The Long Way Around

I've been reading Francine Rivers' novella on Aaron (Moses's brother) this week, and I just have to say that I love reading stories that challenge my faith in our Almighty God.

So, I'm reading about when the Israelites just leave Egypt. God has just shown Himself powerful by letting the largest army in the world allow Israel to leave. Amazing. But, the Israelites soon start grumbling because they are taking the long way around to Canaan instead of the short route. They keep questioning why they are going this way and doubting God's ability to lead them. To make matters worse, they eventually find themselves backed up against the Red Sea with the Egyptian army bearing down on them. At this point, they were truly doubting.

O.K. At this point, I am somewhat relating to the Israelites. I have often wondered why God has brought us the "long way around" to a referral. (Side Note: I do feel "silly" complaining because so many of my friends have waited so much longer in their adoption processes, but it is still a struggle.)

Back to the rest of the story. God took the Israelites the long way around, to a place that seemed to be a dead end, in order to reveal His Glory. This group of grumbling Israelites got to be a part of one of the greatest displays of God's power and glory in history! What a privilege! But, they had to go the long way around first.

So, as we continue to wait, I can't help but be excited. I feel like God is getting ready to give us a glimpse of His power and glory. I am thankful he is taking us the long way around because it will allow us to better witness one of the greatest displays of His hand in our family. Ooooh, my heart beats with anticipation. :)

Drawn From Water

I have discovered a group of people/organization called Drawn from Water. They are a group of people who stumbled upon a practice in some tribes of Africa. This practice calls for any child labeled "mingi" or cursed has to die, usually drowned in the river. Read the following account by Kristen of the first "mingi" child rescued one year ago:

On a previous visit to the tribe’s villages, I was introduced to a woman six-months pregnant with a Mingi child who she knew would be killed soon after the baby’s birth. Overwhelmed by learning of this terrible process, I asked her how she felt. She tried to be emotionally unattached because the issue of her motherhood had been decided; she knew no other option for the child. However, as she spoke, tears gathered in the corners of her dark eyes. To know that you have to kill the child growing inside you must be harder than anything else imaginable.

When our team arrived in Africa in January, four of us headed south to meet with Lale, a tribesman who had completed his university education and also attended a discipleship training school in Germany. The Mingi issue weighs heavily on Lale’s heart. After much discussion concerning the fate of six Mingi children expected to be drowned soon, we decided to travel south to the tribe’s villages. We would assist Lale while he took custody of the first child and then we’d help him establish an orphanage. While there, the team wanted to go to the main village to pray for a Mingi child in danger. Lale’s friend took six members of the team on a three-hour journey by foot in 120-degree heat to meet a man who had a daughter named Bale with teeth that had grown in on the top first—believed to be an indicator of Mingi—who had been hiding for five months. Within two days, the elders would likely kill her. A question haunted us: “Do we take action and become responsible for a life, or do we do nothing and let a child die?”

We stood on the bank of the river waiting for the canoe that would bring the parents and child out from their hiding place. We sat down with the family and the leader of the family—the father’s uncle—expressed appreciation that we would take the child. Soon the uncle handed me the little girl and told us it was time to leave. As we drove off, I kept wondering how could anyone want to kill this beautiful little girl. When Lale arrived the next day, he saw the child in my arms and said, “Now you really know how I feel, don’t you?” Lale, Abril and I headed off a few days later to pick up five more children. Despite many obstacles, we were able rescue all five kids, from four months to five years old. When we arrived, Lale, his wife, Gito, and a few other women were ready to give the children baths and feed them.

The orphanage that was set up to support these kids was appropriately named Drawn from Water. To read more of their story, go to their blog: http://www.drawnfromwater.org/
This is the latest picture of their kiddos. If anyone is at all interested in adopting from Drawn from Water, they just did a post on how to take the first steps. (See the Feb. 20 post)

News-Filled Week

This week was a news-filled week. It started out a bit negatively. Unfortunately, CBS decided to air a report ridden with false statements and distorted facts about our agency, CWA. They did a great job of making these accusations seem like truth; therefore, I admit that I was a bit shaken after watching.

Fortunately, CWA had posted many You Tube videos of their lawyer interviewing the original reporter who broke the story. By the time I had watched four segments, I was thoroughly convinced of CWA's innocence and credibility. In addition, I have been forced to evaluate our own experience with CWA, and I can say it has been positive. CWA has tried to prepare us for all of the unknowns of international adoption while continuing to encourage us that God is ultimately in charge of our adoption. The accusations made against CWA just do not coincide with our experience; in fact, the accusations contradict our experience. With that said, I wanted to just publicly defend Christian World Adoption.

I'd encourage you to read CWAs response and/or watch the videos of their lawyer being interviewed by the original reporter. These explained so much that was left out of the report. There were also a couple of other well-written posts on this issue. If you are interested, you can check out http://impresseduponourhearts.blogspot.com/. This is a family who did not use CWA but who has adopted from Ethiopia. In addition, you can check out this family who is in the adopting process with CWA.

Please Pray

My friend, Kendra, and her husband have been trying to adopt from Kyrgyzstan for several years now. Unfortunately, when they got to the place where Chris and I are (very close to a referral), international adoptions shut down in that country. Here is a video that explains some of what has happened.


This weekend is a very pivotal weekend in this process. Please pray that God would move in this country and open up the adoptions so that these kiddos can finally go home.

This Just Isn't Fair. . . or Is It?

Lately, I have to confess that I've been feeling like this just isn't fair. I don't know anyone in my little Ethiopia adoption circle who has had to wait this long for a little boy. As I look around, my heart keeps telling me, "This isn't fair".

In group yesterday, we were talking about parenting. One of my dear friends mentioned that her husband tells their kids when they say this very thing that "fair is what is best for you". Hmmm. Really?

So, as I woke up this morning, I thought about this some more. Is waiting 8+ months really the best for me, for our family? It must be because God is allowing it. This wait IS fair because it is going to bring us to our little boy and it is preparing us for something to come by exercising our waiting muscles.

This morning, as I ran on the treadmill and was sweating like crazy, I was amazed to find myself filled with strength and "shivers" as I thanked God for our 8+ month wait. He truly met me and reassured me that this IS fair and it is good.

Eight Months & a Snow Day!

It is officially 8 months! Yes. We have been waiting for a referral for 8 months. I never thought we would last to this point, but we have! I feel like I should proclaim something truly profound and original at this point. All I can say is that we don't really understand why we have had to wait so long, but we also know that God is in control and has continued to encourage us along the way. He promises He loves us, so we trust in His perfect timing. (Actually, we truly did hope today was the day. Again, we were all home, so it would have been perfect in our eyes.)

Here are a few shots of our fun snow day!

Farm Boots

Sledding in our back yard with the neighbors

Neat Videos of Ethiopian Adoption

Hey. I found another very cool family from Colorado who just returned from Ethiopia where they adopted their very sweet little girl from AHOPE. They took along what looks like a professional photographer who did an amazing job capturing each day. If you want to take a look, go here! You may want to scroll down to the Jan. 27 post for the first videos. Enjoy! Some day, this will be us! Well, except a little boy. And, not from AHOPE. But, you get the idea!