We are all thrilled to be going to the Cannon Beach Conference Center again this year. This is my 35th year. We leave this Friday before dawn and return Monday night. Leon's plane departs at 6am Tuesday morning.
We were sad that Simeon and Patrick wouldn't be able to be with us at the conference center but, we have peace and joy about God's plans. As you can imagine, we didn't have any money to attend the retreat this year. My sweet mom and step dad have generously paid the expenses for my whole family (all 9 of us).
Leon and I have had some emotional moments as the time slips away until our new children will be here,.. forever. We know that it will never be the same again. It will not go back to how it is now. We feel the loss and at the same time we are eager to embrace the new good that God has planned for us.
After 3 years of pregnancy, we will finally be in labor. After 13 years of acknowledging the joyful burden of adoption that God has put in our hearts, we will finally hold the fruit of surrender in our arms.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Letting steadfastness have it's full effect James 1:2
The flight was changed and the tickets purchased. Leon flies out June 1st and returns June 10th. He will receive the children upon arriving at the airport in Monrovia. They are staying at the Cape Hotel next door to the embassy. I believe they have a pool. That will be a first for Simeon and Patrick.
We are told that they might not have ever seen a white person or electricity before they get to the airport to meet their papa.
Here are the main reasons (in a nutshell) why we are willing and even eager to adopt:
1. We believe that God has called our family to adopt. Therefore we are happily accept this as a joyful burden.
2. God adopted us. Therefore we want to display the gospel to our children and the world through adopting.
Patrick and Simeon are real children without a family or home. They need Jesus and a safe place to grow up and experience unconditional love.
God has provided the funds needed every step of the way. We have paid almost $20,000 for adoption expenses over the past 3 years. $5,350 were given in donations and the rest came from skimping and saving wherever we could. This has all been God's provision.
Please pray about donating money to us so we can pay off the plane tickets and pay for the Liberian travel expenses including; food, hotel and taxi. We need a total of $5,300 to cover all additional expenses for this adoption plus approximately $3000 in attorney fees for adoption in the State of Idaho once they are home.
We are told that they might not have ever seen a white person or electricity before they get to the airport to meet their papa.
Here are the main reasons (in a nutshell) why we are willing and even eager to adopt:
1. We believe that God has called our family to adopt. Therefore we are happily accept this as a joyful burden.
2. God adopted us. Therefore we want to display the gospel to our children and the world through adopting.
Patrick and Simeon are real children without a family or home. They need Jesus and a safe place to grow up and experience unconditional love.
God has provided the funds needed every step of the way. We have paid almost $20,000 for adoption expenses over the past 3 years. $5,350 were given in donations and the rest came from skimping and saving wherever we could. This has all been God's provision.
Please pray about donating money to us so we can pay off the plane tickets and pay for the Liberian travel expenses including; food, hotel and taxi. We need a total of $5,300 to cover all additional expenses for this adoption plus approximately $3000 in attorney fees for adoption in the State of Idaho once they are home.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
The Ultimate Event
If you are in the CDA area this is for you:
The 1st annual Christian Battle of the Bands
Fri May 21 6:00~10:00pm
The 1st annual Christian Battle of the Bands
Fri May 21 6:00~10:00pm
$2.00 world missions donation at the door
Silver Valley Worship Center Smelterville, ID (near Kellogg)
Bands:
1) CALLED OUT
2) Sarabeth (This is the Byrum girls)
3) LOVE HERE AFTER
4) FAITH YOON
5) YM YM FAM (This is the Goodenough family band. aka Yum Yum Children)
6) 4th Watch
7) PNEUMA
(One of these bands is the Cider Mountain Studio folks' son)
Bands:
1) CALLED OUT
2) Sarabeth (This is the Byrum girls)
3) LOVE HERE AFTER
4) FAITH YOON
5) YM YM FAM (This is the Goodenough family band. aka Yum Yum Children)
6) 4th Watch
7) PNEUMA
(One of these bands is the Cider Mountain Studio folks' son)
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Never Fear Children, Papa Is Coming!
We finally got the call that we've been waiting 3 years for. The boys are ready to come home!
The laws have changed over these last 3 years. The children are not escorted by Angel's Haven anymore. One of the new parents has to come and pick them up.
So, Leon is going to Liberia, Africa! He will leave June 5th and Lord Willing he will return with the children on June 14th. That is the day before Simeon's 9th birthday and two days before Asaph's 11th.
The plane flight is booked. The tickets have to be purchased by Friday. By that time I should have a confirmed appointment for him at the Embassy in Monrovia, Liberia and the money for the tickets.
The Lord has supplied all of our needs for this adoption so far, according to his riches in glory. We couldn't possibly afford to eat, live and adopt and yet, the money has been there every step of the way.
We don't have the money for the plane tickets and the additional expense of traveling to Liberia.
I have faith that God will provide if it's His will. I don't believe that it's about us or how we feel.
At the very beginning of this adoption journey I believed that, God was going to show us and the church that, "He is able". Then so many details and time and life happened that I sort of forgot about that vision. I believe it again.
--jeni
The laws have changed over these last 3 years. The children are not escorted by Angel's Haven anymore. One of the new parents has to come and pick them up.
So, Leon is going to Liberia, Africa! He will leave June 5th and Lord Willing he will return with the children on June 14th. That is the day before Simeon's 9th birthday and two days before Asaph's 11th.
The plane flight is booked. The tickets have to be purchased by Friday. By that time I should have a confirmed appointment for him at the Embassy in Monrovia, Liberia and the money for the tickets.
The Lord has supplied all of our needs for this adoption so far, according to his riches in glory. We couldn't possibly afford to eat, live and adopt and yet, the money has been there every step of the way.
We don't have the money for the plane tickets and the additional expense of traveling to Liberia.
I have faith that God will provide if it's His will. I don't believe that it's about us or how we feel.
At the very beginning of this adoption journey I believed that, God was going to show us and the church that, "He is able". Then so many details and time and life happened that I sort of forgot about that vision. I believe it again.
--jeni
Sunday, May 09, 2010
March 2010 Family Photos
Jennifer and Elsie (7months) hiking near home. March 2010
Ephraim-15, Asaph-10, Naphtali-6, Zuriel-8, Miah-2, Havilah-13
This is the band: Blessed YM YM FAM. Asaph-bass, Hav- keyboard/vocals, Leon-guitar/vocals, Ephraim-drums/harmonica/vocalsRedeeming 60's garage rock.
Ephraim and Papa are building beautiful wood stained amp cases for sale.
Duck, Duck, Goose during a visit at our home with the Baxter family
Sunday, May 02, 2010
Last step drags on
I am needing to lean in to God so much more these last few days. Sometimes everything seems wrong and bad and I sense Spiritual attack to me and my family. I know God will be there when we draw near to Him.
The last step in getting our African children home is the exit passes. They have been putting us off every day for weeks. This morning they told us that the first family is being allowed to go pick up their daughter in Liberia. At that time they said they will review our case and let us know something. That is not happening until May 10th. We'll see if they are actually allowed to leave with their child.
If I were asked adoption advice at this time I would recommend private adoption only. There are babies in every hospital across America that are left to die, suffering with lack of food and water until they do. Christians for the most part are unaware of them as they go about their self centered lives. How can we love the least of these if we don't know they are even there. I didn't know this were happening until a year or so ago. You can find out about that in my past blogs.
I hope that my family and I can minister to these babies some day soon. My heart swells with love and longing for them. I know my life purpose is to care for children in a way that is different than most can. When I think about this, I love my endless tasks of laundry and cooking and child care etc. I love my life.
The last step in getting our African children home is the exit passes. They have been putting us off every day for weeks. This morning they told us that the first family is being allowed to go pick up their daughter in Liberia. At that time they said they will review our case and let us know something. That is not happening until May 10th. We'll see if they are actually allowed to leave with their child.
If I were asked adoption advice at this time I would recommend private adoption only. There are babies in every hospital across America that are left to die, suffering with lack of food and water until they do. Christians for the most part are unaware of them as they go about their self centered lives. How can we love the least of these if we don't know they are even there. I didn't know this were happening until a year or so ago. You can find out about that in my past blogs.
I hope that my family and I can minister to these babies some day soon. My heart swells with love and longing for them. I know my life purpose is to care for children in a way that is different than most can. When I think about this, I love my endless tasks of laundry and cooking and child care etc. I love my life.
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