Light

It is early Thursday morning on our final day here in Addis.  I have grown to cherish the quiet morning hours here in Africa.  They provide a rare serenity that has a way simplifying all that we tend to make so complex in our life and our faith.  I am prayerful and reflective … quietly processing all that has taken place on this amazing journey to bring Joseph home.  I am soaking in God’s word.  With another brilliant sunrise preparing to emerge on the eastern horizon, appropriately, I come upon Psalm 18:27-28 in my reading.  “For you save a humble people … for it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness”.

As I reflect on our time here in Africa – these verses capture so much of what we have seen and experienced.  We have seen the remarkable love and ‘humility’ of Joseph, Samuel, and the children at the transition home.  We have seen God’s light penetrate dark and often difficult circumstances in the way that these children surrender their own self-interests and sacrificially serve one another … as they serve their Savior.  Among the many experiences over the last two days that we will remember – none stands out more than the baptism ceremony at the transition home on Tuesday.  With Gabe and a fellow pastor presiding, the children sang praise songs, prayed fervently, professed their saving faith with calm assurance – and were baptized in a breathtakingly beautiful display of God’s covenant promises.  We celebrated with a short time of prayer and praise and we then took communion together … all in remembrance and reverence of our Savior.

Our days here have been full.  We successfully completed our US Embassy appointment, visited the National Museum of Ethiopia, toured churches high atop Mount Entoto, shopped in the market, and treated boys to the first scoop of ice cream they have ever tasted. 

We will spend our final day with the children at the transition home before we pack and prepare for our journey back home.  While we look forward to our return with great excitement … our final good byes to these precious children promises to be a heart-wrenching and emotional experience.

In his book, Adopted for Life, author Russell Moore writes of the importance of believers becoming, “other-directed instead of self-directed”.  I have witnessed this ‘other-directedness’ countless times over the last week and throughout this journey in the lives of Gabe, Connie, Joseph, Samuel, the children, and so many of the people of Africa.  They are living examples of Philippians 2:4, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” As the morning light begins to shine once again … I am praising God for the redemptive light and life He is displaying in these precious souls and through His powerful story of adoption.



The morning light begins to shine



Joseph and Jonah at the transition home



Joseph and Samuel



Gabe with the children before their baptism - one of the most precious and profound moments I have ever experienced in my walk of faith.

Jonah, Anika, Samuel, and Joseph.  This was the first time the boys have had ice cream!  So sweet.