The kids were THRILLED to get new PJ's. Thanks to all who gave so generously.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Pajama Drive for ACC pictures are here!
Here are the photos from when we delivered the pajamas to the Africa Children's Choir. Two of our pastors from church joined us as well as their wives and my friend who introduced us to Mirembe. You'll see us serving dinner to everyone, the pajamas being passed out, taking the pastors on a tour and the kids performing during their worship and praise time in their new PJ's.
The kids were THRILLED to get new PJ's. Thanks to all who gave so generously.
The kids were THRILLED to get new PJ's. Thanks to all who gave so generously.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
143,000,000 (Million!) Orphans in the World
Wow! That sounds like A LOT! But, can we really comprehend what 143 million orphans looks like? I know it's a lot but I can't get my mind around that number. Or at least I could not until I saw this short 4 minute video.
Please watch.
I just can't even stand it. I feel like my heart is going to burst for these children! In the words of Kay Warren .... I have become seriously disturbed and gloriously ruined. I will NEVER stop trying to help these children. And, I will never feel like I am doing enough.
Oh God! Please help us to do more!
Please watch.
I just can't even stand it. I feel like my heart is going to burst for these children! In the words of Kay Warren .... I have become seriously disturbed and gloriously ruined. I will NEVER stop trying to help these children. And, I will never feel like I am doing enough.
Oh God! Please help us to do more!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Reflecting on God's Grace
As the last month or so has passed us by, I sit back and wonder at God's grace and mercy.
We've spent the last few weeks searching for a new place for my parents to downsize to, putting their house on the market and selling almost everything they own via Craigslist. God provided the perfect 1 bedroom first floor apartment in the perfect cozy little complex that NEVER has 1 bedroom first floor apartments available. He provided that every last large piece of furniture be sold which in turn provide for some extra "move-in" cash for them. The house is listed with a reputable agency and has already had it's first showing within the first week and was in the prospective buyers top two picks.
Over the past few weeks, we have also been in the middle of a pajama drive for the children of the African Children's Choir. Everyone so graciously donated and we had almost enough PJ's for each child to get two pairs. On June 28th, we took the PJ's, dinner, bubbles and some arts and craft supplies out to the kids. We were also blessed enough to have two of our pastors from church, and their wives, join us. I hope to post pictures of the kids in their new PJ's very soon.
We are also in the midst of kicking off the planning for our Annual Adoption Seminar & Expo to be held September 27th.
And, on top of all of this, we just completed ALL our paperwork for the adoption. We should have agency approval within a week and immigration approval in August. YEAH! Adoption is very much like being pregnant. The paperwork phase is like the 9 months of carrying the child, the referral is like seeing the ultrasound of our child and the first time we actually see them and hold them is like their birthday into our family. Completing the paperwork is a HUGE milestone in the process. Even if it is our third and fourth child it is just as exciting as the first just without all the unknowns.
We have recently learned that some friends of ours who use to attend Providence and helped to start the Adoption & Orphan Care Ministry with us, have recently felt called to adopt from Ethiopia. They too are adopting two children. My heart overflowed with joy and my eyes welled up with tears when they told me.
You see, adopting from Africa is not some trendy thing to do. It's not following in the footsteps of Angelina Jolie or Madonna. It's a true tug at your heart strings for the African people. A true calling to want to be a mother and a father to one of these orphaned children. It does not matter, the color of their skin. Why would these precious children deserve any less to have a mother and a father or OUR love simply because of the color of their skin? Why should we not listen to God's calling (or our heart) to grow our family simply because of the distaste someone else may have for an inter-racial family? It breaks my heart to know that people think and feel this way. I know that what I have heard so far is only the tip of the iceberg and we will experience this much more once we actually become an inter-racial family. Most people's comments are not said out of harm or racism but simply out of a lack of understanding.
I read part of an article called "One Race" on the website http://www.answersingenesis.org/ . The article talks about how we are all ONE race. We are all decendents of Adam and Even and then Noah and his wife. Throughout this time, there was one language and skin color or shades of that color (medium brown), until the Tower of Babel. Then, man was scattered around the earth with different languages imposed upon them when God became angry with mans disobedience in building the Tower of Babel. From that point forward, mans geographic region helped to determine the amount of melanin their skin produced.
Regardless of all this, we are all sons and daughters of God. We were all created in His image. Noone has greater superiority or worth because of the color of their skin. God made us all equal. It is by His love and His grace alone that we may enter the kingdom of Heaven and Heaven will be a rainbow of skin colors. I hope that my family, both by our hearts and skin colors, will be a reflection of Heaven to others.
We've spent the last few weeks searching for a new place for my parents to downsize to, putting their house on the market and selling almost everything they own via Craigslist. God provided the perfect 1 bedroom first floor apartment in the perfect cozy little complex that NEVER has 1 bedroom first floor apartments available. He provided that every last large piece of furniture be sold which in turn provide for some extra "move-in" cash for them. The house is listed with a reputable agency and has already had it's first showing within the first week and was in the prospective buyers top two picks.
Over the past few weeks, we have also been in the middle of a pajama drive for the children of the African Children's Choir. Everyone so graciously donated and we had almost enough PJ's for each child to get two pairs. On June 28th, we took the PJ's, dinner, bubbles and some arts and craft supplies out to the kids. We were also blessed enough to have two of our pastors from church, and their wives, join us. I hope to post pictures of the kids in their new PJ's very soon.
We are also in the midst of kicking off the planning for our Annual Adoption Seminar & Expo to be held September 27th.
And, on top of all of this, we just completed ALL our paperwork for the adoption. We should have agency approval within a week and immigration approval in August. YEAH! Adoption is very much like being pregnant. The paperwork phase is like the 9 months of carrying the child, the referral is like seeing the ultrasound of our child and the first time we actually see them and hold them is like their birthday into our family. Completing the paperwork is a HUGE milestone in the process. Even if it is our third and fourth child it is just as exciting as the first just without all the unknowns.
We have recently learned that some friends of ours who use to attend Providence and helped to start the Adoption & Orphan Care Ministry with us, have recently felt called to adopt from Ethiopia. They too are adopting two children. My heart overflowed with joy and my eyes welled up with tears when they told me.
You see, adopting from Africa is not some trendy thing to do. It's not following in the footsteps of Angelina Jolie or Madonna. It's a true tug at your heart strings for the African people. A true calling to want to be a mother and a father to one of these orphaned children. It does not matter, the color of their skin. Why would these precious children deserve any less to have a mother and a father or OUR love simply because of the color of their skin? Why should we not listen to God's calling (or our heart) to grow our family simply because of the distaste someone else may have for an inter-racial family? It breaks my heart to know that people think and feel this way. I know that what I have heard so far is only the tip of the iceberg and we will experience this much more once we actually become an inter-racial family. Most people's comments are not said out of harm or racism but simply out of a lack of understanding.
I read part of an article called "One Race" on the website http://www.answersingenesis.org/ . The article talks about how we are all ONE race. We are all decendents of Adam and Even and then Noah and his wife. Throughout this time, there was one language and skin color or shades of that color (medium brown), until the Tower of Babel. Then, man was scattered around the earth with different languages imposed upon them when God became angry with mans disobedience in building the Tower of Babel. From that point forward, mans geographic region helped to determine the amount of melanin their skin produced.
Regardless of all this, we are all sons and daughters of God. We were all created in His image. Noone has greater superiority or worth because of the color of their skin. God made us all equal. It is by His love and His grace alone that we may enter the kingdom of Heaven and Heaven will be a rainbow of skin colors. I hope that my family, both by our hearts and skin colors, will be a reflection of Heaven to others.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
An Amazing Weekend!
We had the most amazing weekend!
You may have heard of the African Children's Choir. They have performed on American Idol, The Ellen Degeneres Show, for the Queen of England, and other notable venues. They are a group of 26 children (mostly orphans) who tour the US and world performing to raise awareness and money to help care for and educate the orphans back in Uganda.
The African Children's Choir now calls the Triangle home. King's Park International Church purchased about 6 acres and a house out on Jordan Lake for the children to use as their home base when they are not touring. The house is called "Mirembe" which means "peace" in their native language of Uganda.
The newest group of children just arrived this past Thursday. Friday night, we took dinner out to the kids. The children are so loving. They ran up to us when we arrived and showered us with hugs calling us Auntie and Uncle. We were able to play, talk, laugh and eat with them. We also had the privilege to stay late and worship and pray with them, after they were in their pajamas. It was the MOST amazing time. I felt so close to God and to our unknown children we are adopting from Ethiopia. It was difficult to hold back the tears of joy and love.
Again, on Saturday we went back out for dinner and a welcome party with a much larger group of people.
It was apparent on Friday that the children need an new pajama wardrobe. So, our ministry is having a pajama drive for the children. PJ's for Mirembe! There are approximately 14 girls and 14 boys sizes 7-10. If you would like to purchase some new pajamas (no gowns please) to donate, contact me for drop off.
For more information about the African Childrens Choir or Mirembe House, check out their website at www.africanchildrenschoir.com or www.friendsofmirembe.org
You may have heard of the African Children's Choir. They have performed on American Idol, The Ellen Degeneres Show, for the Queen of England, and other notable venues. They are a group of 26 children (mostly orphans) who tour the US and world performing to raise awareness and money to help care for and educate the orphans back in Uganda.
The African Children's Choir now calls the Triangle home. King's Park International Church purchased about 6 acres and a house out on Jordan Lake for the children to use as their home base when they are not touring. The house is called "Mirembe" which means "peace" in their native language of Uganda.
The newest group of children just arrived this past Thursday. Friday night, we took dinner out to the kids. The children are so loving. They ran up to us when we arrived and showered us with hugs calling us Auntie and Uncle. We were able to play, talk, laugh and eat with them. We also had the privilege to stay late and worship and pray with them, after they were in their pajamas. It was the MOST amazing time. I felt so close to God and to our unknown children we are adopting from Ethiopia. It was difficult to hold back the tears of joy and love.
Again, on Saturday we went back out for dinner and a welcome party with a much larger group of people.
It was apparent on Friday that the children need an new pajama wardrobe. So, our ministry is having a pajama drive for the children. PJ's for Mirembe! There are approximately 14 girls and 14 boys sizes 7-10. If you would like to purchase some new pajamas (no gowns please) to donate, contact me for drop off.
For more information about the African Childrens Choir or Mirembe House, check out their website at www.africanchildrenschoir.com or www.friendsofmirembe.org
Friday, May 16, 2008
From the Mouths of Babes
So, this morning my 4 year old daughter comes into our bedroom wide awake and in a good mood (for a change). She says that she had good dreams last night. She dreamed of God (and ladybugs, her favorite). She asked me to come and sit beside her on the couch and said we needed to pray to God. I sat down and said "okay".
She put her little hands together and said "Dear God, thank you for my baby sister and brother in Epiopia (Ethiopia) and thank you for my mommy and my daddy and my baby brother Joshie, Amen".
I almost fell apart crying. I held her and kissed her and told her how much she meant to me and that God loved her prayer very much.
Then, later that morning while in the makeup section at Walmart, she decides that she needs to open a bottle of lotion and put some on her face. It was self tanning lotion!!!! All over her face and hands.
Kids are so precious and funny. They can take you from one emotional extreme to another.
We spent the day running errand for Joshie's birthday cookout and mailing off adoption paperwork. We are up to our eyeballs in paperwork. You would think I would be use to this by now. The other night, I joked with Mike and said that since we were having twins (not really but adopting two)that my "paperwork" labor pains must be worse this time around. He asked me if I needed an epideral. :-) It helps to keep a sense of humor about things.
She put her little hands together and said "Dear God, thank you for my baby sister and brother in Epiopia (Ethiopia) and thank you for my mommy and my daddy and my baby brother Joshie, Amen".
I almost fell apart crying. I held her and kissed her and told her how much she meant to me and that God loved her prayer very much.
Then, later that morning while in the makeup section at Walmart, she decides that she needs to open a bottle of lotion and put some on her face. It was self tanning lotion!!!! All over her face and hands.
Kids are so precious and funny. They can take you from one emotional extreme to another.
We spent the day running errand for Joshie's birthday cookout and mailing off adoption paperwork. We are up to our eyeballs in paperwork. You would think I would be use to this by now. The other night, I joked with Mike and said that since we were having twins (not really but adopting two)that my "paperwork" labor pains must be worse this time around. He asked me if I needed an epideral. :-) It helps to keep a sense of humor about things.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
And we're off!!!!
This has been an exciting week for us. We had not planned to start the paperwork process until August but God has provided for us to start things and after talking with the agency we think the timing will still work out. So, this week we submitted our application to the agency, as well as our application for immigration approval.
As I said, God has provide for us to "start" things. This tells you that this is definitely a step of faith. Within 12 months our adoption should be complete and we will have come up with a large amount of money to pay for it. Do we have 100% of the funds today? No! Do we know where the money is going to come from over the next 12 months? Not exactly. But, what we do know is that this is what God has called us to do and He will orchestrate the exact and perfect timing and funding of bringing our children home.
Over the last 4 years, I have seen Him provide for us for two adoptions from Russia and now he has called us to Ethiopia. How could we doubt Him when He has been so faithful and generous to us.
Please keep our family in your prayers as we travel down this new road.
As I said, God has provide for us to "start" things. This tells you that this is definitely a step of faith. Within 12 months our adoption should be complete and we will have come up with a large amount of money to pay for it. Do we have 100% of the funds today? No! Do we know where the money is going to come from over the next 12 months? Not exactly. But, what we do know is that this is what God has called us to do and He will orchestrate the exact and perfect timing and funding of bringing our children home.
Over the last 4 years, I have seen Him provide for us for two adoptions from Russia and now he has called us to Ethiopia. How could we doubt Him when He has been so faithful and generous to us.
Please keep our family in your prayers as we travel down this new road.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
AMAZING Inspiration!
I just got back from the Christian Alliance for Orpahn's Summit IV in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The conference started off with a performance from the World Help's International Children's Choir. I was moved to tears as I watched these children perform. They were singing African style songs, playing drums and worshipping the Lord with their hands reaching up to heaven. I am just so thrilled that God has opened our hearts and minds to welcoming and loving children of a different culture.
Dennis Rainey spoke on Thursday evening and said something which really struck a chord with me. 99% of the worlds orphans will never be adopted. This is why orphan care is critical. We must be the visible love of God to these children, just as Jesus was the visible God to us.
Kay Warren, wife of Rick Warren the author of Purpose Driven Life and Pastor to Saddleback Church, spoke on Friday. She was choked up the minute she stepped up to the microphone, before even saying a word. She spoke of the 143 million orphans in the world and the 7,500 new orphans each day. She admitted her ignorance several years ago when she did not know a single orphan, a single person that was HIV positive and thought you could "catch" Aids by casual contact. She said that the church, the body of Christ, needs to become "seriously and permanently disturbed" about the orphan pandemic. She talked about the verse Mark 8:34 which says to deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me. About how we will become "gloriously ruined" when we give up our cross.
The scriptures command us over and over again to care for the orphan. I believe there is an awakening that is occuring within the Christian community. "The ground is thawing and Asland is on the move". What is your plan for fulfilling the scriptures command? Are we busy doing the things that God wants us to do? It was the faith that God would use 1 small stone to take down the giant (David & Golith). WE are that 1 small stone.
There were at least 15 people at the conference from NC. Many of us have met each other over the past year or so and several of us just met at the conference. Everyone was so pumped up to get home and start making plans to care for the orphans of the world and to encourage others to step up and do the same. The momentum was infectious and exciting. Can't wait to see what God does!!!!
Dennis Rainey spoke on Thursday evening and said something which really struck a chord with me. 99% of the worlds orphans will never be adopted. This is why orphan care is critical. We must be the visible love of God to these children, just as Jesus was the visible God to us.
Kay Warren, wife of Rick Warren the author of Purpose Driven Life and Pastor to Saddleback Church, spoke on Friday. She was choked up the minute she stepped up to the microphone, before even saying a word. She spoke of the 143 million orphans in the world and the 7,500 new orphans each day. She admitted her ignorance several years ago when she did not know a single orphan, a single person that was HIV positive and thought you could "catch" Aids by casual contact. She said that the church, the body of Christ, needs to become "seriously and permanently disturbed" about the orphan pandemic. She talked about the verse Mark 8:34 which says to deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me. About how we will become "gloriously ruined" when we give up our cross.
The scriptures command us over and over again to care for the orphan. I believe there is an awakening that is occuring within the Christian community. "The ground is thawing and Asland is on the move". What is your plan for fulfilling the scriptures command? Are we busy doing the things that God wants us to do? It was the faith that God would use 1 small stone to take down the giant (David & Golith). WE are that 1 small stone.
There were at least 15 people at the conference from NC. Many of us have met each other over the past year or so and several of us just met at the conference. Everyone was so pumped up to get home and start making plans to care for the orphans of the world and to encourage others to step up and do the same. The momentum was infectious and exciting. Can't wait to see what God does!!!!
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