Job's Daughters

News Update

2011-12-06T15:51:00.001-05:00

Most of you know I am working on writing a book of testimony about our miraculous adoption journey. I started it last January and felt no peace about proceeding after the draft. Last month the Lord started to stir things up again. On my prayer walk a few weeks ago I prayed, "Lord, if you really want this book published then will you please make it clear and show me how to proceed? I don't want to do anything out of your will. Please bring the publisher to me." Are you ready? I just got a call from a publisher who heard about us through Show Hope and he has agreed to publish our book!!! Do you believe the Lord brought this to me without me having to do anything to pursue them? This is the exact jest of the book. God is in the miracle business and when HE calls us to do something, HE makes it happen. HE doesn't call the equipped but equips those he calls. Please pray for me to get everything completed by Jan for submission. I have been invited to speak at a conference in PA in April 2012 and am hoping to launch the book there. This event is at a church of 1000 members. Here I go again on a journey into the unknown. I will trust and obey because there is no other way. May the Lord be glorified on this journey and please stay tuned for the rest of HIS story! Back to the cottage I go....

What Faith Can Do 640x480

2011-04-01T01:28:00.001-04:00

The theme song for our family! Jeremiah & James were thought to be blind, deaf, CP and multiple learning disabilities. Josiah, Keziah & Keren were orphaned by HIV AIDS and thought to be forever in an Ethiopian orphanage. Solomon was a lonely heartbroken orphan with no HOPE or future aging out of the system, destined to be homeless in the streets of Ethiopia. They are all now beloved members of the Mestas family.

Solomon's Homecoming

2011-04-01T01:27:00.000-04:00

Pure Religion Conference

2011-03-30T00:13:00.003-04:00

I will be speaking at the Pure Religion Conference in August. Make plans to join us and tell your friends too!

Swift Creek Baptist Church, Raleigh, NC

2011-03-20T21:55:00.001-04:00

We had the pleasure of speaking at Swift Creek Baptist Church last Sunday and it was amazing. I woke up that morning with no voice. I had to scream to get a whisper out. We asked for prayer from the Saints and I walked on stage by faith fully knowing I was under a spiritual attack. Within two minutes of being on stage my voice came back. We received an overwhelming response to our testimony and the Lord was indeed glorified. Everyone was very happy to see my voice suddenly restored. They had a luncheon after the service and we were blessed to fellowship with everyone for the next three hours.

Our God is an Awesome God!

2011-02-15T23:12:00.003-05:00

Last November we had a family meeting and decided it was time to be intentional about getting the book written. Every time we speak at an event people always ask if we have a book to get the rest of the story. With only 30 -45 minutes to speak I can only give some of the story and I always feel like I am not giving God all the Glory HE deserves for HIS miraculous works. So we planned for me to get away to the cottage every weekend beginning the first week of January through the last weekend in March, Thursday night through Monday. The goal was to get it finished in this time period but we honestly had no idea if that was even possible.

As the Lord would have it, Amy Smelly,my dear friend who I found through this blog ministry, invited Solomon and I to visit her family in Fort Worth,Texas for a weekend in January. Amy is a Kolfe Mama and had gone to Ethiopia last year. She met Solomon and has fallen in love with her two boys at Kolfe as well as the rest of them. She is very involved in ministry in Ethiopia. She was the instrument God used to pay for Solomons plane ticket to get here to the USA. She asked if he could come visit while on winter break from school. Of course we could not refuse and then she also asked me to visit with him so we could finally meet in person. I told her I really couldn't go because I had to start writing the book and we had committed to make this a priority. Her response was; "Why don't you make this your kick-off weekend by visiting the Gladney Adoption agency where it all started. You can come relax for the weekend before you start working even harder than you already do." This made a lot of sense and I really did want to meet her in person.

So, Solomon and I headed out to Fort Worth, Texas on January 6,2011. After agreeing to visit, Amy said "Would you be interested in speaking if I can get some opportunities arranged? You have such an amazing story to tell." To which I responded, "Absolutely, the Lord has told me to tell this story and I am always ready to share for the purpose of giving hope and encouraging faith for HIS people to be about HIS business. Well, she got busy and before we knew it, she had six different speaking events planned. It was amazing. This was Solomon's first opportunity to share his testimony as well. He did an amazing job!

We had the privilege of visiting the Gladney Center for Adoption facility for the first time in person. We adopted through them but everything was done via telephone and emails. After this visit I am even more excited and confident in Gladney then I was before. I highly, highly, highly recommend the Gladney agency to everyone! They are an outstanding agency that truly desires to serve the Lord Jesus Christ in caring for orphans and widows in their distress and caring for women in crisis pregnancies. They have a facility for women to live there during their pregnancies that is state of the art. There is no charge for the women and they have absolutely everything to help these women choose life and give their baby a loving family. If anyone knows of someone in need, please, please let them know about the Gladney Center for Adoption. I will personally vouch for this facility being the best option out there.

We spent a lot of time with Scott Brown and his wife Monica, as well as their entire family. We were able to fellowship with Ryan & Abby Brown, Scotts son who is the person responsible for finding the Kolfe orphanage and exposing it to the world. Solomon and I were in awe that we were walking the campus and in fellowship with the people responsible for bringing us together at the Kolfe orphanage three years ago. Solomon said he never dreamed he would be at the Gladney office in America some day! They even made a video of him sharing his testimony that will be used in their program.
Only God could have orchestrated all of this to happen!

Amy and her family have the gift of hospitality and treated us like royalty. We were scheduled to come home Monday but the snow storm kept us there for two additional days. We ate lots of yummy food, had great fellowship with lots of new friends and had many divine appointments! The Lord clearly showed himself as we walked by faith and obedience during this week. It was absolutely wonderful and a real treat! Thank you Smelly Family for all the blessings you bestowed upon us!

The following weekend I went to the cottage and started writing the book feeling refreshed and in the will of God. As I sat at the computer I prayed for the Lord to guide my every word and show me what HE wanted me to write about. I sat with my computer, my bible and my blog posts for reference. I sat at the computer about 9:00 a.m. and the next thing I knew it was dark and I had to turn on the lights. The time just flew by and it was as if the Holy Spirit was in control. I was writing so fast that I didn't even realize the time. I was in a zone of concentration and wrote until the wee hours of the morning, about 2-3 a.m. every night. To the amazement of us all, on Monday, January 31, 2011, I finished the book! I could not believe it!

After I wrote the last chapter, I sat in awe and in tears talking with the Lord. I asked for HIS forgiveness once again for having little faith on the beginning of this journey. He had been telling me to write this book for about a year and I kept telling him it was an impossible task for me. I have too many responsibilities at home. I home school five children under seven, clean house, cook meals, laundry, shopping, the list goes on and on!I told him I would write it when the kids got older and my life slowed down. I honestly had a melt down on a few occasions because I was fighting this task with everything in me. It was going to be too hard and take too much time away from my family and responsibilities. But I could not get Him to stop. It was like a fly buzzing in my face that would just not go away. I kept praying and telling my family the Lord would not leave me alone about this and then I finally had to submit to HIS call. When we had our family meeting everyone agreed that they would step in and help me get this done. They all agreed that this was something we all had to work together to accomplish. We never dreamed it would only take four weekends! WE ARE ALL AMAZED!

This is just another confirmation to the premise of the book itself. It is the story of how God doesn't call the equipped but he equips those HE calls. It is the story of our call to do what HE called us to, the trials we experienced and then the miracles God performed to accomplish HIS purpose and will. He always give us what we need when we step out in faith to do what he calls us to do! It is HIS Story that is meant to encourage and give hope to everyone who reads it for the purpose of giving them the faith to do what HE is asking of them. Every time the Lord asks HIS people to do something, the first response is usually "YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" There is always a long list of reasons why we can't do what HE is asking. It's time, money, people will think I am crazy, I will look like a fool, it is just weird, or impossible, it doesn't make sense and is just not logical. This is our story of how we have learned to trust God and surrender our lives for HIS purpose and HIS glory. The title of the book is:

"YOU CAN'T DO THAT!"

(But with God All Things are Possible)

We are in the editing process now and praying for a publisher. Now we wait and SEE what the Lord has planned for the book that HE insisted I write. To HIM Alone Be all Glory Honor and Praise! If anyone has any contacts with a publisher, please let me know!

Solomon is doing amazingly well. He passed all of his classes at Southeastern College and has started his second semester. His English is improving every day and he fits in our family like a glove. There have been a few difficult times along the journey but the Lord is faithful! I know the Lord has great plans for Solomon and look forward to reading his book some day! The journey is just beginning for him. He will be speaking at Blaise Baptist Church in Mocksville, NC at their Adoption and Orphan Care conference the weekend of March 5, 2011. Let me know if you can come on out and hear his testimony and fellowship with us!

The Book

2011-01-29T14:34:00.002-05:00

I have not been posting on the blog because I am writing a book of the miraculous journey we have been on in the adoption and orphan care ministry. I have no idea what the Lord will do with it but I do know he has called me to write it. I am hoping to finish writing this week and then start the editing process. At this time, the title is: "YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" (But with God all things are possible) Please keep us in your prayers and stay tuned!! To God Be all Glory Honor and Praise.

Steven Curtis Chapman in Concert

2010-10-14T00:38:00.001-04:00

We will be working for ShowHope at the Steven Curtis Chapman concert tonight, Thursday, 10/14/10, at Kings Park International church in Durham. Come on out and join us! MaryBeth Chapman will be sharing her testimony as well. It will be an amazing night of worship and SEEING GOD!!! Come see us at the ShowHope table!!

Kolfe Scholarship Program

2010-10-08T22:30:00.003-04:00

We are working with Gladney to raise support for the Kolfe boys scholarship fund. Please pass the word if you would like to contribute to getting these boys an education. This is the email from Scott Brown, at Gladney and he has asked me to share this with everyone. Help us make a difference in the life of an orphan!

Since the newsletter went out last week, we have had several of you asking more about the scholarship program which Gladney is overseeing for the young men of Kolfe Orphanage and the young women of Kechene Orphanage. Due to the response, I thought it best to provide this information for everyone.

Gladney has been able to assist individuals from the orphanages who show the ability and desire to advance their education through either traditional and/or training instruction. 100% of donations go directly to fund this program and currently we are providing on average $5,875 per month with around 25% coming in from donors like yourselves and 75% coming out of Gladney’s operations. Just recently, we purchased Graduation dresses/suits and shoes for around 20 students totaling $2,760.

When we started the General Ethiopian Scholarship Fund, our intent and desire was to choose young men and women whom Belay (Gladney’s In-Country Representative) and Anbes (Gladney’s Humanitarian Aid Director) have gotten to know and are confident will make full use of the resources given to further their education. Some of them attend public school which does not require school fees, but does require money for school supplies, copies, clothes and transportation. Some donors have asked that their funds go directly to a specific child they met in Ethiopia, but there are many children who are very deserving and capable but may not be as outgoing and connected to adoptive families, thus the reason for a general fund. The average funding which a child is likely to need is anywhere from $400 to $1,000 USD per year. As you can imagine, we would like to see every child with the ability to further their education be given the opportunity to do so.

Tutorial Program:

There have been many successful stories and good news to report. Just a short two years ago, before Gladney became involved, to our knowledge only 1 student from the orphanage made it to University. Gladney then hired high school teachers as tutors for those interested in taking the National Exams. Two years ago of the 8 who took the exam, all passed (4 boys @ Kolfe and 4 girls @ Kechene), which has NEVER happened before in the history of either of those government run orphanages. This past August, the tutors assisted 12 more students and once again ALL 12 passed the National Exam, so another 100% pass rate! Of special significance, one of those students scored within the top 10% of everyone taking the exam in all of Ethiopia, and he is excited to start attending Medical School.

Scholarship Program:

The scholarship program was commenced on September 30, 2008. Since then, we have had over 200 students involved with studies such as medical science, construction technology, hairdressing/beauty profession, food preparation/hospitality, information technology, language, teaching profession and governmental institutions. With our limited staffing resources, the donations go into a pool of funding for ALL scholarships. We are not set up to provide monthly follow-up as other sponsorship organizations provide. With 100% of the donations going into this pool and more than 65 young men and women waiting for financial assistance, we do not feel it a good use of funds to spend our limited staff resources to provide monthly follow up. As more funding is provided and more young people continue to show the desire and ability to continue their education, whether through conventional schooling or trade school, they will be added to the program.

If any of you are interested, you may restrict your donation by making your check out to The Gladney Center for Adoption; c/o Ethiopian Adoption Program; 6300 John Ryan Dr., Fort Worth, TX 76132-4122. In the memo line write “Ethiopian Educational Scholarship”.

A special thank you goes out to each and every one who is making a difference in the lives of these children. Gladney is humbled to play a small role.

J. Scott Brown

EVP/Managing Director of the African Programs

The Gladney Center

Midatlantic Orphan Summit Featured Speakers

2010-09-21T15:30:00.001-04:00

Here is a list of the speakers for the Midatlantic Orphan Summit in Hershey, PA November 5-6, 2010 We hope you can join us!!

Featured Speakers

Busy Busy Summer - Quick Update

2010-09-06T00:35:00.003-04:00

WE have been having a great summer! We celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary, every one's birthday's and soon to be Josiah and mine. Solomon and the three boys all learned how to swim. Jerry got a new job and loves it. He works out of our house and is home for dinner every night. Granma is doing great, going on lots of outings with "The Posse" our version of the Golden girls. Jonathan and his precious girlfriend Emily are "falling in love" as is posted all over Facebook. We are so excited to have her in our family. The twinettes are talking up a storm, learning to swim, playing dress up and getting cuter by the day. Melissa & Randy are working hard at parenting and preparing for their next adventure. Our precious grand babies are absolutely adorable. Cana is learning to walk and talk, Vaden is entering the wonderful two's! Ellie is sweeter than ever, socializing with lots of friends and preparing for her next great orphan care adventure. Solomon & Ellie started school at Southeastern College and Mestas Christian Academy is back in session with 3 first graders and 2 preschoolers. Jerry also started teaching an adoption class at our church, Open Door Baptist, in Raleigh, NC. We are off to a great start!

And Me? I am so blessed and grateful to have a wonderful husband, my mom living with us, all of my amazing children and grandchildren, everyone healthy and safe, more provisions than we deserve and a Savior who puts up with and loves a sinner like me. I feel so inadequate and undeserving of all the Lord continues to pour into my life. I am trying to keep up with the house, love on everyone, write the book, teach school, fellowship with the saints and my dear sista's, ministry to Kolfe Boys Orphanage, read the WORD and fellowship with my Savior and Glorify HIM. I am very much aware of how much I fall short every day. I have a hunger and thirst to sit in the presence of Jesus more and more every day. The older I get the more I learn how desperate I am, how much I need to learn, and how much I need Jesus to fill me with HIS portion.

Reading "Radical" by David Platt, and feeling a work being done in me. There is so much going on that I have absolutely no control over and realizing I don't want to do anything unless Jesus is orchestrating.

Praying and preparing for the Mid-Atlantic Orphan Summit conference in Hershey, PA, in November. Looking forward to meeting lots of friends from the blog and Facebook network.

Just a little update since I haven't been blogging much lately.

Solomon is doing wonderful! The language is a challenge but we know as he learns more things will get less stressful for him. He loves all foods except for string beans. He is lovin’ strawberry ice cream, Oreo’s and pasta. When you walk in his room he says "Welcome to Wal-Mart". He has clothes, shoes, and everything he needs all to himself and says it looks like Wal-Mart to him. He has made some new friends and is busier than he ever imagined. No time to be bored anymore! He is a joy and blessing and we are still in awe that he is here with us.

Another exciting year in the crazy Mestas house. And it ain't over yet!

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Colossians 2:2-3

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the LORD CHRIST you are serving." Col. 3:23

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Col. 4:2

TWO MORE KOLFE BOYS ADOPTED AND COMING HOME!

2010-08-13T00:00:00.005-04:00

When Georgie and I went to Solomon's graduation last August, sixteen new little boys were transferred from Kebebetsehay to Kolfe. We were there when they arrived and so many of them looked scared and sad. We both were very intentional about paying a lot of attention to and hugging on them. We went shopping and got each one a new back pack with toiletries and school supplies to help cheer them up. While we loved on all of them, there were two brothers that stole Georgie's heart. He kept telling me he didn't understand what was happening but he knew we were supposed to be very intentional about getting these boys adopted. Because he is not married he knew he could not adopt them but he knew they were supposed to be adopted by a US family. He took them out to eat, shopping and started writing to them when we got home. When we talked on the phone he would always tell me "You gotta get my boys adopted I!" (My family calls me "I")

Well as the LORD would have it, I got an email from Leslie Kudna one day telling me they were in the adoption process already and felt led to adopt two boys. They were already with Gladney and wanted to know if we knew any boys available at Kolfe. We sent the pictures of "Georgie's boys" immediately and then scheduled a phone call. We talked for about three hours and prayed for the Lord to give them wisdom and direction.

Well we just got this email from them a few hours ago:

Eileen and George

I just wanted to let you know we are back from our first trip to Ethiopia. We passed court on 7/30 so Habtamu and Getaneh officially became our sons. The boys are wonderful. I think we’re all a little nervous, but they used the older boys to translate and ask us lots of questions. We were able to see them every day except one…. we were only supposed to be able to see them 3 times so we skipped Wednesday – We were able to take the boys one day for lunch and a trip to the playground. They seemed to love it and we all had fun climbing around together.

While we were there we ended up buying plates for all the boys and one day we had pizza. We wanted to be able to share a meal with them. All the Kolfe boys are such a joy to be with. I didn’t want to leave each day.
We will be returning in a couple of weeks for our Embassy appointment. The boys will be HOME on September 5.

Eileen, I’m glad to hear Solomon is settling in well.

Leslie

PRAISE THE LORD, TWO MORE KOLFE BOYS HAVE A FAMILY AND WILL BE HOME IN OREGON ON SEPTEMBER 5TH!!! TO GOD BE ALL GLORY HONOR AND PRAISE!!!

OH YEA, AND GEORGIE IS NOW UNCLE GEORGIE TO TWO PRECIOUS BOYS IN OREGON....

The Village of Korah

2010-08-04T23:07:00.001-04:00

The Village of Korah - A short documentary from Session 7 Media on Vimeo.

Please Help With Our Fund Raiser

2010-08-02T23:21:00.004-04:00

Would you please help us with our new fund raiser? Jerry got a new job with Geico Insurance and one of the employee benefits available to us is an opportunity to earn $15 for every quote he solicits. All you have to do is call for a free insurance quote and enter his ID Number. You don't have to buy anything. We are praying for a minimum of 1000 quotes by December. All you are doing is giving us 15 minutes of your time and he will get the credit for it.

We have been praying for the Lord to help us with the debt we have incurred by being out of work for three years out of the last six. With Solomon added to our family, we have even more expenses now for his school books and living expenses. We would be so grateful if you could just give us 15 minutes of your time and please spread the word to everyone you know. It will not cost you anything but your time. We are praying however, that every person that calls does get the blessing of saving money as well from your existing insurance. Wouldn't that be just like the Lord to give us both the blessing!

Go Online or Call for a Free Rate Quote at geico.com/friends or 1(800)-342-9070 and enter Referral Code 144381. 15minutes can save you 15% or more and we get $15.00 for each quote.

Remember, we don't just do Auto...We insure RV's, Motorcycles, Condos, Renters,...Homeowners, Commercial and ATV's. Geico is the #3 Auto Insurer in the Country. And you have to admit they have some really great commercials...

We greatly appreciate if you could just give us your time and help with this major prayer request. Our goal is to glorify the LORD in every aspect of our lives. To pay off the accumulated dept and to financially provide for the children the Lord has blessed us with would truly help us accomplish this.

If you have any questions please email us. May the Lord Bless you and be glorified!!

Solomon met Meredith Andrews Today!!

2010-07-26T13:32:00.001-04:00

About two years we sent Solomon Meredith's song "You're Not Alone." He wrote one day and said; "Mama, how does she know my heart and everything I am feeling. How does she sing this song about me??" I told him God had given her a gift and it was His way of ministering through her. He told me he listened to her singing every night to go to sleep. It gives him peace to sleep.

Well, today she was doing a concert for HIS Radio in Raleigh. We went to visit with her and she sang this song live. She winked at Solomon when she started and mouthed "This is for you." Halfway thru the song, Solomon lost it and so did I! Then Meredith did too...listen to the interview HIS Radio did as a result. The LORD is so good and so gracious to bring Solomon together with the lady that has been singing him to sleep every night for the last two years. ONLY GOD could have orchestrated all of this...HE is in the details of our lives. To HIM be all Glory Honor and Praise!!
Jacob (her Husband) Solomon Meredith (their baby boy due in 4 weeks!!)

2010-07-23T23:33:00.003-04:00

Extreme Kolfe Orphanage Makeover. This is a kindred spirit of mine Becky and her wonderful team of volunteers. This is another project at Kolfe that has totally transformed it since we were there three years ago. Thank you to all of you who have blessed our boys so much. They are all such special boys and we love them so very much.

Children's Hope Chest is also planning on building a new dorm. They have a matching grant fund raiser going on right now to complete this project. They need to raise $12,000. If you are interested in investing in the Kolfe Orphanage, please contact them and let them know we referred you. We are all working together for the blessings to be poured on the precious boys that still call Kolfe home.

Update

2010-07-22T00:32:00.002-04:00

Solomon is doing great and fitting in our family like a glove. He is learning how to swim with 90+ temps. We are spending a lot of time in the pool. He is loving everything we feed him and hasn't disliked anything yet. He spends all day with our crazy bunch laughing and playing chess, cards and with his new phone. We are working on getting his health and dental insurance and everything ready for school. He has the most beautiful smile on his face most of the day!! I am still pinching myself and can't believe he is really here.

I am also making a priority of writing the book. My prayer and goal is to have a draft complete by January. So much going on here. The Lord gave me this verse yesterday that has comforted me so much...

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. HE will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no on can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

He is giving me the strength to accomplish HIS will in my life. I honestly can't believe this is my life!! Blessing to all!!

Our New Family Photo

2010-07-01T00:13:00.004-04:00

The Beach

2010-06-28T11:09:00.002-04:00

Does anyone have or know of a beach house we can go to for a few days? We would like to take a little vacation to relax and bond with Solomon. He has never seen the ocean or a beach. It would just be nice for us to be able to just relax for a few days together. We would like to go before Jerry starts his new job on July 19. Please pass the word on and let me know asap. Thank you for also praying with us!!

Speaking in Hershey, PA November 5, 2010

2010-06-27T23:31:00.005-04:00

We are going to be speaking at the Mid Atlantic Orphan Summit on November 5-6, 2010 at Evangelical Free Church of Hershey, Hershey, PA. Please mark your calendar and join us if you can. Please sign in to their website to register. Solomon and Ellie will also have their own breakout sessions. Ellie's topic is "Engaging our youth to care for orphans," and Solomon's topic is, "Kolfe Boys Orphanage: an Insider's Perspective," Praying many will be encouraged to step out in faith and join in Orphan Care Ministry as a result of hearing and SEEING GOD's work through the miracles He has done.

Spiritual Adoption: Kolfe Mama and Solomon Reunited (Part 1)

2010-06-24T23:49:00.000-04:00

ABC NEWS COVERAGE AIRPORT ARRIVAL!!

2010-06-23T22:34:00.003-04:00

APPROX. 100 PEOPLE WITH BALLOONS AND BANNERS WERE AT THE AIRPORT TO WELCOME SOLOMON TO THE USA! MAY ALL GLORY HONOR AND PRAISE BE TO THE LORD GOD JESUS CHRIST WHO PERFORMED SO MANY MIRACLES TO MAKE THIS DAY HAPPEN!!
Click here to watch!

Solomon's Homecoming

2010-06-23T18:36:00.000-04:00

SOLOMON IS IN DC....LOST! AND NOW FOUND

2010-06-23T10:47:00.002-04:00

Solomon got separated from our friends who were escorting him while going through customs!!! Please pray they find him and he makes it on the flight to NC!

Update: The friends with whom Solomon was traveling went to his gate and discovered he had successfully made his way there. Praise God!

Good News...ABC 11 News is going to be at the airport to interview and put this on the NEWS! The Wake Weekly Newspaper is also going to cover this amazing story!!!!

TO GOD BE ALL GLORY HONOR AND PRAISE!!!! STAY TUNED...........

2010-06-21T12:32:00.002-04:00

SOLOMON IS COMING!!!! HE ARRIVES IN 2 DAYS, ON WEDNESDAY 6/23 UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT
7726 AT 1:40 P.M AT RDU AIRPORT. PLEASE COME AND WELCOME HIM IF YOU CAN! YOU CAN PARK IN THE HOURLY PARKING FOR TERMINAL 2 AND WALK ACROSS THE STREET INTO THE BLDG. UPPER LEVEL. WE WILL BE GATHERING AS A GROUP RIGHT INSIDE THE DOORS WHEN YOU WALK IN. PLEASE BRING BALLOONS AND BANNERS!!! AND TISSUES!!!! WE WILL BE THERE BY 1:15 SEE YOU THERE!!

SOLOMON IS COMING!!

2010-06-21T12:00:00.002-04:00

WE JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH THE US EMBASSY IN ETHIOPIA AND THEY APPROVED HIS VISA!! HE LEAVES TOMORROW NIGHT AND WILL BE HERE WEDNESDAY! WE WILL HAVE THE FLIGHT DETAILS IN A FEW MINUTES AND WILL POST THEM. PLEASE TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW TO COME WELCOME HIM AT THE RALEIGH AIRPORT. WE ARE PRAYING FOR A MINIMUM OF 100 PEOPLE WITH BALLOONS AND BANNERS!! WE ARE WITNESSING A MIRACLE HERE...DON'T MISS IT!! PRAISES BE TO THE LORD ALMIGHTY!!! GOTTA GO GET OUR BANNER MADE!!

Solomon's letter today June 15, 2010

2010-06-14T23:33:00.002-04:00

Hey my dear mama,
I am also so happy to hear your voice today. I got a call from you just in time of thinking about you. I am surprisingly amazed by that. I was thinking about you this morning and you call me in afternoon. I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooo lucky my precious mama. I am always thinking about what my life would look like if God didn't bring you into my life. It looks like this, first I didn't graduate, second I didn't know God and How much he loves me, third I was a man walking with out hope and a future. but thanks to you I am not a man like that now. I have a dream and hope now. and I know how much God love me and take care of me.
Mama these words can not express exactly how much I love you but I can't get better words than this.... I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!
love Hugs and kisses always and forever for you and all of my family.
Your Solomon

I thank my God everyday for this precious young man that HE brought into our lives. What a joy to know that he now KNOWS THE SAVIOR and has a new HOPE IN HIM!

Divine Appointments!

2010-06-14T08:48:00.003-04:00

When we attended the Christian Alliance for the Orphan Conference in MN last month we made a new friend who works in Washington, DC. He told us if we had any problems at the embassy to contact him. Praise the Lord for Divine appointments! So, we just got a call that our Senators office is checking on the status of Solomon's Visa. Please continue to pray he will get word this week!!! Everything is in HIS Timing & Care! Thank you again to all of you who are on this journey with us.

NO ANSWER YET!

2010-06-02T12:13:00.001-04:00

NO ANSWER YET!!The Embassy told Solomon they will call him within the next month sometime. If he does not hear from them, he has to go back in person to inquire. SO, we must continue to pray the people evaluating his file SEE the HAND of GOD in Solomon's life and approve it! Thank you for all of your support and prayers beloved!!

Embassy THIS WEDNESDAY!!

2010-05-31T15:54:00.001-04:00

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!!!!

Update from Ellie in Uganda

2010-05-30T22:33:00.008-04:00

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.

Embassy Time

2010-05-27T23:16:00.004-04:00

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.

Solomon going to request Embassy Appointment

2010-05-24T00:09:00.002-04:00

"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

Solomon Update !

2010-05-21T10:43:00.001-04:00

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!

Children's HopeChest Ministry

2010-05-04T15:18:00.002-04:00

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.

I-20 VISA ON THE WAY!!

2010-04-19T21:52:00.003-04:00

Southeastern College called this evening with the great news. Solomon's TOEFL exam results have arrived and he is in!! They now prepare the I-20 Visa and will get it to me in 2-3 weeks. I then have to get it delivered to Solomon. If you are traveling to Ethiopia please contact me if you can hand deliver for us. He then makes his embassy appointment and if they approve it, we can book his ticket to come to the USA!! This is all so surreal.

I called Solomon via skype to tell him the great news. It was 1:00 a.m. his time. He had to go outside so as not to wake up the boys. When I told him he got approved for the I-20 Visa he was overjoyed. He said; "Now I can't sleep the rest of the night!" He is also in a surreal state of awe as he watches the LORD perform one miracle after another. He said this exam was sooooo difficult!

Now we need to rally the troops to pray the US Embassy will approve the Visa. This is the last step in the process. If they approve it, we book his ticket and he is on his way to the USA!!

Please keep us in your prayers as we seek wisdom, guidance and provision from the LORD! Thank you to all of you who are following this journey and praying.

Remember, I am praying for at least 100 people to be at the airport to welcome him so stay tuned and please join us!!

"Now this is the confidence that we have in HIM, that if we ask anything according to HIS will, HE hears us. And if we know that HE hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of HIM." 1 John 5:14-15

JOIN US AT SUMMIT VI IN MINNEAPOLIS APRIL 29-30

2010-04-10T22:26:00.000-04:00

The Christian Alliance for Orphans' SUMMIT VI: Why You Don't Want to Miss It from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

In the Waiting Zone

2010-04-09T00:35:00.001-04:00

Just wanted to give the latest status of our journey. No word yet from the Toefl exam, no word on a new job for Jerry. Just waiting on the Lord for HIS perfect will and HIS perfect plan. Stay tuned as we wait upon the Lord!!

Latest News

2010-02-27T15:56:00.002-05:00

Well, Jerry got laid off from his job so we have unofficially joined the ranks of the unemployed. Please pray we find a job immediately. Too much going on to be without funds!! We know the LORD has a plan and purpose in all things so we wait patiently to SEE what he does now.

Solomon takes his TOEFL English exam next Friday, March 5, 2010. Please pray he passes and they get the results to SEBTS very quickly.

Our dear friend Peter, who is an Ethiopian man working for Children's Hopechest is arriving this Thursday night to speak at various churches to promote more participation in orphan care. Our dear friends Jeremy& Angela Amick are bringing him here to NC. He went for his embassy appointment and out of the 122 people there that day only 5 got approved. Praise the Lord Peter was one of them to recieve this miracle. He will be here for two weeks traveling to CA and CO as well. Please pray that Solomon is also blessed to get approval from the Embassy to come to the US.

Solomon's computer is still not working properly so we have not been able to skpye or email much. Waiting for Children's Hopechest to get the internet connected at Kolfe. Please pray this is done quickly also.

Well that's all for today. So much going on and so little time. Blessings to all!!

Luke 8:21 Ministry Partners with Children's HopeChest

2010-02-02T22:59:00.009-05:00

When I was in Ethiopia I had the "divine appointment" of rooming with the new Director of Children's HopeChest Ethiopia program, Ginia Hairston. We have spent numerous hours on the phone this week discussing how we can partner for the benefit of the Kolfe boys. She has assured me that they are finally ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work now that they have secured their new staff in Colorado and in Ethiopia. So, after much prayer, I have decided to partner with Children's HopeChest and encourage everyone to sponsor your Kolfe boy through this ministry. We are specifically asking for all of the older boys to be matched and that each family will intentionally nurture this relationship. You can email him through Children's HopeChest and plan to visit on one of their trips as well. I will be communicating regularly with them and doing everything we can to encourage every boy to get a family that will pray for him and invest in his life! Please feel free to email me, eileenmestas@gmail.com if you are interested and we will match you up! Thank you to all of you who care about these precious boys. They personally asked me to get them a family and I believe this is the best and most efficient way to accomplish this.

Children’s HopeChest, a non-profit organization that connects communities in the US with orphanages in Ethiopia to provide present and consistent help, training, and discipleship, has a sponsorship program with Kolfe in partnership with Olivet Lutheran Church in Fargo, ND. With a donation of $34 per month, sponsors are helping the boys at Kolfe receive a holistic, long-term, and redemptive care. With your financial contribution, the benefits the orphans receive include 5 areas of ministry: physical, medical, educational, emotional, and spiritual.

The Orphan Sponsorship program is a ministry that provides the opportunity for orphans to know God, experience the blessing of family, and acquire the skills necessary for independent life

Specific benefits to orphans include ministry in five areas:

Environmental - A portion of the sponsor’s support, combined with that of other sponsors, improves and maintains a healthy environment. This includes the purchase of clothing, shoes, furniture, books, etc. if needed.

Medical - Each sponsored orphan will receive regular health checkups, and medical intervention as needed. Improved nutrition is also provided.

Emotional - Each sponsored orphan's network of emotional support is greatly expanded. Staff at the orphanage will receive special training that equips them to better deal with the unique emotional needs of the orphans they serve. Also, the sponsor’s involvement in each orphan’s life through cards and letters is an avenue of emotional support the child would normally be denied. Regular visits from disciplers will also add to emotional well-being.

Educational - Because of their social status, orphans are often among the first to be marginalized in the classroom. Many of them give up hope of being an excellent student simply because the traditional expectations for orphans are that they will barely succeed at school. Sponsorship helps provide resources to the children in the area of education to equip them to be better students.

Spiritual - Orphans will see the love of God demonstrated tangibly through age-appropriate Bible teaching. A discipler (HopeChest part-time national staff) will visit the orphanage regularly to conduct classes. Sponsor’s prayers and letters will also be of encouragement for a child to grow spiritually.

Relationship is the key to success in the orphan sponsorship program. Through this ministry, many types of relationships take place. From sponsors’ relationships with their sponsored children to disciplers’ relationships to each orphan in their class, this program is the building block for these relationships. It is our hope that through helping facilitate such relationships, the true hope of Christ will be recognized by each orphan.

The Commitment

A Children’s HopeChest sponsor is a caring person who wishes to commit monthly support and ongoing encouragement to one child for the duration of his or her time in an orphanage. (In some cases, sponsorship can extend through a child's time in vocational school or college.) Sponsors not only offer monthly support, but they offer encouragement through prayer, letter writing, and relationship.

We ask sponsors to specifically commit in three areas:

1. Prayer – We ask that each sponsor pray on an ongoing basis for their sponsored child.

2. Letter Writing – We ask that each sponsor write to their sponsored child at least once every three months.

3. Financial support – We ask that each sponsor remain current in their giving towards the sponsorship program.

Because orphan sponsorship is a ministry, we ask that each sponsor take their commitment to this sponsorship relationship seriously.

The Disciplers

A HopeChest discipler, is a National believer, who visits the orphanage regularly during the school year. They are responsible for the spiritual, emotional and physical aspect of sponsorship. Upon their visits to the orphanage, disciplers conduct classes. In these classes, they teach a Bible story, help orphans write letters, listen to hopes, fears and dreams of the children. The disciplers extend the relationship to the orphans in a way that few people can. They are the hands and the feet of the ministry. Orphans look forward to their visits knowing that they will find a friend that loves and cares for them.

Spiritual Aspect

Disciplers are a trusted spiritual resource for orphans. Some of their duties in this area would include:

§ Giving group and individual Bible classes in forms of discussions, Bible studies, quiz programs, contests, etc. to encourage the spiritual growth of the orphans and strengthen their walk in Christ. Classes are conducted no less than twice a week in the fall and spring school semesters.

§ Developing ties between orphanage children and their sponsors in order to build a trusting relationship.

§ Organizing correspondence between children in orphanages and their sponsors in the HopeChest Orphan Sponsorship program, translating and keeping track of letters to and from sponsors.

§ Developing individual age appropriate curriculum's of Bible classes.

§ Providing individual counseling and support.

I am asking everyone who has contacted me about the Kolfe pen pal ministry join us in sponsoring through Children's HopeChest. United we can get a lot more accomplished for the good of all of the boys at Kolfe.

IT IS SO GOOD TO BE ALIVE!

2010-01-22T23:11:00.000-05:00

I believe it was Mark Twain who once said "The rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated."

What happened yesterday made me really appreciate my life and encouraged me not to give up. We all have so much to live for and so much for which to be thankful. Sometimes in the midst of our troubles we often forget that what we do as fathers has an impact that can last not only for a lifetime but for generations to come. Once you read this you can view the video and this will all make sense.

First of all, let me explain that although I live in North Carolina, my job requires that I spend a great deal of time on the West Coast and so I spend a lot of time on airplanes. Anyway, I was not having a good day at work. My sales have been down and I have been struggling to keep focused and really having a difficult time not feeling sorry for myself.

Eileen called me and put Kezzie on the phone. She was crying hysterically. She was yelling that "Papa died!" She was so convinced of this that Keren began screaming bloody murder that her Papa had died on the plane.

"Tell Kezzie you're alive please" Eileen told me..She was doing her best to calm the two girls but they were inconsolable. Ellie, hearing the commotion from her bedroom, came running in with a phone to prove I was still alive and with camera in hand, managed to capture most of it on video.

"Hi Kezzie, Papa is fine.....I did not die, did you have a bad dream? "

She was doing so much screaming that I had a hard time getting through to her. I was laughing and I kept assuring her that I was very much alive. I thought she may have awakened from her nap after dreaming that I had died, but that was not the case at all. What had happened was Eileen was reading a story to the girls in their bedroom as they were getting ready to go down for a nap. As they were wrapping up story time, the boys came in and she told them that Dr. Sevilla's Papa died and he was on an airplane on his way to the Phillipines. Well, that was all Kezzie needed to hear. She heard Papa died on an airplane and she LOST IT. She began yelling and screaming it to Keren who instantaneously joined in the hysteria. It was so funny that the boys were rolling on the floor.

"Papa, you died? on a airplane?" she asked.

"No, Kezzie, I did not go on an airplane. I am in my office, and I didn't die."

Wasn't it amazing that Kezzie and Rennie showed so much emotion? Eileen could not figure out how these little girls concluded in their little heads that their Papa had died, or what dying was for that matter. Jimmy reminded her that they had already experienced death when Grampa died a year ago this month. They miss him and realize he is never coming back. Never underestimate the comprehension of a two-year old.

I never thought that my passing would elicit that kind of reaction. I just never give my death much thought. I think about loved ones dying and how sad it is, but I just don't think about my own death too much. I guess because I know that since I gave my life to Jesus Christ I know where I am going to spend eternity.

But this caused me to remember that everything I do has an impact. I have people counting on me. Little children are looking to me for answers to life's questions. I can't die yet. I have too much left to do. It caused me to look away from myself and to throw those thoughts of self-pity in the trash can. It's not about you, this life. You are here to serve others. You are here to serve God. You are here to point these little children to Jesus and to pass that baton of faith to them so that when they have their own children they can do the same.

When I got home I gave my girls a big hug and kiss. They were really happy to see me. The fact that I did not die was now something to laugh about. And I remembered what precious gifts they are to me.

No, I did not die yesterday. God has that time appointed for me already and He has not shared that with me yet. But I got a glimpse of what my little girls will do when that day comes. And it makes me smile.

A Message from Biruk, a Kolfe Boy!

2010-01-06T10:41:00.003-05:00

Here is a comment from one of our precious boys to his Kolfe Mama!

So excited about this! ..I received this note from Biruk yesterday:

"Mom Thursday is our Christmas. Some one that comes from USA to adopt his child bought for us two cows so; we will get meal for Christmas. We have also banana, orange and soft drinks that Gladney bought for all the boys. It seems we will get a lot of fun than the previous Christmas."

What better way to celebrate Christmas than by ministering to His sweet children! ...I can see my sweet son's smile from here!

"Eileen, you and Solomon have been an answered prayer to me! I love this ministry and being connected to Biruk has been one of the greatest joys in my life! I can't thank you enough for following His leading on this. I feel so very blessed to be a Kolfe Mama!"

Christmas in Ethiopia

2010-01-05T23:05:00.004-05:00

This Thursday is Christmas at the Kolfe orphanage. I just wanted to let you know Solomon is going to buy lots of fruit for the all of the boys as a gift from our ministry. There are 139 boys there now. Those of you who have donated, thank you! They only get fruit if someone buys it, which is usually on Christmas. When I was there in September,we bought bananas and oranges, we filled the trunk and back seat full and they were so happy. It was like candy to them. I also sent them several large bags of Kit Kat bars and Peanut Butter cups. These have become a favorite and personal gift from our family for 2 years now. The boys are looking forward to eating the yummy chocolates. The George family has arrived safely in Ethiopia and will be delivering it to them. Please feel free to send Solomon and the boys a Merry Christmas wish on his facebook account, Solomon Mestas. It will make them all so happy! Thank you!

Luke 8:21 Ministries

2010-01-02T13:38:00.005-05:00

We have started a new ministry for the purpose of doing God's work in orphan care as HE has been so clearly calling us to obey. We have installed Paypal on this blog , per request of many, to accomodate fundraising for this ministry. We are currently fundraising for expenses to bring Solomon to the USA as an international exchange student.

We are also asking for more "Kolfe MAMA's", real families to get involved with a Kolfe boy. We have been emailing and skyping with the boys and they are all asking me to find them a family like Solomon has.

Through our journey this past two years, the Lord has shown us what an impact we can have by just stepping into their lives via email and starting a personal relationship with an orphan. The boys have told me they have hope for a future now. There is someone who know's them, prays for them and helps them to SEE GOD!!

So far, we have 5 families that have now "unofficially adopted" a boy via an email relationship. These boys and families are being blessed beyond their imagination. To know there is someone in the world who knows your name, who prays for you and cares about you is life transforming.
January 7th is their Christmas. Would you consider giving a boy a family for Christmas?

I am hoping to make a trip back to Kolfe sometime in April or May. This would be an awesome opportunity for the new Kolfe Mama's, and/or families to join me and visit in person with them. I am hoping to spend a week with the boys and have a going away party for Solomon with them. They are all very precious to us and the LORD JESUS.

Please feel free to contact us for more information if you are interested. The boys are all praying for a family.... of course I would ask that you consider officially adopting a Kolfe boy or sibling group. But for those who are not able to, why not "unofficially" adopt a son via a personal email relationship?

Please contact me eileenmestas@gmail.com for more info!!

Happy New Year to All!

A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE

2009-12-24T10:33:00.009-05:00

Last night we were able to bring Solomon into our home via Skype virtual tour. We brought the laptop with camera into the kitchen and Solomon watched Jonathan baking cookies, then to the living room to see the kids playing with their new train set running around the Christmas tree and he was virtually part of our celebration. It was amazing! He even said; "I smell the cookies and they smell delicious". He is so funny! We then did our annual Christmas Adam celebration of giving gifts to each other. They got an ornament reflecting something special about this past year. Jonathan got a firetruck that symbolized his graduation from the WF Fire academy this year, Ellie got a Taekwondo girl ornament since she started taking lessons this year. Then Jeremiah opened Solomon's gift as he watched, he got a young man in cap & gown holding a diploma symbolizing his graduation from Infonet college as Valedictorian I might add! Jonathan hung it on the tree for Solomon as he watched from the Kolfe orphanage in Ethiopia! Is this amazing or what? God is so good to give us these tools that allow us to bond with Solomon from the other side of the world! What a Miracle! Then we all got a DVD movie too. Solomon got Chronicles of Narnia which will soon be delivered to him by the George family, Jan. 3, going to get their two precious babies!!

We gave Solomon a laptop w/Skype and camera when I went to his Graduation in September.Thank you so very much to my sweet sista, Carolyn Twietmeyer, at Project HOPEFUL for donating the laptop. It has been such a blessing to Solomon and all the boys at Kolfe! He has an air card now so we get internet connection right there at Kolfe. We talk to him and all the boys every Sunday and actually get to SEE THEM!! Solomon also has face book if anyone wants to wish him a Merry Christmas please leave him a message! Solomon Mestas!!

We will be calling him again to Celebrate Christmas day with us!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU RICHLY IN THE NEW YEAR!

(P.S. Solomon has been back at Kolfe since November. Misgnaw's family was a blessing and we are grateful for the time Solomon spent with them. The Lord has revealed another plan and brought him back to Kolfe.)

Here is his message from last nights visit:

Hello my sweet mama!!!

I am sooooooooooooo excited last night. This is my first and best Christmas celebration ever. Our home looks like Heaven. It is so beautiful. I wish to talk with you the whole night if my laptop battery was not dead. Mama I know how much everybody love me and care about me. I was orphan before but not orphan anymore. I have everything. I am rich and lucky. The love I am getting from you is so different. It is truly God love. I saw God last night. He is so wonderful. Our house is full of love and joy. I love all of you very much. Mama I haven’t words to express about you all. Some time I am asked myself “is this some kinds of dream?” I am not sure still whether it is real or dream. It is so amazing mama!!!!

Mama, thank you for Christmas gifts. This is my second gift of Christmas from you. I can’t wait up to test the chocolate ummmmmmmm it is so sweet!!!

Thank to this computer I am there every week. Only my body here my heart, soul & everything is there. I thank God for brought you all into my life. Without you my life is meaningless. To talk with you made me so happy.

Mama, I love you very much. I miss you lot. Thank you for the tour. Our home is so beautiful. You all are looks so different last night. I don’t know how I express my feeling right now. I am soooooooooo happy. I thank God for gave me you all. You are my special gift. Please mama gives my love for all of my family. Thank you for everything. Have a nice Merry Christmas!!!!! I wish for you all the best!!!

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The Journey Has Begun!

2009-12-07T13:52:00.006-05:00

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!

I just got the info from SEBTS with the requirements for Solomon to come as an International Student. The school is waiving the tuition but the government requires that he have $7960 verified in a bank account to prove he will be able to live without a job. Students are not permitted to work the first year of being here. We also need to pay for his plane ticket and all other fees involving immigration. So, our journey of fund raising begins now.

Would you please consider contributing to the Solomon fund? Please pray and ask the Lord if HE wants you to be a part of Solomon's journey to becoming the MAN HE IS MAKING HIM TO BE and to be about HIS MINISTRY! Things can move very quickly if we have everything. We are hoping to have him here by Spring!!

Please make contributions to:

Luke 8:21 Ministries
Eileen Mestas - President
P.O Box 1862
Wake Forest, NC 27588
919-554-1716
919-671-6482 cell

This is our new ministry birthed on my last visit to Ethiopia.

Luke 8:21 But HE answered and said to them, "MY mother and MY brothers are those who hear the Word of God and do it." Jesus is the Father to the Fatherless, we are to be the mother and brothers to them!

We are not a 501C3 so this is not tax deductible. However, your reward will be in heaven as you obey the command of James 1:27 "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: "to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. "

Also, please keep us in your prayers as we continue this journey of Faith and obedience to God!

Thank you to all of you!!

TODAY'S MIRACLE!!!!!

2009-12-04T21:01:00.006-05:00

The President, Dr. Danny Akin of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Southeastern College has AWARDED A TUITION SCHOLARSHIP FOR SOLOMON BEKELE MESTAS TO ATTEND THE COLLEGE HERE IN WAKE FOREST, NC. HE WILL LIVE WITH US !!

PRAISE THE LORD FOR HE IS SO GOOD! I have to meet with the International Student department next week to start the process. I honestly have no idea what is going to happen next. I do know that everything has to be approved by the immigration, the US Embassy and the Ethiopian Embassy so there are a lot of hoops to still jump through.

Please join us in prayer as we embark on the next chapter of our journey to Solomon. We will need to do some fund raising to make all of this happen as well.

I am in absolute awe and just a river of tears tonight.

Thank you Dr. Akin, Thank you LORD for blessing our lives with Solomon!

Please spread the word to everyone you know to PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!!

Kolfe Mama Video

2009-12-03T15:17:00.003-05:00

My girlfriend Deanna Jones Falchook recorded this for her ministry "Mother the World".

Solomon's Thanksgiving Prayer

2009-11-27T10:39:00.004-05:00

Hello mom,

How are you today? I am doing well here. Mom I would like to say happy Thanksgiving Day for you and for all my family. How much miraculous things God give for us in this past year. He gave for us more than other people got. Firstly He gave a chance for you to come here and celebrated my birthday with me. Secondly, I am valedictorian. Thirdly, he got for me a laptop and CDMA (air card) to communicate with you and money other things. So mom this Thanksgiving Day is very special for us. I spent my day by praising his name and singing songs to day. I got many excited things by the past year. The great thing I got is the love and a beautiful memorial time I have with you and Georgy. I am a sinful person but always God is good for me and he led me in good direction. I am not enough even to walk but God’s forgiveness and love covered my sin. He is near to me when I pray and giving for me everything that I asked him. You are the one and the special gift that gave for me. I didn’t know what is right and wrong and also don’t know what to talk but he is my voice and leading me at the right direction. I am poor but God is my richness. I am weak but God is my strength. Everything I have is him. I don’t have a right to do anything without him. My always prayer look like this please God bless and safe all Mom and all my family. I don’t ask you anything about me. I only cry out to you about my family. Give for dad a good job near to his home. Give strength to mom to take care of all the babies every day. God if you bless her I am also blessed, if you make strong her I also strong. Because I am a dead person without you and her. I want to help and to do for my family many things but I don’t have anything to do. The only thing I have to do is that to cry out and pray to you. Please God listen my prayer. I know my savior I am not enough to say anything but I beg you for the life that you sacrify for us. God thank you for giving for us this day. Thank you for keeping mom safe up to this day. Thank you for giving for me a blessed and beloved family. Please bless all of them forever. Thank you God. Thank you mom and my family. I love all of you from my bottom of my heart. It is very hard and painful for me to live here without you but I am patiently waiting what good store for me for future.

Mom and dad I love all of you very much. I wish for you this a blessing thanksgiving day. I pray to God today a lot and thank him for giving you all for me. Words are not express about you. I have no word what to say about you. You all are awesome and a gift from God to me. God bless you forever and ever. AMEN!!!!!

Love Your Son Solomon Mestas!!!!!

I am a blessed woman for the LORD to have given me this precious son!

James 1:17 says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." Everything we possess in any capacity has been given to us by a good God who loves to give good gifts to His children. And He is an extravagant giver. All we have to do is receive.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

SOLOMON MOVES OUT OF KOLFE TODAY

2009-10-19T20:55:00.009-04:00

Solomon saying goodbye to his "house"; this is what the boys all call their bunk beds.

Solomon and me with Johannes, the director of Kolfe.

As we drove out of the Kolfe gate, I held Solomon’s hand and silently prayed for him. This was a miraculous day in his life. Only a year and half ago, he had no hope for his future, no vision, no idea what God had in store for him. I felt like I just needed to be quiet, hold his hand and pray. This day had only begun to be orchestrated by the LORD just a few months ago. It was all so new, and kind of scary because none of us really knew how it was going to work out. It was another step of faith, free falling into the arms of Jesus and trusting him for the future….

A few minutes later, Misganaw says “ Eileen, there is something I need to tell you. I did not tell you before because I thought you would not want Solomon to come live with my family.” All of a sudden , I got a lump in my throat and we all looked at Misganaw. “Oh, what is it?”, I replied.

“First I want you to know that my family is really excited to have Solomon live with us, and we have been working very hard to get our room ready. You see, we have already taken in 4 other children. Solomon will be my only brother and our 8^th child.. I have always wanted a brother and now God has finally given me one. Besides my two biological sisters, my parents have taken in four other girls.”

“WHAT?? WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THIS BEFORE?” I replied with a sigh of shock. “How are they going to take Solomon in? Do you have room for him? How did they get these other girls?”

“One of the girls is a relative from the country. My mom’s sister had a daughter who has a mental handicap and they could not take care of her. So my parents took her to live with us. She goes to a special school now for people like her.”

“Then one day my dad was coming home from work and saw a young girl sitting by the street and she was crying really hard. He went to console her and asked her why she was so upset. She told him she was from the country and her family had brought her to work in a business here making injera. The people were mean to her and did not pay her. They just kicked her out and she doesn’t have any place to go. She has no contact with her family any more. She is about 13 years old. So my dad asked her if she wanted to come home with him and live with us. She is a nice girl and she helps mom a lot with the younger children now. The younger girls came from a friend of my older sister who could not take care of them anymore. They are sisters age 4 & 5 yrs. Then another friend of my sister has a 5 yr. old that she can not take care of and we just got her recently. So we have a full house now.

”

There was complete silence for a few seconds and we all just stared out the windows. Then Georgie suddenly said “THIS IS CRAAAAAAZY!”. Now I must interject here and give you a little information about my cousin Georgie. He speaks with a Brando-esque, gravelly, raspy sounding Godfather-like voice with a very heavy inner city New York accent. It is the kind of voice that would be typical in a Mafia movie. When he speaks people listen and usually stare!

I sat there trying to digest all of this and figure out what to say next. Then Solomon spoke for the first time. Now he has a crackling, squeaky puberty sounding voice with a heavy Amharic accent. “WOW, ALL MY LIFE I PRAYED FOR A FAMILY, AND NOW GOD GAVE ME A TRIBE!!” We all bust out laughing!!!!

You got that right, I responded, Solomon has 8 siblings in America and now there will be 8 of them in Misganaw’s house!! Between us we have 16 children!!!!!!!

I was overcome with joy and realized that God did indeed bring our two families together. It is evident that we both have a passion for GOD and HIS precious orphans. WE are like-minded for sure. So, for the rest of the journey, I was in shock.

We drove about 20 minutes until we arrived at his house. Then the thought suddenly came to me and I said; “Misganaw, you only live 20 minutes away from Kolfe and you never knew it existed. Why didn’t God just have you and Solomon meet here somehow. Why did GOD take you all the way to America, for your neighbor to invite you to visit Open Door Baptist church that Sunday, to meet me in the parking lot, so that you could meet Solomon who lives right down the road from you? He could have done all of this without me. Why do you think HE did all of this?? Why is this crazy white Mama lady sitting between you two right now?” We all looked at each other and Georgie replied, “THIS IS AMAZING!” We were all in awe of what God was doing in our lives. We SAW GOD all over this day!

The road to Misganaw’s house was literally undriveable. The road is very rocky with a big ditch that made the car scrape the entire bottom. The government started to construct a road and then stopped dead at a pile of rocks and ditch. It is bizarre how common this is Addis Ababa. The road suddenly disappears and you are on a pile of rocks. Anyway, we arrived and were greeted by a bunch of neighbor kids running toward us. Misganaw laughed as they all came running and said, “They have never seen white people here.” A special young man, about 18 yrs. old, came to greet us and was so excited as he politely asked to carry our bags into the house. Misganaw explained that he is a neighbor that everyone loves and he has a special mental problem. He reminded me of a high functioning Autistic child. He also told us that this boy’s mother had just died and she was his only relative. A neighbor just took him in to live with them. The neighbor is actually two teenage girls that are also orphaned and taking care of their younger siblings as well. He told us this street of houses are all good people who are taking care of each other.

Now, Misganaw unlocked the gate with his key and we entered into Solomon’s new home! I have to tell you I was very surprised again! I just assumed that his family was from the upper middle class status. But, it was immediately evident that they were not. The very humble house is made of dirt and straw built on a mound of rocks.

There is main house with a living and eating area and two small bedrooms. There are three little buildings behind it with one serving as a kitchen, an outhouse and the third one, built by Misganaw and his Dad, has three rooms serving as the boys bedroom, one for his older sister and a little sitting room with a TV.

This precious homestead rests on a rock pile where I could hardly walk without being held. They have a chicken coup and a killer watch dog that was ready to eat us for lunch that was kept in a locked pen. Flowers are planted sporadically where there are patches of dirt. They have a cute little front porch with a table, two chairs and maps pinned on the outer wall of the house. Tesfaye, Misganaw’s dad told me this is where they like to sit to read and study.

He also pointed out that because they are next door to the Embassy to Nigeria, it is quiet and there is security all around. It makes for a very nice and safe environment. He has been a teacher for 30 years and he loves to read and teach all of his children. His salary is $1000 per year and he now has 8 children to support! This little homestead is very humble, rustic, functional and quaint. It has the fragrant aroma of sweet smelling flowers, and it emanates joy, peace and love which made it absolutely beautiful!!! It is a home where JESUS LIVES!!!

We were now entering the rear building, painted all blue and Misganaw said they had been working on it all week. We walked into this adorable room with two beds separated by a wooden table with 5 chairs around it.

This is where they would study together he said. The dirt floors were covered with straw mats and Misganaw worked for many hours, all by himself, to cover the ceiling with a beautifully multicolored stripped fabric. Then he pointed to the posters he had just bought. Two were their favorite soccer teams, of course they would be the rivals, Misganaw loves Manchester United and Solomon loves Arsenal.

Like real brothers they have a special love for soccer and have a point of contention to wrestle each other about. Then came the real tear jerker! He intentionally purchased this poster to place right over Solomon’s bed, “I put this right over your pillow so that you will always go to sleep and wake up knowing you have a “MOTHER’S LOVE Solomon. I saw this and it reminded me of you and your mom Eileen.” I just stood there and began to cry, AGAIN!!!

Between laughing and crying, every day was a monster rollercoaster ride of emotions. It was exhausting. It was like experiencing an advanced aerobics class of the heart!

"A family created by God"

My Return to Kolfe Slideshow #1

2009-09-26T21:44:00.012-04:00

As a gift for my birthday, my daughter Melissa prepared this slide show for me.

These photos depict my visits to Kolfe along with Solomon's new home with the Tesfaye family. More slide shows to follow, so stay tuned.

While you are at it, check out Cousin Georgie's blog and slide show of our trip to Ethiopia.

MIRACULOUSLY BACK TO KOLFE

2009-09-20T00:37:00.001-04:00

We got up early, went to our usual breakfast cafe and then it was time to go back to Kolfe. I could not believe I was actually driving back to KOLFE, the place I have been praying for and longing to return to for the past year and a half. It was unbelievable. I was actually crying all the way there because I was overcome with awe knowing the LORD HIMSELF had brought me to this place for HIS purpose and HE obviously has another plan for me to be back. I never dreamed I would be back so soon. My heart was racing and wondering if the boys would remember me. I was wondering what the place would be like, did they get any work done since our last visit?

This was also moving day for our son Solomon. This has been his home since he was 10 years old. He spent the last nine years of his life here and this is his family, these boys are all he had until November 2007. They have lots of memories; lots of tears and laughs were shared together and Solomon says they all know his heart and dreams.

This was a huge day in both of our lives. We literally held hands all the way there. I could only imagine how difficult this day was for him. I know both of us were wishing he was packing to come back to America with me but the LORD has other plans. We don't know them all yet, but HE has given us this day, and today we were moving him into the home of Misganaw Tesfaye and his wonderful family.

Suddenly, there it was, we turned the corner and the Kolfe Boys orphanage was before my eyes. The big gate opened and we drove in. The boys started to run toward us and greet us just like before. Only this time, Solomon got out of the car with me and they greeted him as well. He had been staying with me at the Cherokee house for several days. It took a few minutes, but then the boys started to ask me if I remembered them.

"Hey Mom, do you remember me? I was talking to you last time."

"Hey Mom,"EYE LEAN on the LORD" you told us!"

I was overjoyed and said,

"Do you remember when I was here that God told me to hug and kiss all of you?"

"YES", they responded, and many of them began to laugh.

"Well, Mama is back for more hugs and kisses, come over here and give me some".

Many of them started to surround me and get and give lots of hugs and kisses again. It was such a joy to hold them in my arms again. Several of the boys showed me photos of them I had sent back from my last trip. One of the special young men I remembered, Genanew, had entered the gate and came over to see why the crowd was gathering. When I saw him I said,

"Genanew, how are you? I have been praying for you".

He looked at me and said he wasn't sure he remembered who I was. I said,

"That's OK, I know a lot of people have been coming to visit in the last year. I remember you very well and I have prayed for you."

He smiled and just looked at me for a while. Then he ran off and suddenly came back with a photo in his hand saying,

"Is this when you came?"

He handed me the photo I had sent him of when he was holding Josiah Abel.

"YES I said, he is my son and we took that photo of you last time we were here."

His face lit up and he smiled his beautiful smile saying,

"Now I remember you!"

He stayed by my side for most of the day as we went on another tour of Kolfe.

What a joy and delight to SEE AMAZING CHANGES!!PRAISE THE LORD FOR GLADNEY. THEY HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL STEWARDS AND A BLESSING TO THE KOLFE ORPHANAGE. The boys started to show and tell me all about the new kitchen, the finished library, the new blankets, mattresses, and not one broken window anymore. Most everything had been freshly painted. There were gardens and flowers planted between the building where there had been rock piles before. The grounds were more level and safer to walk now. The boys started to say,

"Thank you Mom for all you do to help us here. We know you do much and pray for us. We know you help Ryan Brown and Gladney. Please say thank you to all the people who helped you Mom."

Tesfaye, another special young man from last time, came to greet me and I asked if he remembered me? He said yes. I looked him right in the eyes and told him,

"Tesfaye, God has used you in a mighty way to help all of these things happen at Kolfe. Do you remember our conversation last time?"

He said,

"Yes I do."

He was the young man who told me,

"Many people come to visit us lately but no one helps us. Our government has no money. They have not maintained our compound for more than 30 years. They have forgotten about us, can you please help us?"

I showed him the exact spot we were standing when he told me these things. I pointed right at it and told the boys,

"THIS IS WHERE MY LIFE CHANGED FOREVER! I HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN YOU BOYS AND I WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN. I HAVE PRAYED FOR GOD TO HELP YOU LIKE YOU ASKED."

Of course, I started to cry and just stood there looking at them. They all started to say;

"Don't cry Mom, it's OK! Don't worry, God is here taking care of us! Don't worry Mom, don't be sad."

Here I was in the middle of these amazing young men in tears and they were comforting me and encouraging me not to worry! Many of them kept saying thank you for everything you do Mom. I kept responding that

"IT WAS GOD WHO DID EVERYTHING THROUGH RYAN BROWN AT GLADNEY AND THEN HE USED OUR BLOG AND SPEAKING MINISTRY TO HELP RAISE MONEY AND AWARENESS THAT HAS BEEN BRINGING MANY PEOPLE TO VISIT."

I asked them if they remembered what I had told them two years ago. I was so surprised to hear them shouting out,

"You told us to Love God, and you said you tell God's people about us and they come to visit, You said you give us Mama Hug and Kiss from GOD. You have husband and Ellie with you, how are they?"

It was very clear that they did indeed remember. I asked how many people had come to visit since I left. They responded;

"Too many to count!"

I then went to the office to finally meet the director Johannes. I had never met him because he was in a meeting on my last visit. I politely knocked on the door and he told me to come in. He looked very busy behind his desk full of paperwork. I said:

"Hello, I am Solomon's Mom, Eileen. I don't know if you know me but I have been praying for Kolfe and love this place and the boys so much."

He surprised me when he stood up, walked from behind his desk and reached out to hug me. He is a big man and his countenance suddenly changed as he walked toward me. He began to hug me and say,

"It is so nice to finally meet you. Thank you for all you have done for Solomon and the boys here at Kolfe. You are a woman of GOD, Bless you."

As I hugged him back and he pulled away, I saw tears rolling down his cheeks. I told him it was all God's doing, He brought me here to give these boys a Mama's Love and to be about HIS business. He has a very gentle an soft voice and he wiped his tears and started to share with me.

"You are very special. You know the people of this community hate Kolfe. They throw rocks at the compound. They yell out bad names to the boys, and throw rocks at them, even at me when I come to work. They don't want us here. They think all the boys are bad. Other people who came to work here left very quickly. I believe God has me here for a reason. He brought me here 6 years ago and I only make 2000 birr. I could get another job tomorrow making 5000 birr but I can't leave. Every time I try, God tells me HE wants me here. If I leave, who will take care of these boys? I try to teach them to be good and to Love God. They are good boys and they need an education. I write many letters to people asking for help, but no one helps us. I ask the private schools for scholarships but only one answered. This is the school where I sent Solomon. But they called one day and said they had no money and he needed to pay to stay there or else he has to leave. I know you started to pay for his school and I thank you. I thank God he started sending people like you and Ryan Brown to help us. Our government has no money and we need help. The boys, they need people to love them and help them. I believe this is my ministry to serve God here".

Mr. Johannes and I spent about an hour talking and crying together in his office. It was a very special bonding time for us. This is a very special man, a man of GOD!

What a glorious day this was, it was sunny, warm and beautiful smiling faces were surrounding me. I intentionally touched everyone of the boys, hugging and kissing all day long. We intended to stay about an hour but stayed 5 hours. I told the boys we needed to go because it was getting dark and they asked when we were coming back. We made plans to come back Monday. Habtamu was not home and I had to return especially to see him. He was at the library studying as usual.

There were also 19 new boys that had just arrived this week from Kebebetsahay orphanage. I even recognized some of them from when we visited there with Ryan last time. They range in age from 7-10 years. Many of them were sad and nervous looking because Kolfe was a new place for them. They didn't know me, but it wasn't long before most of them were being hugged and kissed. I saw many of their faces change into bright smiles. One little boy asked if I could please bring them Colgate and a toothbrush when I come back. Another little boy asked for a back pack to carry to his new school. My heart was broken again, as I met the next generation of Kolfe boys. This was the age when my Solomon came to Kolfe and I couldn't help but think he was scared and sad just like these boys. He was all alone in this new place and had no idea what was in store for him. I felt like this was God showing me the work HE has for me to do now. These new boys need a family before they turn 19 years old. Help me LORD!! Help me find them a family!!! HELP ME to NEVER FORGET THEM AND TO BE ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS FOR THEM! MY HEART JUST ACHED FOR THESE BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BOYS!

It was time for Solomon to pack up his belongings. He had a small trunk at the side of his bed with everything he owned locked up in it. He filled his back pack with the things he wanted and then told the boys they could take what was left. Within 2 minutes, they all had something in their arms running to put into their trunks. They even took his blanket and mattress. The top bunk was completely empty, like no one lived there any more. They all address their bunks as their houses. Solomon's house was vacant! He looked around the room, the boys surrounding him as we walked out of the building and we stepped out into the journey of Solomon's new life. The boys followed us out to the gate and stood waving and smiling as we drove away. Many of them yelling,

"Come back please, come back tomorrow"!

(photos will soon follow) Stay tuned more to come......

Day Two In Ethiopia

2009-09-13T01:47:00.005-04:00

We called Gladney to arrange for our scheduled driver, Taffi was ready and waiting for us at 9:00 a.m. It was so wonderful to see him again. He was our driver in Nov 07 and we actually cried as we said goodbye at the airport. We were both in awe that the Lord had brought us back together so soon and so unexpectedly. It was a very warm and happy reunion as you will see when I get the video uploaded!

So off to our favorite breakfast spot "La Parisienne" for waffles and cappuccino. This is also known as Taffi's office. Solomon, Georgie, Misganaw, Me and Taffi, all had a delicious breakfast and then we all shared our testimony with Taffi of how we all came to be at this table. He was in tears and awe of all the miracles God had performed that orchestrated this day. He also shared his testimony and events of the last two years that had grown his faith and relationship with Jesus Christ. In fact, he also got a miracle, his green card was approved that very week and he will now be able to come to the USA on a regular basis. He has family here but he will keep his business and life going in Ethiopia. He has worked for Gladney for four years now and he has seen many miracles. He is passionate about orphan care and wants to continue to work with this ministry.
We spent four hours bonding, sharing testimony, crying, and laughing. It was the foundation established that made the rest of our journey so amazing. We were a foursome now. He then took us shopping for some things, we made reservations for a graduation celebration at Kuriftu Resort for later in the week and then to dinner. This was the night Solomon ate ice cream for the first time in his life. He loved the strawberry flavor the best.

Taffi is the man to know. He knows many people and pretty much can get us what ever we need. He is a very valuable resource. He is a new brother in the lives of Solomon and Misganaw and has promised to look out for them for me. Nothing like building the family network!!!

Also, Belay is trying to contact our birth mother for another visit with her. I have lots of photos and hugs and kisses to share with her. Their contact info for her was no longer valid so it may not be possible to see her again. I prayed so hard that we would see each other again. The LORD is going to have to give us another miracle!! PLEASE LORD!!!

This was a day of adjusting to the time and just laying some groundwork and planning the rest of our journey. Oh, and Georgie is back on track...ready to get to work and be about HIS business. It made a big difference to have Taffi and his car!! More to come...

Ellie is out of town this weekend, Myrtle Beach sunning and resting from her duty while I was in Ethiopia, so my photos will be posted when she gets home. Also working on getting the video copied to disk so we can post. We have some great stuff.

P.S. Thank you for the emails...keep them coming...I'm building my address book again! Blessings to you all!

MY NEW EMAIL ADDRESS

2009-09-12T19:32:00.002-04:00

I have been having major problems with my computer and email since I got home. Even my keyboard died!! I think I have lost all of my contact's in my address book too?? This is not good, there are so many of you I need to communicate with. It's like a spiritual attack...Satan does not want me to post about the miracles and ministry the Lord has and is doing. I now have a new email address so please do not send emails to my old one. PLEASE SEND ME A QUICK EMAIL SO I HAVE YOUR ADDRESS AGAIN!! Thank you for all of your support and requests for sponsoring a Kolfe boy. I am working on the logistics of everything so please do stay tuned...I will be posting more testimony and photos too. Just not enough hours in the day to do it all!!

eileenmestas@gmail.com

ON THE BRINK OF TEARS TODAY!

2009-09-11T07:38:00.007-04:00

I am feeling very overwhelmed since arriving home and I am really asking God to show me WHAT HE IS WANTING FROM ME?? I feel like another curtain has been pulled back and I can SEE things that are breaking God's heart and mine. There is so much ministry that needs to be done in Ethiopia. My heart is very heavy because I personally know of special needs for the Kolfe boys and Solomon, Misganaw and his family. I know I CANNOT DO THESE THINGS by myself. I am praying for wisdom and discernment. I cannot just get back to life as I knew it before this last trip. I know God is preparing me for something and I am at the threshold of the next chapter of this book HE IS WRITING.

I have to start school with the kids and today is our first day to co-op. I woke up feeling like I need to sit at the throne of God and ask for HIS portion to fill me today. I am on the verge of tears so I sat this morning and asked him to SPEAK TO ME! This is what HE showed me within minutes of sitting at HIS FEET! My GOD IS SOOOO GOOD TO ME!!!

"You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its farthest regions, And said to you, YOU are my SERVANT, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you , Yes I will help you, I will uphold you with MY righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:9-10

"Now it shall come to pass," if you diligently obey the VOICE of the LORD YOUR GOD to observe carefully all HIS commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your GOD will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the VOICE of the LORD YOUR GOD" Deuteronomy 28:1-2

Are you SEEKING TO HEAR THE VOICE OF THE LORD SPEAK TO YOU??? I want to encourage you to SEEK HIM AND SEARCH FOR HIM WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART. HE is faithful and desires his saints to be about HIS business.

I AM IN AWE AND WAITING TO HEAR WHAT I AM TO DO NOW??

I am now ready to start my day and WAIT for HIS instructions.

The Journey Begins in Ethiopia, Monday, August 24, 2009

2009-09-08T20:05:00.007-04:00

It was a long 18 hour flight and we spent a lot of time talking and praying about why the LORD had us both on this journey. There were approximately 10 American families on the plane going to adopt from Ethiopia. We spent some time talking with everyone and sharing stories and photos as we waited in Dulles. Cousin Georgie and I both knew that the LORD had orchestrated everything for us to be on that plane and we both felt like we were about to embark on a life-changing journey. We were both at peace but yet we knew we were entering into a journey that we had absolutely no control over.

We arrived at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 24, 2009 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It took us approximately another 3 hours to get through customs and the Visa line and then there we were standing within eyesight of Solomon and Misganaw, his dad, Brianna from Cherokee and Peter from Children's HopeChest. We were all waving and running toward each other until at last Solomon and I were embracing each other. It was so surreal and felt so amazing to be back in Ethiopia and looking into Solomon's face again. I still can't find the right words to describe what it felt like but the words standing on holy ground kept coming to mind. I know with everything in my being that the LORD GOD has so intentionally and miraculously ordained this relationship and this journey. This is so not about me but about HIS WILL, HIS PLAN and HIS PURPOSE.

We then sat at a table in the airport for about an hour talking and showing photos from home while we waited for one of the passengers who was also going to be staying at the Cherokee House with us. It turned out to be Ginia Hairston with Children's HopeChest who was delayed due to her luggage still being somewhere between Colorado and D.C. After she filed her claim, we all gathered in the van and headed to our new home away from home. As soon as we all got settled in the van I said: "Well here we all are like one big happy family!" To which Misganaw's dad responded: "Yes, one big happy family created by GOD!" I knew at that moment that we were not the only ones who SAW GOD IN THIS JOURNEY!!!

We got to Cherokee house, settled in and went to bed since it was now very late. The morning came oh-so-soon and before we knew it we were planning our day! We called for my driver through Gladney but Belay did not answer his phone. So we opted to use the Cherokee house driver for the day, a very sweet man named Habtamu who drives a very tiny old blue taxi. Georgie, Solomon and I hopped in and headed out to breakfast at Kaldi's, which is like a Starbucks cafe. After breakfast, we decided to just let him drive us around Addis Ababa and give us the tour. Georgie was very quiet and I was wondering what was going on. It was not like him to be so quiet. As we were driving around I noticed at one point he was looking like he was very sleepy. He was recording video and taking photos but he was looking out of it. I finally asked if he was doing alright when he turned to me with a pukey look on his face and said,"I feel like I am sucking on the exhaust pipe of that car in front of us! I didn't know I was coming to die here!!!"" I immediately burst out laughing and could not catch my breath for a few minutes. He really looked poochie and I said; "Are you sleepy or are you dying of carbon monoxide poisoning?" He turned to look at me again and he really did not look good. So we asked the driver to take us back to the house. When we got home, Georgie said the fumes were coming from the car we were driving in as well as outside and he really felt sick. He wanted to go lie down for a while and recoup from our scenic drive, HA HA!

I honestly thought I was losing him the first day. He said he had traveled 6 continents and never had seen anything like this. It was disturbing to see the “fourth” world conditions of this country and also so surreal to see the wide variation of time periods going on at the same time. There are Shepherd's with sheep and donkeys in the streets, people dressed like bible times and modern day clothing all walking beside each other, and then there were many beggars, sick and crippled children and adults begging at the car and lying on the sidewalks, medians and everywhere. There is absolutely no organization to the driving rules, no designated lanes and everyone drives crazy. People just run right in front of the cars and literally walk in the middle of the traffic at all times. It is a miracle that you don't see bodies flying through the air constantly. I was a nervous wreck every time I saw the little kids and mothers with babies walking among the chaos of traffic. There is nothing to compare it to and it takes some getting used to. They are all perfectly comfortable with it but we as foreigners were a bit stressed.

So Georgie went to sleep and Solomon and I spent the next four hours of the afternoon all alone in the living room sharing our testimonies with each other about everything the Lord had done in our lives for the last year and a half. It was amazing to hear the two stories from two countries and to SEE how the LORD had woven a tapestry for us to be together on that couch. We both cried, laughed and bonded through the miracles we had witnessed and experienced. We recognized if not for the miraculous invention of email, we would not be together today. It was through this technology that we established our long distance relationship and communications. We traced all of our steps back to the very first day of our meeting when Ryan Brown of Gladney insisted that we visit the Kolfe Boys orphanage. This was the day I got very frustrated and prayed the Lord would give us a flat tire or something to avoid visiting Kolfe. It is so humbling to realize that I NEVER KNOW WHAT GREAT PLANS THE LORD HAS FOR ME and I am so grateful that HE ALWAYS KNOWS WHAT IS BEST!!!!

Everyone started to arrive back home and we soon were at the table eating home-made Pizza and getting to know each other. We all shared our stories of why and how we were all at the Cherokee house. JT and Brianna are employees of Cherokee; Brittney and Scott are volunteers, Peter and Ginia are with Children's HopeChest and then there was Solomon the orphan boy, Misganaw the exchange student, Tattoo Man DJ Manager Georgie and Home-school MOM ME! What a weird tapestry has been woven huh?? Everyone was absolutely amazed at our testimony as each of us shared how we came to be at this table. There were tears as well as lots of laughs.

Ginia even mentioned that she had seen us on the plane and kept staring because we looked like such an odd couple. She thought we didn't look like husband and wife but then we were so affectionate and seemed so close. We were talking and laughing a lot and then I was sleeping on his shoulder too!! What could they be going to ET for she thought? I mentioned that I had tried to talk to her on the plane but she seemed kind of snobby. She laughed and said she was just having a hard time trying to figure us out. We quickly became very good friends however, and realized that we also were experiencing a divine appointment. She was there to visit the orphanages that are being sponsored by Children's HopeChest, one of which is the Kolfe Boys orphanage. What are the odds that she would be there for her very first visit with Kolfe's Mama as her roommate?? Only God could orchestrate things like this! We now have a bond not only as sisters in Christ but as roommates and witnesses to the miraculous works of the LORD and the Kolfe orphanage.

Ginia at Kolfe

I AM HOME BUT MY HEART IS BROKEN!

2009-09-06T00:57:00.009-04:00

I arrived safely home yesterday and now I am dealing with a whole new situation in my life. I feel like my heart has been broken into two pieces and I left half of my heart in Ethiopia. I have never experienced anything like this before. I am grieving but at the same time I am so grateful that the LORD decided to bring Solomon into my life. I don't understand it all, it is so complicated and so full of miraculous events. Why do I have to live without him here in my home?? Why do I love him so much?? We had an absolutely amazing 2 weeks together. We bonded better than I could have ever imagined. We laughed a lot, talked and shared a lot, experienced a lot of first events together like a mother and son would, and then we cried a lot. It was soooo hard to leave him at the airport. He was crying so hard for the last two days that everyone was comforting him. Our driver even stopped the car at one point and went into a store to buy tissues for his tears and running nose. It was just uncontrollable. We were hugging and holding hands the entire time I was there. He loved to touch my hair and we would just stare at each other a lot in awe that it was really true that we were finally together. It was like having a new baby boy in so many ways but yet we had so much fun as we shared so many conversations and experiences. I have so much to share and lots of photos. I will be posting over the next few days. I have to process so much and I am very tired. So, please stay tuned and get ready to SEE GOD!!! Blessings to all of you who have been writing comments and praying. I can't wait for you all to hear the details!!! WE are embarking on a new journey, a new book....written by the creator of the heavens and earth and the lover of the orphans in the world!! It is such an honor and privilege to be a part of HIS STORY....AND THE LIFE OF SOLOMON BEKELE MESTAS....

Just a note: Jerry posted about Solomon winning the Valedictorian award at his graduation. An important fact that was left out was that Solomon was failing all of his classes until almost two years ago. He shared with us that he was very depressed and hopeless. He had no ambition to study...or anything. He was having one of his very worst days the day I first stepped foot at the Kolfe orphanage when he heard the boys talking about a lady that was outside visiting. He got up off of his bed to go see what was happening and that day changed his life forever! He shared that until he got HIS FAMILY...HE HAD NO HOPE...NO REASON TO PURSUE ANYTHING. HE WAS SHOCKED THAT HE WON THIS AWARD... HE received two honors..top student of the Marketing Division which was his major and then the highest GPA for the entire school of more than 400 students. He was almost kicked out of this school a few months ago because they reneged on his scholarship due to lack of funds. We sent him some money just in time to pay his tuition. Then he began to study really hard and apply himself. He also missed the last exam due to food poisoning that put him in the hospital. All the other students took that exam except him. So, with all of this said...HE STILL WON THE VALEDICTORIAN AWARD FOR HIGHEST GPA OF THE SCHOOL!! Even the director of Kolfe and the other boys who know Solomon for almost 10 years were absolutely shocked that he won!! They all asked how he did it?? He responded: "I just started to study really hard because I wanted MOM to be proud of me!!!"

Solomon Accepting His Award

Solomon Georgie and Misganaw

According to Solomon, if not for having a family, a mom and dad that were rooting for him and supporting him, his life would have taken a major turn for the worst. Through this experience the LORD is revealing to me and you just how important it is to be there for these orphans even if we can't adopt them physically in our homes. IF we had not stepped out in faith and become a part of SOLOMON's life, what would his story be today??? According to him, HE WOULD HAVE NEVER FINISHED SCHOOL NEVER MIND WITH HONORS!!! I pray this inspires you to SEEK GOD'S WILL FOR YOUR ROLE IN CARING FOR THE ORPHANS IN OUR WORLD.

I have a list of boys from Kolfe that have personally asked me to get them a family that will love them and be a part of their lives like Solomon has. I will be posting more...but please pray now to see how the LORD wants you to respond. I have been given another new mission... to be a MOM TO ALL THE BOYS AT KOLFE and to find them all a family!! I have much work to do...I will never be the same again!!! Please stay tuned...the best is yet to come!!

There are many of them who can be adopted and I will be happy to talk with you about it. Just email me: emestas@nc.rr.com!! TO GOD BE ALL GLORY HONOR AND PRAISE!!

Coming Home

2009-09-03T10:40:00.003-04:00

I spoke to Eileen a little while ago on Skype. BTW, If you are not familiar with Skype, you have to know that this is the best way to call Ethiopia. Not only can you make free video calls from computer to computer on Skype, but if you buy Skype credit, you can call any number in the world practically for so cheap. I paid 36 cents a minute to call Eileen on the cell phone she was using. For her to make calls on that cell phone anywhere (including the USA) she had to buy a SIM card that was good for a certain amount of Birr. Local calls used up so much Birr and of course, international calls used more Birr. Needless to say, she was always running out of Birr. The good news is that even without Birr, she could receive calls and so I could call that cell phone and it did not cost her anything, and it only cost me 36 cents a minute. I wish I had known this when she first got there, but better late than never. www.skype.com

Today Eileen paid one last visit to Kolfe before she left for the airport. Yes, she is on her way home today and should be arriving at Dulles airport tomorrow morning. Of course she will have to go through Customs and all that stuff so her connecting flight will not get her to RDU airport until tomorrow afternoon at around 2 pm. It will sure be good to have her back home.

It was hard for her to leave Solomon and very difficult to say goodbye to the boys at Kolfe. She has a special place in her heart for them which has been there ever since she first stepped foot onto that place almost 2 years ago.

ONE LAST MIRACLE

This trip was filled with some amazing and miraculous events, much of it recorded on the 13 hours of video which Georgie took. But today, during the final of about 4 visits to Kolfe on this trip, two of the Kolfe Boys accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Orphans No More! They are Sons of the King!

Update from Eileen and Solomon the Valedictorian

2009-08-30T20:14:00.009-04:00

The following is an updated report from Eileen on a positively amazing day! Eileen's entry is followed by one from Solomon.

Today was absolutely amazing!!!

We got up early and arrived at Solomon's graduation by 8:30 am. It was scheduled to start at 9:00 but didn't start until after 10:00. After a few speeches they began to announce the 400 students names to come to the stage for diplomas. Several times there was a big cheer from the crowd and I asked Misganaw what that was about. He said they announced "HIGH GPA" with the name. After a long time they finally announced Solomon Bekele "VERY HIGH GPA" and the crowd cheered for him. Misganaw noticed that only one other girl had this announcement of "VERY HIGH GPA". So then we looked at each other and said,

"Imagine if he won that big trophy on the stand for Valedictorian???"

We all started to get nervous for him and I started to pray. Then all of a sudden, the last name was called and then they announced the new Valedictorian is SOLOMON BEKELE!!! He also won the honor award with the highest GPA in the Marketing Division then the highest GPA in the entire school!!! Needless to say, Misganaw, Georgie, and I lost it!! We started jumping up and down cheering and crying all at the same time. WE WERE A SPECTACLE FOR SURE!!! As he humbly walked up to the stage he was in shock. The school cheered as they also were very surprised!! Solomon was the first and only student from Kolfe to be given a scholarship to attend this college. He made history for the school as the first student from the Marketing Division to win and then of course being an orphan boy from Kolfe topped the cake!!!

So after graduation, all the students surrounded him to take pictures with him and congratulate him. Especially the girls!!! One of the administrators then gave him a card inviting him to a special luncheon at the school. Misganaw's family had planned a graduation party for him so we had to quickly call people to have them come later than scheduled.

We attended the school lunch where we heard great things about Solomon. One of the administrators wants to meet with him about the next step, which is either a job or getting a scholarship to another level of college!! What a miracle. We are meeting with her on Tuesday!!

Then it was off to Misganaw's house for the celebration. His dad was at the graduation but had to wait outside because they only let parents in. When we were all outside for photos and congrats by all, Tesfaye (Misganaw's Dad) told us that everyone was talking about his AMERICAN MOM being here for him! They were all so happy for him, and amazed that she would come all the way from America. He said everyone in the whole place was talking about it. WE WERE THE ONLY WHITE PEOPLE THERE IN A CROWD OF APPROX 1500 PEOPLE.

Seven boys came to the party from Kolfe and brought him flowers as is the tradition. They were also shocked that he had achieved such an award!! Solomon was walking in the clouds today in shock. They had a cake with his name on it, which was another first for his lifetime. They had decorated with grass throughout the entire house which is a custom of celebration; there were banners all around in English and Amharic saying "Congratulations Solomon Bekele Mestas!" Misganaw's mom put out a huge traditional celebration dinner as if Solomon were her only son!! We are absolutely amazed at the abundance of love and support that Solomon has received. He is so humble and said he thought that they had called the wrong name. He is also a star in their yearbook. An entire page is dedicated to him!! When they had him on stage he held up his trophy, flowers and blew a big kiss out to the audience ....he said this is for you mom!! Are you crying yet??? I am a bucket of tears!! He told everyone without God and His Mom Eileen he would not be here today! He went to every teacher, administrator and official of the school and personally thanked them and shook hands with them. HE WAS/IS AMAZING!!!!!!!

After several hours of party and fellowship with Misganaw's family and his friends, they took all the Kolfe boys to see his new room. They all hung out and talked and laughed. It was a beautiful sight!!

EXCEPT FOR THE KOLFE BOYS THAT DON'T YET HAVE THIS TESTIMONY!!
I am on another mission folks. The LORD has spoken to me again!! These amazing boys were so happy for SOLOMON, hugging and kissing him but in their hearts I know they were wishing for a loving Mom and Dad to come into their lives to love and support them like Solomon has found.

WILL YOU PLEASE PRAY AND ASK THE LORD IF YOU CAN BE A MOM TO A KOLFE BOY TOO?? IF YOU DON'T, YOU WILL MISS OUT ON SUCH AN AMAZING BLESSING!! THESE BOYS ARE ALL MINE UNTIL SOME OF YOU STEP FORWARD AND TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH!!

Solomon was the only orphan boy at this school. If we had not been in his life and sent him money for a suit, he would have been the only one in jeans. If we had not stepped out in faith to go to his graduation ceremony, he would have accepted this award in jeans and would have walked home to KOLFE ALL ALONE!!!! There would have been NO CELEBRATION, NO CAKE, NO ONE TO HOLD HIM IN THEIR ARMS WITH A MOTHER'S LOVE, HUG AND KISS AND TELL HIM HOW PROUD SHE IS OF HIM. There would have been no party at Misganaw's House, No new bedroom to show off and God would not have been so VISIBLE!! The LORD has clearly orchestrated every single event that has taken place in the life of Solomon and our family!! I SIT HERE IN ETHIOPIA WITH SOLOMON AT MY SIDE AS WE WEEP WITH JOY AND AWE AT THE AMAZING MIRACULOUS GOD WE SERVE AND LOVE WITH ALL OUR HEARTS!!

TO HIM BE THE GLORY!

From Solomon:

Hello this is Solomon,

Firstly I would like to say thank you to everyone who made it contribution for mom and George to come here and join with me for my graduation celebration. It is very amazing day for me. Because it is my graduation celebration day. Because of your contribution I celebrate my graduation with Mom and George. I am graduated from INFONET College today. Infonet college graduate more than 400 students. I studied marketing. I am the top scorer of my class and also I am the top scorer of the whole infonet college graduated students. This is a Miracle. Every one is surprising by this including me. How amazing God work is? I cried to God and he answered my all my prayer. Thank you God!!! I didn’t do this thing only by myself but by the help of God, my family in America and all the people that helping mom and George to come here and join with me during my celebration time. With out your help this thing is impossible. This is Just a beginning. God has more plans for my life. Every time and day he speaks to me and going with me wherever I go. He gave me the entire thing I asked him before. Everyone Praise God name because he did a miracle in Ethiopia especially for Orphan boys. Now I got the answer of my prayer but I pray for other Kolfe orphanage boys God give to them all a blessed family just like me. Because of I got a beautiful family in America I know how God is love orphan boys and how he is good for all kinds of human kinds. I hadn’t hope also but after I got my precious family everything is changed. I can say they bring my life back. So, you all Christian people God call you to protect orphan specially Kolfe boys. If you did this he blessed and give for you glorious life. I pray for all of you people. Pray for me too. God bless you all.

“THE FORGOTTEN AND HOPELESS ORPHAN BOY GOT A FAMILY AND SCORE THE HIGHEST MARK FROM HIS DEPARTMENT AND FROM HIS COLLEGE” don’t ask why because it is just a MIRACLE!!!!

VALEDICTORIAN !!

2009-08-30T06:06:00.005-04:00

Eileen just called me from Ethiopia to tell me that Solomon was named Valedictorian of the Graduating class of Infonet College! Over 400 students received their diplomas and Solomon had the highest overall score of 95.76% ! Isn't that awesome? He scored the highest in the class, even though he missed an exam a couple of months ago when he was sick with food poisoning. Otherwise his score would have been higher! Wow!

Eileen was in tears as she was describing what happened. She and Georgie (who videotaped it all) were so surprised as Misganaw interpreted the announcement. Solomon was shocked! He was told he was going to receive an award but he did not expect this. When he received his award, he was given an opportunity to say a few words so he said,

"I could not have done this without God and my Mom"

What a blessing to be a part of this special time! What if Eileen had not been there for this? Solomon would have had no one with whom to savor this moment. Even Misganaw's dad, who did not have a ticket and could not get into the graduation ceremony, was in tears when he heard the news.

"This is a work of God" he said.

Wait, there's more. After the ceremony, Eileen had to fight the crowd to get to Solomon. People were lining up to congratulate him. Eileen said he looked like a movie star, signing autographs. Girls were asking him for his phone number! Someone discussed with him the possibility of a sponsorship for admission into a university.

Solomon was overwhelmed. What a special time for a young man whose life was once as he described "without hope". I actually got a chance to congratulate him on the phone and tell him how proud I was of him.

Even the yearbook had had a full front page tribute to Solomon and his achievements.
On that page, he was quoted as saying,

"Thanks to God and to my Mom"

The other day Georgie bought a chain and a cross as gift to both Solomon and Misganaw. Solomon was so grateful that he cried. He said he had never experienced anything like this in his life. He also tasted Pizza for the first time in his life. He loved it! If you have been following this blog, you'll know that he had ice cream for the first time the other day.

Eileen had called me from a special reception that the school was hosting in honor of Solomon and the other award recipients. After this reception, they were all heading for Misganaw's house where they were having a graduation party for Solomon.

Do you see the value of investing in the life of an orphan? I am not talking about the giving of money. What I am describing is the giving of ourselves. Eileen has been privileged to pour her life into this young man for almost two years and God has shown us a glimpse of the fruit of that investment. God is so good!

More Updates

In case you have been wondering why there have not been any posts lately, the internet situation is pretty bad there. Eileen has limited access to the internet at the guest house where they are staying, and there is only one dial-up connection. This means she has had to take turns with the other people that are staying there, and it also means that when the phone lines are down, as they were yesterday, she cannot communicate with us. She said she tried for 3 hours yesterday, but there was no dial tone. We did manage to video chat with her and Solomon on Friday night. It was pretty cool.

She said they went to see Tigist, the birth mom to Josiah, Keziah and Keren. She was doing great, and they even got video of her. They are meeting with her again tomorrow when Tigi is going to give Eileen some baby pictures of Josiah. Have you ever heard of anyone else with an Open International Adoption? This is just so awesome.

Yesterday, the gang all went to the Gladney Foster home where they got a chance to hug and kiss all the babies. They especially hugged and kissed (and photographed and videotaped) Mike and Teresa's new babies, and Andy and Veronica Kick's new son.

I am planning to call Eileen later today and hopefully I will more to report after that.

Solomon's Testimony

2009-08-26T13:32:00.006-04:00

Oops. The last couple of paragraphs of Eileen's 2nd Day in Ethiopia were inadvertently left out when I put up the post. Please go back and read the revised blog post which includes more of Solomon's testimony. Amazing!

Eileen's 3rd Day in Ethiopia!

2009-08-26T00:40:00.007-04:00

Today was quite an amazing day for Eileen, Solomon, and Tafesse, (who was our driver when we were there 2 years ago , and who is Eileen and Georgie's driver this time around as well). Eileen is having to send her emails in hurried segments so this may seem somewhat disjointed, but what is clearly evident is that the Lord is at work and getting tons of glory for the great things He has done.

I got an opportunity to chat online with Eileen for a little while until the power went out. I even chatted with Solomon. He had ice cream today for the first time in his life! Can you believe that? How often do we take for granted the luxury that is ice cream? His favorite was strawberry, which was cool, because strawberry ice cream was my father's favorite and I always think of him when I have some.

We spent a great deal of time today preparing for the taping of our documentary. It is going to be so awesome. Tafe was in tears today and we all felt like we sat in the presence of the Lord for hours. Tafe got his green card this week and he is on way to to the USA. He is a changed man and following after God more than ever.

We ate at Le Parisien Cafe and spent 4 hours sharing testimony...amazing day.. we are going to Kolfe tomorrow to move Solomon out and spend time with the boys.

Misganaw's family is throwing a graduation party for Solomon at their house and inviting all of his friends.

We have been praying that we would have an opportunity to once again meet with Tigi, the birth mom to Josiah, Keziah, and Keren. Belay has been looking for her for weeks, and praise the Lord, he found her today! We have an appointment to meet with her on Friday at 2 pm (7 am Eastern). God is so good to give us another opportunity to spend time with her!

On Saturday we're going to the Gladney Foster Home to meet Andy and Veronica Kick's baby Lucas.

Sunday is Solomon's graduation and party.

We had dinner here tonight with guests from the Mother Teresa HIV Orphanage
and the pastor of the Ethiopian International Church who is from North Carolina.

On Thursday, we are going to a lake resort area about 1 hour from here to record our documentary. It is going to be the testimonies of Solomon, Misganaw, Tafesse, and me. It is going to be so amazing! God is incredibly at work here with us.

More tomorrow...

Eileen's 2nd Day in Ethiopia!

2009-08-24T19:57:00.008-04:00

Well I had not heard from Eileen since the email I received this morning. All day long I kept checking my email for an update. I sent her an update on what was going on around here and at around 5:20 pm I received a response. They lose power quite frequently in Addis Ababa so she was sending her email messages in segments, typing short messages, sending them quickly and then doing it again. As I started the first email, I noticed she was ONLINE! "YES!" I yelled out loud, scaring one of my co-workers. I quickly initiated an online chat with her and soon realized that I was probably as giddy as some pimple-faced teenager chatting online with his girlfriend. It was just so cool! Here she was, on the other side of the world, on another continent, and we were talking back and forth online. We were hoping we were going to be able to do this and actually even video chat, but they don't have a high speed connection where she is now.

Here is a sampling of our conversation:

me: Hi Babies
Eileen: hibabies
im writng so fast dont check the spelling its dark and i can';t see eutther
me: how good it is to talk to you! even if it is only like this
Eileen: oh how i wish you were here
me: me too...almost time to go home..what time is it there?
Eileen: 12]30 a.m everyone is in bed i am in the dark here
the pastor from intnl church is coming to dinner tomorrow night. cant wait to meet him
Eileen: i SEE GOD ALL DAY TODAY
me: yaeh mee too
Eileen: I am trying to record today so much happening
me: what do you want me to post today?
Eileen: God is writing this story...you can fix this post and then put it up i have more to add though..i can hardly see the keeys
me: you mean the email you wrote? I have not even finished reading cuz i saw you were online
Eileen: yes..i am still writing
me: we are so excited for you and for all that is happening....how is solomon?
Eileen: I LOVE SOLOMON

Is that cool or what?

Here is the email she sent:

What an AMAZING DAY!!!! I could not sleep again. I hardly slept on the plane and then I only slept about 4 hours and I suddenly woke up and was wide awake. I just prayed for the LORD to orchestrate our time here, give me wisdom and discernment and SHOW ME HIS WILL!

WE called Habtamu, Cherokee's driver, to take us out to eat and run a few errands. We ate at the same Starbucks-type cafe (Kaldi)where Ryan took us. We had omelets, pancakes, and water bottles. Georgie sat very quietly during breakfast, almost like he was out of it. He was just riding in the car with the video camera on and not saying much all morning. Habtamu then took us on a riding tour all around Addis telling the history and saying "photo forbidden here" and "OK, now you can take photo again". "Photo forbidden", "OK now again". It was funny, Georgie was so serious. Then he told him to make sure the camera is tight on his hand in case someone tries to grab it. Then we went to lunch at the Lime Tree Restaurant and Cafe. A lot of Americans in there. WE had spaghetti. The entire time we drove around and went to the same little market to buy water bottles, Solomon had his arm around me and did not let go of my hand. HE sat right next to me and just kept the biggest smile on his face all day. I kept holding him and hugging him all day. We were inseparable.

Solomon is such a gentleman. He opens the doors for me, etc. On the way back from lunch I noticed Georgie had his eyes closed and was really out of it. He was in the front seat and we were in the back.
I asked if he was OK and he said,
"I can't believe all these fumes, I can hardly breathe..."
I burst out laughing and said,
"Are you getting carbon monoxide poisoning or are you sleeping?"..
He said, "I honestly don't know, I hope I don't die here!"
It was soo funny. He later shared that he felt out of it all day and he thinks he was honestly in shock!! (Note from Jerry: When I was there 2 years ago, it took me several days to get acclimated to the high altitude and lack of oxygen. I was pretty much out of it also)

Georgie had never seen such poverty, or such a sad situation. A man came to the open window and begged him for money. He had 10 fingers on one hand!!! Georgie looked at me with his serious face and huge eyes after he gave him some money and said..DID YOU SEE THAT? I was right behind him so I did. Then all of a sudden we started getting swarmed by beggars. A lady with a tiny baby came to him next and he just teared up.

He said "I can't believe this!"

Then he said "OH-OH, Look what I started" and the driver started off again.

He said he has traveled 6 continents and has never seen anything like this. So we came back to the house and he went to take a nap.

Solomon and I sat on the couch all alone for several hours and he just shared his amazing testimony with me. I sat in tears and amazed at all that God has done. He described our visit to Kolfe to a "T". He has it memorized and etched in his mind. He took out a photo album he has made and showed me the photo we took with him kneeling at my feet with the whole group. and he said "THIS IS THE MOST SPECIAL DAY OF MY LIFE - THIS IS THE DAY I WAS BORN AGAIN!! He proceeded to give me details of how that day went down. He described that he started out very sad and depressed and was in his room studying for exams that were coming up soon. He heard a lot of boys talking about a family that was visiting outside. He decided to go out and get refreshed and take a look. He saw me with Habtamu and decided to join us. He described every thing we did. I was amazed when he said that he was noticing something different about me and that I seemed so interested in everyone. Then he said we went to the soccer field and talked a long time with all the boys and we were getting ready to go. He said he doesn't know if you remember Jerry but you said we had to leave and I told you we can't until I give all the boys a mama hug. He heard you say not we have to go and he said he prayed right there for God to please let me give him a hug!!! Please ! And that's when they all lined up and one by one I gave everyone of the boys a big hug.

I shared our testimony at dinner tonight and then Solomon shared his testimony. It was awesome and I see where God is going big time. I was a bucket of tears. He said he never understood the Bible when he read it because he didn't know what real love was. Gina from Children's Hope Chest wants a video of it to post at CHC. She said it is going to impact the world!

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 3:20-21

Eileen's in Ethiopia!

2009-08-24T07:14:00.006-04:00

The boys sent their mom an email last night updating her on how much fun they are having with their Papa and how much they love her. When I awoke this morning I got this response:

Hello all my beautiful babies and my beloved papa!! I am in a fog, like this is all a dream. Solomon is so precious we hugged and hugged and hugged and he is so grateful and excited that I am here. Misganaw and his dad came to the airport too. THey had to wait 3 hours for us to get through the visa and customs line but they didn't mind. I SEE GOD ALREADY!! My roommate here at Cherokee is the new Children's Hopechest worker who is here to work on the Kolfe and Kebebetsehay sponsorships. She is new and says I know more about Kolfe than she does so she asked me to come with her there and help distribute all the sponsorship letters. This is such a divine appointment!!! She said she knows we were meant to be together and we are going to be working together in the USA. Ellie, they are also starting a youth drive to get them involved with this work. She is personal friends with the Harris twins, she worked 16 years in publishing and is working for ZONDERVAN right now as well!! I love Misganaw's dad, he is a very sweet man and I feel like we are already family. I said that to him and he responded " A FAMILY CREATED BY GOD!!" We are going to work on our schedule today, just going to go eat. I had to pay $60 for my carry on w/Ethiopia airlines. The power might go off so I am sending this now just in case.

She followed up with this email a little later:

The house is nice here. It's Ethiopia!! I did not sleep much on the plane or last night. Just can't sleep yet. I have to call Belay and get everything coordinated so I better run. I love all of you with all my heart. I am praying for you all, especially you Ellie w/ all the littles. just take it easy and relax...dont stress out...have fun and remember...we are serving the Lord Jesus!! I will talk to you again asap.

Landed!

2009-08-23T23:24:00.003-04:00

So I am sound asleep at 5:45 am this morning when I get this annoying alert on my cell phone that I had just received a text message. Who could be texting me at this hour? I rushed to the phone and much to my surprise learned that it was Cousin Georgie letting me know they were in Rome for a refueling stop. Incredible! He can text me from Rome?

I was totally blown away. We then proceeded to exchange several text messages before he had to sign off.

My favorite was this one:

We are in Rome. Everything is good. Eileen has about 10 new friends, that's more than one an hour. LOL

Georgie also told me he was hoping he would be able to text me from Ethiopia.

After departing from Rome, they still had to fly 8 more hours before reaching Ethiopia. That would mean they would be landing around 2:00 pm our time. I waited until 2:45 p.m. and when I had not heard anything, I sent Georgie a text, asking if they had landed. Within seconds, I got a response from Georgie that they had landed. He tried to send me a picture but I never received it. I have not heard anything more but since it was nighttime there and since they probably did not sleep much they were probably wiped out. Hopefully we will get another update tomorrow.

Ethiopia Trip Update

2009-08-23T00:44:00.005-04:00

Well the day finally came and amazingly the kids and I found ourselves dropping Eileen off at Raleigh-Durham Airport. She caught a flight to Washington, D.C. where she met up with Cousin Georgie and they boarded a plane headed for Addis Ababa. How surreal. It is still hard to believe this is happening. What we prayed for is actually coming to pass. Why do we do this? Why do we get surprised when God answers our prayers? Is it because we think He is not able? Or too busy to concern Himself with us? One thing we have learned throughout this journey is that God does not necessarily join us when we set out to do what we think He wants us to do, but rather He blesses us and He uses us for His glory when we join Him in accomplishing His business. As Henry Blackaby says: "If you want to experience God, find out where He is at work and join Him".
This mission and vision of caring for orphans is God's business. We are commanded in James 1:27 to care for the widows and orphans of the world. Why? Because His heart breaks for them. Throughout the Bible, God's heart is reflected in his concern for the fatherless and the widow. When we as believers in Christ all begin to accept responsibility as a mission of the Gospel for the Solomon's of the world, it will radically change how we relate to God. When we truly see the beautiful parallel between the physical adoption of an orphan and our spiritual rescue and adoption by God into His family through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, our hearts will be knitted together with God's. Our family has been radically changed. We have drunk the kool-aid. There is no turning back. Many of you can relate to our journey and many have been obedient to God's leading to partner with us. We praise God for you. The Lord has great things in store for Eileen and Georgie in Ethiopia. Like you, I am anxiously waiting to see how it all unfolds.
Jerry

THREE DAYS UNTIL DEPARTURE!!!!

2009-08-18T22:08:00.004-04:00

I am absolutely amazed that I am actually on my back to the KOLFE Boys orphanage in 3 more days. So much has been going on in the last few weeks that I am honestly dizzy!! As of today, they have scheduled Solomon's graduation for Sept 1st and I will be there until Sept. 3rd. We were getting nervous that I might miss it since it was still not scheduled as of yesterday!! Praise the Lord!!

I have been doing a lot of praying about this trip and asking the LORD WHY HE IS SENDING ME??? I have been feeling quite overwhelmed because I have so much responsibility here at home taking care of my husband, my children, my home, etc. I have struggled with feeling that I have no business leaving all of my responsibilities to travel across the world to Ethiopia, especially without my husband. We have absolutely no money for this major expense LORD?? I have 5 children under 6 yrs that need me every minute of the day LORD??? Why have you called me for this task?? What could I possibly do that is more important than what you have already given me here at home?? Who will help Ellie take care of the Little's, who will keep this ship running for 14 days??? It's time to start our new school year, I can't leave? Why not send someone else LORD?? Surely there is someone better qualified and with better resources than me LORD???And here is what I read in HIS word:
2 Corinthians 12:8-9
Three times I pleaded with the LORD to take it away from me, But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

The Lord has faithfully proven that this is HIS WILL that I GO!! As of today, I have received all of the money I need through the precious and obedient Saints.THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICIAL SUPPORT...the Lord raised up cousin Georgie to go with me and he also has raised all of his support!! Elsa is coming to stay at the house and help Ellie with all the Little's and Jonathan will be home on his 4 days-off cycles as well. Jerry will be working all day but at least he won't be traveling while I am gone. Several dear, dear sisters in Christ have volunteered to bring meals for some of the days I will be gone. Mommy will also be cooking most of the meals. The Little's are not happy that MAMA is leaving but they are happy that I am going to take care of their brother Solomon and all the children that don't have mommies and daddies. They even gave me money out of their piggy banks to buy mosquito nets so they don't get malaria!! You should have seen their precious faces when they came with their money in hand!! I have been given a great peace that all will be well without me and the LORD IS IN CONTROL!!

HE has also impressed on my heart that I am to go pave the way for the FORGOTTEN BOYS!! Many people will adopt a baby, many people will adopt a little girl because they know they are probably being rescued from a life of prostitution. But, most people don't want the older boys, the forgotten boys!! And as I have shared previously, I was the most guilty of this. I didn't even want to visit their orphanage when we were there in Nov. 07. I actually got angry that I had to go visit the Kolfe orphanage. I honestly believe the LORD is raising this ministry of how to care for the older boys in several ways. First, to get them adopted. There are several Kolfe boys that have been adopted in the last year. And now, to take care of the boys that can not be adopted... to help an orphan establish a life outside of the orphanage. There is nothing better than raising a child in a family, with a dad, mom and siblings. Orphanage life is not what God wants for HIS children. As I have prayed for HIM to show me how to help Solomon, HE has miraculously raised up a family in Ethiopia that will take him in and I am on my way to help facilitate this. Maybe, if I go and help ONE BOY, make a difference in his life with no resources or special abilities of my own, but just step out in FAITH AND TRUST THE LORD FOR HIS PROVISIONS, MAYBE SOMEONE ELSE OUT THERE, MAYBE MANY PEOPLE WILL ALSO STEP OUT IN FAITH AND HELP THE FORGOTTEN BOYS GET OUT OF THE ORPHANAGE AND ESTABLISHED IN NEW LIFE! So, here it is only a year and half later, and I am on my way back to Ethiopia, the main purpose for my trip...TO BE ABOUT MY FATHER'S BUSINESS AT THE KOLFE ORPHANAGE OF THE FORGOTTEN BOYS!

I PRAY THAT EACH PERSON READING THIS BLOG WILL BE INSPIRED TO STEP OUT IN FAITH AND TRUST THE LORD WITH WHAT EVER HARD THINGS YOU ARE DEALING WITH. HE IS ABLE..HE IS TRUSTWORTHY AND HE IS FAITHFUL!!

"THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL, BUT THE WORKERS ARE FEW. ASK THE LORD OF THE HARVEST, THEREFORE, TO SEND OUT WORKERS INTO HIS HARVEST FIELD. GO!.." LUKE 10:2

"WHOEVER WELCOMES ONE OF THESE LITTLE CHILDREN IN MY NAME WELCOMES ME; AND WHOEVER WELCOMES ME DOES NOT WELCOME ME BUT THE ONE WHO SENT ME" MARK 9:37

"ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME. THEREFORE GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND TEACHING THEM TO OBEY EVERYTHING I HAVE COMMANDED YOU. AND SURELY I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, TO THE VERY END OF THE AGE." MATTHEW 28:18-20

I hope to be updating this blog from Ethiopia so please stay tuned. Please keep us in your prayers....

Nov. 8th Orphan Care Sunday

2009-08-11T10:34:00.002-04:00

In case you are not aware of this I wanted to pass it on. Please note that November 8, is Orphan Care Sunday and we would like to request that you talk to your churches about recognizing this as specified below. (Feel free to copy and paste this and email it to your pastors.)

The Southern Baptist Convention (the largest protestant denomination) passed the resolution below (presented by Dr. Russell Moore) on adoption and orphan care! This has huge potential for the sake of the fatherless! Pray that an adoption culture will take root and spread in the churches represented by the SBC. I can’t wait to see what God has in store!

“On Adoption and Orphan Care”

WHEREAS, in the gospel we have received the “Spirit of adoption” whereby we are no longer spiritual orphans but are now beloved children of God and joint heirs with Christ
(John 14:18; Rom. 8:12-25; Gal. 3:27-4:9; Eph. 1:5); and

WHEREAS, the God we now know as our Father reveals himself as a “father of the fatherless” (Ps. 68:5) who grants mercy to orphans (Deut. 10:18; Hos. 14:3); and

WHEREAS, our Lord Jesus welcomes the little ones (Luke 18:15-17), pleads for the lives of the innocent (Ps. 72:12-14), and shows us that we will be held accountable for our response to “the least of these my brethren” (Matt. 25:40); and

WHEREAS, the Scripture defines “pure and undefiled religion” as “to visit orphans and widows in their trouble” (Jas. 1:27); and

WHEREAS, the satanic powers have warred against infants and children from Pharaoh to Moloch to Herod and, now, through the horrors of a divorce culture, an abortion industry, and the global plagues of disease, starvation, and warfare; and

WHEREAS, Southern Baptists have articulated an unequivocal commitment to the sanctity of all human life, born and unborn; and

WHEREAS, a denomination of churches defined by the Great Commission must be concerned for the evangelism of children—including those who have no parents; and

WHEREAS, upward of 150 million orphans now languish without families in orphanages, group homes, and placement systems in North America and around the world; and

WHEREAS, our Father loves all of these children, and a great multitude of them will never otherwise hear the gospel of Jesus Christ; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, June 23-24, 2009, express our commitment as a denomination of churches to join our Father in seeking mercy for orphans; and be it further

RESOLVED, that we call on each Southern Baptist family to pray for guidance as to whether God is calling them to adopt or foster a child or children; and be it further

RESOLVED, that we encourage our pastors and church leaders to preach and teach on God’s concern for orphans; and be it further

RESOLVED, that we commend churches and ministries that are equipping families to provide financial and other resources to those called to adopt, through grants, matching funds, or loans; and be it further

RESOLVED, that we ask our International Mission Board and North American Mission Board to prioritize the evangelism of and ministry to orphans around the world, and to seek out ways to energize Southern Baptists behind this mission; and be it further

RESOLVED, that we encourage Southern Baptist churches to join with other evangelical Christians in recognizing November 8, 2009, as “Orphan Sunday,” focusing that day on our adoption in Christ and our common burden for the orphans of the world; and be it further

RESOLVED, that we hope what God is doing in creating an adoption culture in so many churches and families can point us to a gospel oneness that is defined not by “the flesh” racial, economic, or cultural sameness but by the Spirit unity and peace in Christ Jesus; and be it finally

RESOLVED, that we pray for an outpouring of God’s Spirit on Southern Baptist congregations so that our churches increasingly will announce and picture, in word and in deed, that “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.”

Ethiopia Trip Prayer Update

2009-08-02T22:22:00.005-04:00

So, I know the Lord is calling me back to Ethiopia and he has told me to bring someone who can photo and video journal this trip. Now that it is a definite that I am going, here is my prayer list:

1. Please reveal the other person you want to go with me for photo/video journal.
Answered within the week: It is cousin Georgie Barnes!!

2. I need 3 laptops to take with me.
Answered yesterday, Aug. 2. 2009 A friend may have 2 laptops to donate?

3. Someone to come stay with Ellie to care for the kids all day.
Answered yesterday, Aug. 2, 2009: Elsa Mugyenzi, from African Children's Choir

4. What else do you have for me to do Lord, why the photo and video?? I believe there is more to this journey??
Answered yesterday, August 2, 2009:
Move Solomon into Misganaw's home, buy bed and get everything set up for him.
Deliver very important documents for Carolyn Twietmeyer to attorney in Addis.
Visit w/specific orphans waiting for their forever famlies (all friends of mine).
Visit and photo property for Covenant Village/Almost Homes in Legadadi, Ethiopia for Project Hopeful.

5. Please deliver the funds to pay for this trip Lord. We don't have it??? I need $4000???
Answered: $1650 so far.....

I only have 2 WEEKS UNTIL I TRAVEL!!!

PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER AND SEE IF THE LORD WOULD HAVE YOU BE A PART OF HIS ORPHAN CARE MINISTRY IN ETHIOPIA. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN MAKE A DONATION. (I HATE TO ASK FOR MONEY BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE.) THE LORD DESIRES HIS PEOPLE TO CARE FOR THE ORPHANS AND WHILE NOT EVERYONE IS CALLED TO ADOPT, EVERYONE CAN HELP WITH A SMALL DONATION AND PRAYERS. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE SENT US YOUR SACRIFICIAL GIFTS. THEY ARE ALL GREATLY APPRECIATED. I STILL NEED $2350!!

"I tell you the truth; whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40

ON MY WAY BACK TO ETHIOPIA!!

2009-07-28T02:21:00.003-04:00

I can't believe it is really happening?? I am getting ready to go back to Ethiopia to see Solomon again. The Lord has been doing some amazing things to make it clear that this is HIS plan. Please pray for me...I am shaking in my shoes...AGAIN!! It looks like cousin Georgie is joining me to be our photographer and journal the next chapter of this story. We are all praying for the funds to arrive in time for our trip in August. I have learned when the LORD says GO...He provides the funds and usually through the saints! If you are reading this blog and know our story, would you please pray and ask the LORD if HE would have you be a part of this adventure and help financially?? (If so, please leave a comment and I will send our address)Thank you to those of you who have already shared your financial resources with us. I promise you every penny will be invested in Kingdom work for the LORD!! IT'S ALL ABOUT HIM!! Stay tuned, Kolfe orphanage here we come again!!

Solomon's Letter dated 7/04/09

2009-07-04T14:56:00.003-04:00

This letter is in response to my questions to him. I need to know the exact graduation day so I can make my flight arrangements. I asked if there was someplace he wanted to visit while I am there with him. Mr. Brannigan goes to our church, Open Door Baptist Church in Raleigh. He and his family served as missionaries in Ethiopia for 9 years and he now travels back to teach at the Seminary that meets at the International church in Addis Ababa.

Hello My Sweet Mom,

How are you today? I am doing very well. Mom I asked our college director but still they are not set the exact day of our graduation. I don’t know what to do. I told them why I need the exact day but they don’t tell me the exact day. If you want to communicate with my college director here is they email address: - infonetcollege@yahoo.com and the web site www.infonetcollege.com.

Mom I met with Mr. Tom Brannigan. He is really a good person. He invited me to his home and we talk about many things. He asked me my future plan and about my past life. He loves your work very much. Finally he prayed for me, for God to make me a way to come to there and to bless you all for me.

Mom, the pharmacy college I know is very far from Misganaw’s family. But I hope there is also another pharmacy college near to Misganaw’s family house.

Mom, I don’t know where Ethiopian International Church is found.

Mom, I don’t visit any place before so I don’t know what to say mom. I only want to sit with you and look your beautiful face and listen your beautiful words. Until now this is my only wishes. You are my happiness and everything for me. So, if you are with me I have everything.

Mom, I don’t know what to say for everything you are doing for me. How an awesome thing to have you and the rest of my family. I am a lucky person because of God give me you for me. I love you very much you all. Please know that always thinks and praying about you my beloved, sweet and precious mom. You bring me from dead to a good life and give me a future hope. I am a full man because of you. I love you very very, very much. You are my words when I speak and my way when I go to anywhere. I learn form you many good things about God, love and life. Thank you very much for everything.

“(000000000000) Hugs (xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) Kisses” with my love.

God Bless You My Sweet Mom!!!!

From Your Son Solomon Mestas,

To my dear Mom. Eileen Mestas.

"HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT STEPPING OUT IN FAITH AND CARING FOR AN ORPHAN??"
I pray that reading this blog is blessing you as you have an opportunity to get to know the heart cry of an orphan boy. He needs and wants a family. He needs to know that there is someone in the world that GOD and the LORD JESUS has given HIM to be his family and to help him get established while on this earth. GOD IS BIG ENOUGH TO HELP YOU CARE FOR AN ORPHAN... ARE YOU IN LOVE WITH HIM ENOUGH TO TRUST HIM AND STEP OUT IN FAITH???

Feel free to contact me if you would like to pray about it or have any questions?? If God can use Me & JERRY, the messed up Mestas' you have no excuses!!!!

2009-07-04T14:00:00.002-04:00

Matthew 28:18-20

Then Jesus came to them and said; "ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME. THEREFORE, GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OFTHE HOLY SPIRIT, AND TEACHING THEM TO OBEY EVERYTHING I HAVE COMMANDED YOU. AND SURELY I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, TO THE VERY END OF THE AGE."

So I have had another season of being by myself with our 5 littles. Jerry was in CA working for 10 days, Ellie was in Guatemala working an the Aqua Viva orphanage. Then they came home and Ellie left for another week to go to the Precepts Boot Camp in Chatanooga, TN. This is a week long intensive bible study camp run by Kay Arthur and the Precepts Ministries. During this time, I also had my precious grandson Vaden Elliot. So, never in my life have I had 6 children under 6 years old solely depending on me for all their needs to be met. Yes, I was very nervous and asking God; "WHY, Lord, Why are you giving me this responsibility in this season of my life?

I remember when I had only Melissa, one child for seven years and I thought that was a hard job. Of course, I was also working in the corporate world full time, I had a live in Nanny-housekeeper--cook and a gardener who cared for the yard. And I thought life was so hard??? Then I became a stay at home Mom when Jonathan was born. I had a precious little boy who was so easy and I had a 7yr old in private Christian school. Then the Lord gave us Ellie Marie 3 years later and moved us to NC when she was 11 months old. I had Melissa in public school, started homeschooling Jonathan & Ellie, no more housekeeper, cook and gardener and I thought life was hard.

Then the Lord called us out in faith to adopt the twins Jeremiah & James who were 27 week preemies and very, very fragile. When we got home from the NIC unit with them they were hooked up to machines, we were going to Dr.'s at DUKE and in Raleigh every week to find all the "medical issues" they suspected them to have. Due to being preemies and a grade 3 brain bleed at birth,we were expecting sight and hearing loss, Cerebral Palsy, learning disabilities, etc. So we were on a new journey of Dr.'s visits and keeping them quaranteened for the first year of life. All this while homeschooling BJ and Ellie, keeping house, doing laundry, etc. and I thought life was so hard!

Then the Lord called us out in faith again to go to ETHIOPIA and adopt 3 more precious children under 3 years old. Not only did I always say I never wanted to go to Africa, but now he also took us to visit orphanages and made us SEE the ORPHAN CRISIS and experience HIS HEART AND PLAN FOR OUR LIVES IN A WHOLE NEW WAY!! He gave us the Kolfe boys orphanage, a speaking ministry and our precious SOLOMON TOO!
And I thought life was hard!

NOT ANY MORE!

As I was alone during these last few weeks, I have spent a bit of time praying and asking the Lord a lot of questions. I honestly have been crying out to him for wisdom to understand WHY HE IS DOING ALL OF THESE THINGS IN MY LIFE?? WHY ARE YOU LEAVING ME ALONE SO MUCH THIS SUMMER WITH ALL OF THESE KIDS??? THIS IS HARD!

I have been praying that the family wouldn't come home and find me in the closet chattering my teeth!! Or to find the kids in the closet because of the crazy MAMA caring for them?? I want my children to grow up with happy memories! You now they all grow up and they all remember what life was like!! Nothing is hidden, there are no secrets...So, I have been praying for JOY, JOY, JOY; PATIENCE, PATIENCE, PATIENCE, AND FOR MY SAVIOR TO BE WITH ME EVERY SECOND OF THE DAY TO GUIDE ME AND PROTECT AND TO GIVE US MORE OF HIM!!

As I was looking out my kitchen window, while cleaning up the final meal of the day, all the kids were in bed,and I was just asking HIM to speak to me again to assure me that HE was there and I was in HIS will. And this is what he has whispered in my into my heart through my devotions and reading HIS WORD....

"Eileen, do you love me?? Then feed my sheep! Eileen, do you love me?? Then feed my sheep!! Eileen, do you love me?? Then take care of my sheep!! I gave you these precious children to care for in MY NAME! This is from me, they are MINE!! I have just given you the responsibility to care for their needs, feed them, cloth them, bath them, laugh with them, teach them, love them, discipline them, all in my name! You are my representative...I want them to SEE ME, KNOW ME, and grow to LOVE ME!! This is all about ME not YOU!! You are my servant whom I have entrusted these precious souls to for such a time as this. This is not too hard for you!! I have prepared and equipped you and this is between ME & YOU! I have also given Solomon to you and we are just beginning with him. TRUST ME!! WAIT ON ME! DO NOT BE AFRAID""!

Now I am not claiming to have "arrived" or to have "perfected" anything. But, I have a new understanding and a renewed sense of JOY! I am SERVING MY HEAVENLY FATHER, MY SAVIOR, MY ROCK, MY EVERY REASON FOR LIVING, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, by caring for the precious children HE HAS ENTRUSTED TO ME. This is my calling, this is my gift, this is my blessing and I desire to serve HIM with GRATITUDE AND JOY!

After all, I didn't have to hang on the cross and have nails pierced through my hands and feet with a crown of thorns dug into my head. I did not suffer the beating and ripping off of my flesh, being spit on and ridiculed, stripped naked in front of the multitudes, hated and screamed at by the multitudes of people to be crucified while being innocent of any crime, to sweat drops of blood, to have suffered more than any human being on this earth!! No, my life is not hard!

Solomon's Letter dated 6/26/09

2009-07-04T13:52:00.003-04:00

Hello mom,

How are you? I’m doing well. I met to day with one of your friend Sarah Herbert. I spent with her an awesome moment. She told me about you and bible any things. She also took a picture of me and Habtammu. She is such a fantastic woman.

Mom I know I am late to say this but I want to say for Jonathan congratulation. I am proud of him. I believe that he will be a hard worker by the way he graduated. I pray for him God to give a job soon. Mom, how is Ellie? I can’t hear from her for a long time. Is she ok? I pray and think of you everyday. I think and dream about you day and night. My mind, hearts are there only my body is here. I don’t know how I bring my body there too. Because I don’t want to live with out you. I love you. You are my everything. The only person that I telling my everything with out hiding anything’s. You know about me more than me and other people. The reason is only one because of you are my beloved, sweet and precious mom.

Mom, I am study now. I will finish class on the end of July. In June I will take final exam so, I’m preparing my self for the final exam to score good marks. I love you and miss you very much. I can’t wait up to see you, hug and kiss you. God bless you.
Everything is ready for my graduation. I only waiting you eagerly my beloved and sweet Mom.

I LOVE YOU

Your son Solomon Mestas,

To my dear Mom!!!

I am in absolute awe of how the LORD is sending so many people to visit our Solomon and the Kolfe orphanage. Sarah is the daughter of one of my very, very best friends, in fact, my homeschool mentor, Beth Herbert. Sarah has organized 2 fund raisers for Kolfe at Appalacian State over the last 1.5 years and little did she know the Lord had plans to actually take her there!!! She has spent the month of June in Ethiopia working with the Cherokee Gives Back organization. She spent the month working in the Kechene orphanage school. She actually got to go visit my Solomon & Habtamu and give them hugs for me!! This is just too amazing for me to comprehend! God is so good!!

What A Life!

2009-06-23T22:57:00.007-04:00

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??

2009-06-23T21:36:00.005-04:00

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

2009-06-09T23:03:00.003-04:00

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!

2009-06-04T00:07:00.002-04:00

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!!

Sweet Memories of Kolfe

2009-05-19T00:04:00.002-04:00

Dinner with Misganaw

2009-04-07T23:17:00.003-04:00

We have been getting to know Misganaw and having him over for dinner. He is such a delightful young man. I am so excited that the Lord brought us together. I don't know the full picture yet, but I do believe this has something to do with our Solomon. Misganaw is going home in July and he is going to visit him for us. I have also asked him to pray and talk to his parents about possibly taking Solomon in to live with them when he is released from Kolfe. Misganaw reminds me of Solomon in that he is a very gentle spirited young man, he is very smart, very handsome, and he loves the Lord. He also is interested in working with computers. I think they could become good friends with much in common. So, I am praying that this may be a link to helping Solomon. Stay tuned as we WAIT UPON THE LORD!

DIVINE APPOINTMENTS THIS WEEK

2009-04-01T00:17:00.004-04:00

We went to church on Sunday and while we were in the parking lot, my daughter Ellie says; "Mom, look at that guy over there, he kinda looks like Solomon." To which I respond, "Yes he does, he looks Ethiopian". A few minutes later, my husband is standing outside the van and as Mr.Tim Brannagan walks by, (he served as a missionary in Ethiopia 9 yrs.now teaches at a Bible school in Addis). Jerry tells me that Mr. Brannagan is going back to Ethiopia in a few months. Just as he mentioned "Ethiopia" the young man was walking by our van and his head literally snapped around and he looked at us with big eyes and a look of surprise.... so I yelled out to him, "Are you from Ethiopia?". He lit up and said, "YES, DO YOU KNOW ETHIOPIA?" as he walked toward us with a big smile on his face. As we talked I asked him how he got to the USA and if he was with his family. He responded; "No, I am an exchange student here." To my surprise I asked if he knew Lyston Peebles, and JT Vaughn. HIs face lit up again as he stated; "Yes, they are the people who brought me here and interviewed me in Ethiopia". His name is MISGANAW and he lives in Addis Ababa with his family. He is here for the one year program and hopes to come back to go to college. As I stood there talking to him it was as if that small voice whispered to me again, "This is a divine appointment from the LORD". Which is exactly what I said out loud to him as well! What are the odds that in the parking lot of our church we meet the young man that Cherokee Fund brought over here from our beloved Ethiopia and that we know Lyston, JT, and everyone that is responsible for him standing in front of me???? Do you see GOD??

It turns out he had no intention of going to our church Sunday, but a neighbor of his invited him. He came to church and met us, the missionary family Brannagan's, and another family that has adopted from Ethiopia. More importantly, he was so moved and touched by the sermon that he went to the pastor after service in tears and thanked him for the amazing message that touched his heart. He said more than once, "I know God brought me here today for a reason, I see God in all of this today!" He also shared his heart for Ethiopia with our pastor and asked if our church could do something to help his country and his people. My pastor stood there talking to him and waved for me to come join him. As I did, he asked if I had met him and I told him we just met in the parking lot. He then told Misganaw, "The Lord has been bringing people to our church that have a passion and heart for Ethiopia and I am sure we will be doing something with Ethiopia in the future."

We have told our pastor and elders that the Lord has called us to minister to the orphans of Ethiopia and we are praying for vision and discernment on how the church should get involved. They are open to it but none of us yet know what this ministry is going to look like. We all however, were in tears this morning as we saw GOD clearly at work, we all realized that it is no coincidence that we were all standing there talking together!!

So when I got home, I checked email and decided to send an invitation for Misganaw to come to dinner this week. It turned out he had already sent us a message as well. He has given me permission to post his note here for the purpose of you SEEING GOD! He was so moved by this day that he titled his facebook post as "AN AMAZING DAY!"

Misganaw's Note to me

It was unbelievable coincidence,led by the Holy Spirit, i assume, how we got to meet together. God intended this for a reason in our life. I really enjoyed the Sermon and yes, of course, Pastor Dwayne is blessed with the ability to share the word of God. I read both letter's Solomon's letter with tears covering my face.. I can not even imagine how hard life will be without a parent to get assistant, a sibling to play with and somebody to share your feelings. He is smart and strong to cross all this boundaries to reach at this point of time where he at least get somebody to call MOM, MY FAMILY. The position, where Solomon is at this time, is really crucial in his future life, and i am sure with God's assistance and leadership he will finally get his family and plan for his success. I can not wait until i go back and meet him, at least,to be a good friend and to share him what i have.
OH YES, i have a BIBLE, always next to my bed,and i read it often,but i am learning to root my life to Christ and to give all priorities to the word of the Holy Spirit.I would love to come over to your house and spend sometime together. I told everything about you all to my host family and they are excited about meeting you guys. OH YES, i love Pizza but my favorite is Char Grill Hamburger..haha. I will let you know about the Wednesday service as soon as i figured out my school schedule for the next week, i am looking forward to see you all again. Thanks, I love you and God Bless you!!

ANOTHER GOD MOMENT TODAY, TUESDAY

The kids and I picked up my Mom from the airport today. She just spent two weeks in Florida with my siblings and her sister. It was a good thing for her to get away since Daddy passed away on January 7th. So, on the way home we decided to stop for lunch. Ellie's request was to eat at Bahama Breeze so that's where we were headed. When we were just 2 blocks away, I just got this weird feeling that I should go to Casalinga instead, I told Ellie and then I literally turned around and drove another
15 minutes. It was one of those weird feelings.

This is our favorite Italian restaurant and we have been going there for 14 years. This is our special "date night' restaurant and special occasions because it is a little pricey, but worth every penny. Carlo, the owner, is a five star award winning chef which is an honor only given to about 200 chefs in the world. We are very honored to call him a friend.

Well, I am in the buffet line getting plates for all the kids when our waiter comes to help me. He starts asking about all the kids and I shared some of our testimony while going through the line. He helps me back to the table and I start feeding all the kids. Then, he comes back with the cashier and she says "Excuse me, we have to tell you something." We all just stopped eating and looked at them with an; "OH,OH, WHAT IS WRONG LOOK!" She and the waiter stood there with tears as they told us there was a man sitting near the buffetline and heard me telling our story. He was so moved by our story of adoption that he just paid the bill for all of the children's lunch. We were shocked and of course, I just broke down in tears. My MOM was really surprised as she is just not used to this "GOD STUFF" happening so frequently. (Please pray for her...)Everyone in the restaurant was talking about us and to the kids and without realizing it, the LORD was at work! Then, we were out in the car and the waiter came running out to the van. I opened my window and asked if we forgot something, I assumed we lost a shoe or something. He responded; "YES!" He handed me the money we left for his tip and said he was honored to serve us today. Then he told us the man that paid for our lunch had been on the phone earlier with his brother and that their mother was in the hospital. He asked us to please pray for them. He also said he was so blessed by seeing our family today; "I would give everything I have to be as blessed as you are, you have an absolutely beautiful family. I know the Lord is well pleased and I can't wait to go tell this story at my church this week. Bless you and thank you for blessing all of us today!"

This was an absolute confirmation that the Lord had given us a divine appointment! Ellie said, "Even though I was really mad because I wanted to eat at the other place and I don't like cheese on everything, this was so worth it to really SEE GOD TODAY!

HAVE YOU SEEN GOD TODAY IN YOUR LIFE?? ARE YOU INTENTIONALLY LOOKING FOR HIM?? HE IS THERE!!

Solomon's Letter March 17, 2009

2009-03-26T23:20:00.008-04:00

Hello mom,
How are you? I am so great. I think about you often in the past week. I hadn’t class because it was the end of first semester because of this school off for one week. I spent the week by listening the music you sent me. I cried a lot. I wish to fly like a bird and come to there and hug and kiss you. I am so eager to look the day to live with you. When I think about that day my body filled by happiness. When I see a full moon you come immediately to my mind and my eyes filled by tears. I didn’t think before I loved any one like this. I don’t think anything myself right now but I think about you often. I always ask myself how I can happy my mom? What can I do for mom? How is she? And many other questions.

Mom, I am very lucky because of God brought you into my life. If I didn’t met you I don’t know what I look like. You know mom you are the only person know about me and understand my feeling. Mom words are not enough for me to express about you. I love you my dear mom. Love you again and again.

A compassionate heart,
A cool temperament and,
A straightforward mind
Can certainly achieve the
Aims of life.

I love you and miss you very much.

Your son Solomon Mestas.

I am on my knees begging the LORD for wisdom and discernment on how to be MOM to Solomon and how to be the parents/family he needs in his life. Like the 8 children who are here with us, we want to be there for him, right by his side to guide him through life's struggles, challenges and to help prepare for his future.I know the LORD has given us this relationship with him and HE HAS A PLAN! I just don't know what it is yet??

I just finished reading "Rebel With a Cause" by Franklin Graham. (Thank you my sweet sister Theresa for bringing this book to me. Another divine appointment) I devoured it in 3 days, and with my life that is a miracle!! I was so inspired by this book in so many ways but, especially by the chapter titled "GOD ROOM". I believe this is exactly where I am in my life. Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision and Samaritans Purse in 1970, was a man who wanted more than anything to serve Christ with all of his heart, soul, and body. A lesson he taught Franklin that stands out above all else is what Bob called "GOD ROOM".

"GOD ROOM" is when you see a need and it's bigger than your human abilities to meet it. But you accept the challenge. You trust God to bring in the finances and the materials to meet that need.

"You get together with your staff, your prayer partners, and supporters, and you pray. But after all is said and done, you can only raise a portion of the resources required.

"Then you begin to watch God work. Before you know it, the need is met. At the same time, you understand you didn't do it. GOD DID IT! You allowed Him room to work."

"God room is when you have seen a need you believe God wants you to meet. You try, but you can't. After you've exhausted all your human effort, there's still a gap. No matter what you do, you just can't humanly bring it about. That's when you pray and leave room for God to work. You watch God close the gap."

"That's why I keep saying we need always to operate on "God Room". When you go back to America, commit yourself to bigger things than you can humanly do. Then you can watch God work a miracle."

"Nothing is a miracle until it reaches the area where the utmost that human effort can do still isn't enough. God has to fill that space -- that room--between what's possible and what HE wants done that's impossible. That's what I mean by "GOD ROOM".

This is exactly how our adoption journey has gone. GOD DID IT!! We had no money, I didn't even know where Ethiopia was, 3 more children at once???? This journey has radically transformed our lives. We are just beginning this chapter of our lives as we realize, GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH US YET? Solomon is another blessing, another journey of faith and chapter of our lives that we have no idea how to handle.

So, please join me my brothers and sisters, as we pray for the LORD to reveal HIS plan and how to proceed to care for Solomon. He will soon be released with $400.00 and let out to the streets with not a soul to help him. May the LORD, Jehovah Jireh show us the way....

I am sending emails and knocking on every door to every contact with Ethiopia that the Lord puts in my path. I am a mother crying out for her son in Ethiopia.....

"LORD PLEASE HELP US!! Please show us how to be the parents Solomon needs. Please open doors to his future outside of the Kolfe orphanage. Give us a church, a job, housing, a family that can take him under their wings, additional education, etc. if he is to stay in Ethiopia?? Or,help us to get him here to the USA? Give us the opportunity to go back and visit with him this year. Lord, I want to hold him and give him a Mama's hug, with your love sealed all over it. Help me to point him to YOU in every word and deed. Help me to be used by you to help as many of these orphans as possible. Lord, this is so much bigger than I can grasp or even imagine. I ask to SEE YOU, to HEAR YOU, and to FOLLOW YOU as you desire and as you lead. I don't know why you brought Solomon into our lives Lord, but I THANK YOU! What a precious gift...Please LORD USE HIS LIFE TO GLORIFY YOU AND TO SERVE YOU ONLY!!!" I WAIT PATIENTLY FOR YOUR LEADING LORD.... Solomon's Mom

Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:27-29
"Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel: My way is hidden from the Lord, and my just claim is passed over by my God"? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength."

Phil. 4:6
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Life with the Littles.

2009-03-15T02:29:00.001-04:00

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Travel Plans Have Changed??

2009-03-14T22:44:00.003-04:00

I have decided not to go to Ethiopia in April with Children's HopeChest after all. The purpose and goal of my trip is to spend as much time with Solomon as possible to bond together, to pray and ask God to help us prepare for his life when Kolfe discharges him in this next year. Solomon is absolutely all alone in this world. He has no church, no family, no job, no place to live and he is desparately asking us and the LORD to help him. Originally the trip was going to include several days at Kolfe and then to other orphanages but it turned out I would only get one day with Solomon afterall. So, I am now back on my knees asking the Lord to reveal how we are to minister to this young man and be the parents that he needs us to be. I have several opportunities pending to get to Ethiopia. We are sending out emails and making contacts to help us get him established. I am running into closed doors so far with bringing him here, so plan B is to try to get him established there in ET.

All donations that we have received have been put into the Ethiopia Missions savings account and will be used to travel as soon as the Lord reveals the details. Thank you to all of you who have partnered with us and blessed us with your support. If you have any questions at all about this and would like to speak to me, please feel free to email at emestas@nc.rr.com. Also, if you have any contacts or can help us in any way please contact me as well. This is a huge responsibility that we do not take lightly and we really would appreciate your prayers too! Stay tuned as this journey continues!!

Our Liberty University Visit

2009-02-26T19:46:00.004-05:00

We spent a wonderful day with the Wolfe family at the convocation service at Liberty University when they presented Aschalew, Genet, and Yesalemush to the student body that helped bring them home! This was a glorious day to see the hand of God at work. Luis Palau was the key note speaker and his topic was "BY ALL MEANS". God can do great and mighty things by all means! What a privilege and joy it was to visit with the Wolfe's and get my hug from Solomon via Aschalew! It was also a joy to fellowship with Luis Palau and Jerry & Becky Falwell, Katie and Danny Albright too. And thank you to Paige Haven for traveling with us again to help with all the littles. We couldn't have done it without you too! We had a wonderful and blessed day!!

Our family w/our dear friends Paige Haven(our traveling partner) & Katie Albright who is a student at LU and a track star. She introduced us to Jerry & Becky Fallwell.

This is Aschalew from the Kolfe orphanage who is one of Solomon's dear friends.
Jerry Josiah and me of course.

Our family with Louis Palau and Katie again.

The Wolfe & Mestas Families

TWO NEW MAMA'S, Eileen & Kathy Wolfe

Solomon's Letter Today 2/16/09

2009-02-16T11:45:00.000-05:00

Hello my precious mom,
Mom, I have no any word to explain about you. You are different, special, precious and beloved mom. You are a special gift from God for me. You know mom, before I met with you I read from a bible this words "God is love" I was amazed by this word because I didn't know what does it mean love. But now I learn from you what does it mean love. I learn from you what it means God and other many things. I saw many pains in my life but God show me that such all pains are for good reason. I am reach now because God given for me a beautiful family that is not implement by money. When I read your letter tears come to my eye. My hearts fill full of love and compassion. I can't finish speaking about you. You are awesome and beloved. I can't found a word to express about you. I really proud to be your son. I am not orphan any more because God give me a family that loves me and I love them dearly. Moms please tell me what I can give you. I give you my heart. I haven't anything than this.

Mom, I write for Aschalew a message but he didn't respond for me. When you meet with him ask him what we talk about you while he was in kolfe. I told many things for him. He is my dear friend. I couldn't get a friend just like him form kolfe. I love his good behavior and the way he see things. Please give for me a big hug and say for me hello.

Kibrom is doing well. He is eager up to join with his family. He told for me about his family and I also told him about you. We spent our free time by this. I also communicate with his mom Lynn. She sends for me 91 birr. I used this money to email for her. I have no idea when kibrom leave but I know that his paper still in process. I pray all the time for him. He also a good boy just like Aschalew.

Mom, the dream that you dream for me one day will be true. I need a wife that love Jesus, respect others, positive thinker, and love me. I am not ready for these know but I pray to God to give me just these kinds of wife when the time comes. I call my first child "Eileen" if she is a girl. If a boy Jerry.

Mom, I love you and I pray that God keep you safe and healthy. I believe that God give you the money you need. He is a good father. He fulfills what ever we need. I can't wait to see you in person and spend with you a beautiful time in a guest house with you. I love you my precious mom.

Your son Solomon Mestas.

Liberty University & the Miraculous Wolfe Family Adoption

2009-02-14T14:45:00.006-05:00

As I have previously shared, the Wolfe family also experienced a miraculous adoption journey to their three precious children from Ethiopia. Aschalew grew up at the Kolfe orphanage and his two sisters were in the girls orphanage. Today they are together again as heirs to the Wolfe family by the LORD's miraculous design. Aschalew is one of Solomon's best friends!!

We are going to Liberty University on Wednesday to see the presentation of these precious gifts from God. The students at Liberty raised $86,000 in one night to pay for all the expenses and one of the stundents in the audiance heard a call from God that her family was to adopt them. See the Wolfe's amazing testimony of how God brought Aschalew, Genet and Yesalemush into their family by clicking here.

Ethiopia Ministry Update

2009-02-12T20:52:00.004-05:00

Hello Friends,

I just wanted to let you know it looks like the Lord is sending me back to Ethiopia. We have been praying about me going to ET this April 15-26, 2009 as part of the leadership team with Children's HopeChest Ministry.We would prefer that Jerry also go but he can not get time off of work. Since he is the only provider,we can not jeopardize his job. So,he is in total support of me going to love on our son and to be about the Lord's business. Tom Davis, went to ET last November and decided to adopt the Kolfe Orphanage as well as several others into his Ministry. We have been praying for the Lord to make it clear if I am to go because I really don't want to leave my family, especially Ellie w/all the 5 littles during the day for 10 days.

On this trip, we'll be visiting various orphanages and evaluating their needs, and will see how CHC's orphanage/church sponsorship program model fits into the country of Ethiopia. There may be some side projects at various places, but we don't have final details yet. The purpose of a Vision Trip is for pastors and others to catch the mission/vision of Children's HopeChest and see how the church community can get involved with CHC upon returning. We'll be praying over people, and of course will have some cultural activities as well. Based on our initial itinerary, the plan is to visit the following orphanages: Kolfe, Abenezer’s, Kebebtseyhay, Hanna’s, as well as Moses Children’s Home and Ethiopia’s Children’s Home.

Well in the last two days, I have recieved $900.00 from several very special saints who felt led by the LORD to support us, which translates to me, YES the Lord wants me to go. I will be holding our son Solomon in my arms again! I am guessing the Lord also has more in store for us with our speaking ministry to be able to visit churches and share how they can get involved in orphan care ministry. You know when we got home from Ethiopia in November 07, I honestly thought I would come home, shut my door and raise my 5 littles to know and love the Lord. I never expected to be going back to ET so quickly and to SEE GOD at work at the KOLFE orphanage and in so many other ways.

Do you remember my testimony of how the Lord told me to take the phone from Melissa while we were driving to Asheville to see Steven Curtis Chapman at the Biltmore? He told me; "The man on the phone can help us with Kolfe". Well, that man was a client of Melissa's named Justin Hime who introduced us to Lyston Peebles who introduced us to Tom Davis. Tom's ministry has adopted the Kolfe orphanage and now I am on my way back to EThiopia with them!!! DO YOU SEE GOD??? I am honestly so humbled and in such awe of what the LORD is doing. Remember, I never even wanted to go to Kolfe, I was so upset that Ryan Brown insisted that we go there!! LOOK WHAT I WOULD HAVE MISSED!!! Praise the Lord HE has a plan so much greater than we could ever imagine!! Our son Solomon is absolutely ecstatic that I am coming back to see him and give him another MAMA"S HUG & KISS!

Also, to date we have been personally notified that as a result of our testimony and journey of faith, there are currently 21 more children being adopted!! PRAISE THE LORD!!! There are also several others who are praying about the decision and hopefully some we don't even know about???

The money that was raised for the Kolfe orphanage has paid to replace the broken sewer pipes, repaired broken windows, remodeled the kitchen, paid for school tuitions for some of the boys, bought clothes and shoes, and replaced the mattresses, blankets and floors in the bedroom dorms and painted as well!! PRAISE THE LORD FOR HE IS GOOD!!! Also, the young man in our video whom we called David, who wants to be a pediatrician; is being adopted by a family in Florida who started their journey as a result of seeing him on our blog!! He will soon be living in Florida with his younger sister as well!!

All this to say, DO YOU SEE GOD??? So many of you have been a personal member of our journey to Ethiopia and our precious babies and I just wanted to give you an update on what has been happening in the past year. Yes, it has only been a year last November and so much has been accomplished!

So now I just ask you to keep us in your prayers as we embark on another journey of faith. We need a total of $2600.00 by March 25 to make this journey. Please keep our family in your prayers and ME while I am in Ethiopia doing the Lord's work, serving as a disciple of JESUS to the orphans, poor, and sick. Pray for everyone I come in contact with to SEE JESUS, in spite of the sinner that I am!!!

Thank you!!!

Ethiopia Trip Update

2009-02-10T12:14:00.005-05:00

Ethiopia April Trip Update

As of today, I do not have the necessary funds. Children's Hopechest has given me an extension on the deadline for the first payment. I also have a possible matching grant if I can raise at least $1500. So far, I have $500.00. Thank you so much to Sharon, of Travelers Rest, SC who sent a gift today with an absolutley beautiful letter. Blessings to you my sweet sister in Christ. Also, thank you to the Williams family for your very generous gift tonight. We are in awe and very humbled by the support and encouragement we receive from the body of Christ. We pray you will be blessed tenfold and continue to hunger and thirst for our Saviour as HE opens your hearts to care for the orphans as well.

We are praying for the Lord's will to be done and that HE will provide for this trip. Solomon is praying so hard that I will soon be there with him. Please pray for us and thank you!! Here is Solomon's letter received today.

Hello my precious Mom,

How are you my precious mom? I am doing well. Mom I want to tell you about how much I love you. You are my all thing. I got many things from you. I am safe, comfortable, happy and equal with other people's son because of you. You teach me what does it mean love not only teach me you give me continuously your mama love hug and kisses. This things are made me happy and to love you from my bottom of my heart. “Fish doesn’t live with out water” just like this “I don’t live with out you”. You are my all thing. God bring you to me for good purpose. I can’t express about you by words. You are beloved and precious mom. I didn’t remember Tom Davis. Many people came to Kolfe. Most of them took pictures of me. But they didn’t take my heart. You are the only person took my heart. Please mom knows that I am always yours. You are also mine. I proud all of you and love your forever.

If you come in April, I will be able to spend a time with you at the guest house. I am sure that Kolfe and my college give me permission so, don’t worry about that. I can’t wait after I meet with you in person. It is just like a dream for me. I can’t wait that day. I miss you very much mom.

God bless you my sweet mom.

Your son Solomon Mestas.

Speaking in Raleigh Tuesday Night

2009-02-10T00:32:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to invite anyone in the area to come hear the LORD's testimony of our amazing faith journey "FREE FALLING" to our beautiful 5 adopted children. We, Ellie, Jerry and I are speaking at Crossroads Fellowship Church at 6:45 room 737. We were told we could invite anyone so you are invited! Please just let them know by rsvp on their web page so they know how many to plan for. We look forward to seeing you there.

M i n i s t r i e s

Chosen by Grace
Orphan Outreach & Adoption Ministry

Monthly Community Meetings | Adoption Small Group

This ministry seeks to inspire Christians to love and serve Christ by loving, serving, and sometimes adopting, the world’s orphaned children.

We develop support groups and resources for families within the Christian community who feel called to adopt or wish to care for orphans. We meet as a community on a monthly basis, September through May. For further information about our ministry, please view our ministry brochure.

Community Meeting Schedule

Tuesday, February 10, 6:45 p.m. - Room 737
REGISTER ONLINE (especially if you need childcare)
Guest Speakers: Eileen & Jerry Mestas
Eileen & Jerry will share their inspiring God-directed adoption journey. The Mestas family lives in Wake Forest and traveled to Ethiopia to adopt three children not so long ago. They also adopted two sons domestically prior to that. In addition, their 15 year old daughter Ellie will share her perspective as a biological child learning about God's heart for adoption and her own growing passion to care for orphans.

Childcare is provided for all meetings.

Adoption Small Group
If you are thinking about adoption, have adopted or are in the process of adopting, check out this group which meets on the first & third Sundays from 6:30-8:30pm in the Quail Hollow community. For more information, contact Glenda Dozier (878-1172) or Shannon Watkins (376-9593).

Contacts:

Sue Ann Creech
Phone: 919-845-0117
Email: sacreech@crossroads.org

Barbara Hand
Phone: 919-661-0018
Email: bhand@nc.rr.com

Crossroads Fellowship Church
2721 Millbrook Road · Raleigh, NC 27604
Phone: (919) 981-0222 · Fax: (919) 981-0520
Questions? Contact us at info1@crossroads.org

Still Praying for April Trip....Solomons letter today 2/6/09

2009-02-06T11:47:00.002-05:00

Hello Mom,

How are you? I pray for you about the trip. I also communicate with Kibrom mother Lynn. She writhe for me condescended and she asks me to help anything I need. According to this I told her about your trip and I asked her to help us by anyway or means. I tried whatever I can. You know that I haven't money but something I have greater than money that is God. He is everything. I believe that this trip is possible with God.

Mom, thank you very much for the package I don't receive it yet. The portable CD player is important for me because I get a chance to listen all the music you sent for me. But mom, it is not the right time to do this because you need a money for a trip. I need to see your eyes again badly. I miss to play with you, you hug and kiss. My heart needs you very much. I can't wait to see you again my precious mom. I love you again and again. God bless you all of you.

From the heart of an orphan boy needing to see the Mama God has given him!!!

2009-02-01T00:49:00.003-05:00

On January 8, 2009 we attended a meeting with Tom Davis, of Children's Hopechest here in Raleigh. He has been called by God to campaign for the Orphans and we are very excited about joining him in this work.

Ethiopia In April??

2009-01-28T22:00:00.004-05:00

We have been praying about me going to Ethiopia this April 15 -- 25, 2009, with Children's Hopechest, Tom Davis's organization. As I mentioned earlier, they made a trip to Ethiopia a few months ago to begin their ministry there to care for orphans that most likely will never be adopted. He also travels the country asking churches to "Adopt" orphanages and support the kids not only monetarily, but to establish real relationships with them. Well, he has gotten a church to adopt the Kolfe orphanage as well as several others.

As you all know, a part of my/our hearts are there at the Kolfe orphanage as well. Tom is taking a leadership team back to Ethiopia in April to help launch this program. I would absolutely love to be a part of this team and also have an opportunity to spend some quality time with our son Solomon. It also appears that the Lord is giving us a speaking ministry and I think that this trip could be instrumental in building on our testimony to speak on behalf of the church caring for the orphans. While I am not at all eager to leave my family for 10 days, I just feel a peace about going to be a part of this next ministry opportunity for Kolfe and the other orphanages. There is so much to be done there and I just can't help but think that the LORD has called us to be a voice and a witness for orphans.

So, I am posting this note to ask if you would help us. WE need prayer for the Lord to make it clear as to whether or not I am to be a part of this team. While we are all in agreement and feel peace about it here, the finances are not in agreement. I need approx. $3000. The first non-refundable deposit is due this Friday. I just want to be sure that this is really from the LORD and not me taking the reigns and control. Since I don't have the money, I just thought I would ask the saints to join me and ask the Lord to make it very clear...we need another financial miracle.

Well, thank you for taking the time out of your busy lives to care about the crazy Mestas clan. Blessings to you all... stay tuned as this journey continues!

For more info see the side bar of our blog "Tom Davis" or Children's Hopechest.

A GRANDDAUGHTER!!

2009-01-26T02:48:00.002-05:00

Congratulations Melissa and Randy! They had their ultrasound Friday and found out we are going to be the grandparents of a beautiful baby girl! She is due to arrive in June. Please keep them all in your prayers. Vaden Elliot is going to be a big brother!!!We are blessed so much more than we deserve. God is so Good!!

Another Speaking Engagement in Raleigh

2009-01-26T02:31:00.006-05:00

We have been invited to share God's testimony of our adoption journey on Tuesday, February 10, 2009, at 6:45 p.m. at Crossroads Fellowship Church. If you or anyone you know may be interested in getting more information about adoption or would just like to join us for the evening, please come on!

Crossroads Fellowship has a ministry called Chosen by Grace, an orphan outreach and adoption ministry. They hold community meetings once per month and are seeking speakers who share our heart for James 1:27 ministry. They said our adoption testimony would be especially timely since they are unveiling a "Wall of Waiting Children" in February. It will be displayed for 6 months with rotating pictures of children who need adopting locally and internationally. And, they are still seeking additional children for whom they can advocate and post pictures. http://www.crossroads.org/world2/ChosenbyGrace.htm

Please share this information with anyone who may be interested. We are praying for GOD's people to step out in faith and rescue HIS orphans! Thank you!

Contacts:

Sue Ann Creech
Phone: 919-845-0117
Email: sacreech@crossroads.org

Barbara Hand
Phone: 919-661-0018
Email: bhand@nc.rr.com

CROSSROADS FELLOWSHIP CHURCH
2721 Millbrook Road · Raleigh, NC 27604
Phone: (919) 981-0222 · Fax: (919) 981-0520
Questions? Contact us at info1@crossroads.org

Liberty University Adoption Testimony - The Wolfe Family

2009-01-26T02:25:00.008-05:00

One of the young men from the Kolfe Orphanage, Aschalew, and his two sisters have been adopted by the Wolfe family. He was a good friend of our Solomon. Here is the amazing story of their adoption.

Liberty University was in the middle of Spiritual Emphasis Week, led by evangelist David Nasser. Thousands of students were piled into the Vines Center with open hearts, praying for the Lord to do something miraculous during this beginning-of-the-year revival.

Nasser was challenging the student body to match their actions with their confessions through a special offering that would be taken on the following evening, with all the money going toward changing the destiny of people for Christ around the globe.

Nasser showed a picture of three Ethiopian teenagers he had learned about through Scott Brown, the Executive Vice President of the Gladney Center for Adoption, and said that the money collected could be used to make a difference in these three orphans’ lives. It could be used to move this sibling group from “unlikely to be adopted” to “likely to be adopted.” All that would be left was to find a family.

The next night just over 4,000 Liberty students donated a staggering $80,000.

Kristin Wolfe, an LU senior, was in the crowd during Nasser’s presentation.

“When they showed the picture of the three kids, I said to myself, ‘I have to call my family.’” Before the final “amen” Kristin had sent a text message to her mother in Michigan.

Kristin’s parents, Randy and Kathy, had just visited an adoption agency two days earlier as the next step in a journey that had begun with a Thanksgiving conversation between Randy, Kathy, Kristin, Brad and Bonny about the prospect of the Wolfes adopting.

In a fantastic act of sovereignty, involving a family of five Michiganders, thousands of students in Virginia, and three unaware kids in Ethiopia, God was conspiring a miracle of reconciliation. It was Psalm 27:10 in action: “When your mother and father leave you, the Lord will take you up.”

Ten months later Nasser traveled to Ethiopia with the Wolfes to retrieve their three newly adopted children, an adoption fully funded by the student body of Liberty University, and he watched the miracle.

We are planning to attend the ceremony of introduction of Aschalew and his sisters on February 18th at L.U. We are so happy for the Wolfe family and for the Gladney adoption agencey for the answering the call to rescue the orphans!

HANDS OF HOPE ADOPTION FOCUS WEEKEND

2009-01-24T00:16:00.013-05:00

Last weekend, Jan 16 - 18, we had the privilege of speaking at Blaise Baptist Church in Mocksville, NC. Pastor Jeremy Amick hosted a weekend seminar and concert to launch their orphan care ministry. Friday night was a concert with Meredith Andrews, worship leader and recording artist. Check out her song on itunes "YOU'RE NOT ALONE". She is such a gifted artist who has a real heart for adoption and orphan care. She has 3 adopted brothers and wants to adopt children herself. Saturday morning was breakout sessions, exhibits and testimonies. Sunday morning was worship, pulpit teaching on orphan care and then we shared the Lord's testimony of our adoption.

Jerry opened with introduction, Ellie shared her adoption journey testimony and how the Lord has given her a passion for orphan care, and then I shared the rest of the story. We were very blessed to have once again, been given an opportunity to give GOD THE GLORY for our journey to adoption. We are so sure that the Lord has told us to tell HIS STORY SO PEOPLE SEE HIM, HEAR HIM and have FAITH TO FOLLOW HIM!

We were blessed to have stayed at a missionary furlough house provided by Paul & Roberta Bonardi. It was a precious little farm house on 200 acres. It was so peaceful and beautiful. The kids did not want to leave. When we were out at the pasture looking at the cows, they suddenly all came running up to the fence to look at us. One of he cows literally ran up and charged at us with the loudest and most invigorating "MOOOOOOOOOO" we had ever heard. It scared the living day lights out of the 5 littles...they all came running up and tried to jump into our arms. It was soooooo funny. After Keren was safe in my arms she got that look on her face like "Hey don't mess with me!" and she let out a loud "MOOOOOO" right back at the cow. WE all went hysterical! The cows, approx. 50 in all, lined up right in front of us and just stared at us. We have never seen anything like it. Paul said he thinks it is because the cows have never seen small children before.

A special THANK YOU to Paige Haven for coming along with us this weekend to be the extra hands and help in caring for the five littles. What a blessing she was to have with us.

Ever since then, Keziah will let out a "MOOOOOO" out of the clear blue and then start laughing. If one of us MOOOO back, she quickly turns her head around to see if there is a cow nearby. She has noticed pictures of cows lately and MOOOO'd every time and then laughs. They are just adorable and so smart. Here are some photos from our weekend.

Snow Day!!!

2009-01-21T00:43:00.015-05:00

Today we got about 6 inches of snow and it was absolutely beautiful. Jerry, Ellie and the 5 littles played outside in the snow and I took some photos and then spent the day cleaining and cooking. I made Daddy's favorite albondigas soup and cried for most of the day. It has been a hard day for me today. Daddy would have loved to see this beautiful tapestry of snow-ocovered trees and he would have eaten about 3 bowls of soup!!

Mom's heat isn't working and the repairman has been taking a bit to long to figure out how to fix the problem. I kind of lost it with him tonight and demanded he get it fixed. It has been out of order for 5 days now. I hate it when you have to get stern with someone in order for them to DO THE JOB RIGHT!! He says it will be fixed tomorrow.

Jerry also wrecked his car on the way home from work. His boss had everyone come in only to release them at 10:00 a.m. Jerry's car slid on the icy snow and he hit a tree. Thank God he wasn't hurt and his car is still in running condition.

Jonathan started the Fire academy today. He has officially begun his career as a Fire Fighter. We are so proud of him! The next six months will be very grueling and demanding on him. And he thought we ran a tight ship???

Here are some photos of the first snow day for Josiah, Keziah and Keren. They had so much fun and they literally screamed and threw a fit when it was too cold to stay out any longer. Keziah loved throwing snow at everyone and sliding. Keren loved running in the snow and sliding. Josiah loved it all! He is a natural sled pilot. He knew exactly how to lean and maneuver so as to not the tree.

GOD IS SO GOOD!!!!

The Day My Daddy Died

2009-01-20T01:29:00.008-05:00

I opened my email today to receive a very comforting letter from my Solomon. One of the first thoughts I had when my Daddy died last week was about my Solomon. I now know what it is like to lose your father. I had compassion for him when he told me about losing his dad when he was 7 yrs old. But now I personally know the pain of losing my Popo. It really hurts!! Even though we had hospice coming for a little over a year and we knew Daddy was dying, I didn't expect it to hurt this bad. I was praying for the Lord to call him home to put him out of his pain and suffering. I thought his passing would be sad but a blessing and even comforting. But WOW, it really hurts. I feel like someone shot a cannon ball at my house and there is a giant hole in the wall. I feel his absence so strongly. I feel like an orphan...I can never see my daddy again, or ask his advice, or ask him to fix something, or ask him what he wants to eat today! Today, as I was planning our menu I decided to make albondigas soup. Then I burst into tears because this is one of Daddy's absolute favorites!! I met my neighbor in the store today and thanked her for the sympathy card she sent. When she hugged me and told me she was so sorry, I just lost it again! I am almost 50 yrs old and I still just want my DADDY!!!

We have had the blessing of Mommy & Daddy living with us for the past 5 years. Every day we kiss them good morning and goodnight. Every meal is planned with them in mind. Even though they live downstairs, we interact every day and in many decisions. The boys were so blessed to have a special memory with Daddy. The night before he died, they went down to say goodnight. This was the first time Daddy had been unconcious most of the day. When Jeremiah climbed up and said "Goodnight Grampa" and kissed him, Daddy woke up from his unconscious state, looked at him and puckered up his lips to kiss him and mumbled to him. Jimmy was right behind him and then Daddy slipped back into his deep sleep. Jeremiah got so excited saying; "MAMA, did you see that? Grampa woke up and kissed me!"

That night I decided to spend the night with my Daddy. I put a chair next to his hospital bed and laid my head on his shoulder with half of my body in his bed. He was burning with fever and was struggling to breathe. He had pneumonia and his lungs were filling with fluid. I held his hand from 1:00 am until 5:00 a.m when my brother arrived from Florida. I spent the whole time gently rubbing his head and face and talking and singing to him. I am not a singer by any means but I just felt compelled to sing praises and worship songs to help guide him into the arms of Jesus. I was singing "Amazing Grace" and "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus". I put on the Gaither Going Home videos that we bought him for Christmas a few years back and sang along. He told me he always felt so good inside when he watched these videos. They are all gospel songs about going to Heaven. I was telling him all about Heaven as described in the book of Revelation. I was telling him how much I loved him and thanked him for being such a wonderful Dad and Grampa. Even though he was not conscious, he was squeezing my hand and mumbling. When I would let go of his hand to get tissues (I was crying most of the time)he would reach out with his hand for me to hold it again. He would turn his head closer to me when I was singing as if it was comforting to him. I am so grateful that I had this very special and precious time with my Daddy. He was a wonderful father and Grandpa. When my brother arrived, I felt like he should have some quality time with daddy so I said goodbye to my Popo. My brother took the chair and his hand and stayed with him until he passed away 8 hours later.

Daddy departed this earth in the arms of my brother Chuck, my son Jonathan and son in law Randy, with Mommy right there at his feet. He again woke up for a second, looked at each of them, his face looked like he was going to cry and then he sighed as he just quietly left his body. I believe he was saying goodbye... What a blessing to have had him leave us from his loving home and in the arms of his loved ones. This has been a very beautiful yet painful experience. My immediate response when he left was to cry out "THANK YOU JESUS! THANK YOU FOR BLESSING ME WITH MY DADDY, THANK YOU FOR HIS PRECIOUS LIFE, THANK YOU FOR TAKING AWAY HIS PAIN. PLEASE KEEP HIM SAFE WITH YOU. THANK YOU JESUS!!" The room immediately was filled with all of our family and we wept together as we felt Daddy's presence leave the house.

That morning my dear friend Mary had picked the boys up to play at her house. We expected it to be a rough day for Daddy. Sure enough, he passed away at approximately 2:00 pm. Randy went to get the boys so they could say goodbye to Grampa. When they came into his bedroom, I told them Grampa was gone; that he was going to see Jesus and his body was asleep but he was not in it anymore. They all three wanted to climb up on Grampa and kiss him goodbye. It was so precious to watch them stroking Daddy's face, rubbing their fingers through his hair and kissing his face. Josiah was even trying to look into his mouth to see if he was still in there. They stayed with daddy for about 15 minutes, very quiet and just staring at him and rubbing his arms, face and head. They were so serious and we could tell they were just taking it all in. They love their Grampa sooooo much! He was such a joker and always played with them. They loved to climb into his chair, on his lap and watch TV with him, or to climb in his bed and cuddle with him. I thank God that they were blessed to have such a special relationship with their Grampa. It was so precious to have had the experience to be a part of his death as well his life. It was very peaceful.

My entire family and I have been blessed beyond what anyone can imagine! From the day Daddy died and for the next 6 days, our dear friends, our body of Christ started delivering meals three times a day. From drinks, paper goods, meals, desserts, flowers, hugs, kisses and PRAYERS! Our house was full of relatives from NY to FL and the table was constantly full of food. The team of disciples arrived in the a.m. and set up breakfast while we were still asleep. They delivered lunch and dinner and I didn't have to lift a finger. I have never, nor has any of my family from out of state, ever seen such an outpouring of love and support. It was like a revolving door of blessing upon blessing. The day of the Memorial Service, we came home to a full buffet set up in the dining room. It was like a banquet table. My sweet and dear sister/bestfriend Mary stayed the entire time and served us all. When my family came in a saw this, they all burst into tears because DADDY LOVED TO EAT! We all said he would have loved to have been here for this feast in his honor. My dear sweet sister/bestfriend Beth came to me, embraced me and said, "Don't worry, he is eating at the table with Jesus and he is eating a feast so mucn better than this!! We are eating sour grapes compared to what he is eating." This was such a comfort to my heart. I knew that to be true. The heavenly feast can not compare to what we have here on earth. My sweet Beth & Mary have been my dear,dear friends for 14 years now always by my side to encourage me and keep me focused on the Lord. All my sisters in Christ, Beth Herbert, Mary Moore, Theresa Haven, Sue Thorpe, all the sisters from our Homeschool coop, and our church came together as one and the Light of JESUS was radiantly glowing in our home. Many relatives came that are not believers and I am sure they were very aware that there was something very different about this Memorial Service and this 6 day event. Through the entire time, I felt the presence of the LORD, his peace and his comfort and I felt like we were walking on Holy ground. What a blessing, honor, privilege and JOY to be surrounded by the Holy Spirit at work through his disciples. There are truly no words to express the gratitude that Jerry and I feel as well as the entire family. I just can't thank you all enough, I can't adequately express my gratitude . I pray each and every one of you will be blessed tenfold to what you gave us!! You all served the Savior of our souls and HIS LIGHT WAS RADIANT!!!

This is the letter from my precious Solomon:

Hello my sweet Mom,
I so sorry about your father. I am very sad when I heard about you dad
from Christy and Ryan. I don't know why God do this. I lost all my
family when I was child. In that time I upset by the thing God did to
me. My life was full of sorrow. I hadn't a value for my life at all. I
didn't understand God had a plan for me. After several years he
brought you into my life. This is the special gift that I got from
God. You see mom I lost my parents but God give me a family that I
love them dearly. So mom all the thing happened to you may be God have
his own plan. Be strong ok mom. I pray for your father soul God to put
right side of Abraham soul and to live in heaven peacefully.
I met with Christy and Ryan today and they told me everything about
your father. In that time I couldn't control my self. I was very sad
and cried after they left me. They also gave for me a Mamas kiss, hug
and 200 birr. They are generous and beloved. You have many good
friends.
Mom, I can't say more things now. I am very sad and cry. I hope that
the above words strength you. I know that how it painful to lost a
father.

I pray for all of you the following in every night

"God please keep my family from sorrow and sadness. Please bless my
family and protect my family from any danger." I love all of you to
much.

Your loving son Solomon Mestas

Memorial Service

2009-01-08T21:43:00.002-05:00

Thank you to all of you who have been sending notes and prayers on behalf of our family. IT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!! For those who are able to join us, the memorial service will be held this Saturday, January 10, 2009 at 11:00 O'clock.

Bright Funeral Home
405 South Main Street
Wake Forest, NC 27587
919-556-5811

Thank you again for all the love, prayers and blessings being sent our way! May the Lord richly bless you all!

Walter Charles "Babe" Farrell 1933-2009

2009-01-07T19:17:00.004-05:00

Today at 2:15 p.m. Eastern, Eileen's dad went home to be with Jesus. It is so sad to see him gone but at the same time it is a time of rejoicing that he is in a better place and no longer in pain. Please pray for his wife Betty, Eileen, and her siblings during this time of loss. Many of their family members are here or are enroute. There will be a memorial service on Saturday, January 10. More information to follow.