Our Journey of Faith

International Teams - training

2012-01-25T20:02:00.000-08:00

Chicago IL is our home for the rest of this week! We arrived at International teams this past Wednesday to start training. It has been a long time since I have sat in a desk from 8am til 5pm....(with an hour and a half break for lunch)! Our minds are full....ok..overloaded! We have spent alot of time talking about the values, mission, and vision of International Teams..which I will go into more detail later about. We have spent alot of time in Gods word...regarding missions, discipleship, team dynamics, and cross-cultural communications....and so much more! Our kiddos get to go to class with Miss Judith and have had alot of fun with her.

This morning began with praise and worship. Several of the people training with us are gifted in music and led .....beautiful. The individuals we have journeyed through training with are incredible. The stories of faith, struggle, and desire to follow are amazing. We have been blessed. The staff at International Teams is also incredible. They don't just do their job....they all have been called to their job and do it with passion because they know who they are doing it for. Enjoy the pictures! They may explain more than I can in words!

Faith

2012-01-09T07:30:00.000-08:00

This devotional I read today spoke right to my heart...because this is just where we are at. We don't know Gods specific plan right now, but we need to keep moving forward in faith.

Don't See How? God Will Make a Wayby Rick Warren “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV) You may be facing a dead end right now — financial, emotional, or relational — but if you will trust God and keep on moving in faith, even when you don’t see a way, he will make a way. It will become more understandable as you head down the path he sets before you, but understanding is not a requirement for you to start down the path. Proverbs 4:18 says, “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day” (NIV). One day you will stand in the full light of eternity and view the big picture. You’ll see God’s purpose behind the path he specifically chose for you. In the meantime, do what Proverbs 3 says: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Be patient. God knows what he’s doing. God knows what is best for you. He can see the end result. You can’t. All those problems, heartaches, difficulties and delays — all the things that make you ask “why” — will one day be clear in the light of God’s love.But for now, we’re learning to trust God.

New Year

2012-01-06T05:11:00.000-08:00

The New Year 2012 has begun. The beginning of this year has brought many changes for our family. We spent new years eve moving the last things out of our home where we have spent the last 7 1/2 years. It is the only home our kiddos remember. So many memories. We left amazing friends and neighbors. We said goodbye to our cat 'sweetie'. Yes, tears were shed. We are adjusting and we have been blessed to stay with an incredible family. A family who should get a special award for hospitality. They have specifically finished their basement for families moving to the mission field to stay. They have had 29 foster children through their home. A friend of mine told me about this family at the very beginning of this journey during our trip to the Orphan Summit 2011 (Wendy, the girl we are staying with, actually drove us there!). I didn't give it too much thought. After our house sold and we were looking for a place to rent, she once again brought it up and encouraged us to call and check it out. We did and after much prayer and encouragement from others, knew it was where we belonged. Easy...No. It has been an adjustment for everyone.....but the family we are staying with couldn't have made it more easy or comfortable staying here. Each day gets better. This morning Trayton prayed, "Thank you God for leading us down the right path and to this house" We are getting there.

Tomorrow Team Beyond begins a 4 day retreat where they will be praying...planning...strategizing..and casting the vision for the team. The president of I-teams is in Uganda right now taking part in this retreat. It is our prayer that the team will have a clear idea of how, where, and if our family will fit into this vision. So, we wait...moving forward...and trusting His perfect plan....even when we don't know what it exactly looks like right now. Isn't that faith? Moving forward..trusting...and not knowing all the details. It is not always easy. Our family will be leaving on Jan. 18 for Elgin, IL for training at International Teams. We will be there 10 days. This summer we hope to finish the other 3 1/2 weeks of training needed. We hope to begin our support raising for International Teams after returning from training. Our kids are all coming with us. They have a program for the kids while we are in training where they will do their homework...fun activities...and also learn about the country they are going to. We have heard great stuff about it!

If you would like a really great inspiring book to read about a young girl serving in Uganda...check out Kisses from Katie. It have just read a couple chapters, but it really gives a great picture of life in Uganda and the dependence in Christ that is needed each day..hour...while living there.

Fun in the cornfield behind our home

The neighborhood boys football games

Kidist, our neighbor and friend Cameron, and Chloe

Sweetie the cat with Chloe and her friend Katie

Happy New year from our family to yours!

Our home on Ericridge court May 2004-Jan 2012

Old Year

2011-12-27T18:38:00.001-08:00

I will continue posting about Africa soon, but I have something else on my heart right now. Christmas....a time of great celebration, remembering Christs birth, and sharing love and gifts. This year we celebrated, but our hearts were also heavy remembering those who are freshly grieving the loss of a loved one or remembering. Shine Inc., the business Chris started the first year we were married, celebrated Christmas together on Dec. 22. While we had a lot of fun, Chris challenged all of us regarding our relationship with Christ. He went on to talk about Ross, a friend who worked at shine and died this year at the age of 32 and Matt...also a shine employee who died his senior year in High school. Chris shared that none of us know when our time may be and do we know where we will be when that happens? Two days later, at the age of 37...a massive heart attack...a father, husband, and son died. This is our dear neighbors son and the lawyer and friend Chris had been meeting with regarding the Shine franchising. As I look out my kitchen window..washing our dishes from our celebration here, I see our neighbors home and know that on the other side of those walls there are tears and mourning.

The year of 2011, we have been touched by the very unexpected deaths of several friends. It has really impacted us in that we don't know the day or the hour when it will be our last. We are so good at planning for our future here and living for the future. We really don't know if we will live through tomorrow. God impacted us through each of the 5 funerals we attended this year, but the one that stands out most is Derek and Dylan Taatjes. A youth leader, in his 30's, sleeping on couch and his little baby son sleeping in his crib. A fire breaks out in the basement and the carbon monoxide from the fire takes them home before they even awake. They died peacefully and now they live gloriously! Many of Dereks friends came up and shared about Derek. The thing they all said was; if you know Derek...you will hear about Christ. He lived his faith and shared his faith. We left this funeral desiring to be more, share more, and not waste the time God has given us here.

In 2012, it is my goal to live 'Today' and not for tomorrow. To take time for the things that matter and let go of the things that I think matter so much and really don't. To run the race God has for me and our family while not running ahead of God. To let him take the lead. To surrender all that I have because its not mine anyway and when that day comes that He does take me home.....none of it will come with me. This is why I love the verse in the Bible that talks about storing up treasures in heaven...not on earth where moths and dust destroy. I remember reading something that compared it in a way that if you knew there was a stock that could make you millions or billions in a few years.....would you invest ALL you could? Well, we have soooooo much more than that awaiting us in heaven.....and where do we...(I inluded) spend most of our time, money, and energy?.....on the things that will some day be destroyed by dust...rust...and eventually fire. Today, I am tired of the latest fashion clothing, pottery barn decor, TV, toys...toys..toys.., the Mall......you get the picture. And don't get me wrong...some days I love it...I do love to shop, decorate, and enjoy the 'comfortable' life I live here........but in 2011, I have started loving them less. God is breaking my heart more and more with what breaks his, helping me to trust Him to do things that seem a little crazy and helping me to SURRENDER....(the word of the year)

Remembering those who have run the race and crossed the finish line and the ones who are still running and missing them this holiday season.

Journal- Day 10 in Uganda

2011-12-19T05:50:00.000-08:00

Our last day in Uganda. We drove to Kampala with the Shaarda family and were blessed to spend the last 2 days with them. Here is a picture of Grace and Chloe where we ate our dinner before boarding the plane. The girls were all excited to get hot chocolate with words written on top. The food was fantastic and so was the company.

Mandy, Chloe, and I at the market in Kampala. It was overwhelming to shop after experiencing so much poverty...but we had alot of fun. Mandy helped a lot with picking things out. We wished we could have brought something home for everybody we knew!

I think Africans were born with an extra balancing gene! The things we saw them balance on motor bikes, bicycles, and thier heads was amazing.

Here we are with Josh

and Mandy Shaarda

by the Nile River.

Many people have asked how our trip was now that we are home.I wish I could give a 2 sentence answer. Even after blogging and sharing pictures of our trip, I can't share the smells, sounds, the great beauty, or the great poverty of Uganda. I will say, it is a place you can go and you will not come back the same. Today I was reading from Proverbs 28; He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses...and from Poverbs 21; Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be heard. I can honestly say, before going to Ethiopia to bring our daughter Kidist home I had not seen or heard the cry of the poor. Now I have heard, seen, touched, held, laughed, and cried with them. I can't come home and go back to my 'comfortable' living pretending I don't know about the millions of people around the world that will die of hunger or preventable disease before hearing the Good News of Christ. I definately struggled less before my eyes were opened. It used to be easy to buy that cute outfit to add to my already full closet until I seen children wearing thier only set of clothes and it was full of holes. I didn't stop to complain about the long lines at the grocery store to buy my cart full of groceries until I saw the women who sit ALL DAY at the market selling thier goods so they can feed their children that nite and then they do it again the next day. And I had to really stop and think about how I try to 'fit in' my time with God amidst my busy schedule when I recently attended a Bible Study where some walk 3 miles to get to and stay for 3 hours praising and soaking in scripture. Many of them, including pastors don't have a Bible and I have several sitting on the shelf collecting dust. We have been blessed so we can bless others.

Here is a little quote from Mother Teresa that was in our debriefing packet. 'When a poor person dies of hunger, it has not happened because God did not take care of him or her. It has happened becasue neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed. We have refused to be instruments of love in the hands of God to give the poor a piece of bread, to offer them a dress with which to ward off the cold. " Mother Teresa

Journal- Day 9 Second day at the Falls

2011-12-12T18:00:00.000-08:00

Sing, O Heavens! Be Joyful, O Earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, And will have Mercy on His afflicted. Isaiah 49:13

We awoke the next morning ready for another hike up to the top of the falls. First, Chris wanted to take me to the spot where he had spent some time alone. It was a time of wrestling with God and a time of great peace. These are pictures that Tim took of Chris during this time....and he had no idea. It was an amazing place as you can see!

I have to laugh writing this because in the picture below you can see Becky enjoying herself right on the edge of the major drop off of the waterfall. I have to say that I enjoyed the view from a little farther away! I don't have an issue with heights, but a definate issue with the edge! Chloe would have liked to have been sitting right next to Becky.

The rest of the group left with out us on the hike...so we had to find our way and we did eventually catch up. Below is a picture of the river we had to cross to get to the path up the mountain. The first time across...I was afraid...the tree was wet and slippery. A Ugandan woman saw us struggling and come to help each one of us cross. She was barefoot and did it with incredible ease! What is really incredible is that on the way back, I had a peace about crossing... I sang praise to God as I crossed holding the hands of others and God brought me back to the verse He gave me during cancer; after first being diagnosed and sitting in a pile of tears... from Pslam 18:2 The Lord is my Rock and my Fortress! I had written in my journal a year and a half ago this verse and the picture that God gave me of that verse...I pictured myself trying to walk across a roaring river (cancer)...standing on the rock (Christ) while holding the hands of friends and family to keep from falling (my support) This came to me at the very moment we were crossing and here I was living it! It was powerful and amazing...God was so present with us.

Journal- Day 8 Sipi and Sisiyi Falls

2011-12-05T18:16:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday we began with a drive to Sipi Falls with the team. Not everyone was able to make it, but a lot of them were. It took about two hours to get there. My grandpa told us that Uganda is known as the pearl of Africa. We could see why on this trip! Below is a picture of the gas station on the way up the mountain. They usually have coke bottles with petrol, but they were out today!

We hiked to the top of the first waterfall. It was amazing...lush...green..roaring waters crashing below...you could see for miles. On our way up we would pass homes built of grass where children would greet us. I wondered if they had any idea of what a beautiful place they lived at. Tim purchased a souvenier; a chameleon lizard who we named SIPI. Unfortunately SIPI didn't live long....his head was sticking out the window when Tim accidently put the window up on him. Eww....he was pretty to look at while he lasted. God's awesomeness and creativity was so evident in all we experienced this day.

After the hike we ate at the lodge at the bottom. It was delicious and refueled us for the next hike to the second fall.

After finishing at SIPI Falls, we headed to Sisiyi Falls where we would be camping for the nite. This was no ordinary campground. We arrived to the tents set up, complete with mattress pads, sleeping bags, and pillows. This is a place the team will come with their families for a time of rest and time together. With the waterfalls crashing in the background...we slept...or tried to sleep!

Journal - Day 7

2011-12-01T06:50:00.000-08:00

We were picked up early by Becky on Tuesday. Chloe stayed behind with the Sliedrects as some of the things we would hear today wouldn't be for such young ears. We began our trek down roads that in the US would be closed down! There were MAJOR pot holes and water holes. We said a prayer before we began and I think there were many more silent prayers said during the drive! It truly was a miracle that we arrived back without a flat tire.

Our first stop was Obalanga, where the mass graves are. This area was hit hard by the LRA army. So many were killed and thier bodies left. Team Beyond used money from the Ride for Refuge to make this cemetary. The people in this area were constantly coming across bones in their gardens and elsewhere. A team worked together to find all the bones, identify the ones they could, and lay them to rest in a proper way to add closure for this community. It was very sad hearing what this community has been through and the way they continue to struggle with the flooding, and poor crops this year.

Our next visit was to a village in the bush to visit with former LRA child soldiers. We met Francis, his wife and friend who were all abducted around the age of 12 from their village. We listened to the horrific story of the way they were chased down, captured, forced to kill, watched hundreds of children drown and then how Francis led himself and 8 others in an escape. We heard the story of a transformed life through Christ with help from alot of counseling and a retreat at Mt Moyoni for these children. Francis is now 19, married and has a baby on the way. He had a joy in sharing his story and what God has done through it. He now lives in this village with his mother, grandmother, siblings etc. Their village was very well kept, they were doing well with their crops and were living off the land. They were content. We might look at them and see poverty, but they don't and I wouldn't want to change a thing about the way they were living. I was able to hold Francis baby sister. She was beautiful and she peed on me, which to them means she loves you. Francis took us out in the field behind their homes where their crops were and it is also the place where they ran and were captured by the LRA. It was hard to imagine and visualize what they had been through.

Our minds were all ready full with what we had heard and experienced. We headed back on the BUMPY roads and went to Orungo, where Josh Shaarda was teaching a Timothy Leadership class. We entered in a thatch roof church, filled with men and women all sitting with Bibles open and pen and paper in hand, attentively listening to the truth being shared. They were hungry for it. Today they were talking about stewardship. The questions were a little different than what we would ask regarding stewardship! They spoke a lot about their goats, and animals and asked questions like; Am I being a good steward when my goat makes me angry and I beat it...since I am going to slaughter it anyway? It was really encouraging to see the desire they have in learing about Gods word. We were served lunch at the church since we were the guest.....more atop, meat...etc. I always prayed God would spare us from sickness...when eating in the village like this!

Now our heads were spinning with all we had taken in today. We headed back to the Sleidrect for dinner and it was good to do some talking and debriefing aobut the day with them. Tim finished dinner with reading out of the childrens Bible Story Book and guess what story he read? Daniel in the Lions Den. We thought he planned this since we had shared with him 2 days prior how God used this passage to work through our fears....NOPE, this is where the bookmark was and was the next story they were up to.

Journal Day 6- Soroti Rock

2011-11-29T15:27:00.000-08:00

First of all...if anyone reading this knows of a place in Hudsonville that we could rent, please let me know! We have a month before we need to be out of our home. We are praying that God will provide the right place.

On Monday, we left the guesthouse at 5am to catch the Sunrise on Soroti Rock. This meant we needed to get to the top. I tried not to think about the critters that might be living up there as we hiked to the top with a flashlight as our guide! We arrived at the top just as the sun was starting to rise. Tanya read devotions from the book of Psalms. We watched the town wake up and marveled how peaceful and beautiful it was from up above. When down below, we can sometimes only see the dirt and despair, but God sees the big picture of beauty and hope. On the way down we saw some monkeys and were greeted at the bottom by some children who thought we were pretty funny to climb a big rock for fun!
After our climb, we walked with Tim to Nurture a Child- Uganda. This is a home of a Ugandan couple who has taken in 22 orphan children. It was encouraging to hear of Ugandans that are caring for orphans because it is very rare. Some of the children were sick the day we visited, which was sad to see. Chris had alot of fun teasing a guy he nicknamed CRASH after he told him the story of why his leg was in a cast. As we have gotten to know the people of Uganda, we have seen alot of them have a great sense of humor! On our way back, we stopped at Nakatunya school. Ninety children for one teacher and the children can pass to the next grade with a 25%. A team member was tutoring a child from this school who was 13 and couldn't read three letter words.
The afternoon was spend with Bobby and Rachael Kolb. They have 2 children; Levi is about 5 months and Nico is 3? Bobby is involved with a sports ministry. They are using sports as a way to interact and disciple street boys. There are many boys age 6-14 who are living on the streets in Soroti. Most of them are sniffing glue and high all the time. We walked around town with Bobby, but were unable to find any of them at the time. Instead, we ran into a man Chris met earlier in the day, who is the Ugandan scrabble champian. He has traveled all over competing in scrabble competitions! In the middle of town, here is eight men sitting by two plastic tables playing a couple of very intense scrabble games! We enjoyed getting to know the Kolbs better over dinner and coffee.

Journal Day 5- Sunday in Soroti (Obule)

2011-11-28T06:33:00.000-08:00

On Sunday we were picked up by the Shaarda family for church. The church is in Obule. Soroti has many different 'Sub Counties' I don't know if that's the right name for them, but Obule is still in Soroti (I think!) Anyway, the top picture is of the church The service was done in English and translated in Teso. The Lord was glorified that day, under a thatch building with a dirt and dung floor, on wooden benches, with drums and homemade tamborines, with little babies and children scattered around........and it was simply beautiful. They didn't need comfy pews, nice carpet, an expensive organ or piano or a big beautiful building...not that those things are bad, but it sure was a blessing to worship with such simplicity, that Gods word was the only focus......

After the church service we were escorted to a hut where we would be served lunch. It is custom that when a guest visits the church they serve them lunch after the service. While we ate, we listened to the testimony of the pastor of the church. He shared about the changes in his life as a result of the Biblical training that Josh Shaarda had done with them. He shared that his wife didn't know he loved her because he never said 'I love You' during the whole time they had been married. He also was cruel and abusive to his children. He didn't know Gods word spoke of children being Gifts from God. His family had changed so much, that his neighbors began asking about it and wanted him to come speak about it at their churches. There is a picture below of us with the pastor and his wife and other leaders in the church with their wives....all with their arms around eachother. When Mandi took this picture, she said this was so uncultural because men don't touch their wives in public, so it was so great to see them follow Chris and put their arms around their wives! In poor communities such as this, a man is chosen to be pastor if he is good at speaking and respected in the community. Many times, they don't even own a Bible. They have such a desire to hear and learn Gods word.

Sunday evening we had Pizza and Praise nite at the Guzzaldos with all of the team. Jim made pizza in his new oven for the first time....the one he made in his backyard out of a termite hill, cow dung, dirt, and brick! The pizza was fabulous and so was the praise.

Journal- Day 4 in Soroti

2011-11-26T04:29:00.000-08:00

The mornings were beautiful in Uganda...sunny and cool where you sometimes even needed a sweatshirt..sounds of animals and people moving around...we even started sleeping through the 6am rooster call. We were greeted by the smiles of Avalien, Moses, and Zulea who were always out in the yard playing away..waiting for Chloe to join them.

This morning we spent time with the Guzzaldo family. Margaret and I and Elliot (his pic is above) went to the market to pick up some things she needed for lunch and Chris joined Jim on his first business training. Jim went through material he had put together about 'Kingdom Business' with a Ugandan man who is getting started in a photography business. Chris really enjoyed this and wouldn't you know that the first Bible passage Jim went through was Daniel 6. God must know we really need to be knocked in the head before we know its from HIM, and we will pay attention, because this wasn't the last time Daniel 6 came up. Chris and Jim also took a drive to the Gemmens hardware store of Soroti (pictured above) The Guzzoldo family was so sweet and we had a great time sharing with them over a delicious lunch of homemade tomato soup, grilled cheese and fruit salad.

After lunch, Becky picked us up for a Soroti hospitol tour. I couldn't take pictures there, but it will be forever engrained in my head. Open aired rooms lined with beds. The floors were cement, dirty and it smelled of urine. I don't think I can give a clear picture of it with words. It was really sad. A couple weeks later I walked into Spectrum Downtown to see my new nephew and the contrast of the hospitols is unbelievable. We were told by becky that the pregnant women need to take with them; gloves for the doctor, their own stitches, and someone to cook for them while they are there (which happens in a grassy area outside the rooms) and also a piece of black plastic to lay on the table where they give birth without pain meds. When the baby is born you move you and the plastic, so the next lady can hop up and deliver.

After the hospitol, we drove to Kamuda, where Becky assists in leading a weekly Saturday Bible Study. It is a mixture of girls and boys...ages 13- 30 along with little children scattered all over, which doesn't bother them one bit. On the way there, we came upon some girls who were on their way (we picked them up)...some of them who attend this bible study walk for miles to get there. Their music was incredible and moving. They truly praise God with all they have. The topic that day was on idolatry. If there is a guest, they like to hear some words from them, so Chris was able to share a little from his heart. He also shared what a great blessing and encouragement they were to us. The bible study lasted between 3 and 4 hours and they soaked every bit in.

We finished the day with dinner at Soroti Hotel. It was great getting to know Becky more...she is an incredible woman. The day left us so very encouraged.....seeing a group of young people with such a desire to hear God's word and praise HIM!

Becky and Betty

Thankful- Day 3 in Soroti

2011-11-24T08:47:00.000-08:00

As we awoke and got ready for worship this morning, we couldn't help but think about the team in Soroti celebrating...the two turkeys they would be eating that we last saw running around the Teisengas yard ....Mandys pumpkin pies made from scratch...and the many reasons they have to celebrate and be Thankful. Today we give thanks for them and the many ways God is using them to reach the people of Uganda with HIS word and HIS love!

Day 3 in Soroti God answered prayers and allowed us to see HIM at work in the heart of a woman named Angelina. Angelina became blind at the age of 5 from chicken pox, but that didn't stop her; she has a HOPE that she is not afraid to share. We found her that day sitting on the ground in a small square room with 3 of her friends who are also blind. She began sharing her heart for the blind people of Soroti. Being blind in Soroti used to mean a life of begging on the streets. Angelina began reaching out to the blind in the community and mentoring them in how to live and survive being blind. While we visited with her, she read to us from the book of 1 Corinthians out of her braille Bible. I loved this woman, her spirit, her faith, her determination, and her love for others. She was such an encouragement to me and meeting her is definitely one of the things that stands out from our trip.

Josh Shaarda then drove us out to see the orange grove that the blind had planted all themselves with direction from Team Beyond. This grove now supports Charles and his family. Angelina encouraged Charles while we were there. She said to me on the drive back "their children need some new clothes...did you see them?" I thought, Yes...but how did she see them? She told me how the last time she visited, she brought Charles' wife some of her clothes because she needed something to wear.

We enjoyed lunch with the Shaardas. We really had a wonderful time with them and their kids. There is a picture above of Chloe and Lydia reading at their home and a pic of how you get to use your creative brain in Africa.....when you can't buy weights, you make them!

We spent our evening with the Tiesinga family...having dinner, touring their neighborhood, and since it was a power out night we got to talk together with candle light. It was great seeing them again and seeing how well their family is doing and adjusting to life in Uganda. They have been there about 8 weeks now and have children close in age to ours...so it has been very helpful talking with them!

It was this night that God gave us Daniel 6. Daniel and the Lions Den...a story we all know, right? Well, it came alive to us in a whole new way. We were both wrestling with God..knowing He'd led us to this place...but both of us battling so many fears. Daniel was surrounded by hungry lions and yet God provided safety for him. He reminded us through this verse that He is sovereighn over all in our lives..right down to the number of our days. The hard thing in Africa...is I don't feel in control of my safety, I have to trust HIM more. In the states, it is much easier to 'feel safe' because the doctor is a call or drive away, there are no cobra snakes, I'm not responsible for my childrens education, and the list goes on. But in reality, in the states, Cancer still happens, Auto accidents happen, Break ins....etc. Chris said to me, what was it that Daniel was doing when he was thrown into the den of lions? He was in PRAYER and he did it 3 times a day. We realized it doesn't matter where we are, but who we trust. Bad things happen everyday, everywhere, but do we trust HIM enough to know whatever comes our way....He is in control....even if someday we end up in a den surrounded by hungry lions? (or cobras)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Journal- Day 2 in Soroti

2011-11-23T03:08:00.001-08:00

Our second day in Soroti began with a visit to Amecet. A dutch woman named Els runs the home. Their goal is to take in sick children, nurse them back to health, and then place them back with their families. This is not always possible when 1 in 14 women die during childbirth. At the time we visited, there were 4-5 children available for adoption. Anyone who has visited a place like this knows how your heart breaks for these children. How you wish you could take them all home and give them the love they so need and desire. Little babies lying in their cribs craving someone to speak words of love to them.

After Amecet, we went to Arapai Market. People everywhere..selling what they can so they can buy what they need to survive. So different than where I live, where we work to have excess things, vacations, bigger and better. These people are working to survive, to feed their children, pay rent for their mud floor homes, and to pay school fees so their child can go to school and maybe have a chance of a better life. We were a sight in the market...alot of stares, curious people, and white skin means money. We wanted to run, like Jonah. We wanted to pretend we never heard His clear call to go. Can we just go back to the 'easy' life we have back home? Where is God in this place? This was how BOTH of us felt our second day in Uganda.

After lunch the team met at the Sleidrects home for a team meeting. The team shared praises, hopes, and struggles. It was evident, that they need each other, they lean on each other, and are vulnerable with each other as they strive together to be lights in this place. Meeting with them was a great encouragement to us.

In the evening we walked through Nakatunya, the neighborhood where Tim and Angie live. We visited some of the homes of their neighbors. There were so many needs right outside thier gate, that prayer and discernment was needed for each one because you can't help everyone. You could tell this was a struggle for them. Children are neglected, even by the Christians in this area, because their lack of a Biblical World View. Many churches are led by pastors without a Bible!

A 13 year old girl. We'll call her K. She was living with her aunt, I believe it was because both of her parents were deceased. However, in Uganda, if an extended family member takes you in, you are not treated as their child, but rather like a slave. K did much of the cooking, but could not eat with them. She could eat if there was anything left. Another neighbor girl slept outside their gate one night because she was chased from the home she lived at. I prayed many times that God would give me a love for the people of Uganda. That He would break my heart with what breaks His, and that He would show me HE is present in this place that all I could see was Hurt, Poverty, and Darkness.

Journal- Day 1 in Soroti

2011-11-22T09:29:00.000-08:00

We are home, landed in Chicago Saturday afternoon! Our bodies are still adjusting to the time change, but we're getting there. We are beginning to process all we experienced to last couple weeks. We have been given a debriefing packet that has helped a lot! So, I am going to write about each of our days in Uganda... I think it will help me remember and process...as it all feels like a blur right now!

First of all, 2 days after arriving home, we received an email that the couple who bought our home contingent on the sale of thier home...SOLD theirs and their buyer would like to close before the end of the year. All I have to say is God's timing is incredible and I am still in a state of shock about it......no tears yet, though sure to come. This morning we got the call that my sister had a little baby boy Kendall! I just got back from seeing him! So amazing...such a miracle! He is beautiful. I couldn't help but think about the contrast of the hospital here to the one in Soroti. Two totally different worlds.

DAY 1

We awoke to the rooster, whom I think we wrote about our fondness of previously! Chloe loved the Sliedrects yard, they had bunnies, chickens, and a rooster running around. It is a large yard with lots of room for the kids to run and for the neighborhood kids to join them. We took a walk into Soroti town. It was busy with people as is everywhere in Africa. That is the biggest change in coming home, is that you see no one outside....in Africa people use their homes for sleeping mostly..so everyone is outside. We toured the market in town where you can find lots of fresh produce. The woman in the pic above is blowing the rice to remove the shells on the rice. (there is another name for it?) We ate at Landmark Restaurant and had an 'American Meal' of chicken, fish, and fries. After this, we visited the Hindu Mosque and a Muslim Cemetery. It seems so silly to us that they would worship dolls as you see in the pictures above. And how incredibly sad that they have not heard the truth...or their eyes have not been opened to see the lies they believe. A field full of tombstones of adults and children that are not in heaven. I think day one was overwhelming to Chris and I. I know I was in a state of culture shock and not even sure of how I was feeling. The faces of so many little children, some with eyes glazed over from lack of stimulation......I wondered; which ones were hungry, which ones had no home, which ones were subject to abuse.....I wish it was easy fill all their basic needs...but the big picture was overwhelming. I found myself thinking where would you even begin to make a difference. But that was the problem and I needed to realize its not me that would make a difference. In fact, God doesn't even need me. God does care about each one, and if God sends our family to Uganda to share Christ with only one...that is enough of a reason in His eyes. We don't need to change the world, God IS the one who can change their world and give them true HOPE. I am just a tool. It just took a while for this to sink in for me!

Quick Update!

2011-11-18T22:50:00.000-08:00

We are in the Amsterdam airport heading home! We wished we could have wrote more the last few days, but we were in the villages and camping and hiking so there was no internet. We left last nite at 11:30 and had an 8 hr. flight that we all slept the whole time! It was great! We leave here again at 12:40....

Our last few days we spend traveling to the village of Obalanga with Becky which in in the middle of bush down roads like you've never seen before. We were blessed to hear the testimonies of several former LRA soldiers. We also spent 2 days traveling and seeing the beauty of Uganda and the cities of Mbale, Jinja, and Kampala.....I am running out of battery...but promise to post lots of pics when we arrive home!

The prayers of our dear prayer warriers...I can't begin to to tell you how much we felt them....with peace, saftey, health, ......Thank you !

Much Love,
Chris, MIchelle, and Chloe

It was pretty hard leaving 80's and getting into Amsterdam where its 35!!!! Yikes...we are all still in flip flops!

Monday in Uganda

2011-11-14T11:45:00.000-08:00

Monday morning we began our day at 5am. We drove to Soroti Rock with many of the team and climbed the rock with little light. I tried not to think about the snakes...even though Tim assured us they were probably not up there! We all made it and the view was amazing. We were able to watch the sun rise over Soroti and the town wake up. We did some devotions up there and were reminded of God watching over us...and the city below. I wish I could post some pictures, but for some reason it won't post them right now?

After this we went with Tim to visit Nakatunya Primary School. Ninety children crammed in a classroom with one teacher and a blackboard. The teachers teach the curriculum and most of the children don't even understand. They will pass with about 25% correct on an exam or less. Our friend Betty that we met was tutored by a member of the team and in grade 4 she didn't even know the alphabet yet and couldn't read 3 letter words....somehow she passed. After this, we were able to visit another school supported by ywam and it was a little better...

We enjoyed dinner tonite with Bobby and Rachael Kolb and their two sons Levi and Nico. It was great. Before dinner we were able to walk around the town of Soroti with Bobby. Earlier Chris had met a neighbor who is the Ugandan Scrabble Champian I am not kidding, he travels all over Uganda!!,. We found him in town playing a scrabble tournament with a bunch of men. It was quite a sight....2 little tables set up in an alley with 8 men sitting around playing scrabble.....and we would never beat them! They used English words..but I think they had the scrabble dictionary memorized and they referred to it often!

I wish I could post more pictures....hopefully tomorrow? Thank you for the prayers...Chloe is feeling much better today!

Sunday in Uganda

2011-11-13T08:30:00.000-08:00

Sunday we went with the Shaardas to Church in Obule. The church was in a large thatch roof hut with a dirt floor and wooden benches for seating. Children were all over.It was an amazing seirvice with alot of praise. They sure do know how to worship God in music and dance! The sermon was all translated in English. Because we were their guests, they had us stay after for lunch. This was our first time eating authentic Ugandan food. It was pretty good, except for something they called Atop...that was gooey like dough...and felt like it was mixed with sand..it literally crunched in your teeth. While we were eathing we were blessed to hear the testimony of the leaders in the church. Josh Shaarda had taught these men through the Timothy Leadership training and the impact that it had in their lives was incredible to hear. It changed their lives, their marriages, and their relationship with their children. Before they didn't know they needed to love thier wives..and they were cruel with their children and never considered them 'gifts from God'. After this, we had some coffee and icecream at the Shaardas and some time to talk. It was great.

At 4:30 we headed to the Guzzaldos for pizza and praise. Jim is a baker and he made his own earth oven in his back yard made of mud, bricks, and termite hills. This was his first time using the over...the pizza was awesome! Margaret usually plays her guitar, but we just sang with some music she had downloaded and then shared some praises and blessing from the past week. Please continue to pray for health..chloe was having a little tummy ache today. Tomorrow we leave at 5:30 am to climb Soroti Rock for the Sunrise...so she is really hoping to go. Much Love and Thanks...Chris, Michelle, and Chloe

Sorry, only 1 picture! For some reason it wouldn't let us post pics...maybe to weak of a connection?

Saturday in Uganda

2011-11-12T09:54:00.000-08:00

It is 9pm on Sat. eve as I write this. We just returned home from a busy day! The day began with Chris and I getting picked up by the Guzzaldos. Chloe slept Over at the Teisenga house with Ashley last night. We had dinner with them and walked through their neighborhood. Anyway, Jim picked us up and we headed to thier house where Chris sat in with Jim and a Ugandan man named Jacob while they worked through a business as missions class. Margaret, her son Elliot and I headed to the market together to pick up some things. After this, Chloe joined us and we all enjoyed lunch outside under the mango tree. We shared our faith stories with eachother and talked about the day.

After Lunch we were picked up by Becky (chris and I) along with Betty and Obela and headed for a tour of the Soroti hospitol. Extremely sad conditions....we were able to pray with some of them and after we started almost all of them in the room wanted prayer. One little girl in particuar stood out...her arms were bone thin and her stomach was so huge...she was unable to urinate or have a bowl movement...Becky didn't know if she would make it. If you go to the hospitol, you need to take all your supplies with you...meds..stitches...needle..etc. You also need to have someone accompany you to cook for you there.

The next stop with Becky, Betty, and Obela was to a village town where she helps lead a Bible Study. It was a 3 and a half hour bible study...with a range of ages...even chidren would come and sit. It was a service of amazing praise and a sermon about idols. They were very excited to have us as guests and wanted a word from us...so Chris shared a little about the idols he has struggled with and how we were encouraged by them. At the end the brought us bottles of pop and crackers. Here we sit with this food and drink in front of a group of little children who probably never had pop in their life....we shared our treat with all of them.

We have done so much...Its hard to know what to write about. Betty, who accompanied us much of the day today is 13. Her mother married another man who did not like her, so she was forced to move in with her grandmother. Her grandmother makes all her money by begging. She came with us for dinner at the end of the evening at the Soroti Hotel. After stealing a look at the bill that came ....Becky said.."I know Betty, it is 2 months of your rent" Betty replied with "I know, God will provide" Alot of the time here, we feel like we are the ones learning from them.

We also visited an orphanage called Amachet, where sick children go to get healthy and hopefully are placed back with their families. However, because 1 in 14 women die in child birth here...some of the sick children are in need of families. There were about 4 children in need of homes when we visited. It is exciting to hear about some of the Ugandan families in the area who are taking in children and loving them as their own. So often when a child is left with an aunt/uncle they are the ones to do the cooking, dishes.....etc. and may not get fed with the others. This is the case of another little girl we have met in the Sleidrects neighborhood.

HUGE Cobra SNAKE on the road. We should have run it over...I think we all screamed. That was not so exciting to see.

We also visited a group of blind Ugndans that Team Beyond has assisted with. Angelina was an older woman, who went blind at the age of 5 from Chicken Pox. She started speaking and you would not believe the wisdom that poured from her mouth! She taught herself to read Braille and has the whole Bible in Braille. She read from Corinthians for us. She and the others there go out to teach other blind how to cope and live as a blind person in Uganda. Before this, the blind were always on the streets begging. They were taught by a group from America how to knit and they have knitted a bunch of purses etc. We are hoping to purchase these from them to sell them in the states.

We have felt covered in prayer here...Chloe is doing amazing and we are all healthy...no one has gotton sick from the water or food. Continue to pray for safety, health, and that God would make HIS plan clear to us as it is all a bit overwhelming right now.

Sending Hugs and kisses to you Christian, Trayton, and Kidist!! We hope you are having a great day with Becca today!

Day 1 in Soroti

2011-11-09T21:57:00.000-08:00

Sorry we have been so slow to post...we have typed this twice and right when we are about done we lost power! So here it is from last nite!

Where to start...our minds are so full of all we have seen already. Tuesday we drove 6-7 hours from Kampala to Soroti. The city of Kampala reminded us of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia....crazy. People everywhere and no rules of the street. They also drive on te opposite site of the street than we do and the driver is on the right side of the car....alot of silent prayers said while driving!

We took the back way in because it was less busy and we were able to see the countryside. It is just nearing the end of rainy season here, so it is so green and lush....with beautiful fields of corn and sunflowers...and surrounded by extreme poverty, that I don't think you can quite comprehend unless you see with your own eyes. A woman missing an arm holding a child with no clothes..begging, young children all over alongside the road carrying water jugs to collect water for their families, a child 6 years old caring for their baby sister with no mother in sight, Straw huts with dirt floors everywhere. It has been alot to take in and can be overwhelming at times.

We arrived at the Sliedrects around 9pm and were greeted by Angie and her kids and the Teisenga family and they served us a warm yummy meal. Our guesthouse is attached to the Sliedrect home. They have a large green yard that the kids love playing in...with bunnies and a rooster strolling around. Their yard is surrounded by a high wall. It is kind of like a haven inside, where just outside the door there are peope living in extreme poverty. We get lots of stares, but if you smile, they usually smile back. They are just curious. They have some very nice neighbors that we have gotton to know and Chloe has played with their children when they come in the Sliedrects yard.

Our first day we visited the town...which is smaller than Kampala. and also an outdoor market in town, where there is alot of produce...and very fresh meat...I will try to send a picture. We also went to a Hindu Temple which was very sad to see the dolls they worship as Gods. They dress and bathe them everyday. The Hindus in the area are all from India and own some of the stores in town. In the evening we had a hotdog roast and potluck here with everyone from the team which was alot of fun. After this Angie and I left to go to the womens Bible study..they meet everyweek. It was by lantern because there was no power.

Last nite was a rough nite sleeping with no power, so no fans and lots of noises that we aren't used to, including the roosters 6am wake up call. (I think we need to lock him in the garage tonite!) This morning we headed to a large outdoor market. It was packed with people and made Chris a little nervous. Tim and Becky who came with were right at ease. After this there was a team meeting with everyone that they do weekly to talk about how everyone is doing...feeling...struggles...praises..etc. and it helped us get to know everyone a little better. Tonite we walked around their neighborhood and met more of the neighbors...we had a crowd of children following us along. One little girl was so sweet..kept wanting to hold someones hand as we walked. ALOT of the time the children here are neglected, left on their own, and go where ever they want. It is really hard to see and really hard to process. We have daily debriefings written up from Tim to help us through this. I am going to post this so I don't lost it this time and hopefully sent another post right after with some pictures!

2011-11-09T05:47:00.000-08:00

The Nile River was beautiful! Here are some pics of homes in Uganda and Chloe and Avalien on a Boda Boda that we all took back to the sliedrects home. These men do this all day long everyday in very hot conditions.

Kampala

2011-11-07T23:32:00.001-08:00

Good morning! We made it safely to Uganda! It was a long flight and we had trouble sleeping..., but everything went so smoothly..Chloe had a couple spills..one cup of pop and another of apple juice all over us...she was able to laugh the second time, even though she was a little wet! She did amazing with all the traveling! We were greeted by Steve Teisenga and Tim Sliedrects smiling faces! We all drove to a guest house in Kampala. WE got to sleep for our first time under mosquito nets; Chris said it felt like being in a big play pen. Chloe and I just got done eating breakfast..scrambled eggs and plantains which are like a fried banana...it was great. We slept great last night and are waiting for the 3 boys to get back. They left about 8:30 to get their vehicles which were getting fixed. We are excited to get on the road and see Uganda! It was dark (11:00pm) when we left the airport, so it was hard to see anything. It is a beautiful warm day today. We are going to try to update as much as possible. Thank you for the prayers...we have felt so covered. It was such a blessing sunday the be sent off in prayer by our church family at Hillcrest and our friends and family. We have felt such peace and know it is the prayers said on our behalf. Love and Hugs to CHristian, Trayton, and Kidist!! Kidist, we ate mcdonalds in Amsterdam...the same place you had your first french fries!

Love, Chris, Michelle, and Chloe

All packed!

2011-11-05T20:04:00.000-07:00

I have sooo many things I would love to write about and share that my head is swimming... However, I am also exhausted and it may not make much sense if I try now! So, I will hopefully write more tomorrow. We will be driving to Chicago tomorrow and our flight leaves at 4:45 pm. We then fly 8 hrs. to Amsterdam ....2 hr. layover and then take off for our next 9hr. flight to Uganda!!
Please Pray for safe travels tomorrow and no delays on the way to Chicago!

Love, michelle

Heading to Uganda!

2011-09-21T04:12:00.000-07:00

The flights are booked for our vision trip! We will be leaving on November 6 and staying 2 weeks in UGANDA. Our daughter Chloe is coming with us! We are super excited for her because it is her 'dream' to go to Africa to help orphans. In fact if you ask her what she wants to be, its a missionary. We are not sure of what her expectations are, so we thought it would be good to see the reality of what it is like there and she would be the one to have the hardest time here with us gone. She may be staying with other members of the team and their children during some of the time that Chris and I are doing things. Our other kids are fine with her going.....reason being they don't have to get shots yet! Chloe will be getting her 6 shots this monday and she does NOT like shots(thats an understatement!) ...so pray for strength for her!

HOUSE.......Chris stuck the sign out a Saturday in JUNE 'to test the waters' and it sold in 4 days.....for higher than our asking price. A super sweet couple with 3 children; they have till Dec. to sell their home, which we are ok with because we aren't in a hurry to move yet! God is Good.

Encouragement has come at just when I have needed it. There are times when I wonder if we are crazy...which I am sure some of you think we are! But it is in these times of doubt that I have prayed for God to sent encouragement and confirmation and He is faithful; in His word and through the encouragement of others. I was reminded of Noah....seriously think how crazy people must have thought he was; a hundred years to build an ark? He kept on moving forward in faith....despite the doubts...despite the criticism....despite exhaustion.....persevering... and in the end He experienced the true blessing of following. We have the same God helping us follow Him today that Noah had then! We can do HARD things...just not in our own strength. In HIS strength I CAN go to a foreign land, sell my home, home school my kids, leave precious family and dear friends, live simply, have extra love for the lost, orphan, poor in Uganda.

PRAY please that God will confirm to Chris and I both during this trip to Uganda that this is where we are supposed to be and for a peace about it that is Undeniably from HIM. Thank you to our dear prayer warriors out there......We have seen God work through YOU!

Much Love, Michelle

Carepage

2011-09-12T18:54:00.000-07:00

Once again, it has been along time since I have posted on this blog! Life with 4 children is busy and some things have to go! I am posting my last post from my carepage just in case there is someone who may still be checking this blog from adoption days. We are excited to share this crazy marathon God has us on with you. We covet your prayers as we take one step at a time moving forward....knowing this is NOT at all about us and TOTALLY ALL about HIM, and we give HIM the glory!!

The Race

Posted Aug 26, 2011 12:17am

Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

(This is our wedding verse almost 13 years ago.)

It has been a long time since I have wrote anything on here! I think today will be the last and it may be a long one! Yesterday I was able to spend time with my friend Ellen. We went to the Lemmon Holten Cancer Pavilion to take part in the Breast Cancer Survivor Art Prize Project. It will be displayed in the lobby of the building. We got to use our crafty skills to make a transparent figure that signified something of our cancer journey. It was great to spend time reflecting over the last year and chatting with Ellen and her friend Becky. We are all in the same race heading toward the same goal, but each of us have different hurdles, different things thrown at us. My friend Ellen is running her race while she fights cancer-that is her hurdle. This doesn't define who she is though and she would tell you that. She is an amazing mother, wife, friend and has a great laugh and she running her race with her eyes on Christ and there are many witnesses that can testify to that! Join me in praying for this dear sister as she continues to fight the battle. Our family will be joining the VanOss-ome Team at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in a month and would love it if you could join us and support Jack and Ellen, Seth and Emarie
Copy and Paste the below and it will take you to her page to sign up.

http://westmichigan.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/GRR_WestMichiganAffiliate?
px=9110974&pg=personal&fr_id=2147

I know I have thanked all our prayer warriors out there, but I thank you again for lifting our family and my health to our heavenly Father. It has been humbling to have people approach me to tell me they are STILL praying for us! I have also had many asking how I am doing because I haven't posted for so long. I am doing very well. I take tomoxifan for 4 more years and the only side effect has been that I'm a little achy. I still have hot flashes, but they have gotten much better with a drug Dr. Barb Depree put me on. (anyone going through menopause needs to see her!) So if I'm still wearing sleeveless when the snow flies, you know why! I still see a doctor...either Dr. Pettinga or my Oncologist Dr. O'Rourke every three months as precaution. There is always a little anxiety going and wondering if they are going to find anything. I have learned to try to live in the day and not look so far ahead because we don't know what tomorrow even holds! I still remember the day I received the call about having breast cancer; my day was planned out and I was about to head to HCS for lunch with Chloe. Just before I was about to leave the phone rang and it was the call that changed our family's life and plans for the next several months. We don't know what call will come tomorrow. As Matthew 6:34 says Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Our wedding verse that I shared about has been popping up all over lately. I love it because it so describes the life Chris and I have had together; A RACE where we have needed to keep our eyes on Him or we would have given up long ago. A RACE that has been full of obstacles. A first anniversary spent burying our first son Trayton David, starting a business with nothing in the bank, dealing with depression, Adoption, Cancer. These obstacles we can now consider blessings that God used to refine us into who he wanted us to be. They have caused us to trust Him more and to hold onto this life and things here much more loosely; to truly realize life is a VAPOR here and that treasures or material things here on this earth really don't matter, its the treasures in heaven that we should be storing up; to realize a life of faith is much more exciting than a life of comfort and to grasp the sovereignty of God and that as Psalm 115:3 says; God has a right to do whatever He pleases and from Isaiah 55:9; that His ways and thoughts are infinitely higher than ours. Scripture IS going to say things that don't agree with our natural way of thinking and things in our lives ARE going to happen that totally make NO sense to us.

I think every ones race is like a cross country one. Lots of ups and downs and twists and turns, rough spots, smooth spots, running in the sun and running in the rain. Sound Familiar? I am thankful for my fellow runners and that we can cheer each other on; the ones who are also running with their eyes on the goal. It’s the times that I take my eyes off the goal that I stumble and fall..sometimes flat on my face. That is why we need to fill up with the water of life so that when those hard times come and THEY WILL we can persevere! When we fill up with Him (God's word and prayer) He is able to guide us. We may all be on a cross country race and heading toward the same goal, but we all have different courses...different life experiences...different gifts...and different places God wants to use us.

God has brought our family to a fork in the road. One way would be comfortable and keep everyone happy and the other way that we feel Him leading us would be one of faith, uncertainty, loss of comfort, and even make some people upset.
Nineteen months ago in Ethiopia we were changed. The verses from Matthew 25:34-46 came alive to us in a whole new way.

"Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you game me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Then He will say to those on His left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.
' They also will answer, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you? He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did NOT do for the least of these, you did not do for me.

Yikes! Our race brought us face to face with countless children in Africa living in desperate poverty. One of these faces was our daughter. The others are still there waiting for someone to offer them food, clothes, a drink of clean water, Love, and HOPE. In America we do not know what poor is. If we have running water, shelter over our heads, clothes to wear, food to eat, and some means of transportation (even if its public transportation) then we are in the top 15 percent of the world's people for wealth! TODAY, more than 26,000 children will breathe their last breath due to starvation or preventable disease. TODAY, more than a billion people in the world live and die in desperate poverty. They attempt to survive on less than a dollar per day. Close to two billion others live on less than two dollars per day. That's nearly half the world struggling today to find food, water, and shelter with the same amount of money I can grab my gas station coffee for. Many of these are our spiritual brothers and sisters in developing nations. We have seen them, hugged them, laughed with them, prayed for them and now here we are at the fork in the road....we know what way we need to turn and God has make it so very clear...so here we go step by step down a road that is sure to have pot holes and probably BIG ditches, but God has shown Himself faithful in our lives thus far and we know He will continue to be! We are excited to share this journey with you and give God all the Glory in getting us to this place in our lives. We will be taking a Vision trip in November to Soroti, Uganda to meet the 'team' that is currently out there and to confirm that this is indeed where God is calling our family. We greatly desire your prayers as we move forward and would love Love love you to follow our journey on our family blog. The many encouraging posts so many of you left helped get us through this past year and brought many smiles and tears. We won't be posting on here anymore. Our blog is fisherfamilystory.blogspot.com This is the same blog we used to share our adoption journey a couple years ago. Did I not say this would be long! I wonder how many got to the end and I am not sure how many are even checking this carepage anymore, but it was probably good for my own mind to get this all out!!! I feel lighter already!

So glad to be running this race with you,
Michelle

2011-07-18T01:36:00.001-07:00

2011-07-11T06:10:00.001-07:00

The year 2010

2010-12-30T19:10:00.000-08:00

What a year it was! I know some of you are going to be amazed that I finally posted on this blog! I think 2010 was the fastest year of my life with alot of it being a blur! We began the year with traveling to Ethiopia to bring home Kidist. I think this was the highlight of the year and we are forever changed because of this trip. God opened our eyes to a whole other world of need and showed us that He is at work there. We are eager and willing to follow where ever God may lead to help these starving people (starving for HIM and for HOPE)

Kidist came home with us the last week of January. This past week we thought about all the things that have been 'new' for her! A home, family and extended family, language..now fluent English, food, church, sunday school, pre-school, underwear (yes..they didn't wear underwear at the orphanage) brushing her teeth, toys, clothes in a closet, sitting in a car seat with a seatbelt (no seatbelts in Ethiopia!), a toilet that flushes, sitting by the table to eat, Chauncey (our dog) ...I will never forget the scream when she was greeted at the door by Chauncey! She has been an incredible Joy and Blessing to our family! She has the best laugh and is almost always happy! She is a trooper too....

After being home for 4 months, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was the week before school got out for the summer. After finding the lump, I was tested for the breast cancer genes which came out the be positive for the BRCA2. With this gene you have up to an 85% chance of getting breast cancer....so surgery needed to be a double mastectomy. This happened on June 17. With Gods grace and support from so many we made it through the next 2 months. Our kids spent the first couple weeks of summer with family and friends. November 3 I had laproscopic surgery to take my ovaries out because of the high risk of ovarian cancer with the BRCA2 gene. Then, on December 10 we were able to celebrate my last reconstruction surgery! I am cancer free!

This year, 2010 has been a year that we have felt Gods presence in a way like never before! He walked right by our side and we felt it. We were covered in prayer by so many and we felt it! We were blessed by the support and love of so many and we have been blessed in being able to truly see each day as a gift.

The Waiting Room by Johnny Diaz

chorus: You have a much better purpose
You have a far greater plan
You have a bigger perspective cause you hold this world in your hands

It is my prayer for 2010 that whatever comes our way, we will know it has passed through HIS hands first and that we can trust HIS perfect plan!

SpRiNg!!!!!!

2010-04-10T19:10:00.000-07:00

I often wonder why we live in Michigan when half the year is SOOOO cold and then....there is Spring and I wonder what would it be like without it!!! What an awesome time of year...with the birds chirping in the morning, flowers, rain, fresh air!!! Truly a blessing! And the kids get this extra burst of energy! We went against the flow this spring break and headed North instead of south! Traverse City, Michigan....Spring Break....82 Degrees......beach...bathing suits.....This is one for the record books!! Enjoy the pictures!

Reflection

2010-02-23T19:10:00.000-08:00

It has already been 3 and a half weeks that we have been home with Kidest. I think Chris and I are just finally finding time to talk through and really refect on our time in Ethiopia. I think the question I am struggling with right now is what do I do with what I know now? I used to know of the millions of orphans in Africa, because I have read alot of books on the subject. I know alot of staggering, sad statistics of these children. Now I have seen them, touched them and hugged them. They have faces, faces that I can't get out of my head. Eyes of hope and smiles that you can't believe. They find Joy in the simple. We keep trying to find it........in places we won't. Oh, in so many ways they seem to have it right, where we seem to have it wrong. So what do you do when you know there is a 17 year old, that you have hugged...who is now out of a job because she needed to travel to the city in order to appear in court for the adoption of her daughter. What about all the children, hungry, sick, and just needing love. What about the verse from Matthew 25 where the righteous ask Jesus " When did we see you hungry and feed you , or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' Verse 40: The King will reply, ' I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the lease of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' This verse then goes to Jesus speaking to those on His left and says that when He was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat..........and then at the end they ask ;Lord when did we see you hungry or thirsy or needing clothes or sick or in prison (orphanage) or needing clothes or sick or in prison and did not help you? He will reply; 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did NOT do for one of the leaset of these, you did NOT do for me.'
What does this look like? Is it different for everyone? If we deny ourselves and live fully for Him....I don't think we would be quite as comfortable as we are now. Anyway, these are the struggles going on in my head right now.

Kidest is doing great! She continues to be full of joy, smiles,a little sass and energy! All of the kids are starting to adjust to having her around...not as whiny as the last few weeks. Each week gets a little easier. Things like making it to the grocery store AND getting all the groceries is a big accomplishment! The first time we got 2 things on the list and had to get out of there due the the fact she wanted to eat everything and didn't understand why she couldn't! Everything is a first!

Sarah in Ethiopia

2010-02-14T10:00:00.001-08:00

Sarah Zuidema, a social worker at Bethany Christian Services is in Ethiopia right now. She is an awesome writer ( and hilarious). Her posts are very descriptive of Ethiopia, so you really get a feel for how it is there. She also is at alot of the places we visited. There are some children she also talks about who desperately need a home. Maybe someone who reads this will feel called to make them part of their family. Check it out!! You can find her blog, by going to my blog list on the side of my blog and click on Sarah Zuidema.

Pictures at Home!

2010-02-09T19:18:00.000-08:00

2010-02-09T19:15:00.000-08:00

2010-02-09T19:12:00.000-08:00

JOY

2010-02-08T19:13:00.000-08:00

Really, Joy is what Kidest has brought to our household. Joy amidst the juggling of 4 children now...all of whom are also adjusting....and amidst the atempts of trying to figure out what an Amharic speaking 4 year old needs, and in keeping up with her (literally) as she discovers new things every day! No, it has not been easy by any means, but those moments of joy make you forget all the difficult ones. I am really not kidding about her being busy, which is why I have not posted anymore pics on here....hopefully later this week....An example, the kids were all home from school and I was helping Chloe with her homework. Kidest was in her bedroom dressing a stuffed cat. Only a couple minutes later Chloe walk in her room and says Kidest isn't there. Well, she likes to hide sometimes and scare us...so this is what we figured she was doing. We couldn't find her.... and then there is a knock on the front door and there she is with her face against the window, grinning big as ever. We let her in and she is laughing..ha ha and she points to the basement. Sure enough, she had unlocked the doors, deadbolt and all and went in her socks around the whole house to the front door! I was glad she came to the front door and didn't visit any of the neighbors. In Ethiopia, she was a runner...give her little space and she would run...usually the other way from us, laughing as she went thinking it was hilarious. Could be something to do with the big gate she was locked behind for 7 months at the orphanage? Needless to say, we called my father in law who owns a lock company and said we need some kind of childproof locks or something!! I need an extra set of eyes on her. Anyway, pictures will come, hopefully soon...we are just busy doing life right now!!

Bathtime

2010-01-31T18:05:00.001-08:00

Kidest loves baths. She had one this morning with Trayton and then early evening with Chloe. That must not have been enough, because tonite when Christian was showering she jumped in there with her jammies on and sat down. Christian being a nine year old boy and shes a "girl" is wrapped up in the shower curtain yelling for me! It was quite funny. We have had our share of laughter and tears from everyone this weekend. It is an adjustment for everyone and will just take time and prayer. Kidest is really doing great. She loves to play and have fun. Not one fight between her and our bio kids...not even TJ which is amazing. They have gotton along great. Fighting between our bio kids....thats another story! Kidest is sleeping in her own bed for the first time tonite! Yeah! Chloe was happy, they share a room and she has wanted to be in her twin bed with her until tonite. Since Kidest is a loud snorer, Chloe has ended up in our bed the last few nites! Now I am going to bed, I will try to post more pics of our fam tomorrow.

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friends

2010-01-29T03:50:00.000-08:00

We are home!

2010-01-29T03:41:00.000-08:00

We made it home in the US! We finally arrived at 11:45 on Wed. eve..nine hours later than we thought because our first flight out of ethiopia was 2 hours late and caused us to miss every connecting flight! But Kidest did great and we felt so covered in prayer! We were greeted by so many friends and famlily! Thank you so much, what a blessing it was after such a long trip! The awesome signs and hugs were so great! Kidest is doing great and we are taking each day one at a time! The kids love her! Trayton wanted her to nap by him and said he loves her, Christian said he is so glad we adopted , and Chloe is little mother....carrying her everywhere, she is not lacking any love and just eating it up! Doctor appt. yesterday ....ear infection and bladder infection, what a tough girl! We have blood work this morning. She spit the medicine al over last nite, we are going to try agian this morning, pray she takes it. More updates to come later

missing connections

2010-01-27T02:29:00.001-08:00

Hello from Amsterdam! After waiting for 9 hours in the Addis Ababa airport our flight finally left. We have missed our original flight home. We will be leaving amsterdam and arriving in detroit around 3:30. not sure when our flight from detroit will get us home. we will call when we arrive in detroit. we will try to email this blog in detroit too. thank you for your prayers. Kidist is doing great and just had her first mcdondalds! She also experienced a little air sickness (all over Dad, oh well :). It was tough saying goodbye to the other adoptive families we were here with. Kidest got the biggest tears when she had to say good bye to her friends.

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Pure Joy

2010-01-23T10:35:00.001-08:00

Have you ever seen someone experience something for the first time? The pure joy is almost more than you can handle watching. We were fortunate to go swimming with Kidist today. Watching Kidist have an absolute riot in the bathtub -new experiece- was great, but watching this little girl's eyes get as big as saucers when she saw the kiddie pool was indescribable. She calls me Poppa and she just kept saying Poppa Poppa as she neared the edge of the pool. Pure Joy. Thank you so much for your prayers and encouraging words. We are so excited to have you meet this new sister of Christian, Chloe and TJ's. We love you so much.

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2nd day with kidist

2010-01-19T13:20:00.000-08:00

It is 11:30 pm in Ethiopia. This country is so beautiful, yet poverty is everywhere. I think I'm beginning to not be so overwhelmed by it. The family we are staying with and the Bethany staff has done an amazing job helping us experience as much of "real" Ethiopia as we can handle. Bethany staff took us to the Epiphany ceremony today. This is the Ethiopian Orthodox church celebration of the baptism of Jesus. There were hundreds of thousands of people. It was quite a site to see. I suppose we were quite a site to see as well. Kidist is officially a Fisher. She is so excited that she moves at a tiring (for us) speed. She grabs sunglasses, digs in a purse looking for gum, picks up a camera and starts taking pictures, then she makes a dash for the outside or wants to play hide and seek and then digs in my back pack then gives us hugs and laughs, hopefully you get the idea. Kidist is a treasure. I asked Birtikan (guest house lady owner and an angel herself) if many kids that she sees are like Kidist. She smiled and her eyes kind of gleamed, she paused and said Kidist is unique...and I like her VERY much. God has been so good to us here. It was Michelle's birthday today and the kids got an email thru with a picture of them holding happy birthday sign. Yes, it gave us a lot of tears, but it was so nice. Please continue to pray for us and and all the orphans (there are so many here) in the world. Cast all your cares on Him and He will sustain you. Good night.

Chris

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Gotcha Day!

2010-01-18T11:11:00.001-08:00

What a day! It is 9:30 pm right now (it is 1:30) Kidist is in our bed sound asleep and snoring! I really will not be able to explain the whole day in this email, my head is sooooo full. We met Anelym, Kidest birthmom. They taped the whole meeting to put it in our lifebook video and we were able to have a translator. The meeting......we did not expect her mother to be so emotional. She came in the room in tears. She said she was only 17 (could be older because they sometimes dont know their birthdate. She is an Orthodox Christian and was happy Kidist was in a Christ believing home. She shared how much she loved kidist and wanted a better life for her, she could not provide for her. There is much more of her story, but it is Kidist story for her someday. Meeting Kidist......she was a little reserved at first..not much smiling, but that changed soon after! She gave us hugs and loved Chris! I can't describe the moment. I think it is something that unless you go through...you can't really grasp it. Unbelievable!! She was excited to get into the car and was looking at the photo book of Christian, Chloe and Trayton and said "sisters!" I am sure she meant brothers too! Lots and Lots of children there, all wanted to touch you, hold your hand, give a hug. Andrea, got great pics and it was great you had the Bethany Disclosure or I wouldn't have been able to. He is adorable, gave him big hugs. Ok, so we get to the guesthouse and Kidest turned into a different person...no more reserved!! She was into everything and so curious...wanting to put on the shoes we brought her and the new clothes, lotion, examining everything and running everywhere!! They said she was very active and they werent' kidding! We had her giggling like crazy and Chloe she can say your name!!!! She said it while looking at your picture! We are working on Christian and Trayton! She is also quite the comedian, very funny!! We think she may be more like 5 and a half...very smart and both bottom teeth are in. We put her in her bed tonite and she had a tough time falling asleep, so I layed by her in our bed and she rubbed my face until she fell asleep. I think she is used to sleeping 2 in a bed...so Chloe I think she will be climing in with you!! Once again, so much to write, but we are exhausted and need to sleep....It is the Ethiopian Holiday "Epiphany" Tomorrow. All the ehtiopian orthodox churches carry in a procession a copy of the arc of the covenant to one central place in Addis, it is a big procession of all the people in the streets and we already saw it starting today! Wow, alot of people! We will be leaving here at 8 am to be part of it with the Bethany Staff here. Love to all our family and friends and especially our kiddos...we miss you so much..hugs and kisses and we will be be home before you know it to scoop you up. I know Kidest will want to hug you all too!! Stacey or Lisa can you get this to our parents...they have had trouble getting a connection. Chaow in Ethiopian!

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Ethiopia update

2010-01-17T08:54:00.001-08:00

It is hard to know where to begin. We have only been here one full day and have taken in so much. It also is hard to really write and give a picture of what we are seeing and feeling. The people Birtukan and Nesibu who we are staying with were described to us by friends as the hands and feet of Jesus. They were right on. This couple is the most genuine, loving, serving, spirit filled people I have ever met. We began our day with a breakfast of pancakes and bananas and mango juice at 8am. We then walked with Birtukan and her family to church. Wow It was all in Amharic, but incredible and moving. Beautiful people, filled with joy and worshiping with their whole body, soul and mind. Our walk there and back was alot to take in. I will try to download some pics later this week, it is hard to describe. We then came back and had Ethiopian lunch of injera, and what goes with it. Remember that Christian!?? It is even better here in Ethiopia! We shared tears and laughter over lunch with the kieths and Birtukan and Nesibu. Their life stories are amazing! We then hung out with their kids..they are 11, 9, 7, and 3 ., alot like our family! Christian, Chloe and Trayton, you would have fun with them! We gave them a couple of the punching balloons and they played with them all day! Oh, they also had alot of fun watching Chris videos on his laptop of our boys boxing and all of them sledding and snowboarding! They got a total kick out of it !! Then, nap time...much needed. 9am we will be meeting Kidist birthmom and from there going to meet her. I hope we can sleep tonite!! The weather here is about 70 and then it feels like 6 in the evenings..very comfortable. I could write a book already, but this will be it for now. Mom and dad hope all is well with the kids, We miss you and love you Christian, Chloe and Trayton! Praying for you every day.

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Arrival

2010-01-16T22:22:00.001-08:00

Good morning from Ethiopia! Christian, Chloe and Trayton we love you so much and we miss you! We just got done eating breakfast of pancakes and bananas, and some very strong coffee! My watch says it would be 1:24 at home in the US! We will be leaving for church soon with Birtukan and Nesibu. Thank you for prayers, we felt so covered during our flight. It went incredibly smooth and I didn't feel nautious a bit, which is an answer to prayer!! We will be meeting Kidist birthmom tomorrow and then meeting Kidist after that! We met up with the Kieths (a family from Atlanta) in Amsterdam and were able to travel the rest of the way with them. They are such wonderful couple. They are adopting two sisters ages 4 and 5, so it will be nice for our kids to play together. We feel Gods presence with us! We will update again soon! Hope Christian, Chloe and Trayton ...you all had fun at camp swampy this weekend with grandpa and grandma! We love you! Love, Mom and Dad (Chris and Michelle)

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Are we ready!!??

2010-01-12T18:20:00.000-08:00

Well, I just figured out how to post to our blog while we are in Ethiopia! I am so not techy, but thanks to Hollys step by step directions it's all set.....we just need electricity and an internet connection! Only 2 more days until we leave. We we leave at 1:40 on Friday and will arrive in Addis at 10:10pm (thier time) on Sat. I believe we will be meeting Kidest for the first time on Sunday afternoon and she will be with us the rest of the time, except for when we will be meeting Kidest birthmom. I can not even imagine what God has in store for us in the next couple of weeks, hoping to share some pictures, updates, and how God works while we are there!

Checking......

2010-01-12T18:17:00.001-08:00

seeing if this will work to post via email from ethiopia.

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Travel Call!!

2010-01-06T07:47:00.000-08:00

This morning we got the call with our travel dates!!! Our Embassy Appt. is Jan 21 and we need to be in Addis on the 17th!! We are soooooo excited! I'll post more later!

Michelle

It's Official!

2009-12-09T06:48:00.000-08:00

We passed court and k is officially our daughter today!! We are so thankful for everyones prayers! As Chris said, now it's really real! We now await the call for our travel dates to bring her home, which is generally 4-6 weeks from now. Praise God from whom all Blessings flow!!

Court Date News

2009-11-30T10:37:00.001-08:00

Not the news we were hoping to hear. Our court date on Thanksgiving Day was rescheduled for December 9. We are not sure why, only that 90% of court dates were rescheduled for Dec. because of something with MOWA. I write this in tears, because it means we will have to wait a little more to meet her. But Gods timing is perfect even though it definately wouldn't be what I would have picked. And maybe our patience needs to be developed a little more before she gets here. Prayers for our Dec. 9 court date would be so much appreciated. With love, michelle

Court Date!!!

2009-11-05T19:24:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to write that we finally have a court date! You won't believe it, but it is on Thanksgiving Day! This means we won't hear results until Monday, but what a reason to give thanks! We also just recieved an post from Mary Blacquire who is in Ethiopia right now and she just met our little girl and has pictures and video!! Such a blessing while you are in the wait! Thank you soooo much Mary!

Court Date Wait

2009-10-22T14:49:00.000-07:00

It is so hard waiting while staring multiple times daily at this little girl K who will soon be here and part of our family!! Please pray for quick court dates. I just got word that there were 3 court dates issued for families that recieved their referrals the same day as ours, the date is for Nov. 9. I don't know if that means we will be waiting now until the next one or what. Prayers for patience are greatly appreciated!! Thanks and will update as soon as we get word of the day!

And we wait

2009-09-15T19:51:00.000-07:00

The courts are closed in Ethiopia now, so we will be waiting until beginning of October to hear of our court date. Please pray we pass court first time around!!! We would love to travel to get Kidest end of November or beginning of December. Now that we have her picture and know who she is, I can not wait to get her in my arms and home with our family!

Finally!! THE BIG NEWS!!!!!

2009-08-25T20:05:00.000-07:00

Sooooooooo excited to announce that we have a little daughter!!! We recieved our referral today for an adorable 4 year old little girl, K, which means blessed or blessing (thanks marissa!) She was 4 on June 11, which is the same day her mother brought her to the orphanage. She doesn't have any siblings. It was just her and her mother and her mother couldn't afford to care for her....which brings me to tears. She is adorable and I can't wait to show you all her picture!!!!!! Thank you for all the prayers in the wait! God's timing is perfect.

Peder Eide Plug

2009-08-15T17:49:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that Peder Eide will be in concert at worship on the waterfront in GrandHaven next Sunday, August 23 at 7:30. He is a great singer and alot of fun! Our kids love him. He did our fundraiser last year in November. He also has a little guy who is adopted from Ethiopia. I think they have been home for about a year now! Just wanted to let everyone know and it is definately worth the trip out to GrandHaven.

Great Post!!

2009-08-12T20:11:00.000-07:00

I am not the mother I wanted to be

Click on the above title and it will get you to a must read
article!

Summertime Fun

2009-08-03T14:03:00.000-07:00

We could just sit around and wait for the referral (which hopefully will happen yet this summer?), but it is much more fun to be enjoying Summer and our kiddos! We have had alot of fun: Swimming, Tubing at Baptist lake (grandma and grandpa's)Cottage, Whitecaps game, Camping at the Conference Grounds, playing at the beach, Zoo, having fun with friends and even playing in the rain!~ Here's some pics

Prayers

2009-07-15T20:39:00.000-07:00

The power of prayer can be so powerful. Please pray for the LaHuis family and their baby boy that they just got home from Ethiopia. Pray for healing for their baby boy. For their story you can click on their blog on my sidebar. It is really hard to understand things like this.

Tonite we went to a funeral for a 21 year old boy who worked for my husband several years ago and also is the brother of my husbands friend. He committed suicide this past Saturday. From the outside you would wonder why...fun, friendly, athletic, happy go lucky.....Something else that is so hard to understand.

I am so thankful that I can trust Him with those things that don't make sense, and know that He does have a perfect plan even when it REALLY doesn't make any sense to us.

Please take a minute and lift these two families up in prayer today.I am sure when they don't know how to pray, it is comforting knowing there are so many others that are praying for them.

Growing

2009-06-12T16:16:00.000-07:00

ok, if I was pregnant and waiting, it would be almost eleven months! That would be quite uncomfortable and thankfully pregnancys are not that long! I was actually probably thinking about this because my sister just announced she is expecting her 3rd! yeah! (she has twins) Anyway I thought about how it has also been uncomfortable in different ways during this waiting to adopt process and too that although I may not be growing physically (as during pregnancy) I sure have had to grow in so many other ways! Patience, yes that is a big one. I like things done in my time and I have learned to trust in His perfect timing, He sees the big picture and I only see a little of it. I think about when we first started the process and how we took that first step in faith, yet still wanted to stay where we were comfortable. which meant adopting an infant child (for fear of attchment issues) Well, God decided to stretch us and move us out of that comfortable place. We are hoping to adopt a little one under 4 now and we have such peace now knowing that He has her all picked out! I have also grown in understanding the great need of the orphans in the world. God has given me a passion to help them and we will see where He leads that. It brings me to tears to think about all the little children in the world that will go to bed tonight with out a bedtime kiss from anyone, or maybe with an empty tummy, maybe with tears and no one to wipe them away, or maybe they did something great today and they have no one to tell who cares. Beginning this adoption process had really opened a whole new world for our family, so many blessings already, so many ways we have been able to see God work in this. I am ashamed to say that I really had no idea before of the number and need of the orphans in the world, or Gods heart for them....just check out all the verses in the Bible! We are so blessed here, with so much...it is my prayer that God would open more families hearts to bring one of these precious children into their homes. With God all things are possible!

Something To Check Out

2009-05-07T13:31:00.000-07:00

Today is World AIDS Orphan Day.

Erin posted so passionately and succinctly over at Full House Full Hands Full Hearts, that you just need to go there. Please do. And please find a way to get involved... caring for the least of these...

Could we really be number 2!!!!!

2009-05-02T20:27:00.000-07:00

This post is for those I have talked with that are checking this blog very frequently to see if there has been any new yet, soooo I thought I better at least give a little update! There were two referrals this past Thurs for two little infant boys!!! So on the unofficial list we are number 2!!!!!!! Which of course my husband keeps reminding me really doesn't mean that much since it is "unofficial" and we are waiting for a girl and of course that we are not in control of the timing, someone thats much better at it is! BUT, we are very excited to be number two on the list and I will be close to the phone Monday, if there happens to be anymore referrals!!

2009-04-10T18:54:00.000-07:00

How Many Orphans in Ethiopia?

I took the following information from a fellow blogger, because I find the numbers to be staggering...we all need to be informed. (thanks Kim! Now I took the info from you!)
According to UNICEF:
The number of orphans in Ethiopia, Children (0-17 years) orphaned due to all causes, in 2005, is estimated at 4,800,000. Many other sites bring this current number closer to 6 million, which makes sense because this is only a 2005 estimate.
So....The US census bureau estimates that there are 4,514,342 children under 18 living in New York state as of last year. So, you can safely say that if you take every child under 18 who lives in all of New York State and remove their parents you have roughly the number of orphans they estimated there were in Ethiopia 2 years ago...if you go by the more current estimates then you would have to add the state of Massachusetts at 1,448,884 kids under the age of 18 in 2006 and we are still about 100,000 kids shy...so lets add the District of Columbia with an estimate of 114,881 kids.
So we would have to take all the children under 18 in New York, Massachusetts and the District of Columbia - remove their parents and then you would have the number of children who are orphans in Ethiopia.
Please pray for these children who have no one to hold them when they are lonely or sad, no one to tell them "I'll protect you" when they are afraid or to care for them when they are sick, hurt or hungry & no one to tell them how precious & loved they are!

Bethany Girls Night Out!

2009-04-10T18:03:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Andrea for getting this group of Bethany moms all adopting (or adopted) from Ethiopia together. It was such a great time! Beth was an amazing source of information for us moms in the wait, thanks for letting us drill you Beth!. I was amazed after meeting with this awesome group of women how each one of us has a story of how God called us to this point in our lives. Each one unique and yet each one called to care for one of His precious children- an orphan from Ethiopia. There were two women who brought home their children already and we all drooled over their pictures. There were two women who had referral pictures- we drooled over those too! There was stories of one who saw God provide almost all the money through fundraising and grants, one called to adopt a child with special needs, some who this will be their first child, one women who is single and adopting an infant - how awesome. God can call anyone to adopt, I can definately testify to this. He can change hearts, He can provide financially, He can find homes for the 143,000,000 Orphans in the world. Just trust Him.

Welcome Home!!

2009-04-06T19:40:00.000-07:00

Here is some pictures of friends who arrived home with their beautiful children just recently! Chloe and I were able to welcome one family home, and the other I went with a couple other friends. It was very emotional and they were not even my children!!! A definate miracle to witness!!

Movin Up!

2009-04-02T20:07:00.000-07:00

There were 3 referrals so far this week! Our friends the Deurs recieved a referral for a little 5 year old girl. There was also a referral for a 1 month old girl and a 1 month old boy! They were all so excited! This also means we are moving up in the way of a referral! I am not telling anyone what month I think it will be anymore!!! I already set myself up in thinking it would for sure be in February! So everyone else thinks it too! Gods perfect timing right!!!!

Patience

2009-03-14T19:52:00.000-07:00

I met with a group of awesome girls this week for prayer, all of whom are in the adoption process in Ethiopia and 3 of them are traveling within the next few weeks. You can not imagine how awesome it is to see their pictures, and hear their excitement to get their children. The night was a great encouragement to me that this really is going to happen and it really is Gods perfect timing and my timing just doesn't cut it.

Another one of the many blessings in this journey is a whole new world of people that we have met through this process. All their stories are such testimonies of Gods amazing plan for His children through this miracle of adoption! We are so thankful to be part of it.

Chloe and her little friends were playing house and babies this week and they had to come and let me know that they just got home with their babies who are adopted from Ethiopia. When I mentioned this to my girlfriend, she also said her daughter pretends at home that her baby is adopted from Ethiopia and figured it came from Chloe! I love it!!!

Watching Yezelalem Minch (Ethiopia Orphanage) Video

2009-02-22T19:55:00.000-08:00

Blessings on the Journey

2009-02-22T19:40:00.000-08:00

After Church today chris got an envelope out of our church mailbox and here is what it said: Mr. and Mrs., Christian, Chloe, and Trayton. I want to tell you how happy and excited I am about your decision to adopt a child from Ethiopia. Over the past two months I havent given my 10% tithe to church, but instead I have saved it in an envelope marked Fishers. It is my prayer that with this money the adoption process will be made a little easier. Ever since I heard about your decision, I have wanted to help in any way possible. Since I really can't cook more than toast, I figured making meals may not be the best option. When I went to the benefit concert put on by peder eide and saw how much an adoptin cost, I decided to save a few bucks and try to make the process easier financially. the child you are adopting will be very, very blessed by your family. They will have wonderful siblings and 2 amazing parents. God Bless, A Friend

We have no idea what young person wrote this and I wish I could give them a great Big Hug!!! This person has no idea what an encouragement and blessing they have been to our family today. This is what makes the wait more barable and knowing God is really in control and he really does provide in amazing ways.

2009-01-31T19:10:00.000-08:00

Finally an update!!!

2009-01-31T18:10:00.001-08:00

My finally an update title probably caught your eye! Sooooo as far as our adoption process, there is nothing yet to update on, Sorry!!, other than we need to do a homestudy update which just came in the mail this week, because it will be a year in march. I can not believe it has been almost a year since we completed our homestudy! So, this means more paperwork, AND hopefully that we are getting closer to that exciting phone call!! It has really gone by fast for us up to about this point, now we are getting a little anxious, very excited and ready to meet this precious little treasure that God has already picked out for our family. Because our age range for referral is between infant to 3 years old it is hard to picture this little one; is she walking around, talking playing with friends or is she a little baby?? Hopefully we will see soon! Next week we plan to get our shots to travel and because needles are not my friend I will need Chris to hold my hand so I don't pass out. It will all be worth it!
Friends of ours, who we met through this adoption process and are also adopting from Ethiopia are having a benefit evening this Friday. Dan Seaborn will be speaking and there will be music and yummy deserts! The proceeds go to help their with their adoption and also to begin an adoption fund at their church, where he is the minister. I think the adoption fund is an awesome thing, and Lord willing we can start one at our church. We have met so many families that would love to adopt a child, but the money is usually what is holding them back. How awesome for a church family to be able to come along side of these adopting families in a way of financial support to give hope and love of a family to orphans in our world. Way to go you guys! I still need a date because Chris will be gone, but hoping to make this on Friday!
Just a couple more hours with Larry the dog. He has been our addition to our family this week while his owners were on a cruise (lucky them!) I can not believe that I could do TWO dogs and it really went great. I was one when Chris and I got married who said we would never have a dog in the house (they stink) Well, not by my choice we got a 'surprise' puppy and well now I like him and truthfully would miss him.
Well, next time I update, I hope to be updating on our new little one! Our kids are talking and praying about it all the time now. Trayton likes to let me know he will help with changing her diapers!

God is good all the time.
Michelle

2008-11-15T11:52:00.000-08:00

Remember The Orphan Benefit Concert

2008-11-14T05:18:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all of you who came out to the concert last night! What an amazing evening it was! We really felt Gods presence during the night and in all the preperations! Lisa Haarsma, my sister was such a huge part of the coordinating and making it happen. We love you Lisa and Thank You for selflessly giving of all your time to make this night happen. Huge thank-you to all the cookie bakers, no one went hungry! Thank you to Pastor Brian, and Peder Eide for letting God work through them for an amazing evening! Thank you to Fellowship Reformed Church for allowing us to use their building, for Pastor Mikes amazing testimony, and for all the helpful staff- thank you Emily. For Bethany Christian Services (Belinda) for speaking and sharing her passion for the orphans. Thank you to all the children from Ridgepoint church in Holland who opened the concert with Peder Eides song 'Taste and See'! Thank you to all the kitchen help, refreshment servers, Schuitema family for serving at the Peder Eide table, for Stacey Mulder for being our personal photographer for the evening (I will post pictures as soon as I figure it out!) and to the counters! Thank you too to all our sponsors for making this evening possible.

We would like to thank everyone for giving so generously! The total contributions for the evening was over 19,000.00!!! As Pastor Brian said when we bring our children home, you will be able to say you were part of this! Thank you for letting God use you to help the orphans!

If God is calling you to something, follow Him!!! There are so many blessings we would have missed out on, if we had not followed in this call of adoption. He is faithful.

God is good. all the time. all the time. God is good!

How Our Journey Began

2008-10-03T19:15:00.000-07:00

February 2007 our daughter Chloe came home from B.S.f. (Bible Study Fellowship) and told Chris and I about her teachers mission trip to Guatamala and about the children that were in an orphanage that had no mommies and daddies. She began to pray for these children and also that our family would adopt one of these children. These prayers lasted for 6 months with out missing once at dinner! Our first reaction was that maybe someday she could go and work as a missionary and help these children, and that she could adopt someday. Little did we know that this was the seed that He would plant in our hearts and He would make it grow! I could write forever on the many ways that God made it clear to us that His will was for us to adopt. He gave us very clear scripture,Mark 9:36, He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." and Matthew 25:34-40 (please look this one up!) On July 20, 2007 Chris and I had a date to GrandHaven and we both talked about Gods' will with adoption and and prayed that He would make it clear that it is His will and that He would open the doors. TWO days later we listened to Pastor Brian Bosscher preach on Ephesians 1:3- that we are adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ as how this is a picture of adoption. In his childrens message, he focused on adoption and at the end asked kids to pray about finding more homes for these orphans. WOW! This is just a few of the ways that God made it so clear to us! We are so thankful for the peace we have that we are in His will and it wasn't a choice we made on our own, but a choice to follow His will for our lives.

So, almost one year later after Chloes prayers began, we attended our first Bethany Information meeting. A month or so later we began our homestudy with our awesome caseworker, Belinda. Then came the dossier, lots and lots of paperwork! On July 25, our dossier arrived in Ethiopia and we can't wait to get our referral of a little child 3mo. to 3 years old.

Well, while we are waiting we are in the planning stages for a Peder Eide benefit concert with 4 other families. We are hoping to raise awareness about the needs of the orphans in the world. We are so excited to have support from Bethany for this event, and many other sponsors to help make this take place! I just have to quick share how Peder Eide happens to be coming! On Aug. 10 2008 we went to worship on the waterfront with Peder Eide in concert (He is Awesome) We were camping at the conference grounds that week, and before we left for the concert, I had said to Chris: wouldn't it be neat if Peder Eide could sing at this benefit? Chris, replies with "God will make it clear if we are supposed to ask him" Well...... halfway into the concert Peder Eide shares that he just came home one week ago with his adopted son from Ethiopia! Of course I looked at Chris and said "there's your clear answer!!" So we did ask and he did respond excitedly and we even got to see his pictures on his laptop of his son and trip to Ethiopia. So here we go again in faith with this benefit concert and He keeps opening the doors! To hear Peder Eide, click on the youtube picture on this blog in the upper right hand side. The benefit concert is on Thurs. November 13 at 7pm at Fellowship church in Hudsonville. Everyone is invited!

We have to say too, it is amazing after entering this adoption process and feeling kind of alone, how many awesome and encouraging people God has put in our paths. Also, the many we have met who have already adopted or that are in the process, it is amazing to see their faith, hear their stories, and see how they have been blessed through it all. They are such an encouragement to us!

God is good. all the time
All the time. God is good

Publish Post

Waiting for our referral!!

2008-09-06T20:41:00.000-07:00

WE recieved word from Bethany that our dossier went to Ethiopia on July 25! We are officially waiting for our referral of a child between the ages of 3 months and 3 years. We know that God already has this special child picked out for our family and we can't wait the meet her.