God Provides

While I would love to go to Ethiopia now...and the Philippines now too...I will not be traveling to ET in April or May as I had originally planned. I had several people...family...and three friends/mentors advise me to wait. However, the Lord rewarded that decision. When I inquired about possibly traveling another time, I was told about a trip in December to the same part of Ethiopia...and also found out that the trip I had planned on taking is up in the air. I pray that the others are still able to travel even though I won't be going this time. I also found out that the laptop I wanted was on sale--and does not go on sale often--so soon I will have a new fast laptop that will benefit me both in my future trip to the Philippines--and in keeping in touch with those I will meet when I do travel to Ethiopia. Here is the most amazing part of the story--my tax refund this year was bigger than it has ever been--almost half the cost of a trip to Ethiopia! So as I followed the Lord and waited--He provided me with a computer and still provided 1/2 my trip money on top of that. Now I am not saying for sure that I am going in December--but the money is there for when the time comes.

Speaking of Ethiopia--I know some of you have to be curious as to why all of a sudden I have a burning desire to go there on a short visit. While I would love to share my newest blessing with all of you--you will need to request an invite to my Ethiopia blog to get any more info! I have not forgotten about invites either--but I am trying to write out my story--well it is God's story, because I could never have written anything as amazing as what He did in my life just this year. I was really not planning on this blessing--but God gives us gifts when we least expect them. As soon as I get my new computer, I should be able to get the ET blog up to date, and then the invites will go out.

I am still planning on going to the Philippines--the exact time is still up in the air--still waiting on the Lord to confirm--I am hoping for this fall or early next year--but we shall see. For right now, I am just going to raise support for the Philippines trip--as Ethiopia is more of a personal trip....but I know the Lord can provide for both if that is His will!

Quick Update

I have been slacking on the blog lately... I am pretty busy the past couple weeks working almost every day. My upcoming trip to Ethiopia has been on my mind alot lately. There is much that I am not ready to share here... but will do that on my Ethiopia blog--it is private--let me know if you would like an invite--will get those sent out when I have finished writing out my story of how this trip came to be. I am praying the Lord will work everything out and confirm His will for me...but I am learning that sometimes we must trust God when He does not give us all the details...even when He calls us to do what others would not understand.

Sometimes following God gets frustrating when other people don't get it. Then there are the times I find myself following me instead of God. I really want to please Him--I am trying to remember that I am ultimately supposed to please God and not other people. I am trying to find time each day to read His Word. Somedays it doesn't happen, but I strive to make reading the Word a habit. Amidst the busyness of life, taking the time to pray and read my Bible is a must.

I am looking forward to the crazy adventures that the Lord has in store for me this year. I pray it will be the best year yet.... but only because of Him and what He is doing in my life--blessings that I never could have imagined...speaking of which...I will end this post and spend some time with my Saviour before going to bed.

New Pictures of Nadya and Anastasiya

I got these new pictures recently of Nadya, the little girl I am praying for, and Anastasiya, the baby I sponsored for Christmas. Both of these little girls need families? Aren't they precious?

This is Nadya:

This is Anastasiya:

Milena is blogging to find a family for Nadya, and I am blogging to find a family for Anastasiya. You can read these blogs by clicking on the buttons on my sidebar.

Long Overdue Update

I am sorry it has been so long since my last post. Things are really progressing as far as my next trip to the Philippines. I have been in contact with the missionaries I will be working with, and I am very excited! Right now, I am planning to go in September and stay a couple months, Lord willing.

However,the Lord seems to be leading me to possibly make a trip to visit an orphanage in Ethiopia in April or May. I cannot share much right now, but I am really praying for the money that I will need in order to go...the cost of the trip will be around $2500.I am keeping a separate blog all about that. Right now, that blog is private, as I am working on writing out the events leading up to my decision to take this trip. I may keep it private for awhile after that as I want to share some of the details with my friends and family before they become public information. Please let me know if you would like an invite to that blog, and I will try and do that once the blog is set up.

I am going to try and put up a fundraiser for Baby Anastasiya as well. I have not gotten around to that due to lack of computer...and may not get a computer for awhile if this trip to Ethiopia works out...as I will need to use some of the money I was saving for a computer to take this trip...but we shall see. Once I figure out how to set up the chip-in, I should be able to get the fundraiser set up.

Other than that, my life has been not too busy...I am still working at a craft store...and I just started volunteering with the local Down Syndrome Guild...and I am loving that. Looking at all those little faces on Reece's Rainbow, and reading lots of blogs just made me want to do something. The children I work with are so precious...but I cannot share any pictures as I don't have the parents' permission to do so.

Well, that is about it. I will try and update again soon.

More babies who need families

Check out the new buttons on my sidebar. Meet Ian, Martin, Mindy, and Wallace. These precious little ones WILL be transferred soon to a mental institution if they do not have families commit to adopt them immediately. This is an urgent plea to anyone who reads this...to check and see if your family is missing a son or daughter (or two)...these babies will likely die if they are transferred, and they cannot be adopted out of the institution. Look closely at these little faces...is one of them supposed to be yours?

I think it is so sad that these little ones are seen as less than valuable in their society due to how the Lord created them. Each one of these children, created perfectly in God's image...and probably doing a better job reflecting Him than most of us, who have experienced all the world has to offer, and have found time to focus on everything but Him. These little ones, having never experienced life outside the orphanage...innocent children who will forever be childlike...need to know the love of a family...a family who can introduce them to the love of Jesus. Jesus said whatever we do unto the least of these, we are doing to Him. The Bible speaks often of the value God places on caring for orphans...I don't see this as optional...The Bible also speaks of childlike faith and trust in Jesus Christ as the only requirement for salvation...something that comes easily to one of these little ones...so I must conclude that these four children are four of God's most valuable creatures. I hope we all do not get to miss out on all they have to offer.

You may wonder why I have a heart for these kids. I have a cousin with Down Syndrome, and some good friends have a teenage son who has Down Syndrome. My cousin is 24 now...just three years younger than me...she is a high school graduate, a valuable employee at two restaurants, and she is living in an apartment...quite an amazing young woman if you ask me. The young man I mentioned, I have known since he was a baby. One day, when he was younger, he and his mother came over to visit my mom. My grandma lived with us, and she had Parkinson's and dementia. She did not always know where she was or what was going on. Most little kids would have noticed something was not right, and would have been uncomfortable...but not this boy...he sat by her and loved on her like nothing was wrong... what an example of how we are to treat other people. This young man trusted Jesus as His Savior in the past year, and I had the privilege of attending his baptism! He truly loves the Lord.

As you can see, people with Down Syndrome have an incredible amount of potential when they are in families who love them for the wonderful people that they are. They are the ones who teach us how we should live our lives. And so, I hope that there are families somewhere who will see the potential in these four little ones, and will bring them home.

Sometimes I wonder why God gives me a heart for these kids, and no way to do much about it...I am in no position to adopt right now...however, I can spread the word, and I can pray...and someday when the timing is right, He will provide a way for me to be blessed to be able to call a couple of these children my own.

Saving Ruslana

Grab This Button

Just look at this precious little girl! Her story is one of hope, redemption, and the sovereign plan of a loving God Who cares for the orphans, and invites us to do the same. Ruslana is almost five years old, and on the verge of being transferred to a mental institution. She has had four different families commit to her, who were unable to bring her home. Her last family saved her life, because had they not committed to her, she would have been transferred to the institution a couple months ago. I thank the Lord that they were obedient to the Lord even when they did not understand. Just days after this family realized they were not Ruslana's forever family, the family God had planned for her realized they were missing a daughter and committed to bring her home.

There is just one complication: They must come up with the $25,000 needed for her adoption by February 1, or she will be transferred to an institution. However, I know God is sovereign. He has worked out His amazing plan for this little girl so far, and He will continue to do so. However, God delights in using His people to accomplish His plan. Money is nor an obstacle for God...nor is it for His people. If you don't believe it, click Hope's button and read all about her sister who raised the money to adopt their newest sister in a little over a week. She did not do it by herself though...she spread the word, and many others heard, they obeyed God and gave, and told others who gave, and now little Darya will get to be with a family for Christmas next year, all because of one 11 year old girl, and one amazing God!

Please click on Ruslana's picture, visit her new family's page, and prayerfully consider how you can help them bring Ruslana home!

Found! Families for Tonya and Ruslana! Fundraisers for three more little ones!

I just checked the Reece's Rainbow Angel Tree, and Tonya now has a family committed to her! Also, precious Ruslana had a family commit to her as well! This has been a happy day for these two little girls who were about to be transferred to an institution. Praise the Lord that instead, they will be celebrating Christmas at HOME next year with their new families!

There are three more babies that I am hoping will be home next year:

NADYA: I am Nadya's prayer warrior. Milena is making heart ornaments to raise money to help Nadya come home to her forever family. They are just five dollars each. These ornaments can be used after Christmas as well...consider giving them to friends for Valentine's Day! Please click on Nadya's button to visit Milena's blog and order your own heart ornament.

KIRIL: Christine is asking that everyone donate $1 to Kiril's fund and then tell one other person...or you can post about the fundraiser on your blog, to get the word out to more people. This is an easy one. All of us have spare change lying around. We all spend money on things we don't need. Please spare just one dollar to give this little boy something he needs: a forever family! Of course, you may give more if you want, but even if everyone gave a dollar, and told somebody who then gave a dollar, and so forth, Kiril's fund would grow significantly. Click his button to go to Christine's blog for Kiril, and give a dollar to help him cone home!

ANASTASIYA: I am going to do a giveaway for Anastasiya on my blog as soon as I can get a chip in set up. It will probably start sometime next week! Tickets are $5. Details on Anastasiya's blog. I do not have an Anastasyia button yet, so just click her picture on my sidebar.

There are a few other babies who need to come home too!