Ramblings..

So I leave for Mexico in less then 3 weeks... I am so excited. I haven't actually been on a mission trip to Mexico yet, just a vacation. We're leaving on Friday, March 13.. Eerie date but we'll live. ;) Sounds like we're going to be doing some pretty sweet stuff, though I don't know all of the details yet. We'll be partnering with a youth ministry down there, so it should be good.

Tonight I'm doing an Ethiopia presentation to about 75 people at our Church, mostly 3rd-6th grade girls. I've done plenty of presentations before, but I'm a little more nervous about this one. I think it's because I've only been to Ethiopia once- if it were about China or Ghana I think I would feel like I have more to say or more experience. I do live with an Ethiopian though, so I guess that counts as something.

Well tomorrow begins a brand new week... I missed every class this past week due to an annoying fever, so I'm kind of looking forward to heading back this week. Kind of.

Happy Sunday!

Blek

I'm currently laying on the couch, recovering from a stomach bug. Ew. Last night was terrible! Apparently it's going around pretty bad. About twenty people from a get-together we went to on Sunday all have the same thing! G-r-o-s-s. My Mom and Kyle both have it, too. Somehow these things always seem to happen when my Dad is away. When we were younger Kyle and I always seemed to spike a 106 degree fever when he was gone on business, or Kyle would break a finger or bust his head open while Dad's gone. Now 3 out of the 4 of us at home are all sick, and he's in Ethiopia. How does this work?? Beats me. But it sounds like he's having an amazing trip. Please keep him in your prayers. So far they've visited several orphanages and HIV positive clinic type places, and on Friday they are actually going to be having a meeting with the president of Ethiopia! Pretty amazing.

Thanks for your prayers.. Hope you don't catch whatever bug I had! Not fun.

A Miracle In The Making

I'm sitting here next to my 10 year old brother, Minte.

....Did you catch that?

Let me repeat that real quick: I'm siting here, next to my 10 year old brother from Ethiopia, Minte.

Isn't that such a miracle?!?!? How amazing is that?!? A year ago right now this precious little boy was sitting in an orphanage by himself, and now he's sitting in his family's living room. This is a little boy who has been through the unthinkable yet is the cutest, most joyful, and happiest human I know. Isn't God amazing?? Seriously, if I had been through just one of the things he has I'm pretty sure I would be in a mental institution right now. God has preserved this boy's heart for something special.. I can feel it.

Reality Check

It's interesting having an Ethiopian as a brother. Interesting in a good way, of course. There have been so many things to see Minte experience in his new lifestyle. Things that we sometimes take for granted- things like the pulley on the window blinds, escalators, elevators, practically an endless amount of food, and so much more. What has been probably the most interesting though, is seeing him realize how rich and spoiled America, as a country, truly is. This child came from a poverty stricken, famine ridden nation where everything he wore and played with were things others had donated.

One night we had been out to eat with a group of family friends after church, and after the kids had eaten they all got out their cell phones and iPod touches or whatever other technology they had and were playing games and taking pictures. When we got home that night Minte told my Mom, (And realize I'm writing this how he talks!)

"Mommy, in Ethiopia, children no have phones. Mommies and Daddies say, 'Oh my goodness!!!!!!! Look!! I have phone!!!! Wow!!! Thank you!!!!' but children no phones. America, children say, 'Yeah, I have phone. It's no good.' "

Isn't that the truth?? We live in the land where 8 year olds are getting iPhones, and he's coming from a lang where an 8 year old is lucky to have 3 shirts to call their own.

Or one day he said, "In Ethiopia, children have very little toys. One or two toys, no many. In America, everybody many many toys.. too much."

Very very true.

Another time (And I'm sure my Mom won't mind me telling this. ;D ) the sink was piled high in dishes and my Mom was getting ready to put them in the dish washer. She opened it up and realized it still had clean dishes in it. Sighing, she realized she would have to put those away first- this mean't another several minutes until the clean dishes were put away and the dirty dishes were being washed. About that time Minte walked by and said matter-of-factly, "In Ethiopia when mommies wash... ( he bends over, demonstrating washing dishes and riging clothes out) Mommies arms very very hurt.. work hard, make very tired. No have this. (points to the dish washer)"

Yet another thing America takes for granted- appliances! America's excess and all that we are spoiled with is crazy.

Memories

It was Friday, the last day we would go to Minte's orphanage in Ethiopia. We had spent a couple of full days playing with the kids, and I cannot even begin to tell you how incredibly precious they were. I wish I could post pictures or tell you their names, but for safety reasons I can't on the internet- but I can in person, if you're interested. Minte's baby home was a new, growing orphanage, and there were only about 12 kids (mostly babies) living there when we came to get him. Minte's best friend and his best friend's little sister had been referred to a family, but there were (and still are) 3 older boys waiting. "Y", age 6, and "C" and "A", age 7 going on 8. These children are precious beyond words, and at this very *moment* they are sitting in an Ethiopian Orphanage waiting-- waiting for a family, spending Christmas by themselves. I cannot describe how much I fell in love with them, and how much I do still love them. I wish everyone could spend time with them and witness their sweet spirits.

But back on subject- it was our last day to spend at the baby home, and I was already a partial mess. We were throwing the kids a goodbye party, complete with a puppet show, silly string, and pizza. They were thrilled, and loved every minute of it. Before my family had left for ET we had purchased an inexpensive portable iPod dock to play puppet and party music on, and after the show was over I switched it to the Steven Curtis Chapman playlist while we were eating pizza.

I knew I would cry that day, telling the children goodbye. I had already cried a couple of times, then pretended to mess with something in my camera bag behind the puppet stage. I had recovered though, and thought I'd be ok the rest of the time.

Welllllllllll.... my iPod gets to the end of the playlist, and I had forgotten which song was last. Now keep in mind, I'm sitting here staring at these three older boys who have yet to be referred, or even had families inquire about them, and I was thinking how they were just going to be sitting there after we left, spending Christmas by themselves, and how truly orphaned and in need of a family they were. THIS song turns on:

All I Really Want for Christmas: By Steven Curtis Chapman

THAT was just about enough to have me in a melted mess of tears on the floor! I'm sitting here with these precious, amazing children who will not have a home for Christmas and that song comes on! Seriously?! I quickly changed the song, taking a deep breath.

"Ok Bethany.. C'mon.. If you spend the rest of the party crying you're going to miss time with the kids.. Get a grip."

My self counseling didn't last long. I got up from my chair making my way to the nearest bathroom. I had no choice but to let my tears flow-- and that they did. I tried what I could to stifle them, but not much worked. These kids needed homes! So many people are nervous to adopt older children, especially older boys- if only they knew. I wished that everyone could see these kids. If people could just spend an ounce of time with these 3 boys I was sure that any nervousness or fears would melt away and that they'd be ready to snatch them up and bring them home. I know I was.

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We talked to Minte's former care giver, Tigist, over the phone a couple of days ago. She runs the orphanage where he lived, and is the sweetest woman imaginable. I love her. We call her every now and then so that Minte can talk with her in his native language and we can check up on her. Mom was chatting with her, and Tigist started talking about the older boys. She told mom that they're really sad right now.. They're seeing babies come and go, wondering why they themselves are not being adopted. They've watched two of their friends be referred, and one of them (Minte) already go to the States. They're asking when they will get a family, when they will go to America, and when they will be loved. They're hurting orphans, in need of loving families. Will you pray for them with me?

Why is it...

.....that I don't write on my blog for 3 months and then the day of a final I have the sudden urge to re-do the whole thing?? Hmmm. Beats me. But-- even though I have the feeling that nobody is reading this right now, I want to get it started back up and start writing on it again.

A new brother... and a new destination!

Well, I think all of you who are reading this know, but we passed our adoption court date, and our little boy (well, he's 9) in Ethiopia is ours now!! We are so incredibly happy, and cannot wait to go get him. We are not sure when we can go to get him, but we may find out this coming week! But as for now, here is a picture of my precious new brother..