Don't leave me

It really shouldn't be shocking.

Actually, we were expecting it.

But it breaks our hearts nonetheless.....

Imagine growing up as a child without the security of a family.  Without the security of a good next meal.  Without the security that comes from having your needs met.  This is the childhood that she remembers.

Really, it is hard for us to imagine.  It is hard to put myself in her shoes, even though I have seen it with my own eyes.  

She doesn't have to worry about her next meal now.  She has a family who loves her, cares for her, protects her, and meets her needs.  The present can't erase the past.  Those memories are still true.  They linger around, always questioning if it will happen again.

We knew something was wrong.  It felt like we had just regressed to where we were almost a year ago.  The fits, the anger, the yelling.
So, we sat her down.
We talked.
And her ugly fears came out.

Honey, you are part of our family now.  Forever.  Forever and always.  We love you.  You can't do anything to us to cause us not to love you.  We choose to love you.  When you look at that picture of our family up on the wall, you are in it.  You will always be in it.  When we get to Ethiopia in two weeks, you will be with me the whole time.  I will not drop you off at the orphanage.  I will not leave you in Ethiopia.  You have a return plane ticket home.  Let me show it to you.  See, here is your seat, and your ticket.  You will sit by the window and we will fly into Rome, and then London.  Both of us are coming home.  I promise.  I know that going to Ethiopia is scary and hard.  You live with us now though in California.  This is a short trip.  One with a purpose.  Our purpose is to find your sister.

We are going there together and we are coming home together, because you have a family waiting for you when you return.

Going back to Ethiopia!

In 22 days Eyerusalem and I (Adam) will be boarding a plane and heading back to Ethiopia!  I am so excited!  I need to go back there.  I have longed to go back every single day since getting to the US.  This is going to be an amazing trip for the both of us.  We came home exactly one year ago from when we will be leaving.  Today, we went and applied for Eyerusalem's passport and we are booking airfare in the morning.

Why?
If you are thinking that this trip is coming up quick, then you are right.  Though Heather and I decided quickly to leave, (like in a discussion on a 2 mile walk) we are confident that this is where the Holy Spirit has been leading us.  Ever since I heard about Mita, I knew that I would be traveling back to ET.  My thoughts have been; If she is found in a good situation, then I need to go to ET and verify it for myself.  If she is found in a bad situation, then I need to go there and try to get her out of that situation.  If she is not found then I must go there and search for her myself.  So, I have just been waiting for the right time to go.  It has always been my plan to go myself because it wouldn't work to bring the whole family, and would cost us a TON!  I was sitting in church the other day and the Holy Spirit pushed me and opened up my eyes and heart to take Eyerusalem with me.  I had not even thought about it before.

Why Eyerusalem?
She will be a huge asset while we are there.  She knows the story, she knows the people, and she knows the language.  She also will be way easier to travel with than any of the other kids.  She is super excited to go.  I think that even if we can't find Mita, it will help bring closure for the both of us knowing that we have done everything that we possibly could to try and find her.  She asked me the other day if she can tell the people in her village about Jesus.  I told her absolutely.  She also asked me if she can bring some of her stuff to the poor people in the village and give it away.  I told her absolutely.  I love her heart.  She has such a missionary heart and a heart for those that have less than her.  God has been doing amazing things in her heart over the last few months and I am excited to be able to bring her to a place where she can go back into her village that is full of muslims and witness to them about the love of Jesus.

The details:
We are keeping this trip cheap and we are hoping to be able to stay at some friends houses while we are there.  I am excited about the possibility of staying in peoples houses.  It will be an awesome experience.  We will be in ET for a little more than a week and plan on spending the time meeting with the investigators that are there and assisting them in the village.  With Eyerusalem, we will be much more mobile and able to go out for the day.  The investigators have been able to meet with the extended family but have been unable to locate Mita yet.  We are not sure if we can change that but we must try.  We are leaving April 3rd and coming home April 16th.

KENYA?
My uncle, aunt and cousin are missionaries in Nairobi, Kenya.  So, since we are already going to be on that side of the world, we thought that it would be even more of an awesome trip to stop in and stay with the Maples for a few days. :)  I thought that the flights would cost us a lot more making our way to Kenya, but they are exactly the same price.  It makes no difference for us to fly there as well.  How awesome is that?  So we will be able to visit with family and see the ministry that they are doing.  I am stoked about being able to go back to Kenya as well.  Some may ask; isn't Kenya kind of dangerous right now?  Maybe it is, but that is not really a concern of mine.  I trust that God is sovereign and in control at all times.  I rest in that.

How can you pray?
Pray that God will direct us to find Mita.
Pray that this will be an amazing time for Eyerusalem and I to really connect.  She is almost a teenager and I cherish this time that I will have with her.
Pray that we will be able to find a place to stay.
Pray that we will be able to bring encouragement and a piece of home to the Maples.