First Christmas in America

Homemade Ethiopian Injera (Love in a Basket!)

Flowers in Ethiopia

When I went to Ethiopia I was amazed at how green it was and how many homes in Addis Ababa were adorned with flowers.  Oh, how I love this country.  How I wish God would send me back...for more than a handful of flowers.

Adoption-April 2010-Ethiopia!

Simenesh...seconds after she met us for the first time.

one girl,

an orphan with a prayer,
that was laid out before her Father,

for parents,

*Christian parents*

parents who radically followed Jesus...

Prayer answered...

we all are so grateful!

Ethiopia on Mount Entoto

Natural Ethiopian Hair

Our two Ethiopian beauties, how blessed we are indeed!

Ethiopian Car

Ethiopia the Stick Women of Mt. Entoto

These Ethiopian women are so very poor.  They climb Mount Entoto in hopes of making a few cents every day.  The government allows them to break off branches from the trees that grow on the Mountain and sell them down in town. 

 They carry them on their backs, day after day.  Some have no shoes to wear, nor the money to buy them.  You can tell a *stick woman* as they become permanently hunched.  How I cried to God to bring help to them.  I can't imagine their lives or their daily pain and suffering.

Oh how they touched my heart.

Mama and Her New Baby

Simenesh Rebekkah...and her Mama

As we left Ethiopia (April 2010) ...waiting for our ride home.

God is so good!

Sweet, sweet Alazar

This man is dear to my heart.  He is a lover of God and a brother in Christ.  It happens that God had us bump into him along this past journey to Ethiopia.  Our lives are richer because of his heart, his sharing, his love for orphans and the Kingdom of heaven.

Here Alazar stood on Mount Entoto, telling us about the 5 mountains that surround Ethiopia.  Sharing more of his huge love for his beautiful country that we love so much too.

As we stood there, it came to me that these five mountains were like the very fingers of God.  They surrounded Ethiopia, as He does himself.

Alazar laughed.  He said he never thought of this before, but that he would ponder it in his heart, probably for the rest of his life now. 

We pray that God blesses Alazar.  He is indeed a man after God's own heart. 

Just another reason to love Celebrate Children International (our adoption agency), because Alazar might share your journey too.

A Heavy Load...Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Women work very hard in Ethiopia.

Embracing Culture (Ethiopian/Gurage Dance)

The teacher and the students:

Gurage Dance-

Cultural to the Gurage Tribe-Wolisso, Ethiopia

Being taught by our new Ethiopian daughter Simenesh

to her sister and sister's sweet friends.

A Trilogy of *Shock Face*

One of the Princess Mercy's newest faces...and oh, how it gets us laughing!

And as the youngest of 8 siblings, she probably should have come up with this face a little sooner.  Never a dull moment, you know?!

On the Streets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

A Driveway ...Grace Guest House, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Saying Good-bye to Friends-Ethiopia

So many children in Ethiopia need families to hold them.  My heart was especially taken by these two older boys.  Most families turn away from older children.  From the moment I saw these boys, even prior to meeting them, my heart loved them. 

After meeting them, I knew why.  What absolute wonderful young men:  godly, kind, gentle, loving, respectful, sweet, smart and humble.  These two boys have a family- they recently came home.  How lucky we will be when once a year they venture into our neck of the world and we get to hug them again.

Would you consider adopting and older child?  I double dare you to ask God...I double dare you to step out in faith.  I can tell you that a beautiful child awaits you.  Oh, Lord, that you would break our hearts for the things that break yours.  Let me never stop shedding tears for the least of these you tell us to love. 

God never intended children to be in orphanages.  The Father's heart is adoption.  He wants to SET them into families.  It is His will.  It is His desire.  Won't you say yes?

Psalm 68:6

God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

Scaffolding, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Dinner~ Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Ethiopian Coffee (Bunna) Ceremony

BE still my bunna loving heart.  Ethiopian coffee is the best in the World! I miss it already!

Another of My Ethiopian Encounters