Keeping our eyes focused

"Let me see redemption win

Let me know the struggle ends

That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn

I want to know a song can rise from the ashes of this broken life

And all that's dead inside can be reborn

Cause I'm worn"

Chorus of: Tenth avenue north "Worn"

These are the lyrics that I continue to sing in my head.  At this point I wish I had a different song in there.  However, for the last few days, (or weeks), this has been it.  

When there are great things on the horizon, and God is moving in mighty ways, it pisses Satan off.  He hates it.  I remember at numerous times during our adoption process being the brunt of numerous attacks by the evil one.  Well, he is at it again.  In fact, last night we had to come together to pray as a family, recognizing the attacks as attacks and praying against them.  I was great hearing my kids pray, "God, send satan back to hell where he belongs!  He has no business in this house." 

This last week, I have been trying to get ready for a story telling training that I am helping lead.  We will be teaching people from numerous different churches and languages, the art of biblical storytelling to assist in the spread of the gospel.  I haven't been able to put any effort into studying for this yet, at all.  

Heather is getting ready to go with our church on a short term team into a volatile place in the middle east.  This is part of a continued work that our church has been a part of.  

God is working in many ways and we know that he has some big plans for us and we look forward to being a part of the work that he is doing both locally and globally.  

So, satan tries to discourage us.  He has been winning at times.  Not anymore.  We won't let him win.  Since Easter, at the beginning of April, we have only been able to get to church ONE time, and it will be at least another week.  We have started to feel disconnected and lonely.  We want to be a part of the church body, yet satan has been keeping us away.  We have 3 kids with chicken pox right now.  We have two other kids with fevers, which only leave one kid healthy.  We were told by the doctor last night to go to the ER because of some bacteria in a blood test.  Well, that was the point of breakdown.  Half the house was crying, the other half was scratching themselves and I was hungry.  Yelling at everyone to come to the dinner table to eat made for a wonderful meal that we shared together (not).  

This last week, as part of a men's group study, I have been documenting a sin in my life and working through it.  Yep, that sin that I have been working on is yelling.  Well, I had been doing so good, as the punches kept coming all week until the last day.  At least now I have something to really document.  

We have a couple of choices.  We can coward before the attacks, become afraid and back off from the work that we are doing, or we can choose to keep our eyes focused on following Jesus.  Well, we will take another step into enemy territory and trust that what God says in the Bible is true.  That, as we make disciples of all nations, he will be with us always.  

The Feeding of The 400!

Written a couple weeks ago...

 It almost feels like this memory is still too fresh to put to words.  I am going to journal my thoughts here for now since I don't have any Internet connection to post anything.  

I arrived early to the church, about 3 in the afternoon.  There were already about ten people working diligently, preparing a meal.  They had been working for hours cutting onions, cutting meat, and cooking.  A couple of women from Project Hopeful came a few minutes later and were there to help as well.  

Some small children started to trickle in.  As they came through the gate, they handed an usher a ticket.  This is a ticket that was handed out at children's church earlier in the week and at the main church on Sunday.  
More kids started to come, most by themselves in groups of children with no adult present.  Soon, there were fifty.  

Adults started to hobble in.  Some of them on crutches.  Some of them with a cane.  Some of them had to be led by another person that can see.  Some of them had significant debilitating injuries.  Some had leprosy.  Some of them had a baby strapped to her back.  
None of them came in as a couple.  I did not see a single "family unit" arrive together.  
Soon there were 200.  And so we prayed God's blessing over the meal and those that were present. 

 Then the crazy distribution of food started.  Everyone got their own plate of food.  The smallest kids first, then the older, then the adults.  Some waited patiently, some were too hungry to wait any longer.  Food was flying at a rapid pace through the aisle, that was when I heard the banging.  I had heard it before, but each time I had heard it in the past the gate was opened.  This time, the gate stayed shut.  I glanced around at the courtyard and did not see a single place for anyone else to sit.  (Even by Ethiopian standards). The place was completely packed full of widows, orphans, lepers, prostitutes, the blind and the lame.

Then the gate was opened as someone left.  It had to be guarded.  Desperation.  Anxiety.  Hunger.  Emptiness.  The faces of the hundreds that stood on the outside of the gate told their own story.  They were left out.  There was no room for them.  

Slowly, as others left, a few more were let in.  This took place until the entire first group of 200 left and a new group of 200 took their place.  I couldn't believe that there would be enough food.  I know that this was not the feeding of the 5000 but I can't believe that there continued to be enough.  By the time the big containers were almost empty, there was no longer anyone standing at the gate longing to get in.  God had provided more than enough for each and everyone of them!  Somewhere between 400-500 people!  There was enough for about ten more servings as we cleaned up.  The "clean" drinking water that filled a 40 gallon drum was almost empty, but it too had been enough.  

We only had around fifty or so cups to start with.  Those little red plastic cups just don't exist here.  There was not time to wash cups after each use, it was too crazy.  So as the dinner went on, the red stains from everyone's injera stained hands continued to pile up on the white cups.  I was barely willing to touch the cup on the outside, to pour some new water in it for someone else.  I couldn't imagine drinking from it.  I guess it doesn't matter when you are that hungry and when you are that thirsty.  

I was completely blessed to be apart of today's feeding.  It was made possible by a church that donated $300 for it.  Well done church, well done.  It was money that was well spent.  You see, people are not only being fed here with food, they are being filled with the Holy Spirit as well.  The church has tripled since I was here a year ago.  They have planted two new churches in the area.  I them saw them have a special teaching time for new believers before the main service this last week.  There were about 20 people that have put their trust in Jesus Christ and have turned away from Ethiopian Orthodox and from Islam. 

I was also blessed to witness my 12 year old daughter serving those in need as well.  It was only a year ago that she was one of the crowd.  

Meeting Mita

We drove into the eight foot tall steel gate and she was standing there, opening it for us.  She looked very shy, and slightly puzzled.  She had just been been told about Eyerusalem and I the night before.  We parked, got out of the car and I greeted her.
Eyerusalem and her met, for the first time in about 8 years.  There was that awkward handshake, a slight glance at each other and then they both turned shyly away.  It took some coaxing from the adults to get them both to turn back towards each other and in the matter of minutes the awkward, childhood shyness was gone and they were laughing and having fun together.
In a sort of anticlimactic way, the meeting with Mita went well.  I am not sure what either of us expected.  Her whole family that lives in town was there.  Her mom, her brother, cousin, aunt and uncle.  Her house was big, and well kept.  It was so good to see that she is well taken care of and that she is loved.  We had a great lunch.  I have never been served so many Ethiopian dishes in one meal.  The conversation was good and the hours passed by fairly quickly.  Politics was a good topic as Mita's uncle is a retired ambassador.  He had some interesting things to say.
We will meet with her again one more time, tomorrow after church for coffee.  I am glad that we will have the chance to see her at least once more.
Eyerusalem seemed to have enjoyed herself and was glad that we have been able to come.  She seemed so relieved to see her.  The whole way to the house she was reliving her time in Ethiopia.  She told us about how she would look for Mita in the area.  As we pulled into the driveway, she was shocked to find out that she was so close.  She had been looking up and down the right street.  In fact, she had looked directly kiddie corner to Mita's house, but due to the large gates and fences did not realize she was within fifty feet of her.
I am glad that God has allowed us to be able to find her, for them to reconnect with each other and for this questions of Eyerus's to finally be answered.

I will post pictures at some point.  However, I can't do it right now from ET.  Pole Sanna.

The rest of the visa story!

I could hardly sleep as my friend Tesfaye and I were going to the embassy the next morning and we had to leave by 6:30.  Not having a reliable alarm clock, I slept light and kept checking the time.
Before we could go to the embassy we had to go to a bank near there and obtain a bank statement.  He also had to pay for his appointment and obtain a receipt.  The money is for the appointment and not the visa, so it is not refundable.  Our appointment was at 8:30, but the bank did not open until 8:00.  While we waited, another pastor who had been invited to the same conference showed up to meet us at the bank.  Somehow, he got an apponintment for the same time, (I am really not sure how).  As the bank took a long time and we rolled up to the embassy at 9:00, I was starting to get stressed.  They too, seemed a little stressed, dressed in their fine suits and ties, they started running around trying to hurry up.
At the embassy, before you can even get to the gate, security checks your passports, and your proof of an appointment, if you are not a US citizen.  When I showed them my passport, they asked why I was there.  When I told them I was there to help my friend, they laughed at both of us.  They told me that he was 18 and did not need any help.  Seeing that they didn't outright tell me I couldn't enter, I ignored the statement and proceeded to walk inside.
Then, at the security check point, they tried to verify Tesfaye's appointment and they couldn't.  They told us that they only showed an appointment for May.  As the line started to move past us, we were told to wait by the wall until today's appointment could be verified.
So we prayed.  We stood there for about 15 minutes, as they too questioned me some more about why I was there with Tesfaye.  Finally, the phone rang.  "You may enter." Alright, at least we have a chance now to have the appointment!
We waited about two hours.  I think that it was because we were at the end of the 8:30 appointments.
Finally, the other pastor was called to window 12.  He stood tense at the window for about 2 minutes and then he turned back towards us.  With tears welling up in his eyes, he shook his head no as he walked right past us back outside.  We did not see him again until the evening.
A couple minutes later, "Tesfaye, report to window 12". The same guy that just denied the other pastor.
We both got up, and reported to the window.  I wasn't quite sure what I was supposed to do or say but we had to do all that we could.  The gruff man behind window 12 looked at me puzzled and asked what my relation was to Tesfaye?  "I am a friend of his, staying in his house.  I am here as a witness to the work that he does." He kind of nodded, then told me to go and sit down.  Four minutes later, after showing lots of documents, the man called me back.
"Your friend is going to be granted the visa!" Tears of happiness started to well up in both of our eyes, as we hugged and congratulated each other.
Our God.  He is a God of miracles!  All glory belongs to him!
There is no reason that Tesfaye should have been granted the visa.  In fact, when he told me a couple of months ago that he was going to try, I thought that he shouldn't.
We went out to lunch to celebrate the good news, and the fact that today was Tesfaye's birthday as well.

Getting a US visa

We are staying at a friends house for the first part of week that we are here in Addis.  His name is Tesfaye.  He is one of the pastors of the church that we go to here in Korah.  When he heard that I was returning to ET he kindly offered up a place for us to stay.  What an amazing blessing.  Not only do we have a place to stay but he has given us his whole house.  He moved his wife, his one month old child and himself across the alleyway to his mothers house so that we can stay here in his house.  I can't believe it!  Not only did he give us a house to stay in, he and his wife have been caring for our needs without us asking.  They have made tons of meals for us and bought bottled water for us to drink.  
Tesfaye told me about a problem when I first arrived.  He has been invited to a disciple making and church planting training in South Dakota.  The church that is sponsoring it is even paying for the flight and the room and board.  The problem is that the training starts on may 8th.  The next available appointment at the US embassy for him to apply for a visa is on May 8th.  This poses a huge problem as they will not grant him a visa knowing that he will miss the training.  
So we prayed about it.  
I told him that he should call or go there to see if there is a way to get another appointment, incase someone has cancelled.  Well, there is not.  You have to schedule the appointment online without exception.  (Our embassy is not the easiest to work with or the friendliest!). So he went to an Internet cafe, and tried to have someone help him get another appointment.  The only one available was now for May 14th.  He went to another Internet cafe to try again with someone else's help.  Once again he was told and shown that the next appointment was for May 14th. Deeply saddened, he walked out the door towards the bus stop.  
Then the miracle happened,  the girl came running out of the cafe toward him. She brought him back to the cafe and showed him the computer.  "Next available appointment, April 11th at 8:30am.". Tomorrow!!!  My God, He is amazing!  The time and date changed on her computer right before her eyes and he has been granted an earlier appointment.  
It costs $150 just to make the appointment, whether you get the visa or not! So tomorrow morningI am going to go with him, to petition the embassy on his behalf as he applies for a visa!  I know that God is using him in big ways here in Korah and I trust that he wants him in South Dakota to get more training.  
We prayed tonight together that he will be granted this visa and we shall go and see in the morning.

Sent from my iPad

Mita has been found!

It has been a super crazy week here as we are getting ready to fly out tomorrow to Kenya and then on the Ethiopia.
However, before we fly out we wanted to share some awesome news!
Mita has been found!  Searching for her was like looking for a needle in a hay stack.  However, God knew exactly where she is.  In His almighty and sovereign way, he has allowed the investigators to find her just before we arrive.
We are told that she is in a good home, with a mother who loves, provides, and cares for her.  This makes our hearts so happy to know that she is in a good place.  Praise God.
So, we are still traveling.  We still have lots of questions.  Now that we know where she is, we won't be wasting a bunch of time aimlessly looking.  We already have an appointment set up on Monday with the investigators so that they can introduce us.  Hopefully this will be a wonderful time of reconnecting with a lost loved one for Eyerusalem, and Mita.
Eyerusalem and the rest of us are a little sad, as we don't foresee any sort of adoption.  However, we are amazed at how God has allowed us to even find her.
Here is what I gave to the investigators.  I gave them the court documents, and a bunch of pictures.  The court documents had a ton of holes in the history, including no address.  Then I gave the investigators an 8x10 picture of a dirt road in the village with this description.  "If you find this road, then follow it to the store that sells water.  Then, you are in the area of finding this man (another 8x10 picture of a man).  We think that if you can find this man, whose name we don't know, and phone number we don't have, then he might have some information that will tell you about Mita.  (HA!  Our God is good!)

Pray with us as we travel tomorrow.  It will be an emotionally hard trip for the both of us, though especially for Eyerus.    

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.