What A Life!

So, want to know why I haven't been posting so much on our blog?? My life is so busy I just can't squeeze it all in. Something had to go and so I took a break from blogging. Here is just a few things that have been consuming me lately.

I am a grandma again!! Cana Naomi Pearce was born on June 12, 2009. I had the awesome privilege of watching her come into to this world and praying over her as she entered. Melissa & Randy & Vaden are doing great and GOD IS SO GOOD!!

Eph. 3:16-21
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."


Jonathan graduated from the Wake Forest Fire Academy and is now a FIRE FIGHTER!


"Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. Like the arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them." Psalm 127

He asked me to pin his badge on at the graduation ceremony. What a privilege and honor! Jerry and I are SO PROUD OF HIM!



Grama is so PROUD of him too. My brother Chuck and nephew Gary who are also fire fighters drove up from Florida to surprise him by attending his graduation. When his name was called to go to the stage for his badge presentation, they both stood up (in their uniforms) and he saw them for the first time. His face said it all...he was shocked to see them there! Three Firefighters in our family now!

Ethiopia In August??

However, as it is written: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.
1 Corinthians 2:9

Well, it looks like I am on my way to Ethiopia the end of August. Solomon is graduating and has asked that I come to be there with him for this important day in his life. As I, we have been praying about this, the Lord has shared his heart with us in another interesting way.

Our Ellie just spent a week in Guatemala at the Aqua Viva orphanage. She went with some friends of ours, Don Albright & family, who have been serving there for over 10 years now. Our daughter Melissa went with them when she was 16 yrs old....10 years ago!How time flies!! Anyway, Ellie just got home Friday night and shared this story of two testimonies that were shared with her there.

Eduardo, who is the pastor at Agua Viva was raised there himself. He was brought there when he was a baby and grew up not knowing who his parents were. Through the sponsorship program , his sponsor who is from Memphis, TN wrote him letters all the time and was his spiritual mentor. He says he does not know what he would have done without her in his life and that having someone who cared about him and encouraged him is what helped him get through life as an orphan. Her influence in his life is what made him want to become a pastor. He is now going to seminary in Memphis, the town where his sponsor lives, within the next year.

There was another child there who just graduate highschool from the Agua Viva school and his sponsor was able to fly to Guatemala for the graduation. The orphanage director was talking about how special it was to have the child's sponsor there and how a lot of the kids would have no family at the graduation. This sponsor not only supported this child for years, but even went so far as to show up for his graduation which the entire orphanage was so excited about and it meant the world to them all.

None of these people knew about our situation with Solomon. But the Lord knows we have been praying for wisdom on when I am to go visit with him. Ellie came home and said; "MOM, YOU HAVE TO GO TO ETHIOPIA FOR SOLOMON'S GRADUATION!" So, all this to say, we believe it is very important to be there for Solomon! The Lord is the one who brought us together for such a time as this and we are trusting that this is HIS WILL.

So, now it's time to make the plans. I just found out I can stay at the Cherokee House, they have vacancies and Solomon can stay with me!! And it is only $100.00 for the week. I have to pay for Solomon too so it's $200.00 for accommodations!! What an answer to prayer. I might be able to use a voucher from Ellie's travels for my flight to D.C. I have $1500 towards my ET flight from the generous gifts from the saints who sent support when I thought I was going in April. So, as you can see, it looks like things are working out this time. I need about another $1000 for the trip and then I'm on my way.

I would love for someone to come with me to help document with video and photos. I will not only be attending his graduation, but will be meeting with Misganaw's family, who has said they will take him in to live with them. I am also going to be checking into a school for Pharmacy Tech. that he is interested in attending and setting up a bank account, etc. We are going to find out how much it will cost for the school, his room and board with this family etc. and then figure out how we can send the money to help him. I am just absolutely amazed at what is happening now.

When we traveled to Ethiopia in November '07 to pick up our precious 3 babies, I honestly thought that was it. I would just come home and focus on them. The Lord has obviously had other plans all along!! We are on the next chapter of this adventure and would greatly appreciate your prayers!!!

To those of you who communicated that you would like to help support Solomon, stay tuned as we will find out the details soon. Also, Habtamu is doing well and passed the National exam which means he will be going on to University for 2-3 years. He also needs some financial support. While Jerry and I have been doing our best to send money to them, anyone who is interested in helping would be greatly appreciated. These guys are so grateful and hard working young men who are seeking after God to fulfill His plan and purpose for their lives. WE NEED TO BE THE HANDS AND FEET OF JESUS TO HELP THEM. Thank you for taking time out of your busy lives to read this blog and to pray for the orphans in Ethiopia. Stay tuned!!

Solomon's Letter May 22, 2009

I have been praying for the Lord to show me what we are supposed to do about Solomon for a year and a half now. All the doors for the exchange student program have closed. I am praying about wisdom on when to go visit him again. All the previous opportunities have been closed. So, I sit and wait on the Lord to show me HIS WILL. I have been amazed at the way the Lord is introducing us to Ethiopian people and possibly opening some doors. My prayer is that we can get Solomon to come live with us some day. He just turned 18 years old so he is no longer a minor. Now, we have to see how to proceed. I am at a total loss. Here are his latest letters. We correspond regularly and I have been sending packages to him through the wonderful families who have been traveling to get their newly adopted children in Ethiopia. THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN BLESSING US IN THIS WAY!!

As you will read, Solomon is about to be released from KOLFE and has absolutely NO ONE AND NO PLACE TO GO!!! Please join me in prayer asking the LORD FOR HIS MIRACLE OF PROVISION FOR OUR PRECIOUS SON. If any of you are going to Ethiopia soon, maybe you can visit him for me too??

Hello my precious mom,

How are you today? I know that you are finding many ways to bring me there. I hope God will show us the way soon. Because he meets us also he will prepare the way how to live together. I don’t want to live with out you. You are my voice when I could not speak, you are my eyes when I could not see, you are everything for me. More people live with me but I feel lonely. I need you and miss you very much. You are the only person that makes me happy. You are need for me very much for my life. It is very hard for me to live with out you. I am equal with others people now because of you. I thank God because of he gave me you for me.

Mom, Kolfe’s plan is to decrease the number of boys. So, if we are finished school they immediately gives 4000 birr.( approx. $380.) and let us go from here. After that Kolfe is not responsible for us. More boys are faced money problems when they out from Kolfe. Many of them are smoking, drug, thieves and they do many bad things. There home is street. Because of inflation 4000 birr doesn’t do anything. I don’t want to live these kinds of life when I leave from Kolfe. What do you think mom? I have 4 or 5 months to stay kolfe. I don’t know where to go and I don’t know what to do. I don’t know any person with out you. Only God and you are my hope.

Mom Kolfe address is as follows:-

Kolfe Wetatoch Kebkaba Makuakuamiya Tekuam

Kebele 19/20

Addis Ketema Kefle Ketema

House Nomber 575

Phone Nomber 011-2-13-55-60

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Mom I know that you are very busy by caring for the babies and finding a way to bring me there. Also I know that you are thinking about me every second. I also think about you every second. I love you very much. If you want to send for me something send for me things that are necessary for my graduation. Example suit. Here is very expensive. Last quality price is 700 birr. So I can’t afford it. Mom I love you and miss you very much. Day and night I think about you. Say all my family hi and I love and miss them very much.

Your beloved son Solomon Mestas

To my dear and sweetest mom Eileen Mestas.

God bless you all!!!

Letter Dated 6/1/09

I sent the money for his suit with the Albright family who just got home with their beautiful baby girl. I found out he will be graduating from school in August and so now I am praying for the Lord to allow me to be with him at his graduation. So, now it looks like I may be going in August!!!! Please join me in prayer!!!! I have half of the money so far and my family will need help caring for the 5 littles in order for me to go. LORD HELP US BE THERE FOR SOLOMON AND PROVIDE A HOME FOR HIM.

Hello Mom,

How are you today? I hope everything is well with you. Thank you for the money. Mom it is an exciting thing for me to celebrate my graduation with you. I pray to God to happen this thing. I need it very much to celebrate with you. I was worried about this because all students will come with their parents but for me no one. So if you are with me, I am equal with others students. Please mom, I need very much to happen this. I pray to God for this day and night. I asked my college the day we graduates but the college told me that only the month. It is in august but the day not set specifically yet. I will tell you when they tell us the specific day but last year our college graduated students in August 27.

Thank you for send for me more emails to get for me peoples to help us. I know that you are thinking and finding a way for me. I proud of you. I love you very much. Thank you for everything. God bless you all.

Your son Solomon Bekele.

To My dear Mom Eileen Mestas.

Yes I am Still Here!

My life has been so amazing these last few months that I have not had the time, the energy or the heart to blog. I have had to lay many things down lately to handle "LIFE" with 5 littles, and my responsibilities. I have had feelings of being completely overwhelmed with it all and I just needed to take a break. So, I am back now and hoping to catch up on all that has been happening. First of all, I am praying about going to Ethiopia in August for Solomon's graduation. He just sent me the notice that he will probably be released within 4 months. I have been knocking on every door possible to find a place for him to stay. There are a few possibilities but nothing solid yet.

Anyway, I will be updating soon. Blessings to you all!!