The City of Addis - A short documentary from Session 7 Media on Vimeo.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Addis... not the same as the countryside, but the people amaze me with their HOPE and JOY
Page down to turn off the 'music' on my blog first...sorry 'bout that!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
US Embassy Update...
I know little to nothing re: what this means, but in the words of our agency:
Jeremiah's files were accepted and Jacob's were declined. They requested a "document they've never asked for before". Hope and prayer will be for finding the document this week (if it exists) and submitting it for next Tuesday.
There is the question if the boys' embassy appts will sink up now or not. Even if we request a later date for Jeremiah's if it gets through quickly, then we run the chance of a longer wait for a new date (read: US Embassy is not there to accommodate). So, we face again that there are 'rules' that make this process good for many reasons, but in other ways, they can create obstacles that are inconsistent.
Me? I ache again. I didn't expect that! I'm ready to be back in Ethiopia and rush straight to the orphanage and pick up our boys. We could do that tomorrow/asap...it's just getting the Visa approval to get them home that's uncertain. I wonder if 'something weird' will affect Jacob getting here..with his brother and with his new family. More than ever I know they were meant to be together, not just as cousins, but BROTHERS. I'm having random thoughts as crazy as flying out if we got approval for Jeremiah and just staying in country until Jakob's comes through(who's in? well..guess i need Andy to be:p) Then I remember, I have family to care for here, the boys have been and will be covered in the Lord's provision and HIS timing is perfect.
Ironically, we've been told that we CAN meet with Jacob's birth mother when we go if we want and she's willing. I wonder. I wonder if we should 'visit' her. I wonder if this is part of the story for our boys? I wonder about facing her in our excitement and her sadness. I wonder a lot... BUT, as I pulled into the driveway after a shuttling kids just now, sitting in the driver's seat, I put my head back,and was reminded...I'M NOT DRIVING but you are Lord. So I ask: Give me JOY, Give me HOPE, Give me PEACE. I know you can because you've already given me Jesus!
Carry on friends...and THANK YOU FOR PRAYING!! WE ARE SOOO BLESSED BY THE BODY OF CHRIST!
Jeremiah's files were accepted and Jacob's were declined. They requested a "document they've never asked for before". Hope and prayer will be for finding the document this week (if it exists) and submitting it for next Tuesday.
There is the question if the boys' embassy appts will sink up now or not. Even if we request a later date for Jeremiah's if it gets through quickly, then we run the chance of a longer wait for a new date (read: US Embassy is not there to accommodate). So, we face again that there are 'rules' that make this process good for many reasons, but in other ways, they can create obstacles that are inconsistent.
Me? I ache again. I didn't expect that! I'm ready to be back in Ethiopia and rush straight to the orphanage and pick up our boys. We could do that tomorrow/asap...it's just getting the Visa approval to get them home that's uncertain. I wonder if 'something weird' will affect Jacob getting here..with his brother and with his new family. More than ever I know they were meant to be together, not just as cousins, but BROTHERS. I'm having random thoughts as crazy as flying out if we got approval for Jeremiah and just staying in country until Jakob's comes through(who's in? well..guess i need Andy to be:p) Then I remember, I have family to care for here, the boys have been and will be covered in the Lord's provision and HIS timing is perfect.
Ironically, we've been told that we CAN meet with Jacob's birth mother when we go if we want and she's willing. I wonder. I wonder if we should 'visit' her. I wonder if this is part of the story for our boys? I wonder about facing her in our excitement and her sadness. I wonder a lot... BUT, as I pulled into the driveway after a shuttling kids just now, sitting in the driver's seat, I put my head back,and was reminded...I'M NOT DRIVING but you are Lord. So I ask: Give me JOY, Give me HOPE, Give me PEACE. I know you can because you've already given me Jesus!
Carry on friends...and THANK YOU FOR PRAYING!! WE ARE SOOO BLESSED BY THE BODY OF CHRIST!
A picture of what I call 'Settled Hope'...
praying, aching, wondering, grasping, believing, repenting...
This morning I made myself get up EARLY and before I got up I even started praying at the start of the day in Ethiopia where our boys' paperwork is 'suppose' to be submitted to Embassy today. I've heard nothing, and besides pouncing my mail every 'bling' I'm really good with the uncertainty. This morning I knew I needed to start my day asking, hoping, thinking and believing with Jesus. I know myself. It's good I'm learning I can't function apart from 'The Vine'. I've fought it, tried it (and continue to) and failed. If there's one thing (and there's more than that) in this journey, I'm learning submission and trust of God's goodness and plans for me. So that's why I rise to pray. I have to. He helps me to 'fit in' and rest in what HE's doing but more importantly, who HE IS!
I didn't know today when I clung mostly to Romans 8:32 (He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?) that this verse was going to be the truth for my needy heart but also for a friend who was going before the courts today in the Ukraine for 2 precious girls.
For some reason, the courts just had one of the girls (Pauline) 'available' for adoption. The other (Charlotte) needs to remain for another 1 1/2 years -ish. I felt the lump in my throat. I sensed the 'unfairness' and wanting to fix it. I glimpsed the brokenness of this world in an orphaned child alone with HIV yet a family READY and in her country supposedly 'ok'd' to adopt her. But almost instantly, my friend's hope being placed in Jesus, not in the 'broken' circumstances showed me our RISEN LORD! In her words...
"So, the question for me is - do I trust God when things don't make any sense. The answer is a resounding - I DO!!!! God, in fact, rules this world with wisdom, power and love! I trust that when God says that all things work together for good for those who love him, he means it. And he doesn't only mean it, he can deliver! I truly don't understand and I am heartbroken, but just as if I have a death in my family, in my grief, I don't grieve as those who have no hope. I have a great HOPE and I am going to rest in that hope as we watch the redemption of Pauline. One day I am sure God will explain to me his plan for Charlotte. "
Oh Jesus, only one clinging to YOU can have this kind of HOPE! It's a settled hope in YOU...not in what's going on around us. I pray Jesus for you to redeem the lives of orphans, to set them in families and bring the good news of Jesus to bear in their lives! If you can do this in my once orphaned heart, Lord, I KNOW you can do this in the least of these. Bergmans...WE'RE PRAYING!!!
This morning I made myself get up EARLY and before I got up I even started praying at the start of the day in Ethiopia where our boys' paperwork is 'suppose' to be submitted to Embassy today. I've heard nothing, and besides pouncing my mail every 'bling' I'm really good with the uncertainty. This morning I knew I needed to start my day asking, hoping, thinking and believing with Jesus. I know myself. It's good I'm learning I can't function apart from 'The Vine'. I've fought it, tried it (and continue to) and failed. If there's one thing (and there's more than that) in this journey, I'm learning submission and trust of God's goodness and plans for me. So that's why I rise to pray. I have to. He helps me to 'fit in' and rest in what HE's doing but more importantly, who HE IS!
I didn't know today when I clung mostly to Romans 8:32 (He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?) that this verse was going to be the truth for my needy heart but also for a friend who was going before the courts today in the Ukraine for 2 precious girls.
For some reason, the courts just had one of the girls (Pauline) 'available' for adoption. The other (Charlotte) needs to remain for another 1 1/2 years -ish. I felt the lump in my throat. I sensed the 'unfairness' and wanting to fix it. I glimpsed the brokenness of this world in an orphaned child alone with HIV yet a family READY and in her country supposedly 'ok'd' to adopt her. But almost instantly, my friend's hope being placed in Jesus, not in the 'broken' circumstances showed me our RISEN LORD! In her words...
"So, the question for me is - do I trust God when things don't make any sense. The answer is a resounding - I DO!!!! God, in fact, rules this world with wisdom, power and love! I trust that when God says that all things work together for good for those who love him, he means it. And he doesn't only mean it, he can deliver! I truly don't understand and I am heartbroken, but just as if I have a death in my family, in my grief, I don't grieve as those who have no hope. I have a great HOPE and I am going to rest in that hope as we watch the redemption of Pauline. One day I am sure God will explain to me his plan for Charlotte. "
Oh Jesus, only one clinging to YOU can have this kind of HOPE! It's a settled hope in YOU...not in what's going on around us. I pray Jesus for you to redeem the lives of orphans, to set them in families and bring the good news of Jesus to bear in their lives! If you can do this in my once orphaned heart, Lord, I KNOW you can do this in the least of these. Bergmans...WE'RE PRAYING!!!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
104 fever and counting...
So it’s amazing how fear brings out insecurities. I have one (Aliza) trooping through a high fever today. Fortunately, she’s SUCH a trooper, I have to make myself remember how awful a high fever feels. So tonight we prayed and in her usual mood she asked Jesus for what she’d like and then thanked him in spite of feeling rotten for the WONDERFUL day: to GET to go to church before she felt so bad, to have tv to watch when she feels bad, to have a mom and dad that care for her, to be able to stay home from school (i’ll take this as freedom from fear of missing school), for food when it does taste good and for POPSICLES. Then I add...and for you Jesus who is with us through it all;) Then it hits me...
How many feverish nights have my boys had without the assurance and cuddling in? How many times have they said thank you in the midst? And I don’t know. I wonder if they could just say what I added to her prayer..and thank YOU, Jesus for being with us. I know He was. Do they? I ache. I simply have not been the same since our travels in Africa. I’d like to say it was meeting ‘our boys’. It wasn’t. It was experiencing our living God in the people, beautiful country and our family. THAT was worth it. I’ve had to ponder if the Lord doesn’t call us to care for orphans for reasons other than what we see/think. I mean truly, I am glad to be a part of the Lord’s heart in that there are 2 LESS ORPHANS in the world because of HIS doing through OUR family. Still, that was just a glimpse. What we see as we walk this road is more of HIM. That contentment would be in poverty; that beauty would SCREAM in lack not more industry; that the Lord who created it all would say ‘be still, and know that I am God’ and SHOW US! I do believe we’ve experienced a renewal that makes us wonder why we haven’t when we’re home. Thankfully, the Lord is continuing to show us Himself. He’s just like that! Not in strength, smooth and ‘togetherness’ though. Ironically, it’s in the weak and uncertainty. I’m becoming (not arrived) accustomed to this uncertainty. It’s actually kinda freeing. I mean I LIKE ORDER AND PREDICTABILITY, but I’m enJOYing my God. I fight it. I try to fix it, and then, like Jacob (hint why our Yakob has significance in his name), I survive the wrestle, with a limp, but know my God a little more.
I had 1 day tomorrow (i repeat...1 day) where my kids were ‘occupied’ to wrap up home school grading and prep for standardized testing. 1 day...that’s all. It wasn’t much. Funny, I didn’t dwell there this time. If the GOD OF THE UNIVERSE sees fit that my 1 day can be interrupted by my precious daughters’ fever, then I need to get on board for that too.
It means 1 of 2 things: I either freak out about not being ready to get on a plan and bring these boys home OR I trust God sees it all and will work it all for my good. TODAY, I chose the latter. Thank you, Lord for helping me choose the 104 fever and counting verses fighting it. I welcome what you have...at least she has a mom to comfort her, pray for her and help her through. Thank you that YOU are the Father of the Fatherless... and for us!
How many feverish nights have my boys had without the assurance and cuddling in? How many times have they said thank you in the midst? And I don’t know. I wonder if they could just say what I added to her prayer..and thank YOU, Jesus for being with us. I know He was. Do they? I ache. I simply have not been the same since our travels in Africa. I’d like to say it was meeting ‘our boys’. It wasn’t. It was experiencing our living God in the people, beautiful country and our family. THAT was worth it. I’ve had to ponder if the Lord doesn’t call us to care for orphans for reasons other than what we see/think. I mean truly, I am glad to be a part of the Lord’s heart in that there are 2 LESS ORPHANS in the world because of HIS doing through OUR family. Still, that was just a glimpse. What we see as we walk this road is more of HIM. That contentment would be in poverty; that beauty would SCREAM in lack not more industry; that the Lord who created it all would say ‘be still, and know that I am God’ and SHOW US! I do believe we’ve experienced a renewal that makes us wonder why we haven’t when we’re home. Thankfully, the Lord is continuing to show us Himself. He’s just like that! Not in strength, smooth and ‘togetherness’ though. Ironically, it’s in the weak and uncertainty. I’m becoming (not arrived) accustomed to this uncertainty. It’s actually kinda freeing. I mean I LIKE ORDER AND PREDICTABILITY, but I’m enJOYing my God. I fight it. I try to fix it, and then, like Jacob (hint why our Yakob has significance in his name), I survive the wrestle, with a limp, but know my God a little more.
I had 1 day tomorrow (i repeat...1 day) where my kids were ‘occupied’ to wrap up home school grading and prep for standardized testing. 1 day...that’s all. It wasn’t much. Funny, I didn’t dwell there this time. If the GOD OF THE UNIVERSE sees fit that my 1 day can be interrupted by my precious daughters’ fever, then I need to get on board for that too.
It means 1 of 2 things: I either freak out about not being ready to get on a plan and bring these boys home OR I trust God sees it all and will work it all for my good. TODAY, I chose the latter. Thank you, Lord for helping me choose the 104 fever and counting verses fighting it. I welcome what you have...at least she has a mom to comfort her, pray for her and help her through. Thank you that YOU are the Father of the Fatherless... and for us!
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