Our Trip to Ethiopia

Let's be honest, I don't even know where to begin writing about what God did on our trip to Ethiopia. As I sit here thinking about our trip, the friends we met, the children, the amazing country...I could go on... my eyes are filled with tears of sadness, awe, and joy. Here's my attempt.

On the 13 hour plane ride there, Paul and I sat next to a young woman who we didn't speak to for the first half of the ride out of fear that we spoke different languages. Finally, we broke the ice and began talking. God taught us invaluable lessons through this beautiful, Ethiopian woman. I have never met anyone so passionate about their country. She told us about the history of Ethiopia for a good two hours. She told us over and over again how happy she was that we were coming to see her country. She spoke about how most Americans do not want to leave America because they believe that America is the best, and there is no reason to leave. She told us to keep an open mind and remember that we were simply to observe and learn. Her words of advice stuck with us throughout our trip and will continue to throughout our lives. As much as I would have claimed that I believed God is God of the universe, I never really thought much about God's presence in other countries until I experienced Him in Ethiopia. All I knew of God was that he was God of America. How wrong I was.

Most of our trip was spent in the small city of Mekele, Ethiopia. We were there helping the new Lola's Children's Home with painting, digging a drainage ditch, setting up an area for a playground, and performing other miscellaneous tasks around the home. Lola's is a home for 13 orphans and is headed by our new dear friend, Abebe. When Paul and I found out that we would be spending most of our time at an orphanage, we prepared ourselves to be completely heart-broken. When we heard the word "orphanage" we automatically thought "depressing". I honestly didn't know if my heart would be able to handle what I assumed I would see and experience.

This is not at all what we experienced. Abebe is one of the most Godly men I have ever met. He was an orphan himself, along with some of the other staff at Lola's. God gave him the vision of having Lola's be a home that brings in orphans, provides them with food, clothing, water, shelter, loves them like their own, and raises them to be functional citizens of society when they grow up. The best part: Abebe's desire is that the children come to know Jesus as their Savior first and foremost. The children at Lola's Children's Home were some of the most joyful children I have ever been around.

Before our trip, all I knew of "orphan care" was adoption. I had no idea that there was anything else going on in the world to care for these children. Once a child reaches 5 years old or if they are HIV positive, they have a slim to no chance of being adopted. Abebe brings in such children to his family at Lola's and loves them like his own. Paul and I left with a bigger understanding of God's plan for orphan care. We want to support those making a difference in the lives of orphans in Ethiopia.

When it was time to leave, Paul and I decided we could stay forever. Our hearts had grown to love these children and the staff at Lola's. As we left, a little 5 year old boy cried big elephant tears. I know that my heart will forever be in Ethiopia. God continues to comfort me with this verse:

"The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands." Psalm 138:8

Now that we are home, we continue to speak with Abebe and get updates on the happenings at Lola's. We are so excited to hear that after our trip, many donations have continued to come through that are helping Abebe reach his vision of bringing in more children and eventually buying their own property so they can create a self-sustaining home with chickens for eggs, goats for meat, etc.

Through our trip, God confirmed our calling to adopt from Ethiopia. He showed us that He is faithful and will provide whatever we need to fulfill His purposes for us. Once again, Paul and I are still nowhere close to being able to afford adoption at around $30,000. We believe in a God who is bigger and calls us to follow Him, even if it doesn't make logical sense. We plan on beginning the adoption process by filling out the paperwork for the agency in October once Paul turns 25 (a requirement to adopt from Ethiopia). We would appreciate your prayers!

 Here is a video from our trip including pictures and some video coverage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98tlqmze0tI

The Beginning of Our Journey

On Missions Sunday at our church back in January, Paul and I both heard the Lord speaking to us that we were to go to Africa on a mission trip. However, when we learned more about the Africa mission trip our church was going on, we realized that we would not be able to go because of my class schedule this summer. I only had two weeks where I did not have class, and neither of the trips to Africa were during those weeks. I began to doubt our call. In addition, when it came down to it, Paul and I did not have the money to go to Africa. My first thought when I felt God's nudging was, "There is no way we will really go. That would be crazy for us right now." We are basically living off of one salary, paying for my school until December 2011, and paying back a lot of school debt. There have been very few times in my life where I have done things that didn't make sense logically. I am a thinker and do not usually just DO. However, God is slowly changing me to rely in His power and His leading..not what makes sense in my little mind.

After realizing God had shut the door for us to go on our church's mission trip, I remembered about an organization that we had been looking into as a possible agency when we started the adoption process.  The name of the organization is All God's Children International.  I remembered reading that ACGI also takes many mission trips. As I looked up the mission trip dates on our computer, I was overcome with God's sovereignty.  All God's Children was going on a mission trip to Ethiopia during the EXACT two weeks that I didn't have summer class! Ethiopia is also the country Paul and I feel called to adopt from. God had it all worked out. We were going to Africa because God told us to and that's all we needed.

We still had no clue how we would pay for the trip but believed that if God wanted us there, He would provide it. God WAS faithful. Our friends and family gave generously. Paul and I were brought to tears many times by God's provision and goodness. Many of our sweet friends who are in the same financial situation that we are as young, poor married couples gave abundantly. They gave more than we could ever have imagined. I know they gave because they also believe in a God who provides and calls us to a life of generosity in response to God's generosity with us. We are blessed. And we were on our way to Africa ONLY by God's grace.

Who We Are

A little background information...
Paul and I both started following Christ in college. We had both grown up in church and considered ourselves Christians pretty much our whole lives, but it wasn't until college that God opened our eyes to what it means to follow Him. My whole life, I thought that being a Christian meant you had done two things: 1) said a prayer 2) tried your hardest to be a good person.

God rocked my world my freshmen year in college. He placed people in my life that knew Him and challenged me to look at who He really is. God showed me that being a Christian is not about being a good person or earning His love. I am saved by GRACE through faith in Jesus and belief in His righteousness. Jesus lived a perfect life and offered himself as a sacrifice on the cross. He took on my sin and God's wrath for my sin so that I can stand before God the Father based on Jesus's work. This is the good news of the gospel by which we are saved. WHAT AWESOME NEWS!!

We have been adopted into God's family through Jesus.  Now that the Lord has revealed this truth in our lives, he has shown us a way that He wants to use it in our lives for his glory. We believe the Lord has called us to adoption.

Since I was young, I have always imagined adopting my children. Right around the time Paul and I got married, we began talking about the possibility of adoption. It took me awhile to realize that this desire is not something that all people share. I know that this desire was placed on my husband's and my heart by our creator for His glory.

So, here's our blog. Our purpose in creating it is to keep our loved ones informed on what is happening in our lives, specifically with our adoption process.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:3-7