it is HIS plan!!---

AND she is spending Christmas in Holeta, Ethiopia with Pochi right now---celebrating Jesus' birth in the most precious way. ---I'm just a little bit jealous.

Praying all of HIS best in 2011 for all of you!

You have made know to me the path of life;

You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.

Psalm 16:11

Brought Back--again

2010-12-20T08:53:00.000-06:00

I feel like I'm usually walking a line between over sharing and shining light. But, because of the numerous calls and emails that I get about this very issue from moms who are going through the same thing, I'm going to lay some of our recent struggle and VICTORY out on the line. Above all-- because God tells me to do it because--

He is the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
2 Corinthians 1: 4

We all know that the redemption of our children is a long, winding road. They know it, too. Our lives move at the speed of light and the healing process often gets left in the dust as we move from one event, one project, one sports season to another. Any time we have a change in routine, it seems like the wounds begin to fester. This time it was a snow day. Last time it was fall break.

I'd like to pretend that I've got it all under control, but when you're following your sock-footed child in your 12 passenger white kidnapper van, down the wrong side of a narrow road--(that'll preach)-- it's a little obvious to the neighborhood that something has gone awry.

And most recently, when the police cars, the K-9 unit and the EMT's showed up at bedtime and searched high and low in the 12 degree night air, all my precious neighbors knew to begin praying. And they did. ---And so did a battalion of saints who are ready to intercede at a moment's notice. I'm beyond blessed to have friends and prayer warriors who are always just a phone call away!

This time was especially unnerving because I did have to call the police to help us search in the potentially deadly cold. They could not have been more kind and caring. As I was praying, I had a vision of Hagar in the wilderness and the Angel of the Lord coming to her and Hagar saying, "You are the God who sees me." Genesis 16:13. My dear friend, Missy who was here with me, said that was her devotion that morning. Not surprising-- God is always before me!

And it was our friend, Mark, Missy's husband, who turned out to be the Angel of the Lord who saw our lost lamb. He brought our child back, unharmed and wrapped in his own coat.

I was at a complete loss as to how to connect with this child who would not even look at me. I had written a letter of straight up scripture, arranged in a way that told how this child is loved by me and God after the last runaway, but had never delivered it, because the timing had never been right. The timing was finally right. I delivered it and prayed that God's Word would not return void.

Here is the letter--

For you were chosen in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love, He predestined you to be adopted as His son through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One He loves.

I will go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may also be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.

I will not leave you as an orphan, I will come to you.

I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have drawn you with loving kindness.

I loved you enough to sacrifice and lay down my life across the nations before you even knew me.

Like the rest, you were by nature, objects of wrath, but because of My great love for you, and My mercy you have been saved.

In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. You said- I will flee swiftly! And I said, I will pursue you swiftly!

All day long, I have held out my hands to an obstinate child who walks in ways, not good, pursuing his own imagination, continually provoking me to my very face.

Yet, I long to be gracious to you; I rise to show you compassion. I am full of justice-- blessed are all who wait for Me.

God has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.

He will bestow on you a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. You will be called an oak of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.

So come and drink from the fountain that never runs dry, come and take on my yoke, for my burden is light and my yoke is easy. Come and receive the free gift of LIFE that cost me everything. --and is worth far more than I could ever tell you. I am making everything new.

Lift up your eyes, keep oil in your lamp, for I am with you always.

I have assigned your portion and your cup; I have made your lot secure. Your boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places---

AND SURELY YOU HAVE A DELIGHTFUL INHERITANCE!

Then-- I waited. God did not disappoint me. When this child came home from school the next day, I received a beautiful, heart wrenching letter in return, written in perfect handwriting and decorated with LOVE, full of repentance-- thankfulness and transparency in all that is going on in the dark places of my child's heart--

and assurance that this child does know how deeply loved and cherished he is.

It is all SO VERY worth it!

Do not give up!

I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 11:19

From a Heart that Knows

2010-12-09T21:46:00.000-06:00

Our sweet Mercy is our valiant prayer warrior. She amazes me every day with her compassionate and intuitive heart. She is aware of emotions and senses that have escaped me my whole life in the midst of all of our busyness and noise.

The other day as we were driving to church she told me that she doesn't want any presents for Christmas. She said that all she wants is a sister. I told her that is what her big sister, Elle, asked for at least 10 years before she finally got one.

the best big sister EVER

She has always been one to journal and write notes to everyone. She chooses specific scripture to pray for each of us and it blows my mind how appropriate that it is for each person!

She made a book for the orphans left behind in Africa.

She called it GOD WILL USE YOU MIGHTILY

With her permission, I'm sharing it with you.

Keep in mind that she is an English language learner. :)

"Someday God will use you. He will not leave you as orphans. Please God, You can do it.

Oh yes, God, He will go to them someday and He will love them.

I know that it is hard for kids to go without eating food the way I was in Africa. My life was very bad. I know there are other boys and girls still without families.

God the Father and Jesus Christ His Son will give you grace and mercy and peace. He will be with us because we love the truth.

I will not forget about you kids and God will get you very soon. I've been praying for you every day. My dream is you.

Someday if God tells me to do what you need, I will do good things for you because I love you, but not just me. God, too. Your life has been bad, but someday you are going to have a great life from God. I love these kids more than anything, but first God.

If you want a family like me, ask God every day and He will give you one.

Maybe me and Elle will come to you and find you a home to come to in America. Everybody will love you and I will be your best friend and play with you all day long. Just like sisters and brothers and you will like me forever and ever because God tells me so. I hope we are going to have fun....with me and Jesus and you.

When I was in Africa, I was the one who cooks and cleans and everything and God told my mommy to come and get me and she wanted to be my mommy. If you see me now I am having a good time with my family. I am having a good life with my nice and beautiful family forever. I have the best family forever and ever. Maybe God has a place for you. I am always praying for you kidz. Whenever I think about you, you make me cry. He is going to give you a new family. God bless you."

So that's it.

The gospel according to Mercy.

Sounds exactly like the gospel according to the One Who spoke it.

Once our eyes have been opened....

You know the rest.

Mercy being baptized by Daddy

Isaiah being baptized by Daddy

Proud family

precious friends-- new life

Give LIFE for Christmas!--spoiler alert--for non-believers' eyes only

2010-11-24T15:12:00.000-06:00

Christmas is in full swing around our house! We are almost completely decorated-- yes, BEFORE Thanksgiving-- much to the dismay of many of our Thanksgiving guests--- I do try to have everything up before the after Thanksgiving craziness begins. I've mentioned before that I try to not focus on the materialism side of Christmas.

After all, Christmas is about LIFE and NEW BIRTH and I just cannot waste that message on useless, dead material objects that no one really needs anyway.

could there be a greater gift than this little guy?!!

I'm not a big Santa Claus promoter. When Elle was 4 years old we were putting together Samaritan's Purse shoeboxes for children in Bosnia who "wouldn't get anything else for Christmas if we didn't send them something."

So Elle asked, "Why doesn't Santa Claus bring them gifts?"

"Well, Santa doesn't bring poor children gifts," I told her.

That was the end of Santa for Elle--- and she was mighty mad that I had lied to her all her life about the man in the big red suit. That child has always been about justice.

I didn't completely learn my lesson, so we did keep the Santa thing going for Nash.

When he was in third grade, I caught him on the computer. He was on Ask.com and had typed in the question,

"Tell me if Santa is real or not, I'm an adult."

Again-- the justice thing. He was mad that people were making a bigger deal about Santa than Jesus.

After we had a talk about how telling a lie about being an adult to the computer is the same as telling a lie in real time---

I had to agree with him.

Check out
The Story of St. Nicholas: More than Reindeer and a Red Suit

AND-- there is absolutely no way our newest arrivals would even buy into Santa.

They were confused from the beginning about him.

Don't worry-- all of our kids know that they aren't allowed to spill the beans for all believing children. They actually kind of like being in on a secret.

One of my favorite Christmas Eve messages ever was given by our friend, Pete Wilson.

It centered around Isaiah 26:18

"We were with child, we writhed in pain,

but we gave birth to wind.

We have not brought salvation to the earth;

we have not given birth to people of the world."

Lord, let this be a year when we use the Baby in the manger to bring the LIFE, the everlasting, the eternal, the imperishable to those who will perish without it!

Anything else gives birth to wind.

Lifesong for Orphans

has plenty of ways this year that we can give birth to life and salvation for those who desperately need it.

Lifesong has been an incredible gift to our family and is empowering and supporting the least of these in countless ways around the world!

Lifesong writes---

Show the love of Christ to a child in need this Christmas!

What are you doing this year for Christmas?

Decorating the house? Making Christmas cookies? Celebrating with family and loved ones? Exchanging gifts?

What if this year you gave gifts that not only celebrated your loved ones but brought the love of Christ to a child in need? An orphan in Africa, India, Ukraine, or Honduras?

This year Lifesong for Orphans has gifts that will do just that. Give the new Lifesong cookbook...

or give a child in Africa food, a child in Honduras job skills training, a child in India a home... in honor of those you love... and really, what could be better at Christmas than to know your gift was given to a child who needed it more.

Check it out here.

May God bless your holiday season!

10-11 Gifts of Purpose from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

i'm on a bit of a tear.

2010-10-21T12:43:00.000-05:00

The Candy Shop Trailer from Brandon McCormick on Vimeo.

For all non-southerners reading this-- a tear-- (verb--as in to tear something, noun-- refers to the verge of a hissy fit.)

This video is the trailer to a 30 minute film that will be released in November about the sex trafficking of children.

Like everyone, I've been sick about human trafficking since I first heard about it and want to do everything I can to stop it----AND----when it is your own children who were the potential victims of such unspeakable horrors, the threat becomes frighteningly personal. I've been tormented by stories they tell me about life before and after they were orphaned. The children where they are from live in constant terror of being abducted and sold into a trafficking ring. There are men and women lurking everywhere who offer starving children candy and biscuits. They were always smart enough to run-- fast-- but there are MANY who aren't so fortunate. Mercy tells of a nice man who warned her to always run away fast when someone got too close to her----- I totally believe that was an angel.

They tell of worrying about sweet baby James, who wasn't so savvy and liked candy a little bit too much.

They speak of kids who "just weren't there anymore."

They've seen a 3 year old little girl, "who looked just like Levi," sold for cash, put in a box and covered with a lid.

They tell of the terrified look on a child's face when a bad man is trying to catch her.

I don't like sharing this at all-- For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible.

That is why it is said:

"Wake up, O sleeper,

rise from the dead,

And Christ will shine on you."

Ephesians 5:12-14

So what can we do about it?

I'm not going to ask you to give money.

I'm not going to ask you to call your congressman

or sign a petition....

at least not right now.

What we ALL have to do is WAKE UP and realize that WE are the problem.

For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. Romans 14:7

What we buy

What we watch on television and at the movies

What we read

What we allow our minds to be entertained by

How we speak--

Our self-centered apathy to the consequences of our actions...

ALL FUELS the HUNGER for more and more....

AS the CHURCH--- as image bearers of CHRIST--- we are under obligation to set the captives free------

and we are under the obligation to --

Be very careful,then, how you live-- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

Ephesians 5:15-17

Saving Faith

2010-10-20T16:21:00.000-05:00

Living behind enemy lines is the norm around here. Every time we think we've reached a plateau, something will happen to remind us that the battle still rages. At least we can be sure that we're heading in the absolute opposite direction of the enemy.

At the empowered to connect conference Kay Purvis (love, love her) taught us that adoptive mothers have an unnatural rate of autoimmune disease due to a broken heart. The chemical make up of your body actually changes as a result of heartbreak over an adopted child. This alarmed me because my prayer has always been for God to break my heart for what breaks HIS.

And He absolutely has. My heart is completely broken-- crumbled and stomped on many days-- The Holy Spirit reminded me of

1 John 3:16-17

This is how we know what love is:

Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.

And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

So while I'm having a new concern at learning about the effects of my broken heart--- the Holy Spirit simply speaks the rest of the passage--

--which says-- This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything. 1 John 3:19-20

Thank you Holy Spirit!

Here are a few of my heartbreakers-- in no particular order--

Thank you Kristine Neeley for your priceless gift of photography to us!

Our princess ballerina Mercy with her gift of prayer and compassion!

Our handsome and gifted Nate-our superstar soccer player and cross country runner
He was asked to run for student council, thought it was a race and said yes.
He won.

Our sweet Isaiah has a passion for the Word-- and life!

Our fearless oldest son Nash-- he leads the whole crew with wisdom and patience-- so thankful for his example.

It all started with Elle (we like to remind her of that) beautiful inside and out -- her heart for the nations, her passion for Jesus.

Daddy is everyone's favorite playmate!

Sweet Jamolicious! His laughter and smile light up the universe!

Sweet Prince Levi Jeremiah-- the heartbeat of our family!

It's a darn good thing that I don't live in the NATURAL!

I've Never Been a Cat Person

2010-09-09T06:26:00.000-05:00

With a potty trainer, a pre-schooler, a first grader, a third grader, a sixth grader, a seventh grader and a senior in high school -- around here we are experiencing every stage of childhood all at once!

This article totally describes my life right now---and I'm allergic to cats. :)

Kids are Dogs, Teens are Cats

by Adair Lara

I just realized that while children are dogs ... loyal and affection-

ate ... teenagers are cats.

It's so easy to be a dog owner. You feed it, train it, boss it around.

It puts its head on your knee and gazes at you as if you were a

Rembrandt painting. It bounds indoors with enthusiasm when you

call it.

Then around age 13, your adoring little puppy turns into a big

old cat. When you tell it to come inside, it looks amazed, as if

wondering who died and made you emperor. Instead of dogging

your doorstep, it disappears. You won't see it again until it gets

hungry ... then it pauses on its sprint through the kitchen long

enough to turn its nose up at whatever you're serving. When you

reach out to ruffle its head, in that old affectionate gesture, it twists

away from you then gives you a blank stare, as if trying to remem-

ber where it has seen you before.

You, not realizing that the dog is now a cat, think something must

be desperately wrong with it. It seems so antisocial, so distant, sort

of depressed. It won't go on family outings. Since you're the one

who raised it, taught it to fetch and stay and sit on command, you

assume that you did something wrong. Flooded with guilt and fear,

you redouble your efforts to make your pet behave.

Only now you're dealing with a cat, so everything that worked

before now produces the opposite of the desired result. Call it and

it runs away. Tell it to sit and it jumps on the counter. The more

you go toward it, wringing your hands, the more it moves away.

Instead of continuing to act like a dog owner, you can learn to

behave like a cat owner. Put a dish of food near the door and let it

come to you. But remember that a cat needs your help and your

affection too. Sit still and it will come, seeking that warm, comfort-

ing lap it has not entirely forgotten. Be there to open the door for

it.

One day your grown-up child will walk into the kitchen, give you

a big kiss and say, "You've been on your feet all day. Let me get

those dishes for you."

Then you'll realize that your cat is a dog again.

EMPOWERED to CONNECT

2010-08-30T11:29:00.000-05:00

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow His precepts have good understanding. To Him belongs eternal praise.

Psalm 111:10

Does every child deserve a family?

YES!

And every child deserves a family who understands them.

If you are considering adoption---foster care---mentoring---

If you are a social worker, teacher, Sunday school worker---

If you volunteer in the youth group, or have any kind of heart for children who have come from less than ideal circumstances---- PLEASE check out the

Show Hope | Empowered to Connect Conference

September 10-11 in Nashville, Tennessee

The Connected Child is a wonderful book for understanding the effects of neglect and early trauma in a child's life.

Even if you've adopted a little princess or prince as and infant, and believe that they are completely bonded to you, it's important to remember that the early trauma they have suffered will have an effect on the child as they grow up---no matter how much we try to LOVE it away.

I don't like the term attachment. All adopted children want to know is that there is someone who can understand their pain and the reason they are behaving-- feeling--reacting-- the way that they do. They want to know that there is NOTHING they could do that would make you love them less, or think less of them. They want the same dignity afforded to everyone else------and they want you to know that there are millions and millions of others like them who need the same.

--- I might add that adoptive parents want the same thing. When I hear someone say-- "Well, you'd think they would just be so thankful!" --or-- "Shouldn't they have learned better by now?" -- I really get sick to my stomach.

Their differences enrich our lives and give us the privilege of guiding them to their complete healing in CHRIST alone. We cannot do it without HIM.

Hope to see you at the conference!!!

Holocaust Denial

2010-08-11T18:53:00.000-05:00

This is 4 of our children's half nephew.

About 20 years ago I met a precious elderly woman on a plane. I've always loved old people and I was drawn to her sweet spirit and her old world accent. She noticed that I was staring at her arm. She had a tattoo of numbers on her forearm. Without me asking, she told me that she was a concentration camp survivor. Those numbers were her identification mark--- her mark for death. I immediately felt as if I was in the presence of holiness. She was completely humble as she told me about never seeing her family again and about how thankful she was to have survived at all.
Grateful that someone believed that she was suffering.
Grateful that someone responded to her cries for help.

Many years later, I had a beloved Bible Study leader who shared as part of her testimony that she used to struggle with the fact that she wasn't sure if she had had the opportunity to help a Jew during the Holocaust, much like Corrie Ten Boom had done, if she would have had the courage to do so.
She was haunted by that idea.

Recently, Unicef concluded that there are indeed 163 million orphans in the world today. 163 million children marked for death by satan unless a complacent world chooses to stop turning the other way and pretending that they aren't there.
This is our generation's opportunity to stop a holocaust.
Lord have mercy on us if we don't.

What is happening to orphans right now as I write?

They are hungry.
They are eating trash.
They are chased away from the trash.
They are naked.
They are exhausted from running scared all the time.
They are tied up.
They live without shelter.
They live in fear of being abducted.
They live in fear of being eaten by wild animals.
They are raped.
They are prostituted.
They are beaten---in unimaginable ways.
They witness their friends being sold.
They live in fear being sold themselves.
They are forced to lie.
They steal out of necessity.
They are burned.
They are bruised.

Sometimes they wish they were never born.
They feel invisible.
They wonder why God doesn't like them.

They are crying out to the Lord because of their oppressor. Isaiah 19:20

Just today, I heard about a prospective adoptive dad that attended a gathering of adoption families. He came away discouraged about adopting saying,
"Those people just don't look like me."
OK.
Those people aren't hippies who have escaped from a commune.
On the outside, they look like suburban, SUV driving, professional job holding, every day American families, who go to church, send their kids to school and hang out at the ball field.
What they look like on the inside is JESUS-- re-present on this earth.
God will always give us a mirror to show us who we are--
and who He is calling us to be.
That dad doesn't have a chance at escaping adoption-- God has His mark on him and I'm praying for him.

Once we see ourselves as the same orphans who needed a Savior-- who were rescued by a Savior-- Who gave everything up for us, then we CANNOT turn our backs on them.

On Monday, as I was tucking 2 of our boys into bed, one of them sat straight up and spoke through tears,
"Mama, remember when every day, every day Mama, I would hit you, and kick you and spit on you, and bite you and tear your clothes!!??
Every day Mama, I did that every day!
I'm so, so sorry Mama, I'm so sorry!"

And I was able to tell him that I forgave him before he even did those things---
to "fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name;
you are mine. Isaiah 43:1b

I need to be telling Jesus the same thing my sweet boy said to me, every day-- every sin is a blow to Him and who He wants me to be.
Because as for me, the Lord took me and brought me out of the iron-smelting furnace, out of Egypt, to be the people of His inheritance,
as I am now.
Deuteronomy 4:20

And in a world where one third of the population claims to be Christian--- there needs to be no one left behind.
We know better.

Nathaniel Simeon is 12!

2010-08-06T13:04:00.000-05:00

Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

Jeremiah 33:3

Yesterday we celebrated Nate's 12th birthday! His first birthday with us is super special for many reasons. Nate and James were the first of the 4 to be released last June after 6 weeks of intense prayer. In July, Sue contacted us and said that we had to choose their birthdays so that birth certificates could be made for them.

It is a totally surreal experience to have to choose a birthdate for an older child who has already lived for so long.

Nash asked for Nate to share a birthday with him, but I really felt like he should have a special day all to himself.

I prayed and asked God to tell me exactly when his birthday should be.

I clearly heard Him say 8-5.

8 is the number of new beginnings.

5 is the number of GRACE.

So we had his birth certificate created with his birthday as August 5.

Traditional birthday breakfast! -- Mercy has been wearing her tiara since her birthday on July 4th. :)

Fast forward to December when Pochi, his orphanage director, came to visit us from Ethiopia. We were just so happy to meet each other and were talking about many things. Sue called to ask when Pochi would be leaving our house so that she could book her plane ticket--- Sue is the MOST awesome agency director ever--- just so you know--

She had me ask Pochi when her birthday was so she could make the reservation and when I asked Pochi she said,

"August 5."

"Wow-- no way!-- That is the same day I chose for Nate's birthday!" I told her.

"No," she said,

"You didn't choose that date--- he is the only one who knew when his actual birthday was and it is August 5th."

He had never even celebrated it before and had no real idea how old he is, but he knew the day he was born.

Nate knew and God knew ---

And God wanted his mama to know--- when I asked Him.

Nate asked for a family birthday-- and a cookie cake with black chips. :)

Happy Birthday Nathaniel Simeon!!

You bring more joy than you can ever know-- the plans God has for you are beyond what I can comprehend now.

You are loved and cherished forever!!

Luke 2:25 is the verse that inspired his name---

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout.

He was waiting for the consolation of Israel,

and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

happy birthday aMERCYca

2010-07-09T22:15:00.000-05:00

Mercy celebrated her first birthday ever on July 4th when she turned 9 years old!

When we had to choose her birthday, the only logical day for this child was Independence Day!

She requested a skinny girl baby for her birthday--- I figured that she was talking about Barbie.

I made her a strawberry Princess Barbie cake! She loved her!

She looks just like her, don't you think?

Levi tried to blow out some candles, too!

Sweet friends Jenna, Hana and Sara

Izzy and Beth

Beth and Ally

18 kids between these two mamas!!

Love birds Jamo and Abby

Chris, Jon and Jimmy

Three of my favorite fathers to the fatherless--

16 orphans rescued between these daddies!!

My Isaiah-- this boy kills me!! He is the one who watches every bite I put into my mouth to make sure I'm eating enough, he's always there to carry the groceries and open doors for me. He is the "anything I can do for you, Mom?" child. He remembers every word I have ever spoken to him-- in detail---

We have come SO far!!!

Princess Barbie Mercy-- Praising the LORD!!!

Levi working hard on his sugar HIGH!

Yaya and Baby Sydney, Levi and Gigi watching the big fireworks show!

And of course they were all for sweet Mercy----- she asked if her birthday would be July 4th again next year---- revealing a still uncertain feeling about whether or not this is all going to last.

When I put her to bed that night she was all smiles as she watched her balloons floating above her, and said again that she'd never had a birthday before.

There are orphans all over the world who have no idea how old they really are. Can you imagine just passing time and knowing you were growing older, but not ever being sure by how much?......having no record of your existence?.....

This is the child who is constantly aware of the ones who are still without a family.

Daddy's 9 year old princess!

Our Mercy has become the prayer warrior of the family. She has the gift of compassion and is wise and intuitive far beyond her years. Her heart is beautiful!

We love you, our precious princess Mercy Makeda!!!

Transparency

2010-06-29T09:45:00.000-05:00

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth.)

Ephesians 5:8-9

So, I've heard a few times that if I keep telling it like it is, then no one will want to adopt older kids anymore.

I have to tell you that this idea expresses a complete misunderstanding of what adoption in all about.

When families adopt, (as God does), we don't set out to take the path of least resistance.

My friend Emily always says, "Adoption is NOT for sissies!"--- is that t-shirt ready yet, Em?

We don't adopt to do a good deed and help those poor kids out. We don't spend all our savings, our college funds, sell everything we can and invite all of our friends to join in-- because we are looking for the easiest child to raise, who will cause us the least inconvenience.

We adopt because there are 147 million orphans in the world who are crying out night and day for a family-- a savior-- and life. We adopt because we know that whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

We adopt because our God commands us to care for the orphans and widows. We adopt because to whom much has been given, much, much will be demanded.

I'm amazed and thankful every day that God entrusted us with our children. It is a privilege to experience His heart through their suffering and redemption. There can be no other way. Adoption IS the gospel.

And I'm sharing it all because if we are children, then we are heirs--- of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings----in order that we may also share in His glory.

He is in the business glorifying Himself--- of going to the desert and bringing His children back Himself. He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for us. Thank you so much to everyone who prayed for our lost little lamb. He has come back from Egypt--- and here's how---

After not speaking to me for a while-- unless he had to.-- He came to me one morning and said he wanted to talk to me. I was so happy. So, after ESL summer school we had a talk and he told me about his dreams.

He said that he had not prayed in 5 days--- that they were sad, bad days. I would go to him and pray for him, but apparently he wasn't praying with me.

Anyway, he said Jesus came to him in a dream and told him, "Go and talk to your mother, she loves you." He told Jesus, no, he didn't want to. He said Jesus said it again and he ignored him.

The next night, he had the same dream again--- he said he was so scared because it was exactly same dream and Jesus said the same thing. "Go and talk to your mother, she loves you." He said he was so scared of God.
--in the fear of God way--

He said Jesus told him, "Look behind you," and he did and saw Ethiopia. Then Jesus said, "You have no family there, your family is here."
He also said Jesus told him to keep reading his Bible and that it was not written by man, but by Him.

He wanted me to read out loud all the scripture Jesus led him, to--- Matthew 7, John 16 and 1 Peter 2:9. So awesome--

God means what He says y'all.
We've had visits in our house from Jesus, angels and demons. It's all real. It's all happening all the time. We get way to preoccupied with ourselves and our stuff in this culture to see it--- that doesn't mean it's not happening.
God says it is.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priest-hood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9

Back to Egypt

2010-06-20T21:52:00.000-05:00

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Take off your sandals; the place where you are standing is holy ground. I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.

Acts 7:33-34

We were led to our children by our interest in a precious HIV positive little girl that Elle found on Rainbow Kids. When we got to the waiting children list of Celebrate Children International , we then saw our 4 kids and knew that they were to be ours. These children had lost their mother and father and had the saddest story. In the months to follow we faced obstacle after obstacle. We were even told that it probably wouldn't happen--- to choose other children-- there are plenty more where they came from---and even if a couple of them made it we could choose others from another orphanage.

( you can scroll back through the archives to see much of our journey.)

All along God's promise to me was --"not a hoof is to be left behind." Exodus 10:26b

God led by His Word every step of the way and prayer warriors from all over the world stormed His throne faithfully pleading for these lives to be saved.

And God is always true to His Word.

So they all are home.

We've crossed the Red Sea.

Our kids have experienced love and security like they have never known. They have more material possessions than they could ever need. Even with all of our trials the one thing that I never questioned is their love and gratitude for their family.

Until now.

One of my children, who up until last week was the picture of well-adjusted and attached, has decided he doesn't like what God has done for him.

Up until last week this child wrote me love letters every day expressing thankfulness and adoration.

Now he has attempted to run away and says no one loves him.

This child whom we beg and plead with to speak to us all day and night, says that no one listens to him.

But, they refused to obey him. Instead they rejected him and in their hearts, turned back to Egypt. Acts 7:39

I never knew what rejection like this felt like---
and I never knew that I could love so sacrificially.

So, while I'm surviving on my daily manna, I'm heading back to spiritual Egypt......I so don't want to go there.

I'm not going alone.

Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.'

Luke 15:4-7

I have decided to follow Jesus.

No turning back.

No Accidents

2010-06-04T10:19:00.000-05:00

One of the first things that I noticed about our beautiful Mercy when I met her was that her two front teeth were broken. All of a sudden it made sense that she was not smiling in any of the photos that we had seen of her. She rarely smiled a full smile that would show her teeth and she had a hard time making eye contact and looked down most of the time. I tried to imagine what could have happened that would cause such trauma to her teeth.

Come to find out, the blow to the back of her head that caused her to fall and break her two front teeth as she was running away--- was no accident.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Genesis 50:20

It is also no accident that God placed her in our home, in a community full of love and compassion. When our amazing dentist, Dr. Lyle Monger, first met Mercy he couldn't wait to repair her teeth for her. As a gift. A gift of MERCY and COMPASSION.

Thank you so much Dr. Monger for being the hands of the Great Physician for Mercy!!!

Susan, Mercy and Dr. Monger

Overjoyed Mercy and Dr. Monger

Perfection!!!

Nash and Nate had their piano recital last week. Nash played Dare You to Move by Switchfoot and Nate played Amazing Grace. It's also no accident that those are the songs chosen for them by their awesome piano teacher Miss Rachel Mingus. These songs are so very perfect for each of them. Nate began taking lessons the week he came home and has done so well!!!

And look how much Nate has grown! When he came home he was more than a head shorter than Nash. All of them have grown so much and have been gaining weight like crazy!

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine

The COST of WAITING

2010-05-24T15:08:00.000-05:00

I mentioned before that our kids have begun sharing some of what happened to them in Ethiopia. To say that I'm horrified is a huge understatement. It's their story to tell, but without a doubt, it needs to be shared at some point because they represent millions that are still destitute---- and even the word destitute doesn't do their past justice. Everything that we were led to pray for them during our wait had a specific purpose in the physical sense. For example, when we were praying for chains to be broken, I never once envisioned that those were literal chains-- I was wrong.

When we received sad pictures of them and I was worried--- there were many well meaning remarks from friends saying, "That is just their normal. They don't know any different."

They were saying this to comfort me,

but I knew that wasn't true then and for sure know it now.

Suffering, hurting, starving, abused children KNOW that they are suffering, hurting, starving and abused with no one looking out for them or defending them. Everyone they are supposed to be able to trust turns on them at any given moment and they live in a state of terror.

God is clear about that in His Word. Over and over He speaks about the oppressed crying out because of their oppressors.

When they first began speaking about their life they would say,

"Scared Mama, everything scary! Always scared!"

I know many of you must have seen the 700 Club segment with Pat Robertson slamming the adoption of any child who comes from extreme circumstances because, "You never know what they've been through, I mean they could be brain damaged." They have since removed his comments from the video, but you can read about it HERE.

Terry Meeuwsen (I always loved her) defends the Biblical call to care for the orphans beautifully. As the mother of 7, 5 adopted and 2 bio--- same as me--- she is my new hero!

Pat exhorts listeners to "count the cost."

Exactly.

When Jesus tells us to count the cost in Luke 14, He begins with telling us that "anyone who does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be my disciple.

And sums it up with:

In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.

Now, please tell me if I'm understanding this wrong, but I'm going to take Jesus at His Word and believe that He means what He says.

Carrying our cross will bring trials as a result of commitment to Him. We have to love the cross if we say we love Jesus. We can't separate the two and be deceived that we are in His will. His will is for us to be sanctified by the truth-- His Word. John 17:17

And I am sanctification work in progress. This is supposed to be hard. I get that. I'm OK with that. I just want to be sure that I'm doing it right----that I'm not going to mess them up any more. I could not agree more with the mom on the video who says,

"I’m the lucky one. I get to be their mom. And I get to be daily rescued from my selfishness, and my impatience, and things that are just as disease-ridden in my soul.”

So, instead of counting the personal cost of obedience to what God has already commanded us to do---

why not count the cost of disobedience.

The cost of waiting to obey.

Now that scares me.

For motivation-- PLEASE watch this-----and read RADICAL by David Platt

RADICAL from David Platt on Vimeo.

More than Conquerors

2010-04-22T09:30:00.000-05:00

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Romans 8:37

What have we been up to lately with our fabulous new 4?

Lice, ringworm, a root canal, a broken collarbone, over-flowing toilets--even in the middle of the night, a $250 cell phone call to Italy--go figure?, many bike wreck induced boo-boos, battling the powers and principalities in the heavenly realms, and getting and giving at least 10,000 kisses a day!

Life is GOOD!

Not much time to blog or even take pictures--- I'm always behind on emails, phone messages, thank you notes and laundry. We continually marvel that they are even here---and with the stories they have begun to share with us it is a miracle 4 times over that they are even alive.

Their hearts -- and mine--break for the ones left behind.

I'm so held up by your prayers and totally running on His strength.

I think in scripture--- everything is spiritual.

When you get the opportunity to witness ALL of why Jesus had to suffer and die for our redemption in the face of one of your children, God's heart of mercy for all humanity becomes crystal clear.

It's not pretty, but I wouldn't trade a second of it.

I only wish everyone could experience it.

Much love to everyone! So thankful for all of your kind words!!!

Good Friday-- Mercy washing her BFF McKenzie's feet on the Resurrection Trail

Levi hammering nails in the cross with Nash

Lunch with the Krehbiels and Couches

Beth, Solomon and Sallee

Mercy, Sophie and Izzy

Isaiah and Jamo

The Glory of it All!

2010-03-31T15:59:00.000-05:00

4 weeks home!

God bless you and thank you to everyone for your prayers and words of encouragement during this time-- in real time and in blog world!!! God has sent exactly whom and what we need at exactly the right time so often that when I hear a knock at my door I just think, "Well, of course you're here!" If I try to begin to name everyone I will surely leave someone out, but YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!--- and you are loved!!! I'm especially thankful to everyone who has walked this road before me for your wisdom and faith in what God is doing in our family!

Through the joys and hardships there is not one single second that I would trade because every bit of it has been filtered through the hands of our gracious, loving Lord. He told me at the beginning that He was purifying us and that in itself is ALL GOOD.

Elle and I put this video together of our bringing them home---- we will never be the same!

Held Together

2010-03-10T06:42:00.000-06:00

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Colossians 1:17

We came home to a huge welcoming crew at the airport at 10pm on a school night....a house decorated by my precious neighbors with streamers, balloons, posters and signs with scripture....a tree in our front yard was adorned with adorable laminated hearts with scripture and love notes...a refrigerator full of meals and home cooked meals scheduled to come every day until Easter....we've had a steady stream of visitors who can't wait to lay eyes on these sweet children....offers to help from friends and family in ways that I had not even thought of....we have tons of saints praying for us!.....God continues to send the right friends and the right time....we are supported and held together in every possible way that I could ever imagine....and we are so grateful!

But....there is nothing that could have prepared me for what our children are experiencing now. As my precious friend Sarah, who came into our house yesterday and was in tears in about a minute at the pain she saw, said, "You just don't read about this on the blogs." Well, before you see us out in public, or stop by the house at any given time and draw your own conclusions..... I can explain exactly what is going on.

Our children are deeply wounded. And they are beginning to heal. So far we've only seen it in two of them. But, the outward expression of what they are feeling inwardly is not pretty. I can only try to imagine what it feels like to them. Russell Moore totally pegs it as "the scream of the crucified identity." It's only after we've been crucified that we can cry out to our "ABBA FATHER." Romans 8:15-16. Indeed they do share in His sufferings.

And now, they have a new name---beloved, a new home--- someday heaven, a new nature---belonging. All of it hard to receive when they have so many layers of anger, loneliness, and deprivation to be peeled off. So they scream, and fight, and break things and try to hurt themselves and they run away. They can be defiant and disobedient. Sound familiar? No difference at all than in every one of our adoptions by God.

Here's the part where I want to be like them--- in the middle of a massive fit---when I can't take it anymore, I will break down and cry, too. Hard. That has been what snaps them out of it....when they see me crying. They stop and turn. They wipe my tears and kiss me and beg, "no mama, no mama, sorry mama, so sorry!" My broken heart, breaks theirs.

.....and nothing they do could make me love them any less.

I Called

2010-03-07T15:33:00.000-06:00

Day 5 being at home and I have to stop to catch my breath! The past couple of days have been rough. There are so many things I need to catch this blog up on, but I just have to share what my sweet Mercy wrote to me this morning in church.

During worship she handed me a note that read:

I called

you answered

my God to my rescue

Lifted

The worship song was saying exactly what her heart was and she had to write it down in her order of words. I understand exactly what she means!

Her next note read:

Mama high are become

me you welcome

Mama I love you.

Our English is coming along.

minutes after meeting

HOME!

So much more to come!!

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap;

He seats them with princes,

with the princes of their people.

Psalm 113

Who is calling for you???

Anointed

2010-02-28T17:54:00.001-06:00

It is a scary (in a fear of God kind of way) feeling to watch all of God's promises unfolding before my eyes. We know that we are walking on take your shoes off kind of Holy ground. On Friday we went back to Holeta for a farewell party for our kids and all the kids who are leaving soon. The children led worship. Let me tell you that our kids, especially Nati, know how to worship the Lord. They know the Suffering Savior, the Mighty Counselor and the Kinsman Redeemer at their young age through personal experience. It is all over their faces.

We brought gifts for them to give to their nannies and they were so excited to wrap them up and write cards themselves. There were two left over and Nati asked if he could give them to the two girls that he knew didn't have a family yet. He was so very happy to give gifts to his friends.

It was much more sad to leave Holeta this time because we all knew they wouldn't be seeing the nannies or some of their friends again. There are children who will be moving in and taking their place so quickly.

We went to dinner with Aster, Duni and her sister, Aster's oldest daughter. We're always so happy to spend time with them! The kids were exhausted, but they always love to eat Ethiopian food anytime! Isaiah kept feeding Elle the spiciest bites that were making her eyes tear up. It is a sign of affection to feed each other in Ethiopia.

We left early on Saturday morning to go to Pochi's orphanage in Debre Birhan. It is a LONG bumpy trip, sometimes on roads, sometimes not. As soon as we hit the mud and started bouncing all over the place I was reminded of David Livingstone, 19th century missionary to Africa. When he was asked where the road to him was so men could come to help him, he replied, "If you have men who will come only if they know there is a good road, I don't want them. I need men who will come where there are no roads."

It was rough on Jimmy because he is so tall he kept slamming his head on the ceiling. The kids didn't mind at all and James loved it. He's not going to like being in a booster seat with a seat belt at home. Ethiopia is such a beautiful country. There were barefooted shepherd boys all over the place, reminding me of sweet Micah Shewit! Mercy will always point and make a sad face when she sees hungry and naked children with their mamas. The children at the Debre Birhan orphanage are precious. All of them are older and many of them need homes. We had a yummy Ethiopian lunch there. We had some leftover pancakes from breakfast and Nati saved them to give to his friends there-- so precious. We went to visit Kid's Care orphanage there, too. We ran out of time to go to the Kid's Care school that is under construction because we had to get back to Addis before the rain came. We wouldn't have made it if the roads got too muddy.

It was another long day. We haven't had time yet to go to AW or CCI transition homes, but we will before we leave. Also, have to get some shopping in. We are off to church now. The boys look adorable in their matching outfits and Mercy is in her pink sparkly shoes. She loves pink. She just handed me a note with everyone's names in our family including Gigi. Then she had used her English/Amharic dictionary to translate--- Monday going home.

Internet is SO slow and random. I haven't been able to send any pictures.

Much love to everyone!

Beauty for Ashes

2010-02-26T07:10:00.000-06:00

This morning we went to the embassy early hoping that we could have an early appointment and receive our visas before the Muslim holiday tomorrow. Normally you receive your visas the next day and the embassy will be closed tomorrow. That would leave Monday---and we are supposed to leave on Monday. Hopefully we'll have them today.

The kids woke up so happy. Their manners are impeccable. Pochi has done such an incredible job preparing them at the orphanage. They made their beds as soon as they got up, brushed their teeth without being told and folded their jammies. They clear the table after eating and always say thank you for everything ---they take off their shoes inside and keep up with their things. Maybe some of this will rub off on our kids at home!

We went to eat lunch at the Hilton after our embassy appointment and afterwards took Mercy to the beauty parlor to get her hair washed and combed out. The look on her face when she realized that we were there for her was priceless! She is the picture of "to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor." Isaiah 61:3. She has a quiet regal quality mixed with a humble spirit that radiates from her. She is SO very thin...a result of all that she has been through.....she has never been cared for in a way that lets her know how beautiful she is to our Lord. That's all changed now. One more thing--she loves to stand with me in front of the mirror hugging each other. This girl is so thankful to have a mama. We both end up crying!

James continues to crack us up constantly! He has boundless energy and only stops to give hugs and kisses. He talks really fast---in Amharic---it's hilarious! Jimmy calls him "Jamo" and on his napkin at dinner tonight he wrote, "me Jamo Abenet." He is living up to the namesake he's been given. The comparisons to Jimmy are endless and kind of scary!

Nati is so much like Nash. They both laugh at the same kind of things, are careful observers and tenderhearted. They will be instant Bffs. Nati is definitely the quiet and wise leader of the bunch. His way with the others is just precious!

Isaiah has the sweetest, most gentle spirit I've ever seen! He smiles all the time and the way he cares for his siblings just breaks my heart. He is an artist and draws and colors beautifully, can tie his shoes, loves to play ball and is so kind and considerate to everyone.

They all LOVE running water. It makes them so happy! They love to take showers---even cold ones---and they love to wash their hands in a sink. They just stand with their hands under the water laughing and chattering like crazy. I cry every time they wash their hands. Actually, I'm fighting back tears most of the time.

Ethiopia is wrought by unbearable poverty, and knowing your children are survivors of this kind of life brings it to a whole new level. I couldn't sleep at all last night because of the pouring rain and knowing that our kids lived in a hut that flooded with every rain shower-----and praying for all the mothers trying so hard to keep their babies dry and all the orphans with no one to protect them.

We went to visit Aster at Kid's Care this afternoon. We love her so much! Jimmy got to see where Levi used to live and the crib he slep in with a bungee cord strung across. He was even a substitute teacher for a class. Aster is broken hearted about the news stories casting a negative light on adoption in Ethiopia. Our enemy is hard at work to keep as many children suffering as possible. The government is sending most of the abandoned children to a government orphanage---not the best opportunity for them to find a home with a family. Please pray that more children will not die alone because of the dishonesty of a few. Adoption is the Gospel. I know I say that all the time----but that is why it will always be opposed and misused by some.

I'm beyond grateful that God has chosen us to parent these children and all of our children. These 4 have suffered more than anything I could ever imagine and His Spirit still shines through them. I'm not at all under the delusion that everything will always be joy, joy, joy like it is now; but whatever is ahead our Savior has already walked before us------and our family will be better for it!

Redeemed

2010-02-24T19:54:00.000-06:00

"I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the Earth." Job 19:25

At last our amazing children are with us! When we pulled through the gate at their orphanage in Holeta a nanny came running out and hugged me as soon as I got out of the van. She was saying, "You came, you came, you did come!" Our children came running followed by all the other kids at the orphanage. We hugged and hugged and kissed each other. They called us "Mama" and "Daddy".

They are so beautiful! Each of them is smaller than I had imagined. Nate is reserved and quiet and smiles easily. Mercy is just who I expected her to be. She smiles all the time and always wants to be touching one of us. Isaiah is SO precious and loveable. He can't take his eyes off Jimmy and laughs at everything he says. James will give Levi Jeremiah a run for his money. He is a wild child. He is so very snuggly and that is the only time he is remotely still ----- and I think he is well aware of how cute he is! He and Levi truly are kindred spirits. I'm so thankful that Ethiopia is an affectionate country because I can't keep my lips off my precious children!

It is so very clear that God has been preparing their little hearts to be our children. They have totally melted into our family. Nate wrote a note to me on the trip back to Addis that said, "Name: Nathaniel, I luva u Mom and Dad." They love their new names and are already answering to them, except for Nate, who asked to be called Nati. We love that, too. Mercy even said, "My name is Mercy," when a little boy next to our guest house asked her what her name was. (She said, in Amharic of course.) English is VERY limited. Jimmy devised a "thumbs up" for -- good and yes - "thumbs down" for - no and bad - a plan that has worked well so far.

We had a wonderful Ethiopian lunch at the orphanage and then went to visit a missionary family from California who have adopted from Pochi's orphanage. We went home to the Ethiopian Guest House for dinner and played soccer and baseball outside. Mercy has been taking pictures like crazy. She even took a picture of all of their clothes in their closets. She likes to take pictures more than pose for them. They were all so happy to take showers and wear their new jammies. We read through John 14 and prayed before tucking them into bed. Each of them prayed, except Isaiah because he was falling asleep. As I tucked each of them into bed, each had the hugest smile on their face.

Tomorrow is Embassy day. We are hoping to visit some orphanages on our to do list. Friday is a farewell party in Holeta, Saturday we are traveling to Debre Birhan, Sunday a special church service in Holeta..... and anything else that we can fit in!

Thank you all for praying for us!!! We are living a miracle right now! Much love to everyone! ----- and thank you so much Missy for posting for us!