A Few Updates

We picked up "A" from the airport last Saturday. Onto the way to the airport we all agreed that we were going to be sad 4 weeks later when we were making the return trip to take him back.
He is one amazing and adorable boy!! I have to say that he is just so precious. Please, please pray that the right family meets him while he is here. He is kind, respectful, obedient, loving, understands-speaks- even reads lots of English, gentle with the littles, smart, fun, eats whatever we have given him (although he really likes green apples and crackers)...I could go on. I know God will have wonderful plans for this boy.

Here is a couple of photos of him.

On Sunday, our Jacob graduated from the Basic Ellerslie Leadership program that Makenna graduated from in June of 2012. We are so excited to see what God has in store for his life. He has definitely grown a lot through the 9 week program spiritually, emotionally and socially. Today he says he plans to be a missionary one day and is going to work hard at school to he can graduate early.

It thrills me to see his love for the Lord. Here is some baptism photos from a couple of weeks ago. He decided to be baptized again (he was 2 years ago). He felt the first time was more because others were doing it and not so led by the Lord. He stood in a freezing cold lake (the day before our subzero temperatures hit), with wind and with bronchitis and proclaimed that he was giving his body to the Lord. AMEN...thank you Jesus.

 

Here are a few photos of Jacob and his friends, mentors and pastors from the Leadership Program and from church.

We are so thankful for our church and the Godly men that are there to encourage our boys in doing the hard things for the Lord.

His Little Feet

Have you heard of this amazing ministry His Little Feet? It is a made up of a choir of children who either once were or still are orphans. They put together a sweet, spiritually moving performance that you MUST see.  Their mission is to advocate for the "Voiceless". Make sure you go to the link above and check out their schedule to see if they are coming to perform near your home. If they aren't, I know they are looking to have even more concerts and would love to hear from you about having them come to your area. They travel nation wide.

We had the privilege of hosting one of the children and chaperones last weekend. It was a precious time. And today we walked/ran a 5K fundraiser for the ministry. Our church sponsors the choir and hosts them when they are on break from touring, so we have the blessing of seeing them at church many weeks as well.

I "think" this was his very first time on a bike. This had training wheels, but he loved it and did very well at it. I think he rode for about an hour or more.
 

 Lenea and he were fast friends. This was at the zoo..So cute.

 (Names and faces hidden to protect anonymity.)



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When We Give To The Least of These

I LOVE this song by Audio Adrenaline. 

Is it possible to  be a Christian, a Christ follower, a Believer, a friend and disciple to Jesus, one who should have a heart after our Abba Father and still walk away from the needs of these innocent, precious children? Can we claim we don't have any money, time or ability to help them when we have Christ living in us, who gave us E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!!!!! 

I mean every little crumb of food we eat, every little breath we take, every single night we get to sleep in a warm, safe, comfortable bed and every day we live (oh what a gift they are). And then to top it all off, He sent HIS one, only, perfect, Son, the King of all Kings to DIE for us, for me and raise from the dead so we can conquer death, sin and live for eternity with our merciful, gracious, loving Father.

I have been reading that most churches in America don't even have an orphan or adoption ministry. However, they find many ways to make their church more comfortable and fancy with coffee shops and more. (I am not saying I am against comfortable and coffee shops either, just making an analogy.)

There are millions and millions of children around the world and here in the US who need a family. If every Christian family would help just one child there would be no more orphans. I can't fathom that, but I know we have a Father God who does want to see that happen and He will make a way. There are families being awakened to that need, but they don't have a lot of support. Adoption is a long, tiring, expensive, emotional, frustrating and lonely journey. And because it IS God's heart the attacks from the enemy are strong. But the church's love, prayer, support and encouragement will help all of that to be none or in the least strong against the attacks.

Come alongside your adopting friends. Pray for them faithfully, encourage them, love their children even the ones not adopted, babysit for them, take them a meal before and after the adoption, just be a listening ear and show them Jesus' love for the "least" of these.

If you truly have examined your lives and hearts and believe you just have nothing else to give of your God-given resources then pray some more for Him to show you how. What can you give to the "least" of these? Will you minister to the families choosing to adopt? Will you go to the mission field and serve them face to face? Will you adopt yourself?

Don't be known as the "Lukewarm" church like in Revelation 3:14-22: ¹⁵ “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth."

Here is a side note. I got a precious few photos today from a mom who just adopted her 2 year old from the same orphanage as Elliana is at. Here are a couple of her cuteness. 

Oh, these last few months are getting harder and harder. She looks like she needs to smile and be loved. How did "I" become the one that God chose to love these beautiful children? Thank you Lord of Heaven for your amazing, love for me to allow me this opportunity to love the "least" of these. 
  
Please pray our Letter of Acceptance (LOA) will come by the end of next week from China. That will keep us right on track to travel the last week of May to get her and Isaiah. Please also pray for our finances. We have received a few donations which we are ever so grateful, but we don't want to ask our friends for anymore. We know everyone has commitments and struggles like all of us. We are looking at a grant that we know 2 families personally received, but we don't think we will qualify for various reasons, but we are going to try and apply anyway. We do think we can save the majority of what we need by end of summer, but we want to travel in May not August. We are looking at refinancing our house which will give us a little bit too. However, our tax refund was only 20% what I thought it would be and then we owe state a pretty large sum of money too. I am asking that God would provide in only a miraculous way that is obviously Him.

Compassion

On the side of my blog you will find a link to Compassion International. I know it is quite possible that most of you have heard of it before and are maybe sponsoring a child through the organization. However, this time last year I had never heard of them so I am excited to tell everyone about it.

There are thousands of children all over the world, of all ages waiting for sponsorship. With your monthly sponsorship you provide:

• Food and clean water
• Medical care
• Educational opportunities
• Important life-skills training
• Most important of all, your sponsored child will hear about Jesus Christ and be encouraged to develop a lifelong relationship with God.

At this time our family is sponsoring 5 children through Compassion. This includes one that my girls are paying for all by themselves. I am so proud of the way they love Jesus so much that they give up their hard earned money (which they don't have much, only side jobs for neighbors and friends and birthday money) to provide hope and help to another child. They already want to sponsor a 2nd child, but I have encouraged them to wait until they have a more steady income.

The part we love so much about this program is that we get to write to the child through an online system that includes us sending photos. And we can write as often as we like, in fact they encourage you to write often. All of our children have hand written (with translation) a letter back to us at least once. 

These children live in very impoverished situations, nothing like we would ever have in the US, even our poorest would be in luxury. The children have daily opportunities to go to the local Compassion Center (maybe a local church or just a building) as often as they like. There they get all the things described earlier and just as importantly they have others pouring into them a love that gives the children hope. 

I have had the privilege of meeting 2 adults that used to be children sponsored through Compassion. Their testimonies are inspiring and convicting. Can you imagine the harshness of having to take care of your younger siblings at the age of 6 because your father has abandoned you and your mother must work hard all day to make a few cents a day in order to feed you? This is just a small glimpse of what these children might be dealing with, actually it is often quite worse and they often alone.

The wonderful thing in my opinion is that I believe each one of us could afford to sponsor at least one child. It only costs $38 a month! That is just a little more than a dollar day or the same cost as 9 Starbucks drinks or one hair cut at the beauty salon for a woman. 

I just wanted to encourage all of you reading to genuinely look at where your heart is. 
Luke 16:13 
"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

Think of the compassion and important character you will be sowing into your children with a program like this? What we sow is what we will reap. If we sow a love of money and not God, we should not be surprised when our children grow up greedy and selfish. We should not be surprised if they grow up ignoring God, because they will have to give up the comforts of the world and they are too attached.

Check out Compassion. One fun thing we did for several of our kids is to find a child that had either the same birthday (2 of them do) and in the least same age (all the rest do). This way our children are very certain to remember that child more and to think how fortunate they are for all they have, compared to their sponsored child. 

I know there are other sponsorship  programs out there, World Vision for one. I have not personally experienced their program, but have spoken with at least 2 people that did not think it was as a direct commitment to the individual child and were disappointed in the communication aspect with the agency. Again, I don't know but do your research.

Let me know if you sponsor a child or already do. I would love to hear from you.

What DO You Want for Christmas? Part 2

I would pray that first and foremost, we all would want Jesus fully living in us. I invite Him to do that, because I deserve nothing. I only want Him, my Creator, my Savior, my Hope, my Redeemer, my Lover, my Healer, my Comforter, my Father God...He deserves all of me, so "Here I Am, Lord!"..


My second desire is that all the fatherless, precious, innocent children around our world would have a family, a real family to give them all the security, love, and blessings a family is meant to give them. I am not for everyone or just anyone to adopt. I believe God has called Christians to adopt. However, I do realize that non-Christians do a wonderful job at adoption and parenting, but I am not speaking to that group of people. So if you are not a Christian, please know I am not judging you and I am not even addressing you. I respect you for loving those orphans too and giving them a home.

I don't think every "Christian" is prepared and/or willing to adopt a child or become a parent. From my personal experience, I know without a doubt that God Can and Will prepare you as a Christian parent to adopt a child or parent any child, for that matter, IF you are willing to let Him guide and lead you. If you are willing to die to your fleshly ways of being a parent. I know His Word is true and He does not lie. And he commands us to take care of orphans and sees that is a pure religion:

James 1:27 "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you."

So, anything from that scripture may not mean specifically for each of us to adopt an orphan. However, it just might mean that too. And with over 150 million orphans in our world, how can we just ignore their "distress"? I realize this scripture is also referring to widows and we do need to help that widow who is taking care of the fatherless children. They go hand in hand. So our prayers should not just be, (which is what mine used to be), "Father, I pray for the needs of these widows, these fatherless children, and the ones who have no parents at all. I ask You to take care of them and provide for their needs." etc.. etc...etc...

Of course, He will take care of the "fatherless", but He tells us us to be His hands and His feet. There are scriptures, looking at the Bible as a whole that tells us more:

Proverbs 31:8-9 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed."

Matthew 18:5 "And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me."

Psalms 82:3-4 "Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."

With that in our minds, shouldn't our prayers be more along the lines of, "Father, I know your heart, I know there is a real need, I can't ignore. What do you want Me to do about it? How are you wanting Me to speak up, ensure justice, defend the cause, maintain the rights, rescue the weak, deliver, and welcome them? I am yours to do with however you desire."

This prayer is different as we are telling God that we are willing to be the ones to sacrifice our comforts, securities, finances, etc. in order to follow His commands and be His heart. We aren't just asking God for Him to do it or someone else on His behalf.

Here are some real needs around our world, all about children, orphans:

In many European countries: Bulgaria and Ukraine are two of them, they are so poor that they make only a few dollars a day. Therefore the abandoned and orphaned children, especially the ones with "Special Needs" (Down's Syndrome, Neurological Conditions, deafness, blindness etc) are put in "Baby Houses" until they reach a certain age (often age 5 or so) and then they are "Transferred" where they will be put into a mental institution. Sometimes the  care in those mental institutions are worse than most pets receive in American homes. 

It is not always because the workers do not love and care for the children within their hearts,But rather because they live in such a desperate, poor state that they just manage as they are able. The children are starving, humiliated by often laying in fetal positions naked in their own waste, and neglected because there isn't enough help.This is NOT something we should be ignorant to any longer. It is not something we should turn a blind eye to. This IS what God means by the weak, helpless, fatherless voiceless children.



 



I have been reading blogs of many families lately on adoption. And there are families that are being awakened and stirred to adopt some of these dear children. When you read the testimonies of the ones already adopted it is a miracle. God will bring these children to light out of darkness and despair. He will heal them, but again He is needing us to make the difference in the lives of voiceless children.

For my Christmas, I want more of these sweet children adopted. I want them out of those filthy, lonely and disgusting circumstances. Please pray that God would show you how you are to respond to these sort of issues. Again, I know not all can adopt for various reasons. I do know we can NOT just sit and say we are praying for them and leave it at that. We must be broken for them.

Here is a website, called Reeces Rainbow that has some resources if you are interested in finding out more and how to help these little ones. It also has a listing of all the Waiting Children that could very well die if they are not chosen some day by a family. Please pray for Christmas Miracles for the least of these.

What Do YOU Want for Christmas? Part 1

Just a warning this is a bit long, but I have had a lot on my heart about this lately. Thank you for reading.

Christmas is about gifts..It is about miracles...James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

It is about God coming to earth as a man to save his people from the punishment of sin (Death!) and have Victory over that SIN! He is the King.. He is the that "Perfect Gift"..Perfect meaning "wanting nothing  necessary to completeness".. Jesus was a complete package. A little baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, manifesting full Grace and God's glory. As he grew in "wisdom and stature",  and then he faced temptation Hebrews 4:15, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin."; and he willingly took our curse and punishment to die upon a cross.

Not just anyone could take our punishment, it had to be a spotless lamb, without sin. As God can not be pleased with sin or see us Holy because of even just one little bad thought or deed. We can not have just one little hint of rebellion against Him.

So after deeply considering what Jesus Christ gave to us on Christmas day and ultimately the Resurrection day, what do we Really want for Christmas? Do we really even need any material things? Sure, I could use a new coat. Mine is getting a few holes and isn't as practical as I would like. But it still looks nice for the most part and more importantly keeps me warm. I could also say I "need" some new clothing. I have gained the weight I lost back, since last summer, and only have 4 or 5 outfits that fit me well and nicely. (I am starting a diet again after Asher's surgery btw.) I think we also "need" some new shocks for our van (whatever that is exactly?). I am down to a broken food chopper (I love my food chopper) but we are making due with the broken one still and today part of my Bosch broke (which I use a LOT). My list could go on. The things I like are practical things usually for Christmas. Sometimes we will buy just fun gifts for each other, but in my mind those are usually not something that edifies the children (and myself) to being appreciative of ALL we do have.

Today my sweet children are in cleaning and helpful mode. Makenna is home for several weeks from school! And Makenna and Eliza (is turning into one too), are my cleaners and organizers. Girls after my own heart. I just don't usually have the time like I used to, or maybe it isn't as much a priority on some levels. I am not as a perfectionist as I used to be. It really is okay if the towels aren't folded like I used to require, as long as they are put away, off the couch!  So we baked bread already, baked some cookies for neighbors last night and will do more baking later. Makenna is cleaning out our pantry and Eliza is cleaning the boys' room. I am doing laundry, including sheets. Jacob is trying to finish the other half of his math so he will be able to take a holiday break without thinking about that. Toby and Moriah, after doing chores, are in Lego model building play. They are making a Mini Lego-land for us to come visit on Christmas Eve. Lenea and Asher are "helping" some of us organize and Lenea is teaching Asher worship dance moves in her bedroom. He just loves his "Nea", following her around like a puppy. Today she appreciates it and he doesn't mind her bossing him either. It is a sweet friendship. We have Steven Curtis Chapman Christmas CD playing in the back ground, tree lights are on (even during the daylight), our house is warm and cozy. My wonderful, loving, hard-working husband is at his newish job, who appreciate his work ethic and let him go in 3 hours late today for Christmas, he has a work Christmas party to go to at the end of today. Then he will be off for 4 days!
We have had some respiratory sickness again the last 2 weeks, with 2 children having Reactive Airway Disease and needing nebulizers now. But we have double insurance and we have had to pay 0 out of pocket besides our monthly dues. Our blessings and material things are abundant. God is so gracious to us and we deserve NONE of it. We deserve not one iota.

So this year, trying to keep Christmas a little simpler and start some new traditions, we are having the kids do a gift exchange by drawing names. We are doing Christmas stockings (which we haven't done in years) and we are doing a White Elephant gift exchange. It should be fun and a lot cheaper too.

But.. I am thinking about all the needs around us, about our little ones in China without a Mama and Daddy, just yet. I am thankful that next Christmas they will be with us, as my pangs of sadness realize it is still a half a year away until we can be with them and give them a family. But at least they have been chosen.. What about the millions and millions of children that haven't been chosen, and will have an emptiness in their hearts for a family, even if they are too young or immature to articulate it? God says the lonely are to be in families, He puts them there. But what if Christians ignore His command? What if Christians don't give up some of their ridiculous material wealth and their time to help some of these children; really be obedient to help, not just pray about it? What about the millions and millions without a full tummy and clean water, or a bed to sleep on? What about the millions who eat out of garbage cans? There really are, children who have to sneak scraps out of garbage cans to eat. Can you imagine? Can you think about how broken they are, with NO hope at all? What if that was your child? Well, we need to remember they are God's children and we ARE HIS ambassadors. We are His hands and feet on this earth. We have a purpose for this life in a foreign land. This is not our home. 

I have so much compassion for the young and vulnerable. They have no voice in this world (Satan knows that very well), many times no education to help themselves and lots of times no health or strength to do anything anyway. I care about adults that need help too, however they can get themselves help and they can make choices that young children can NOT! I believe that is why God has reminded us in scriptures to take care of the fatherless and widows. Widows are usually the ones that are either still with the young children at home and they are trying to make it to take care of them, OR they are the very old, in that day in age were seen as outcasts.

This Christmas, this coming New Year, 2013, yes we are well into this millennium (remember when it was just the year 2000?), we MUST as Christians look at our lives, our hearts. What are we idolizing? What are we teaching our children to put their time, energy and money into? Is it material things, a great education, personal looks, fame, a great job, or will it be compassion for the young and vulnerable, hearts for the lost souls who will go to hell, a desire to know and love God will all they are and surrender their lives to Him alone, to serve Him? 

Matthew 6:19" Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal."

Matthew 6:20"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."

I am not against material things or Christmas gifts. We have much of it. I am though, being taught recently that those things don't  matter. They don't raise Christians and they don't help us look to God more. He wants all of our hearts, not our wealth and fame. And the reality is that all we are given, 100% of our wealth, health and happiness is from HIM! Why then do we whine about not having enough, and sound like spoiled children on Christmas who are mad they didn't get what they wanted or be willing to share the beloved toy they did get?  I get this way in my heart sometimes, my children get this way too. We are working on it, we are praying for this legacy in our family to be different.

A side note that today was a very challenging day for me. After I had written most of this post, but not ready to post I was bombarded with silly attacks from the enemy. I was determined to not get off path today and let that frustrate me and take it out on my children and praise God through it all. It began with my anticipation that our I797 would be delivered to Lifeline by 10:30 and that we would be DTC this afternoon. (My post yesterday explains all that scenario.) However, I checked the tracking # at 9:00 (agency is an hour ahead of us), and no delivery. Again at 10:00 was no delivery. 10:30, no delivery and word that it was delayed.. Agh.. What, if it doesn't get to agency today then it would not be DTC until next Thursday. So I got on the phone with FedEx, that was difficult to get a person. They were having phone line troubles and I ended up calling a totally different Fed Ex #, explained the situation, thankfully who was very helpful and transferred me to Customer Service. Indeed, they looked up our Tracking # to say it was delayed due to a big storm in the Midwest, even though the states we were shipping in were not affected, it had delayed deliveries. I had them call the destination and indeed they did not have our package (it was almost noon there by now) and they would not be able to deliver until tomorrow! Oh, the frustration built up inside of me, I wanted to burst into tears. I asked about a refund how that worked, but she said we would have to take that up after delivery was complete. 

After I hung up the phone I prayed to the Lord that I didn't want to let this ruin my day and to trust Him alone. I called our agency and explained the situation. Logan was very kind and sorry for our situation. She said if she wasn't going out of town, she would come get it tomorrow and deliver it then, but she would be gone until Thursday morning and the office would be closed. It was out of my hands. I tried my best to let it go.

Then I went back to baking cookies for our neighbors, which has been a family tradition for about 9 years now. We attempted 3 batches of peanut brittle, which all failed. I even burned my finger on the last one. Then we made cookies, that ended up being pretty tasty, but a bit crumbly and they broke my mixer attachment, which isn't cheap to replace. Later, I had a flour spill on the pantry that my daughter just cleaned. My children were very gracious to me, helping bake and clean up and watching movies with the younger ones, as it seemed I was having one tiny problem after another. I don't like to have many days like this. It keeps me away from my children and doing motherly things. But some days they just happen. I am always evaluating and changing what is important there. But today I was deep in way to getting ready for Christmas so I just kept praying and telling God these babies in China were His children and I trusted Him no matter what. Makenna even had me leap for joy, which actually felt good.

After the leaping, I went to check the situation on the tracking # again. It had changed slightly and stated it was at the destination warehouse, but was not in transit. I got a little hopeful, and contacted Lifeline asking if it was even feasible for them to pick it up if it was there? She said they would have to pick it up next week anyway and that IF it was at the location they could run and get it. Now we were trying to beat the clock because DHL would pick up in less than 2 hours. She tried to call FedEx and couldn't get through (remember phone troubles). So she called me back to tell me she didn't know what to do, so I got on the phone. Again it took 20 minutes to get a helpful person, but indeed they did get through to the station that it was at and it was ready for pick up. Logan needed to be the one pick up because we put her as the "Attention", I was worried she wouldn't be able to as she said she would send "someone" to get it. But when I called her back I got her voice mail now. It was almost down to an hour for DHL pick up time. I sent her an email and within minutes she said she would go get it. 

AND...she got it and sent it with DHL in time. I think with 15 minutes to spare. God is so amazing. Even in these little things, which sometimes feel so big, He shows Himself at work. He does want our 2 babies home. He does control the little packages that come to be delivered. When I called about an hour before they said it was not at the station and it would be too late, but He proved them wrong. He gave us a gracious, wonderful Social Worker with our agency who went out of her way to help us. He is so good. And as of this afternoon we officially DTC...

Another interesting thing, is my husband had a FedEx package to pick up for his work today as well and it too was not there, delayed. The service worker told him that 80% of FedEx deliveries that were due today would not get delivered until tomorrow and he that it was weird ours got there like it did. But, you see, WE know it was not anything just weird, it was our GOD!

So in the end of my day, I have had a couple more minor struggles, but God has kept my eyes on Him. I didn't even make time read the Word today and He still works in my heart and gives me His Grace. I am so thankful. What do YOU want for Christmas? I want what God wants. I want families for the children all around the world, that if every Christian adopted just one, there would be no more orphans. I want my children to serve and love him with every ounce of who He created them to be, even if that means not being near me and living in the heart of Africa. I want to be a woman after His heart, who trusts Him in every situation knowing He is there and working out every little detail, even though I want to control it myself. 

Next post, I want to share some stories of real children who need families. Don't let your life be void of surrendering it all the Jesus. He wants to use you and me. He wants our hearts to be like His. And He has a desire to get orphans out of their dark hopeless state and show them His light.

What An Amazing Concert~~

Have you heard of His Little Feet ? Our family had the privilege of seeing this latest group from this ministry, sing at their last performance before they head home this coming weekend.

These 14 children, are from Ethiopia and Honduras. They are ages 6-14. They are precious, beautiful children! The even sweeter part is that yesterday all 14 of them were baptized. We got to see the video of it and hear their testimonies. Many of them have been Christians for several years and some are new Christians since coming to the states with His Little Feet, these last 10 months.

They sang their little hearts out to Jesus, in a hot, packed out church with huge smiles and hugs to offer at the end. All of these children are orphans as well and are up for adoption with America World Adoption.

Here are some precious photos. I was so blessed by these children.