Monday, May 31, 2010

Embassy THIS WEDNESDAY!!

From Solomon:
My appointment with the embassy is this Wednesday. Please mama pray for me. I am so excited that we finished all the paper work and finally got an appointment to the embassy. I pray deeply to God to get the visa.

I love you so much. I can't tell you how eager I am to give hugs and see you all.

God bless you mama I love you!!

PLEASE TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW TO PRAY!!!!

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Update from Ellie in Uganda

Our daughter Ellie and son Jonathan are currently serving God's people in Uganda. Ellie started her own ministry Etaala International about nine months ago. Etaala is the Lugandan word for Light, which is the main goal of her ministry. She felt God call her to create opportunities for young people to serve the orphans around the world, to be a light and share the gospel. This is her first trip with a team of young people who are also seeking to serve God and care for orphans. She teamed up with another ministry that digs wells and provides clean water where it is so desperately needed. You can read updates on her blog as well as ours for the next two weeks. Here is an update she posted on the Safewater Nexus blog site:

Today was our first full day in Uganda and it was amazing! The people are so lovely and welcoming, the food is delicious (particularly the fruit) and you can see God working here in SO many ways.

Today we rode an hour and a half through the Ugandan bush to get to Namasujju Village; a place once ravaged by war, but full of hope for their future.

We got to see the temporary church shelter that has just recently been purchased for the village. They were so excited that they would finally have a place to meet. We saw the new well and got to pump fresh, CLEAN water with beautiful Ugandan children. After lunch and fellowship with Pastor Timothy and a few others in Namasujju, they took us to show us the bad water sources that they were drinking from before the new well. It was heartbreaking and unbelievable and you can’t help but praise God for bringing Safewater Nexus when He did.

We went to distribute some mosquito nets and were able to give them to several families. The people praised God and were so thankful. There actually weren’t many people around though and we were kinda beginning to wonder where everyone was. We asked around and found out…they were at a Ugandan Wedding.

Our team can officially say that we crashed a Ugandan wedding reception. They invited us to speak and we were able to invite them all to the well dedication tomorrow where they would receive free mosquito nets. They were so excited and so quick to praise God. They followed us back to our bus and the kids chased the bus for quite a while..haha. It was quite the experience!

Our team is bonding and unifying so well. We are all being so impacted by the people and what we are seeing and I am confident that the Lord is doing even bigger things here than we can see on the surface…and the things on the surface are pretty huge.

I am beyond thankful that the Lord has chosen to allow me to be a part of what He is doing here through Safewater Nexus. Pastor Timothy told us how they had been praying to God for help since the Bush War in the 80’s and now the help has come. God is so faithful to His children in America and He is just as faithful to His children in the bush of Uganda.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Embassy Time

Solomon went to the Embassy Monday to request an appointment. They gave him more forms to fill out and we had to file a SEVIS 901 form today and pay another $200. So, now he goes back to Embassy on Monday again to request his appointment for approval of his VISA. Please pray they do approve it and he can be here by June 18th.

We have been involved in Precept Ministries International, which produces inductive bible study courses, for several years now.(www.precept.org) Our Ellie has been going to their Bible Study boot camps in Chattanooga, TN and has loved it. It was a result of last years camp that she started her ministry Etaala International


Well we requested a scholarship for Solomon to attend this years boot camp and it was granted. So, now we need him to get here in time. We are praying he will be able to bring this bible study program back to Ethiopia. The Lord keeps providing scholarships for Solomon to be studying his word!

Please join us in prayer that he will get an appointment next week and it will be approved. Thank you to all who are following our journey to Solomon!!

P.S. I have started writing the book so I am not posting so much on the blog now. Just not enough hours in the day to get it all done!! I will keep updates coming however.

Also, our Ellie and Jonathan are arriving in Uganda in the morning. They are there to care for orphans and Gods precious people. Please pray for their safety and for them to truly be the hands and feet of Jesus. You can read updates on Etaala's blog too.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Solomon going to request Embassy Appointment

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that HE would grant you, according to the riches of HIS glory, to be strengthened with power through HIS Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to HIM who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to HIM be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever, Amen." Eph. 3:14-21


Praying the Lord's will is that Solomon be here by June 18th!. This is such an exciting and miraculous journey.

"My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you!" Job 42:5

Friday, May 21, 2010

Solomon Update !

We spoke to Solomon yesterday and he now has the I-20 Visa in his hand! One more obstacle remains, for which we covet your prayers.....approval from the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia.

Please pray that the Lord will prepare the hearts of the Embassy personnel who will be reviewing Solomon's paperwork! Solomon could actually be in the USA in a matter of weeks!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Children's HopeChest Ministry

Please join me in prayer as we seek wisdom and guidance in how to proceed with this ministry. I have been in contact with Brothers and Sisters at this ministry and we are all seeking the Lord for direction.