The Budget

I don't really have much new news to share however we are trying to compile a budget which is harder than I had thought it would be:) We basically are trying to figure out how much it will cost us to get over there and then how much it will cost to live there so we can start raising support. Plane tickets alone for our family will cost us $15,000-$20,000! That is quite a lot! We are also working on our housing situation there and are looking at a couple options.
As we walk this journey it is amazing to see God's hand in it all. We had a meeting a couple weeks ago with all the people who will be going with us. We also got to talk to a man who lived there for a couple years. What a blessing that was. Very exciting to have these resources! We have also gotten to hear stories from other missionaries that have lived in the area. What a gift this has been. Praise GOD!!
I am so thankful for all of you who have prayed for us and are praying for us, it means so much to us.
If you are interested in knowing more about Karamoja here are a couple links that will give you more info:
http://www.karamoja.com/index.html
http://ocodi-karamoja.com/background-karamoja/

The second website has some good info about the way of life for the Karamajoan people. 80% of the people in Karamoja are illiterate. My homeschooling skills of teaching reading might just come in handy :)

Hugs,

Michaela

Video from Matt

This is a video made by Matt Chandler who is a pastor of a church in the Dallas area. We have podcasted him for about 3 years now and he has taught us a lot. He recently found out he has a tumor and here is a video taken before his surgery. He is doing ok, but they found the tumor was malignant. His response is amazing and hopeful. Click on this link to watch it. It is worth it. It is only about 5 minutes long. Video from Matt
Please pray for him and you can check out his updates on www.thevillagechurch.net.

A Great Reminder



Kotido Uganda

Here is a map of Uganda. We will be in the town of Kotido. It doesn't show Karamoja but it is basically the Kotido and Moroto area.

A big thing you could be praying for us about is for our house to sell. We have had renters in our house for over a year and they would like to buy it but can not get financing. Please pray that they can get financed. That is huge right now. Thanks for your prayers!!!

Michaela

Here it Goes

The 3 adoption opportunities that came and went were somewhat heart breaking, but at the same time we praised God because He answered a prayer. During this whole process we were on our knees a lot praying what God wanted us to do. God has given us such a heart and burden for orphans but it seems like we kept hitting road blocks.

Meanwhile my husband is growing a burden for the people in Karamoja in Northern Uganda. He told me about this and I was excited and scared all at the same time. Just for background sake, I didn't think my husband would ever want to leave the country and not because of safety but because his passion has been for at risk youth. So we prayed about this hard, wondering, and then it both hit us. God is calling us to Karamoja. To help the people there. To show them the love of Jesus. Babies are dying because of minor things that they shouldn't die of. With that we are making plans to move their permanently. As you can guess to do something like this takes a lot of prayer support and financial support (we are working out the details of all of this). We will be helping the orphanage there and have plans to open a baby orphanage to help the helpless and dying babies. Of course another main goal is spreading the Gospel through these avenues as well as church planting. Within that we know once we get there we will adopt a baby or two (or 3, 4...who knows really). So the purpose of this blog remains the same but with a twist. We will be bringing our next child home and who knows maybe even you will bring your next child home from Karamoja Uganda (I would love that).


I know some of you are reading this and thinking we are crazy. It's true. We are crazy for the sake of Jesus and showing others His salvation, and abundant life. We have also prayed a lot over this and read all kinds of scripture. My flesh would like to just do something else maybe a little more comfortable. I remember that fear can keep us from doing what God wants us to do. Reading "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper has been such a blessing during this time. If you have not read it, I highly recommend it. It is all about following God whole heartedly and not wasting your life on other things.


There you have it....how one crazy road led to another crazy road. Not how I expected it, but thankful that He leads.

Continuing to Walk by Faith (even if it is baby steps),

Michaela

P.S. Here is a video you can watch. It was made to raise awareness for the Orphanage Shalom Uganda. It shows of the faces of people from Karamoja.

Update

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted anything on our blog. A lot has happened however a lot of it we could not share because we didn't know what the outcome would be and we did not want to take you on our roller coaster. We have been through 3 situations of adoption and all of them have come and gone. To those of you who have been through adoption are not surprised by this, and to those of you who have not; this is how adoption can go (but not always). It has been somewhat hard, but we can see God's fingerprints over the whole situation and we see how He is leading us, and guiding us and it has been very comforting so we thank you very much for your prayers. They mean so much to us. I would like to share with you the road we are taking now but because we have not been able to share all of our plans with our family it will have to wait for a little bit (hopefully not long). It does entail bringing our next child home however it is not quite the road I was exactly expecting. I ask that during this time you just pray that what we tell our family will be accepted and they will have peace about it. Thanks for your prayers and I hope to share soon.

Michaela

Rubber Hits the Road

I am kind of at a loss for words right now (might actually make this a short blog). Can't really explain everything that is going on at the moment, but I am having to take my own advice and really "walk by faith" and trust God. I am learning that walking by faith means taking steps without knowing what the outcome is. I remember about a year ago for school I was teaching the kids about trusting me. I put a blindfold on them and walked them around the house and then we talked about how that felt for them. It was hard for a couple of them because they became very vulnerable and had to trust me for their every step. I am now like my children with a blindfold on wondering where God is going to take me, and scared that I might bump into something and it will be painful. Scared that when I take the blindfold off I won't be where I thought He would take me. Scared of how others view me. Scared he won't come through for me. It is about me not knowing the outcome but trusting that God has a plan. Maybe not the plan I had in my head, or the way I think it will turn out. It is all about walking one step at a time in faith. Trusting that one step will lead to the next, which will lead to the next. This is where I really have to live what I believe.

God help me to walk by faith in all situations, help me to trust that you know what is best for me and help me to stay focused on you despite my circumstances and my emotions (which you know can be crazy at times). Continue to change my heart so that in all circumstances I can say, "not my will but yours be done God" Thank you for your many blessings and the hope and joy You bring to my life. Forgive me of my unbelief and continue to increase my faith. Help me to walk by faith one step at a time.

Michaela

A New Perpspective (it is a little long....sorry)

If I had a dollar for every time I have heard or read, adoptions are just so expensive I would have this adoption paid for. :) I have to tell you that I struggle with how much adoption costs, but I remember it is a life. Many things run through my mind. About 2 and half years ago I found myself not seeking adoptions because of the cost of them and I would say this statement and still do. To be honest I thought it was ridiculous and unpractical, but I am going to share the journey God has brought me through. Before Malachi I really struggled with the amount of money it costs to help children up for adoption. Could it really cost this much? I found myself struggling thinking I really wanted to help but the cost of it was too great. Another thing that I struggled and still struggle with is the fact of how many people I could help with the amount of money that it cost to adopt, and then I am reminded this is a life of a child. One that is precious in the sight of God.
I think one way that I see it differently is how we view children that are up for adoption. We can choose to say, "well it is just too expensive to adopt" or we can choose to make a difference, and pray. No one in their right mind would give birth to a child to find out it needed heart surgery and say, "well it is just too expensive and there is no way to pay for it" If there was a way to help save that child's life, you would do everything you could to help. I understand that it is not all in our hands but rather God's and we are his instruments that He chooses to use.
Again it comes back to the practicality thing. It is not practical. Some of my other friends that have adopted and I joke about how many things could have been bought with the amount we have spent on adoption. But they are just things were moth and rust destroy (Matthew 6), but this is life. After having been through it and seeing the other side now, I would choose spending money on adoption any day over earthly treasures because after all when it is all said and done, they earthly treasures mean nothing.
Let me share with you something else that happened on my journey. We were blessed with hearing of a wonderful testimony of an African American man who's heart was very hard toward God. A prisoner in a local correction facility. Not just any prisoner but one that had killed someone before. These local prisoners are involved in Bible Studies at this correction facility and on occasion they get to come to church as a group. This one particular prisoner did not know Jesus but came to the service with a harden heart. He did not believe that white people could love black people and had built walls around his heart. Well I will let you read a letter that the man who had worked with this prisoner wrote to Malachi after this prisoner told him what happened.

WHEN LIFE SPRINGS FORTH FROM THE HEART OF GOD

For Malachi,
In the summer of 2008 a young man named Malachi came to live with this new family, and his destiny. The Lord had prepared both the hearts and home for Malachi's arrival, and for the glory of God.

In the same summer another man, who was slowly dying from despair, anger and pride was being prepared by God to see his life restore even in the midst of severe adversity.

A few short months before your meeting, very likely about the same time as your birth, Mr. D [I decided not to use his real name] had his first encounter with the living God. Mr. D is the longest surviving prisoner in the Colorado Department of Corrections he had never, not from birth even known love or acceptance. He literally seethed with hate for all men.

This first encounter was like a new dawn, the beginning of which was barely discernible. But the change was irrevocable and set up Mr. D for several events that would prepare him to meet you and the heart of Jesus.

Malachi, your parents began a holy pursuit for you, something the Holy Spirit would not abate until the heart of God was satisfied. This unquenchable love began before they even knew your name, or had seen your face. See....the Lord asked them to love what he loved and to also experience what he feels when someone so precious, so longed for, escapes his embrace.

In you and Mr. D the Lord, and on behalf of your parents, said "That's enough, I shall have the object of my affection."

Now from this first encounter, every time Mr. D expressed his anger, someone would return forgiveness. When he rejected, they accepted; always with a specific blessing or word from God. This confounded specific blessing or word from God. This confounded each lie that he unconsciously accepted as his own, his holy inheritance. In his confusion, fear replaced every other emotion. When once all men feared him and drew back from him, now he feared these same men who wanted to draw near to him. They prayed for him and refused the spirit of rejection any further right to possess his life or destiny in Jesus. This went on until the day your dad and mom brought you to church, the same day Mr. D accepted the invitation to leave the "camp" with the chaplain and several other inmates for the first time in many years.

So then, that day, during breakfast before church, Mr. D intentionally chose a seat separated from everyone.

But as he tells the story....pretty soon people just started coming over to sit all around him. They were mostly children and mom's who sat so close that they touched him at both elbows. He was hemmed in by innocence. He said that his heart was trying to accept what was both so strange and warm while it was also experiencing suspicion and fear. It was all he could do to keep from leaving from the table and fleeing outside.

Now for perspective, Mr. D is 6'2" and 285 lbs of muscle. He is the most notorious and feared member of the O-G's. The O-G's or "old guys" are old timers, repeat offenders often convicted of murders, robbery, assault and the like. Mr. D was a repeat offender with all the above. He breathed in air and exhaled hate and rage...until these children, without guile or lenses to see, just walked right through his defenses and asked him how he liked his pancakes.

"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3-6)

Anyway, having survived breakfast and a quick retreat to the upper grass area for worship he watched as everyone settled in by families and groups.

As the Lord would have it your family became the object of his attention. He noticed how several of the young girls were always around your mother's arms, looking into the bundle that he couldn't yet see himself. There as no mistaking your parents love but also their joy in sharing you with others. He then saw that amazing love was for a child that was like him. He had no place in his experience no grid, to see a white mother holding a black child which she loved as if from her own womb. More to the point Mr. D saw for the first time the unconditional love of God expressed in your mother's eyes and face and directed whole hearted to/for you.

He said that if all of these people...white people...could love both you and him alike he knew that God was then real and could be trusted.

It took a few more days of the Holy Spirit soaking his heart but Mr. D accepted Jesus Christ as his one Lord and savior. From that moment he began to testify to the love of God, often and in every opportunity he shared about you in your mother's arms.

Malachi, you are the fulfillment and realization of a seed of hope and sacrifical love that God placed in your parents heart. They, under the unction of the Holy Sprit, were required to pursue you in adversity until you were captured by their watering faith and the blessings of heaven. Mr. D found life in Jesus when he was given the moments opportunity to watch the fulfillment of God's creative love in your resting in the arms of love.

Live in the knowledge that your birth and life is with purpose and under the constant care of our Father God.



It was worth every penny!

On a side note: we are going to be finding out some important things this week and I would ask that you specifically pray for us on Tuesday and hopefully soon I can share the details. Thanks!! Love ya all.

Michaela

More of the Details

This post is to let you know more details about the situation we feel God leading us to. There is a baby boy that is going to be born the middle of November. For whatever reason the agency the birth mother is working with is having a hard time finding someone who is interested in this baby. His mom and dad are both from Haiti but his mother is a U.S citizen. Cody and I had been looking at adopting a special needs child from Ethiopia (maybe our next adoption down the road). This kind of fell in our laps, and I was not looking for it. It breaks my heart to think this poor birth mom is struggling and wants a better life for her child, and there is no one. Even after opening the adoption to couples in New York which they do not usually do. So here we are stepping out…..expecting a miracle. Would you be a part of it with us? Would you pray for this birth mom. Would you pray that God would increase our faith? Would you pray what part God might have for you in this? I would love to hear your comments. Please let me know if you have questions! Thanks!!

Love this video too!

This is a great video. Some of you have seen it. But I love the line, "your pain has changed me." You might have to copy it and paste it into the browser. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSdP6PqsbJY

THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS!!

In our Bible study we have been reading the book "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper. It ia pretty popular book in the Christian community and it is going well with what God is teaching me right now. Here is what the beginning of chapter 5 says,

If our single, and-all embracing passion is to make much of Christ in life and death, and if the life that magnifies him most is the life of costly love, then life is risk, and risk is right. To run from it is to waste your life.
John Piper further goes on to say that "risk is an action that exposes you to the possibility of loss or injury."

I am reminded daily that the life I live is risk. Really everyone's is. You could get in your car and get in an accident and die. You could have a heart attack right here and now. Life is a risk. Currently I am reminded that what we are doing with this adoption is a risk. Anyone who knows my husband and I know that we are risk takers. We often do not do things that are practical, and get rude remarks from all kinds of people even Christians. Throughout scripture there are not many prophets, and followers of God that were practical and didn't take risks. They all took risks. Why? For 2 reasons: 1) They wanted to obey God (Jesus says if we love God we will follow his commandments). 2)Because God gets the glory when things don't make any sense but we step out in faith. This is seen throughout the Bible too. Look at Elijah, Jonah, Abraham, all the prophets, and all the disciples. The hardest part of taking a risk for God is the question, "What if He doesn't pull through for me?" Which really means, "What if God doesn't do what I want him to do, or the outcome is not what I expected." I am haunted by the idea that we will not raise enough money in 2 weeks and not be able to get this baby boy. But God reminds me that sometimes His ways are not our ways. Sometimes he uses the broken road to lead you where HE wanted.
What about John the Baptist? Didn't really turn out so well for him. He got his head cut off because he lived for Christ and so did most of the disciples. I realize that is a little extreme and me stepping out in faith to adopt another child is not life threatening but for me it is hard, and I have to swallow a lot of pride, and deny my people pleasing tendencies (Gal. 1:10, 1 Thess. 2:4).

I do not have all the answers, but I know this. God has asked us to minister to the least of these and although it is hard, and involves a lot of risks, questions, uncertainty, and faith. I know that He has a plan for it all and I have many stones of remembrance to believe that He has something great for our future with adoption and so much more. Any of you who know how we got Malachi know this, and I am trusting and holding on to the fact that this particular baby we are looking at now, might not be the one, but that God knows what child is to be ours and I know He will do great things.

All that to say (sorry I am long winded) thank you for your prayers, because they have helped me in believing, and not getting discouraged! I love you all for supporting us, even if it doesn't make sense to you!!

Some Ideas

I was reading a blog from a fellow adoption blogger about funding adoptions and here are some ideas that I think are great that people could do if they wanted to, that do not take a lot of time either!
-Sell some items on ebay
-have a yard sale (although the weather is getting colder for some of us)
-raffle an item off
We will also probably be needing airline tickets, hotel and rent a car so if anyone wants to donate frequent flyer miles, or credit card points toward any of these things let me know. Thanks again.

What God Did

As we start walking the journey of raising money to bring our next child home. I am caught between thoughts of trust and "flesh" thoughts. God brought me to the scriptures in Joshua chapter 4 last night. God commanded that the Isralelites take 12 stones from where they crossed the Jordan as a reminder of what God did. God reminded me that the 4 kids we have adopted are our stones.

Steps to the land of Moriah

God has been teaching us a lot in the past year. One thing that sticks out to me and something I feel Him teaching me partially right now is that faith is so much more than we realize. One of my good friends sent me this devotional from A Purpose Driven Life that talked about faith not being a feeling but action. More of the puzzle pieces begin to form. Hebrews 11 talks about faith and talks about the great cloud of witnesses and I am amazed at all of their stories. One story that God keeps bringing to my attention in this cloud of witnesses is Abraham and the time he was asked to sacrifice his son. Can you imagine being Abraham? God told him he would give him a son and make his descendants many. That was hard for Sarah and Abraham to believe as they had no children, and it seemed hopeless. I imagine they were saying (as I say to myself many times) "did we hear God right?" So they take matters into their own hands (been there) and it turns disastrous.....but God is merciful. And after much anticipation, fear, and uncertainty they have a son. What a wonderful feeling for them. Then God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son. At this point we see something different in Abraham. He doesn't take matters into his own hands. He just trusts and obeys (makes me want to break out into the old hymn, trust and obey for there is not other way....:) . All of Abraham's journeys have lead him to this point. (That means their is hope for me). He does what God calls him to do. We don't know if he had any doubts as he takes the long journey to the land of Moriah. Maybe he went back and forth like I do. Having moments of total "faith like a child" and doubting. At any rate it doesn't matter because bottom line is that he obeyed God. All his emotions did not matter at this point because he did what God asked him to do. And most of you know the rest of the story. God provides a ram for him to sacrifice. God was "testing" Abraham to see if he will be obedient. WOW. It seems like God wants the best from us. Not merely half, or what is comfortable. And it does take a sacrifice. All of that to say. God has us on a journey where we feel like He is calling us to step out and adopt again. You can bet I have asked God many times, "Did I hear you right?" "Are you sure?" This sure seems impossible, not to mention crazy. But then I am reminded of the God I serve. So maybe this journey is all about God telling us to do something when the outcome will be different like for Abraham? I do not know all the answers, I just know that I can not step out in faith because it doesn't seem practical to me. It will never seem practical. Ministering to the least of these is not practical. Living for God is not practical. Being a living sacrifice...there is nothing practical about that. I would rather be remembered as a "witness" to those around me that I walked by faith than someone who lived by fear, or practicality, or comfortableness, or emotions. I have a way to go. Pray with me on this journey.