I'm sitting here looking at our packed bags which include 5 suitcases of humanitarian aid we are blessed to carry to Gladney in Ethiopia. Actually our group has about 9 suitcases of aid but only 5 of those are in my entryway. My mother-in-law (also named Chris) sent an email to her friends last week and quickly began delivering to us suitcases of aid (weighing no more than 50lbs each!). It was incredible. My husband and I have been swamped with last minute details and trying to soak up every minute with our children. Thank you, Chris, for your work to gather this aid and simplify it for us. You are a blessing to us (not to mention the sweet children in Ethiopia)!
We leave shortly for the airport. Not sure if/when we will be able to update here but we will make every effort. Here we go!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Tick Tock
Our departure to Ethiopia is just two days away. Thank you so much to those of you supporting us financially and/or prayerfully. You have been an immense encouragement to us. We are so excited to return to Ethiopia. When we traveled to bring our son home in August 2007 we certainly left a piece of ourselves there. While we had hoped and prayed to return, we did not realize it would be so soon. We feel blessed to have this opportunity and can't wait to share with you what God shows us.
As you know we have been working on a project with our church and Food for the Hungry (www.fh.org) to raise funds to support a group of 48 "head of household" orphans in Zeway, Ethiopia. These children have lost both parents and are living on their own (not in an orphanage) raising themselves and often younger siblings. These children are extremely vulnerable. Support has begun to flow to these children through FH staff in Zeway. We will visit these children, get to know them, see their living conditions first hand, and do long term planning. We look forward to seeing what God has in store.
Our hope is to share live updates from Ethiopia but connectivity will be unpredictable. We will email and/or post updates on our blog. Upon our return we do plan to post pictures and lots of details, so come back and check in with us here.
It is humbling to have the God of the universe take us halfway around the world to be part of what He is doing in the lives of these 48 children. Please pray for our safe travel and that we will know how to be an encouragement to these children. Please also pray for our own little ones who are staying with my parents - and for my parents:-)
Again, we appreciate your support and encouragement. Can't wait to share this adventure with you!
As you know we have been working on a project with our church and Food for the Hungry (www.fh.org) to raise funds to support a group of 48 "head of household" orphans in Zeway, Ethiopia. These children have lost both parents and are living on their own (not in an orphanage) raising themselves and often younger siblings. These children are extremely vulnerable. Support has begun to flow to these children through FH staff in Zeway. We will visit these children, get to know them, see their living conditions first hand, and do long term planning. We look forward to seeing what God has in store.
Our hope is to share live updates from Ethiopia but connectivity will be unpredictable. We will email and/or post updates on our blog. Upon our return we do plan to post pictures and lots of details, so come back and check in with us here.
It is humbling to have the God of the universe take us halfway around the world to be part of what He is doing in the lives of these 48 children. Please pray for our safe travel and that we will know how to be an encouragement to these children. Please also pray for our own little ones who are staying with my parents - and for my parents:-)
Again, we appreciate your support and encouragement. Can't wait to share this adventure with you!
Saturday, May 16, 2009
FIVE
Just one week until we depart. I am trying to soak up every minute with our children. I hate thinking about being gone from them for 10 days. Our oldest will turn 5-years-old on the day we depart. We have taken the liberty of rewriting the calendar a bit this month and celebrated her birthday last weekend, Texas style, at a local ranch complete with pony rides. Our Lily is a lover of animals, particularly horses and dolphins. Being land locked we opted for a horse party. She declared it "the best day ever."
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Stories with African Endings
There have been many ways that our Zeway team has prepared for the Zeway trip. We have had chapters to read out of manuals, trip logistic discussions, vaccinations to get, prayer and team building time.
We had our final prep meeting last week discussing and seeking God's truth on how we mentally, spiritually and emotionally prepare for the sights, sounds and smells we will experience in Ethiopia. Poverty in Africa is like no other experienced in the world. And the team is coming from a culture in which prosperity is experienced like no other place in the world.
Which made it especially timely that the pastor of our church (Grace Covenant Church,) Matt Cassidy, taught a couple weeks ago a sermon entitled "Faith to Endure" (click here to listen), focused on Psalm 42. The introduction to this sermon was that we have values as Americans that are culturally true but not biblically true. In our value system, the ending of our stories always end happily. It is as if we don't know how to respond to anything else. In most parts of the world, endings are not happy. The psalmist says in 42:3, "My tears have been my food both day and night".
Nothing could be more true for the people of Ethiopia in a literal sense that we can't even comprehend. Because of our deeply embedded value system, there is a valid fear that when we are faced with a culture like Ethiopia, where orphans are thrown aside, parents die of HIV/AIDS, food and water is no where to be found, and children die of diseases that are easily cured here, we may place a barrier between ourselves and the Lord with the big question "WHY?". "Why do you allow such suffering?", "Why do you not do something?", "Why do I have all that I have?"
Matt Cassidy's spoke directly to how we overpower this fear. In Psalm 42, the psalmist says many times over to himself "Hope in God. Hope in God" . It is believing in this that is the only true emotional and spiritual preparation for the poverty in Zeway. Our hope in this world is not in a trip to Zeway to love on 48 orphans, our hope is not in the billions of dollars sent in aid, our hope isn't even in teaching men how to fish instead of giving them fish. Our hope is in the Lord. Our hope is in His eternal perspective and His faithfulness in working out all things for good. Our hope is in His return to rule over His kingdom in the way He intended.
So, there may be 3 ways we can return from this trip: 1. bitter and blaming God for the world's suffering. 2. Complacent and with a loss of hope that anything can get better. OR 3. Hoping more fervently and with more conviction that only in Christ's return will the wrongs in this world be righted. We are praying for #3.
We had our final prep meeting last week discussing and seeking God's truth on how we mentally, spiritually and emotionally prepare for the sights, sounds and smells we will experience in Ethiopia. Poverty in Africa is like no other experienced in the world. And the team is coming from a culture in which prosperity is experienced like no other place in the world.
Which made it especially timely that the pastor of our church (Grace Covenant Church,) Matt Cassidy, taught a couple weeks ago a sermon entitled "Faith to Endure" (click here to listen), focused on Psalm 42. The introduction to this sermon was that we have values as Americans that are culturally true but not biblically true. In our value system, the ending of our stories always end happily. It is as if we don't know how to respond to anything else. In most parts of the world, endings are not happy. The psalmist says in 42:3, "My tears have been my food both day and night".
Nothing could be more true for the people of Ethiopia in a literal sense that we can't even comprehend. Because of our deeply embedded value system, there is a valid fear that when we are faced with a culture like Ethiopia, where orphans are thrown aside, parents die of HIV/AIDS, food and water is no where to be found, and children die of diseases that are easily cured here, we may place a barrier between ourselves and the Lord with the big question "WHY?". "Why do you allow such suffering?", "Why do you not do something?", "Why do I have all that I have?"
Matt Cassidy's spoke directly to how we overpower this fear. In Psalm 42, the psalmist says many times over to himself "Hope in God. Hope in God" . It is believing in this that is the only true emotional and spiritual preparation for the poverty in Zeway. Our hope in this world is not in a trip to Zeway to love on 48 orphans, our hope is not in the billions of dollars sent in aid, our hope isn't even in teaching men how to fish instead of giving them fish. Our hope is in the Lord. Our hope is in His eternal perspective and His faithfulness in working out all things for good. Our hope is in His return to rule over His kingdom in the way He intended.
So, there may be 3 ways we can return from this trip: 1. bitter and blaming God for the world's suffering. 2. Complacent and with a loss of hope that anything can get better. OR 3. Hoping more fervently and with more conviction that only in Christ's return will the wrongs in this world be righted. We are praying for #3.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Funny
Want to hear a funny story? So last summer Christopher signed up to participate in his first Ironman. Yes, my husband is beyond human, nuts, and he pretty much rocks. Anyway, you have to sign up for this race a year in advance. Registration opened the day after the 2008 race concluded and was filled within days. Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, June 21, 2009 is where Chris has planned to be since June 2008.
Late last summer we also began to discuss a trip back to Ethiopia as part of this Zeway project we are so blessed to work on. Before Christmas we learned that it was very likely the Ethiopia trip would occur late May, early June. Chris looked at me and said, "I'm out. It just does not work with the Ironman." I agreed and within 60 seconds we decided I would go to Ethiopia with the group since he would need to remain in Austin for training - seeing as how that was just about the time he would need to peak for the race. It was just simple Bauer logic.
A week or so before our first Zeway trip meeting in January, out of the blue, Chris said, "You know, I would really love to go to Ethiopia. I wish I could make it work out somehow. But it just does not make sense, right?" I agreed I just could not see how it would work, although I would love for him to join me. The following day our friend, Matt Kouri (who is also going on the Zeway trip), called Chris and asked, "Is there any way we could work around your training so you could go to Zeway?"
That evening Chris and I decided, you know - we should back up and start where we should have began in the first place...actually praying about it and seeing what God would have us do versus what we think makes sense. Let me think...my peon brain versus GOD. Yes, back up and pray. Let's do that.
Laughing, Chris and I both arrived for that first Zeway trip meeting in January. We were giggling and shaking our heads at how absurd it was for Chris to consider going on this trip after all the time, money and sweat Chris had invested in this Ironman. It just did not make sense. BUT, he was feeling strongly that God was leading him to join us on this trip and for us, that was all that mattered. It didn't make sense but we've learned better than to argue with the God of the universe.
It gets funnier.
One of Chris's partners at his accounting firm has a client - Glimmer of Hope. They are based here in Austin and they do incredible humanitarian work in Ethiopia. As it turns out, as part of the audit, SOMEONE needs to visit a few of Glimmer's project sites in Ethiopia....hmmm...just about the time Chris and I will be there. Wonder who could do that? Again, we found ourselves laughing.
We also found ourselves encouraged at God's further affirmation that in spite of it makeing no sense to us, Chris is supposed to go on this trip. We have yet to figure out how in the world he is supposed to swim/bike/run in Ethiopia, and we are taking a step of faith in hoping he won't get sick.
By the time we return from Ethiopia, Chris will have just 2 weeks until we head to Idaho. I love God's sense of humor and the way He teaches us that He knows the big picture and all we see is this microscopic view. I can't wait to see how it all works out.
Late last summer we also began to discuss a trip back to Ethiopia as part of this Zeway project we are so blessed to work on. Before Christmas we learned that it was very likely the Ethiopia trip would occur late May, early June. Chris looked at me and said, "I'm out. It just does not work with the Ironman." I agreed and within 60 seconds we decided I would go to Ethiopia with the group since he would need to remain in Austin for training - seeing as how that was just about the time he would need to peak for the race. It was just simple Bauer logic.
A week or so before our first Zeway trip meeting in January, out of the blue, Chris said, "You know, I would really love to go to Ethiopia. I wish I could make it work out somehow. But it just does not make sense, right?" I agreed I just could not see how it would work, although I would love for him to join me. The following day our friend, Matt Kouri (who is also going on the Zeway trip), called Chris and asked, "Is there any way we could work around your training so you could go to Zeway?"
That evening Chris and I decided, you know - we should back up and start where we should have began in the first place...actually praying about it and seeing what God would have us do versus what we think makes sense. Let me think...my peon brain versus GOD. Yes, back up and pray. Let's do that.
Laughing, Chris and I both arrived for that first Zeway trip meeting in January. We were giggling and shaking our heads at how absurd it was for Chris to consider going on this trip after all the time, money and sweat Chris had invested in this Ironman. It just did not make sense. BUT, he was feeling strongly that God was leading him to join us on this trip and for us, that was all that mattered. It didn't make sense but we've learned better than to argue with the God of the universe.
It gets funnier.
One of Chris's partners at his accounting firm has a client - Glimmer of Hope. They are based here in Austin and they do incredible humanitarian work in Ethiopia. As it turns out, as part of the audit, SOMEONE needs to visit a few of Glimmer's project sites in Ethiopia....hmmm...just about the time Chris and I will be there. Wonder who could do that? Again, we found ourselves laughing.
We also found ourselves encouraged at God's further affirmation that in spite of it makeing no sense to us, Chris is supposed to go on this trip. We have yet to figure out how in the world he is supposed to swim/bike/run in Ethiopia, and we are taking a step of faith in hoping he won't get sick.
By the time we return from Ethiopia, Chris will have just 2 weeks until we head to Idaho. I love God's sense of humor and the way He teaches us that He knows the big picture and all we see is this microscopic view. I can't wait to see how it all works out.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Zeway Update
We continue to plan for our Ethiopia trip in May. Our current focus is raising financial support for the trip and shots, lots of shots. Chris and I need to get a couple extra immunization shots as we will be traveling outside the capital city this time. Lily and Claire are excited to watch us get shots since they (and Zane) are usually on the receiving end of that needle at well check appointments.
Our team met with Food for the Hungry's in country director to Ethiopia last month. He was in town and able to provide the group with more details on our day-to-day iteniary while in country, as well as cultural insight. We were also excited to send him back to Ethiopia with these:
...these sweet little hand cutouts made by the children in our church for the Zeway orphans. I divided them up into 48 envelopes and marked each envelope with the child's name so they would have something of their own to open.
Last week Chris and I went to visit The Gladney Center in Ft. Worth to attend an Ethiopian cultural dinner. The infamous Belay (Gladney's in country director to Ethiopia) was in town, and as always it was such a treat to visit with him and get a bit of an update on the children in Ethiopia. There are now estimated to be 6 million orphans in Ethiopia. Just 400 of these children were adopted last year. Gladney's staff works tirelessly on behalf of so many children, and not just in relation to adoption but in terms of programs they have developed to help those that are not being adopted - leadership programs, college scholarships, job training, etc. To learn more about Gladney's humanitarian projects in Ethiopia and to donate, visit here.
Our team met with Food for the Hungry's in country director to Ethiopia last month. He was in town and able to provide the group with more details on our day-to-day iteniary while in country, as well as cultural insight. We were also excited to send him back to Ethiopia with these:
...these sweet little hand cutouts made by the children in our church for the Zeway orphans. I divided them up into 48 envelopes and marked each envelope with the child's name so they would have something of their own to open.
Last week Chris and I went to visit The Gladney Center in Ft. Worth to attend an Ethiopian cultural dinner. The infamous Belay (Gladney's in country director to Ethiopia) was in town, and as always it was such a treat to visit with him and get a bit of an update on the children in Ethiopia. There are now estimated to be 6 million orphans in Ethiopia. Just 400 of these children were adopted last year. Gladney's staff works tirelessly on behalf of so many children, and not just in relation to adoption but in terms of programs they have developed to help those that are not being adopted - leadership programs, college scholarships, job training, etc. To learn more about Gladney's humanitarian projects in Ethiopia and to donate, visit here.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
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