my middle school encounter.

A friend of mine works at a middle school.

She told me that there is an amazing group of girls there that (on their own) decided to raise money for Smile Train, an organization to provide cleft lip surgeries to poor children.

They got this idea from a picture they had seen and yet had never met a person who had been born with this condition.

My friend asked me if I would come to their school, meet these girls, and introduce Meili to them.

Just the news of this story FILLED me with joy.

A group of 12 year old girls that are making a difference!

So, yesterday, Meili and Caleb and I headed to middle school.

I was able to tell these girls that what they are doing is MUCH more then providing a sweet child with a fixed lip.  I told them of the intense persecution these children face in their cultures without the surgery.  I told them that what they are working hard to provide for these children (lip surgery) will change the child's whole life.  That they are actually helping to give these children a new life, hope.  I looked in their eyes and told them that God is doing a GREAT thing with them and through them.  And I thanked them.

As touched and encouraged as I was from these girls, what moved me the most was this lunch room filled with hurting children.  My friend told me stories of students repeatedly asking her to adopt them, they are currently in the foster system.  When I was explaining to some of the kids what "adoption" means, one girl spoke up, "Yeah, I'm adopted.  My parents abused me.  They abused me in every way; physically, verbally, and sexually.  So I had to go live with someone else."  Some of the girls that came up to us (it didn't take me long to see the way to a junior high girl's heart:  a baby. aka: Meili) looked so rough, for lack of a better word.  Ah, so many kids here, in our back yard, that need to see and feel the LOVE of God lived out.

In the Fall, as we begin our new season of life in homeschooling I so desire to intentionally get our family OUT into the world more.  When I left this public school yesterday I wondered and hoped that God will use us to LOVE on some of these kids in some way next year.  They just need love, ya know.  And I hope that, together with my kids, we can give some of them love....in a practical way.

It was such a great experience to be there...in so many ways.

Malia in Africa

One of my best friends, Malia, is in Africa right now.  The short of it is that she was suppose to be there for 10 days touring orphanages, bringing encouragement to God's workers there, and pouring out God's love to the poor throughout Uganda and Ethiopia.  Because of the problems with airplanes being able to fly, she has not been able to come home yet....basically she is stuck in Africa.  However, I have no doubt that God is using her time there to do great things in His name.  She hasn't been able to send out any emails until now and I have cut and pasted it here for you to read. 

Hey everybody, can't believe all that's happened in the last two weeks! Feels like forever. So much to tell. I'll just hit the highlights of where we have been most recently. On friday Sammy took us to the dump in korah, there is realy no way for me to describe what we smelled, saw and felt. There are people who live at the dump, including children. We hiked mountains of garbage to meet the children who search for their next meal from the loads of garbage being dumped and bulldozed. We knew going in that Sammy was working on getting kids out of the dump and sending them to boarding school.

It cost 700 dollars to get them out and that covers schooling, clothes, and food for the whole year. The moment we started walking the smell was so powerful and the desperation of the situation so overwhelming I told Sammy I'll sponsor whoever needs it. But bekuset found me:) she has the most beUtiful smile and held my hand as we walked through the rest of the dump and to a nearby restaurant where we bought lunch for about 35 kids. I'm pretty sure everyone in our group is now sponsoring at least One child, there is no way you can experience this and not....so start saving your money now:) As if that was not enough for one day Sammy then took us to korah which is.... I'm not sure the best way to describe it but a slum, "house" upon "house" mud walls, tin roofs, dirt floors so many people living in one place and as if it was not hard enough to imagine the image of Christ living in these conditions it started to rain, to downpour, and I am so glad that God did that because what we thought could not be worse did. The water ran into these homes overloaded with children sleeping on the floor. I asks Sammy where they slept when the rainy season hit and he told me in the water on the dirt floor, it is unimaginable. So we handed out food and little money for rent, yes they have to pay to live in these conditions! We hugged and kissed and were welcomed into the homes like we were old friends....I have NEVER experienced a day like that.

Korah history: The king gave land to ostercize the lepers which is now known as Korah. A leporsy hospital started 75 years ago there and we toured that yesterday. This was supposed to be a quick email:) we have spent everyday since with the children of Korah, we worshipped with them at church Sunday, played games, attempted a movie night until the power went out, taught some basic English and have had our hearts stolen. So though i miss my family like crazy and certainly did not intend to make this a 3 week mission trip, we are taking advantage of every opportunity, there is no rest and no feeling sorry for ourselves, we are doing what we came here to do, loving those who have been forgotten. We appreciate your prayers and you can text me some encouragement:) (it's free) I love you all and can't wait to tell you all what God is doing in Uganda and Ethiopia and all the ways that we can join Him.

Malia

So, now I am wondering if THIS is where God will send me and my family????  I hope so.  Will any of you pray about going with us?

my little Chinese princess

I think it may have been a while since I have written about Meili.

So, I wanted to write a little update on her. 

I was reminded this week, as I looked back at my journal from the last couple years, of some of the fears that I faced during our 15 month wait for her to come home to us.  I am soooo glad that I wrote them out because I was able to look back in AWE of how God has amazingly met and conquered every one of those fears.  One of my fears was concern that Meili would not "fit" into our very established family.  I worried that her personality would be lame (sad but true).  I worried that she would hate all of us.  I worried that she would never transition.  I worried that she wouldn't eat.  I worried that she wouldn't sleep.  I worried that I wouldn't love her like my biological babes.  I worried that she wouldn't love her siblings.  God allowed me to go to a point with my fears that I had to wonder if ALL of my fears actually came true, would I be okay with that?  In other words, was I okay with WHATEVER God was bringing into our family?  Would I be okay and content with Him alone?  Did I truly and completely trust His sovereignty?  Well, after He allowed me to wallow in my fears a while, He graciously and gently fixed my eyes back on to Him and reminded me of how good He is....and that He would not allow ANYTHING to come into our lives that wouldn't grow and deepen our relationship with Him.  He didn't promise me anything with Meili except that He was indeed sovereign and was in COMPLETE control and our family would ALWAYS be okay resting in Him.....God is so good.  He didn't promise me any "great" circumstances, but did promise that He would be there for me and for our family every single minute.

So, with that said, this week as I was looking back onto this part of the journey, I was brought to tears as God showed me how He has brought us a girl that not only is the opposite of my fears but is so beyond wonderful that now I can't stop thinking about how much I don't deserve her.  Okay, Meili is ofcourse not perfect, but as far as I am concerned she is as good as it gets.  She is just fabulous.  She is an extraordinary child.  She is funny.  She is obedient.  She is very smart.  She is sleeping through the night.  She eats really well.  She is adorable.  She LOVES her siblings.  I LOVE her as much as all of my babies.  She is gentle and sweet and caring.  Ahhhh, you get the idea.

Why am I writing all of this?  For one thing, I want you to know that we have been home for 4 months.  It was a really hard transition in a lot of ways.  But, by the grace of God, we all made it.  Meili is completely and 100% a part of our family.   Are there still a few issues associated with her past 2 years of life that we are occassionally dealing with?  absolutely (but not much).  Do we and she have MANY more potential issues to deal with as she grows older?  of course.  But let me tell ya, I have learned to trust God through this adoption journey in ways that can NEVER be shaken.  No matter what is ahead, He will help us through and will use it to draw us to Him.  And THAT is an awesome truth.

Ahhh, to HIM be the glory for the work that He has done in my heart.

To HIM be the glory for the AMAZING person that He has created in Meili. 

Secondly, for any of you that may read this that are in the "waiting game" of the adoption process right now, keep your eyes on Jesus, my friends!  HE will NEVER disappoint.  His plan is perfect.  I encourage you to keep a journal of your deepest thoughts....then you too can look back in a little while and give God glory as you can see His hand upon it all!

I think the following pictures say it all:

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!

Ephesians 3:20