Sunday, September 20, 2009

Israel


Friday night was a treat for us!! Israel, Angie, and Gideon came over for dinner!! If you haven't read my past entries, Israel is our new Ethiopian friend that I met on the airplane when I came to house hunt in El Paso right before we traveled to Ethiopia to pick up Nahome!

Well--- Friday night was an amazing and inspiring evening as they joined us for an Ethiopian FEAST! It was delicious and to eat Injera and spicy Berbere Chicken while listening to the AMAZING life story of this neat young man, well-- it was WONDERFUL! Joel and I were both captivated as he shared with us the story of his journey through life! Isreal became an Ethiopian orphan at the age of 9 and travelled for 11 years through many countries, scary situations, hunger pangs, near starvation, prison, child slavery, etc.etc. to finally reach the destination he had dreamed of since he lost his parents--- America.

I personally think he should write a book about his life story as his experiences as an orphan could have such a positive impact on the American awareness of the orphan crisis in the world. I am convinced that 99% of Americans don't understand what it means to be an orphaned child-- either that, or they are in denial and don't want to think about it so they just pretend it doesn't exist. I am praying that God will open Israel's heart to sharing his story to increase awareness and help Americans understand that we can IMPACT the WORLD by loving orphans and doing just a little to meet the needs of these children!

Our evening with this sweet man and his family was a blessing to us and we are hoping to be able to visit with them very often. We are also praying BIG for Israel over the next few days and want to ask you to pray for him also. He is in the process of joining the US Army to serve our nation as a linguist (he speaks 8 languages fluently and would be an amazing addition to our armed forces!) He takes his language tests on this Tuesday. Will you pray for Israel on Tuesday morning? He is very hopeful that if he does well on Tuesday, he will be able to serve the country that he now calls home. Please join us, Israel's Christian family, in praying for this grown up orphan as he seeks God's plan for his life!

Blessings abound,
AMY

John 14: 13-14 "And whatever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."

Psalm 145:18,19 "The Lord is near to all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desires of those that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them."

Monday, September 14, 2009

EXCITED

We are Super Excited about the Lord's work for our family. We are praying BIG folks and God has shown us that HE is BIGGER than our wildest imaginations! His plans are more than we could ask or even imagine and we are blessed by being a part of such miracles and opportunities to serve HIM.

We were CHANGED by our trip to Ethiopia. We fell in love with so many children and people hungry for love (and food!!) We've been praying about mission work in Ethiopia since then and God has started revealing and opening doors and windows for this opportunity to share the gospel, food, clothing, medicine and LOVE to the needy people in Ethiopia. God has connected HIS people, opened some of HIS doors and is truly at WORK coordinating this medical mission!!! We will begin fundraising for this medical mission soon--- we're just praying that the Lord will show us how to fundraise to make HIS will happen and ETERNALLY impact the people of Ethiopia-- we've never done this kind of thing before!! This is new territory for our family! Please pray for us as we strive to serve HIM and pray big for Ethiopia!

On a side note-- Joshua Nahome is doing well. His English speaking skills are amazing me this week. He is making huge strides in speaking!! We have many good days and some tougher days but overall, WHAT A BLESSING to be his family. It's an unconditional love that I'm honored to give and also receive! He's a very sweet little boy with a super sweet smile!! See for yourself..... isn't this a sweet smile???
So-- you ask-- what are the tough days like with Nahome?? Well--it's mainly normal kid challenges like fighting over toys, talking loudly over one another to get attention, playing too roughly, using poor eating manners,not sharing, walking in the kitchen a thousand times every day wanting snacks- (he eats tons and can not possibly be hungry immediately after a big meal--- I think it is a food issue to some degree---a fascination that here in America, food is AVAILABLE and his attempt at wanting to make sure that he has access to it!) We have equity issues, making sure that everyone gets their turn sitting in this seat or that seat, etc. etc., we have issues with interrupting and he has a hard time waiting for things! Most of the issues are not adoption issues at all-- but just normal sibling issues! The difference is that EVERYThiNG here is new to Nahome. He is just LEARNING how our family works and every challenge and issue is a learning time for him. I do get tired after a full day of meeting needs, teaching and playing referee but I would have it no other way and am very thankful for the opportunity to be the mother my 5th child! We are VERY BLESSED!

So-- you ask-- what are the good days like for Nahome? Well-- they are full of laughter, smiles and the chatter of little voices talking to one another or themselves. They are moments snuggled on the couch together reading, lots of big hugs and kisses, the little twinkle in the eyes of a happy child. Watching him learn and interacting during a game. They are the fun moments of excitement over new experiences, new tastes, new sights, new smells, new fun, new food, new shoes, new pants. They are watching him watering the flowers and the excitement over feeding the fish. It is the fun of seeing him LOVE swimming and riding his bicycle. It's the amazement in his eyes when he first went to the zoo and the sheer delight in his eyes when he ate his first S'more!! It has been a blessing for us to see the joy in Nahome's eyes. Here's a picture of Nahome's very first camping trip-- he was eating his first marshmellow ever! (He loved it!!!)


The blessing and joy is in the realization that God is using us!! It is a true miracle that God would choose to use US, very broken and unworthy vessels, to make an ETERNAL impact on Nahome's life. Nahome was an orphan and NOW HE HAS A FAMILY. wow. We are God's provision and love to a once fatherless/orphaned child. What God has done in our family is just amazing and the reality of our new life together is that God has shown us the depth of HIS LOVE through Nahome.

Truly blessed and thankful today-
AMY

"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families." Pslam 68:5-6

"Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of God is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." James 1:27

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spriit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you." Matthew 28:18-20

Please pray BIG for Ethiopia and for the upcoming medical mission trip to Nedjo! I'll keep you posted as things progress!! :)

Monday, September 7, 2009

A Weekend of FUN!



We had lots of fun this weekend. We drove 4 hours to Albuquerque and camped at a KOA campsite there for an inexpensive but special family outing! We went to the ZOO and also to an amazing AQUARIUM there and road a train between the two places!! The kids were in heaven and we had a great time! Here are some photos!

This guy was in deep thought the whole time we were there.....

Joshua Nahome loved climbing all over this guy!


Jackson and Hannah loved the Rhinos.


Hannah feeding the giraffes!


The train ride was a hit with these two boys!!


Joel Daniel was trying so hard to smile for this pic at the aquarium! HAHA!


Camel Rides for everyone!!!


This shark looks so fake to me--- but he was real!! The aquarium was amazing!


Madilyn and Jackson in the butterfly arbor.....


Psalm 127:3-5 "As arrows are in the hands of a mighty man, so are the children of the youth. Happy is the man that has his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."

Psalm 107:41 "Yet he setteth the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock."

Thankful for a full quiver and very
blessed with a healthy and happy flock today,
AMY