Prayer Requests

Could you pray for us :)  Wow this has been an intense week!  I know Satan hates the picture of adoption and will do anything to destroy it, or discourage.
It has been so weird to be watching my husband and 2 sons journey through a blog.  Phones are not predictable there.  I have been able to text here and there.
I think I have gotten 2 hours of sleep in 3 days. :)
 Pray for Joseph he is not feeling well at all... throwing up.  He doesn't know much English so its hard to communicate how he is feeling.
Pray for Mike as he cares for him.  I am usually the one that deals with the stomach thing with the kids.
I am so proud of Mike and Jonah!  They had their Embassy appt. and it went great.
Thanks for your prayers.

Hope

It early Tuesday morning as I type.  The dark sky is beginning to awaken with early glimpses of light that are certain to bring another magnificent sunrise above the city and people of Addis Ababa.  The air is crisp and quiet … with only the sounds of an Orthodox priest chanting morning prayers that echo over the valley in the distance.  My heart is full this morning as I recall the images, experiences, and blessings of this journey. 

Our reunion with Joseph yesterday, the emotional encounters with the children at the transition home, and the unexpected blessing of fellowship with Gabe and Connie (who flew to Addis yesterday from Mekele) has my spirit soaring with praise in these early morning hours of quiet reflection.  As I pause with a pensive stare to the landscape surrounding me … my mind is flooded with the images Joseph, Samuel, and the dear children still living at the transition home.  These images and the experience of ages, races, and languages melting into a time of rich fellowship, laughter, and love and have touched me deeply.  They have provided a glimpse of the glories of God’s provision - a tiny taste of what it must look and feel like in the “new heavens and new earth” spoken of in Isaiah 65.  Yesterday was the culmination of years of prayerful petitioning … the opportunity see the script of God’s beautiful story of adoption celebrated before our very eyes.

With all of the redemptive beauty and blessing that filled our day … my mind is brought to Romans 4:18 – 22.  Highlights of this passage include, “In hope he believed against hope … he did not weaken in faith … No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.  That is why his faith was ‘counted to him as righteousness”. This powerful passage holds deep meaning and significance in my life for many reasons.  It is a passage chronicling the faith of Abraham – capturing our deepest faith experiences. It touches upon the trial, trust, and triumph that we often taste on this side of heaven.  It is a powerful passage depicting prolonged brokenness, unwavering belief, and the beauty of God’s steadfast promises of provision. 

In many ways … it captures much of what I have felt and experienced on this journey to Joseph. 

This morning my faith is strengthened and I am praising God for the richness of his blessing.  I am also feeling a sense of the ‘not yet there’, the lingering effects of the Fall … the continuing hurt and uncertainty of those children that still remain at the transition home with no family bringing them home.  Beneath their beautiful faces, handshakes, and hugs …you can see the longing in their eyes for the love of a mom & dad … you can see the sense of brokenness they carry with no family to love and care for them.  They grasp for my hand early & often … and cling tightly throughout our visit.  Tears fall from their innocent faces as we say our goodbyes … it breaks my heart. 

Through this pain … I pray.  I praise God for our Joseph and for the Carlsons and Samuel.  For the Jones family and Luke.  For other families coming forward and for the amazing love stories that I know God is weaving together.  And I pray for those children still waiting … I pray ‘without wavering’.  I pray and hope and believe – fully convinced in God’s powerful hand of provision.

The sun has now risen … the light is shining.  Symbolic in so many ways.  I begin Day 3 … with a humble and hopeful heart.

Joseph (between Jonah and I), Samuel (front), Dibora (Larry & Krista's daughter under my arm), and the beautiful children at the transition home.

Praising God

Psalm 68: 5-6, "Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.  God settles the solitary in a home ... "

WHAT AN AMAZING DAY!  Absolutley flooded with emotions!  We have Joseph and Samuel!!  So so much to write - but we are in the middle of our day here in Addis and still have lots on the agenda.  I'm rushing as I type - trying to get some picutres uploaded!  We are Praising God from Whom ALL blessing flow!

Joseph (left) and Samuel (right) - we are overflowing with joy for the blessing of these two incredible boys!

The Parker boys - Mike, Joseph, and Jonah

The Carlsons - Dave, Samuel, Mary, Anika

Anticipation

Today was our first day here in Addis.  It was a welcomed (and much-needed) opportunity to recover from the 17 hours of flying time and 9 hour time difference here in Africa.  Returning here only 10 weeks after our trip in November has been surprisingly … nice.  Dave, Mary, and I each commented that our second trip here brings with it an odd sense of connectedness with the people, places, sights, and sounds of Addis.  Everything feels very familiar … not at all foreign.

Tomorrow we will travel to the transition home, a short distance away from our Guest Home, and bask in our long-awaited reunion with our Joseph and Samuel.  We spent much of our day talking about the boys and all that lies ahead.  Our time together with Joseph and Samuel in November provided wonderful glimpses into their sweet personalities, prayer lives, and the servant hearts of these special boys. This blessed time of bonding that we experienced in Mekele fuels our deep longing to bring them into our care and into our families.  There is a very real sense of  ‘incompleteness’ without Joseph and Samuel alongside us.  We await our reunion tomorrow with eager & joyful anticipation.  

I’ll leave you with some photographs of our day here in Addis.  We are so grateful for the love, support, and the felt prayers of so many family and friends.  God is working.  The words of Isaiah 46:8-11 continue to strengthen, sustain, and showcase His sovereignty in our story and in all of creation. With our visit to an ancient Orthodox Church and its rich imagery still fresh in my mind (see pictures below) – the passage in Hebrews 6:18-20 brings further encouragement as we close our first day here in Addis.  It reads, “…we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.  We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor for the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf ..”  He goes before us … He is the sure and steadfast anchor for our soul! Soli Deo Gloria!

Another beautiful Sunday morning sunrise outside our room in Addis.

The view from the back of our room at the Ethiopia Guest House

We visited St. Raphael Orthodox Church – built over 130 years ago high atop Mount Entoto (elevation 9,000 ft). 

The amazing hand paintings that surrounded the “Most Holy Place” shrouded by a curtain.  The octagonal shape symbolizes God and the seven arc angels.  The paintings depict the stories of the Scriptures, the heroes of the Orthodox Church, and the martyrs of the faith

We dined at an authentic Ethiopian restaurant (Yod Abyssinia). We enjoyed fine Ethiopian cuisine and lively dancing

Our Journey Begins

I begin this post sitting in a cramped seat on a crowded plane high above the Atlantic Ocean on our flight to Africa.  I am lost in my thoughts – contemplating all that lies ahead.  I am excited.  I am expectant.  My heart is filled with reverence tonight as I reflect on this remarkable journey and ponder all that is unfolding with each passing hour.  My mind continually wanders to the many parts of this story that God has so beautifully & intricately woven together.  Jonah and I are traveling alongside our dear friends Dave & Mary Carlson and their daughter Anika.  This fact alone - is nothing short of miraculous.  In less than one week – our Joseph and their Samuel – best friends and orphaned for far too long by circumstances beyond their control - will be brought home into the loving arms of their forever families. The mere thought of this homecoming brings a rush of excitement & anticipation to my heart.

In his powerful and deeply moving book, “Wrestling with an Angel” Greg Lucas pens these words, “you never know when or where the breeze of God’s blessing is going to blow.  Grace is like that – unexpected, undeserved, and unpredictable.”  The reality of these words resonate in my heart tonight.  We have been profoundly grateful for the ‘breezes of God’s blessings” that we have seen & experienced throughout this journey.  Above all, however, I am most grateful for the way that adoption has helped me see with greater clarity and deeper sincerity … my own deep & desperate need of my Savior.  Adoption has awakened my soul to the eternal richness of God’s promises in Ephesians 1 and Galatians 4:4-7.  It has humbled me.  It has pushed me to my knees … ushering me to a proper place and posture of complete and utter dependence upon Him (Matthew 5:3).  This is the breeze of God’s blessing that I pray He continues blowing afresh on my mind, my heart, and my spirit in the days … months … and years ahead.

We are completely exhausted – arriving at the Ethiopian Guest home around midnight -nearly 24 hours after leaving our home in Wheaton.  It is now 2:00 am here in Addis.  I sit on the front side of this journey to bring Joseph home with the words of Colossians 2:6-7 ringing in my mind as I drift to sleep, “Therefore as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith … abounding in thanksgiving.” (emphasis added)  Amen!

Bringing Joseph Home

It's been a whirlwind 24 hours ... we received confirmation on our Embassy Date late last night ... we are booking our flights this morning (even as Mike is traveling for work). 

Mike, Jonah and the Carlsons leave for Africa tomorrow to bring Joseph and Samuel home!!

Praise the Lord!

Standing in Awe

I don't know where to begin this amazing story that the Lord has written ... or how to give Him enough credit.  We stand in awe ... there are so many amazing details, I will just share a few.

About a year and a half ago we were emailed a picture of a little boy.  The friend that emailed us had spent time with this sweet boy.  He had been in the orphanage for 6 years.  When we saw his picture and heard his story we were immediately drawn to him.

So, after much prayer and affirmation from God - we began the adoption journey again ... less than one year after we came home from Ethiopia with Ela.

As we learned more about our Joseph we quickly found out that he had a best friend.  My heart began to ache for Joseph's friend - they were always arm-in-arm in every photograph we saw.  I prayed and prayed for him.  I thought we should just adopt both of them instead of splitting them up.  Mike told me to trust the Lord, maybe one of our friends would adopt him. :)  (He also thought it might not be the best idea to have three 11 year olds under one roof! :)

About 6 months later we had the privilege of hosting a gathering/dessert for Gabe, the man who runs the orphanage in Mekele.  Our good friends Dave and Mary were there (http://www.gratefullyloved.blogspot.com/)
After an evening in which Gabe shared the many details of his amazing ministries, Dave felt the call to adopt (there is probably much more for them to share on this).  They began their journey about 6 months after us.
As we moved through the process, we expeienced a number of unexpected delays on our end ...  it looked like the boys would never come home near the same time (we live in the same town and the boys will go to the same junior high at some point).
But ... God!  He was always at work throughout this journey ... in His marvelous ways ... and in His perfect timing!
He hears the prayers of his children.  Which is what both Samuel and Joseph are known for ... their prayer lives!

This morning we heard from Embassy that we are cleared for travel!  We had been waiting to hear final approval on the actual Embassy date ... and this morning ... it came!  Tuesday, 2/7/12 ... the same day as Dave & Mary's appointment for Samuel!  We stand in awe ... praising our great God!  Joseph and Samuel will be coming HOME ON THE SAME FLIGHT!  Only the Lord could orchestrate this beautiful story!

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Isaiah 55:8-9