This is one of Mom's famous sayings! Remember the EXTREME BACK YARD MAKE OVER?? We redesigned the back yard about 3 weeks ago and put in a playground for the 5 little's. We redesigned the old sand box and put plastic borders all around it. It looks great! Well, it just so happened that one of the spikes holding the border in, pierced the main drain pipe coming out of the house which caused it to get clogged up and back flow into the house. We got home from Nashville, TN at about 3 a.m. (post on that coming soon) and then got a phone call at 8 a.m. from Mom downstairs telling us there is water in her bedroom. Both of the bathrooms, toilets and shower just backed up and the "BLACK WATER" flooded her house!! Contaminated carpets, vanities, etc. So, for the last week we have had "Pettyjohns" a flood restoration company, in here taking everything out and now we are in the process of getting all new replacements. New bathroom vanities, sinks, flooring, painting etc. Talk about another chapter that totally takes us by surprise. Dealing with Insurance company, getting bids from contractors, shopping for supplies, moving everything out, and in, etc. This has been very stressful for Mom & Dad as well as created a safety hazard for them. Please keep us in your prayers... it is never a dull moment around here!!
On our last trip to Nashville, we had to replace the alternator in the van. What's up with this???
Blessings to you all today!!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Solomon' s Letter 11/15/08
Hello my dear mom,
Yes I received my package and the money. I donʼt know what I can say. I canʼt express my feeling by words. Thank you very much. I enjoyed very much the delicious cookies and chocolate. The jacket that dad and Jonathan wore also wonderful and it fit me and the shirts too..
I received the birr from Wolfe family. I learned for two years in my college with out payment (scholarship) but now they asked me to pay half price payment. Unless they told me to stop so, I decided to pay the money you send for me. I asked Ryan if he can help pay for me but he said that it takes a long time so, he told me that it is better to pay the money that you send for me. The amount of money that my collage asked me is 1300 birr
You know if you didnʼt send me this money, my only choice would be that I have to stop school but this did not happened because of you. Thank you so much.
I sent you a letter and a big hugs and kisses with Aschaew & family. If you want to know any information about me ask Aschalew he know all about me. He was my best friend. It was very difficult thing to say goodbye to him. But I had no choice.. I remembered him all the time. Before he left I told him to pray to God to makes a way for me too to come to America.
Mom, I love you and thank you very much for the money and package. I understood why tears came to my eyes when I taught about you because I love you too much. Words are not expressing my feeling anymore about you. You all are Awesome for me. I havenʼt a potential to do anything for you except pray. I love you mom.
I wrote the letter all about my feelings that my heart told me about you and some of my favorite proverbs. Say Hi to all my family for me and I love them all too much.
Kibrom send his greetings to you and he wants to tell you love you too much.
Love,
SOLOMON
This is my precious son whom I love!! My heart is aching to see him and hug on him again. Kibrom is the young man in our Kolfe video who wants to be a pediatrician. He is being adopted by a family in Florida as a result of them seeing our video. Ashalew just arrived home to Michigan with the Wolfe family. In His own words, he has been set free!
Please stay tuned, I have several posts coming to share some wonderful events that have recently taken place!!
Blessings to all of you who read our blog and share our journey of faith.
Yes I received my package and the money. I donʼt know what I can say. I canʼt express my feeling by words. Thank you very much. I enjoyed very much the delicious cookies and chocolate. The jacket that dad and Jonathan wore also wonderful and it fit me and the shirts too..
I received the birr from Wolfe family. I learned for two years in my college with out payment (scholarship) but now they asked me to pay half price payment. Unless they told me to stop so, I decided to pay the money you send for me. I asked Ryan if he can help pay for me but he said that it takes a long time so, he told me that it is better to pay the money that you send for me. The amount of money that my collage asked me is 1300 birr
You know if you didnʼt send me this money, my only choice would be that I have to stop school but this did not happened because of you. Thank you so much.
I sent you a letter and a big hugs and kisses with Aschaew & family. If you want to know any information about me ask Aschalew he know all about me. He was my best friend. It was very difficult thing to say goodbye to him. But I had no choice.. I remembered him all the time. Before he left I told him to pray to God to makes a way for me too to come to America.
Mom, I love you and thank you very much for the money and package. I understood why tears came to my eyes when I taught about you because I love you too much. Words are not expressing my feeling anymore about you. You all are Awesome for me. I havenʼt a potential to do anything for you except pray. I love you mom.
I wrote the letter all about my feelings that my heart told me about you and some of my favorite proverbs. Say Hi to all my family for me and I love them all too much.
Kibrom send his greetings to you and he wants to tell you love you too much.
Love,
SOLOMON
This is my precious son whom I love!! My heart is aching to see him and hug on him again. Kibrom is the young man in our Kolfe video who wants to be a pediatrician. He is being adopted by a family in Florida as a result of them seeing our video. Ashalew just arrived home to Michigan with the Wolfe family. In His own words, he has been set free!
Please stay tuned, I have several posts coming to share some wonderful events that have recently taken place!!
Blessings to all of you who read our blog and share our journey of faith.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Something Changed
Adoption has changed our lives forever and we will never be the same! Thank you God for your precious gifts!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
EXTREME BACK YARD MAKE OVER
We are so excited we can hardly stand it! This past week we finally did our extreme back yard make over. It took 10 tons of dirt and a lot of loving tender care to transform our back yard into this amazing playground. We have lived in this house for 8 years with a very sloped yard and nothing to do but slide down into the fence. Well, we finally got this project on the top of our to do list. A dear brother in Christ and friend Mark Devenney,owner of Heritage Landscape Company, came in and worked for 5 days. We had to move the shed and make a flat surface for Creative Playthings, Inc. to come in and assemble the new play set. The first day with our new set, the dogs decided this was their new potty area. So, we then had to put up a fence to keep them off of the play ground. Jonathan did a fabulous job of installing our new picket fence. We then added triple shredded mulch, some Camellia bushes, stepping stones to the shed and transformed the sandbox with plastic borders and more sand. VOILA!!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Solomon's Letter Today - October 31,2008
Hello mom,
I am very fine. Mom I know that you are always thinking and praying for me. I know how much you worried about me I am feeling it for the first time what does mean mother love. I can say my life is started after I met with you. I told you many times I canʼt explain or express about you by words. I thanked God because of given for me awesome mom. Mom I love you million and millions times ok! I think you understand from this how much I love you and miss you so much.
In kolfe the kitchen is already fixed we got more books for library. Ryan helps some youngerʼs leaved from kolfe and he paid for college for some youngerʼs I also told to Ambes (the person represented by Ryan to pay for me collage payment.
Mom, Jt visited me on September and he promised for me to come back again but he hasn't come back yet. Did he tell you anything?
Mom, first of all thank you for your treatments and helping me. You just mentioned it the thing what I need. I only need to say thank you so much again and again. Please mom know that I also loving, praying, thinking and missing you very much. Please mom pray for me God to make for me a way to come there. I LOVE YOU MY PRECIOUS MOM!!!!!!!
LOVE,
WITH MUCH LOVE,HUGS AND KISS!!!
GOD BE WITH YOU, YOUR SON SOLOMON!!!!
I am very fine. Mom I know that you are always thinking and praying for me. I know how much you worried about me I am feeling it for the first time what does mean mother love. I can say my life is started after I met with you. I told you many times I canʼt explain or express about you by words. I thanked God because of given for me awesome mom. Mom I love you million and millions times ok! I think you understand from this how much I love you and miss you so much.
In kolfe the kitchen is already fixed we got more books for library. Ryan helps some youngerʼs leaved from kolfe and he paid for college for some youngerʼs I also told to Ambes (the person represented by Ryan to pay for me collage payment.
Mom, Jt visited me on September and he promised for me to come back again but he hasn't come back yet. Did he tell you anything?
Mom, first of all thank you for your treatments and helping me. You just mentioned it the thing what I need. I only need to say thank you so much again and again. Please mom know that I also loving, praying, thinking and missing you very much. Please mom pray for me God to make for me a way to come there. I LOVE YOU MY PRECIOUS MOM!!!!!!!
LOVE,
WITH MUCH LOVE,HUGS AND KISS!!!
GOD BE WITH YOU, YOUR SON SOLOMON!!!!
Kolfe Sponsorship Has Begun!!
Praise the Lord for HE is Faithful!!My prayers for Kolfe have been answered!! But the Journey has just begun..Please read below and join us in this journey....
October 28, 2008 By Tom Davis
Sponsorship of Kolfe Orphanage in Ethiopia
Kolfe orphanage is an incredible place filled with 130 boys outside Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. After spending just a few hours with the young men there, I was struck by how polite, engaging and smart they are. They are so conversational I almost didn't realize that this orphanage is situated on a dumping ground. Every window is broken out of every building except the office and the only thing more prominent than garbage and glass on the ground is the red dust that covers every square inch of this horrible place. I see two possible roads for these boys. Down the first I see future husbands, fathers, and leaders of Ethiopia. Down the second I see death. I will occasionally use hyperbole to make a point but be clear that this not one of those times.
What They Need
Family. The boys of Kolfe need a church family with a heart for seeing boys become men. They need role models and mentors. They need someone to see their potential and walk with them through life to help them realize it. Here's an overview of Children's HopeChest's orphanage sponsorship program. Thanks to Sam Henry at Red Letters Campaign for the post.
The Basics. Serving these boys begins with meeting their basic needs for survival. Today and tonight they are exposed to the elements living in dormitories that are in shambles. Their food is meager and mean non-existent. Children's Hopechest needs to raise $25K immediately to repair housing facilities, provide beds, and buy books while we find a church sponsor. If you would like to GIVE click here and mark Kolfe orphanage as the recipient.
Help. We are hiring in-country staff to oversee and manage these Sponsorship programs and to identify additional sponsorship opportunities. The field teams' role is threefold: 1) Point of continuity, trust, and fun to the kids throughout the year. 2) Point of financial accountability for orphanage leadership. 3) Facilitate connections between the sponsoring church and children in the orphanage.
If you are interested in recruiting a church or community to sponsor Kolfe, please contact me immediately at tdavis@hopechest.org. We already have 3 sponsorships in process since returning last week!
Well a lot has happened in the past 11 months since our visit to Kolfe. The Lord has been so faithful to us and has validated that we were sent there for HIS purpose and for helping get the word out about these precious FORGOTTEN BOYS!! Jerry and & I are hoping to make another trip to Kolfe in the very near future. We are yearning to hug & kiss on our son's Solomon & Habtamu. Lord willing it will be very soon! If any of you are interested in visiting Kolfe, please let us know. There is a trip being planned for January 2009 and one for April 2009. Just send us an email and we will give the you info. Blessings to all of you who have faithfully followed our journey on the blog. Please continue to pray and stay tuned as we WATCH GOD AT WORK!
October 28, 2008 By Tom Davis
Sponsorship of Kolfe Orphanage in Ethiopia
Kolfe orphanage is an incredible place filled with 130 boys outside Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. After spending just a few hours with the young men there, I was struck by how polite, engaging and smart they are. They are so conversational I almost didn't realize that this orphanage is situated on a dumping ground. Every window is broken out of every building except the office and the only thing more prominent than garbage and glass on the ground is the red dust that covers every square inch of this horrible place. I see two possible roads for these boys. Down the first I see future husbands, fathers, and leaders of Ethiopia. Down the second I see death. I will occasionally use hyperbole to make a point but be clear that this not one of those times.
What They Need
Family. The boys of Kolfe need a church family with a heart for seeing boys become men. They need role models and mentors. They need someone to see their potential and walk with them through life to help them realize it. Here's an overview of Children's HopeChest's orphanage sponsorship program. Thanks to Sam Henry at Red Letters Campaign for the post.
The Basics. Serving these boys begins with meeting their basic needs for survival. Today and tonight they are exposed to the elements living in dormitories that are in shambles. Their food is meager and mean non-existent. Children's Hopechest needs to raise $25K immediately to repair housing facilities, provide beds, and buy books while we find a church sponsor. If you would like to GIVE click here and mark Kolfe orphanage as the recipient.
Help. We are hiring in-country staff to oversee and manage these Sponsorship programs and to identify additional sponsorship opportunities. The field teams' role is threefold: 1) Point of continuity, trust, and fun to the kids throughout the year. 2) Point of financial accountability for orphanage leadership. 3) Facilitate connections between the sponsoring church and children in the orphanage.
If you are interested in recruiting a church or community to sponsor Kolfe, please contact me immediately at tdavis@hopechest.org. We already have 3 sponsorships in process since returning last week!
Well a lot has happened in the past 11 months since our visit to Kolfe. The Lord has been so faithful to us and has validated that we were sent there for HIS purpose and for helping get the word out about these precious FORGOTTEN BOYS!! Jerry and & I are hoping to make another trip to Kolfe in the very near future. We are yearning to hug & kiss on our son's Solomon & Habtamu. Lord willing it will be very soon! If any of you are interested in visiting Kolfe, please let us know. There is a trip being planned for January 2009 and one for April 2009. Just send us an email and we will give the you info. Blessings to all of you who have faithfully followed our journey on the blog. Please continue to pray and stay tuned as we WATCH GOD AT WORK!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
PRAISE THE LORD....KOLFE UPDATE!!!!!!
Again I sit here in tears as I read this post on the Red Letters Campaign blog and Tom Davis, founder of Childrens HopeChest's blog. He is also the author of "Fields of the Fatherless" and "RED LETTERS Living a Faith that Bleeds". As you may remember, the Lord touched my heart like never before when HE took us to the Kolfe Orphanage and we posted about the FORGOTTEN BOYS. I have been burdened since that day to tell everyone about them. We have been SEEING GOD show himself in miraculous and wonderful ways as HE has been weaving a tapestry of networking us with HIS people to do HIS work for them. These guys just went to Ethiopia last week to start the process to open it as new country with their ministry. Please read below and SEE GOD!!!!!
RED LETTERS CAMPAIGN BLOG POST:
Kolfe
"After spending just a few hours with the young men at Kolfe Youth Orphanage, I am struck by how polite, engaging and smart they are. There is a spirit among these lost boys that at first look seems unbreakable but I was deeply troubled by the absolute squalor of Kolfe more than any other place we visited. Upon arrival Ashunafi (the group’s apparent leader) and the boys invite us to play volleyball and soccer on a dirt field and the rowdiness of boys rules the day. They are so conversational I almost don’t realize that the orphanage is situated on a dumping ground; that every window is broken out of every building except the office; that the only thing more prominent than garbage and glass on the ground is the red dust that covers every square inch of this horrible place. The lone rosebush between rows of decrepit dormitories and brambles reinforces for me that life at a place like Kolfe is destitute and full of thorns.
To borrow Tom’s analogy, I see two roads for these boys ages 12-20. Down the first I see the future husbands, fathers, leaders of Ethiopia. These boys were amazing! Down the second I see death. I will occasionally use hyperbole to make a point but be clear that this is not one of those times. God help us if we are complacent in the face of this great tragedy! Please join me in praying that a church with a heart for seeing boys become men will adopt this God-forsaken place post haste!
In the next 9 months, our goal is to connect 10 churches with 10 orphanages in Ethiopia through Tom Davis and Children’s HopeChest. Talk to your church about living out the red letters of Jesus and walking out your responsibility for the poor, the orphan and the widow. Pray that God would open doors, change hearts, and renew our/your commitment to ‘the least of these.’ If your church isn’t doing anything substantial for the poor, who cares?"
TOM DAVIS BLOG:
This is what Tom Davis said after he visited Kolfe.
"This trip has been so amazing. My heart burns for Ethiopia in a million ways. The kids here are amazing. Full of life and as kind as can be. Today, we were in an orphanage called Kolfe, a boys home with about 120 kids. You would think this place so filled with testosterone, would be a bit dangerous, cold and resistant. Just the opposite. These boys had incredible manners, they showed so much respect to us, even bowing when they met us. And, it is dirt poor. They have nothing, and I mean nothing. They never get to eat meat, and don't even have the money for a hair cut. They just want the chance to be men, to make their mark on life and accomplish something. Many have dreams of going to college, and I want to help them.
Sponsoring this place would transform your community, I promise you. I'll post pictures and video when I get home.
I think we are up to 6 orphanages that will soon be available for sponsorship. I'm hoping to have 8 by the time we leave. The vision trip looks like it will be some time in April. Please email me if you want to come.
Thanks for the prayers. God is doing great things in this beautiful country. With His help we can change the lives of these kids forever. Want to be a part? Just say yes!"
RESPONSE TO MY COMMENT ON THE RLC BLOG:
"I just got back from Kolfe with Children's Hopechest and Red Letters Campaign: http://www.redletterscampaign.com/blog/2008/10/day-4-kebebtsehay-kolfe/
Hopechest has the single best model I've ever seen because it's about on going, holistic care for the young people like these. Kolfe is a great fit for their model, and they could basically pull the trigger on sponsoring the boys as soon as a church would be ready to sponsor them.
Pray for the right church that would see the potential in these future leaders of Ethiopia."-Jamie Wallace
RED LETTERS CAMPAIGN BLOG POST:
Kolfe
"After spending just a few hours with the young men at Kolfe Youth Orphanage, I am struck by how polite, engaging and smart they are. There is a spirit among these lost boys that at first look seems unbreakable but I was deeply troubled by the absolute squalor of Kolfe more than any other place we visited. Upon arrival Ashunafi (the group’s apparent leader) and the boys invite us to play volleyball and soccer on a dirt field and the rowdiness of boys rules the day. They are so conversational I almost don’t realize that the orphanage is situated on a dumping ground; that every window is broken out of every building except the office; that the only thing more prominent than garbage and glass on the ground is the red dust that covers every square inch of this horrible place. The lone rosebush between rows of decrepit dormitories and brambles reinforces for me that life at a place like Kolfe is destitute and full of thorns.
To borrow Tom’s analogy, I see two roads for these boys ages 12-20. Down the first I see the future husbands, fathers, leaders of Ethiopia. These boys were amazing! Down the second I see death. I will occasionally use hyperbole to make a point but be clear that this is not one of those times. God help us if we are complacent in the face of this great tragedy! Please join me in praying that a church with a heart for seeing boys become men will adopt this God-forsaken place post haste!
In the next 9 months, our goal is to connect 10 churches with 10 orphanages in Ethiopia through Tom Davis and Children’s HopeChest. Talk to your church about living out the red letters of Jesus and walking out your responsibility for the poor, the orphan and the widow. Pray that God would open doors, change hearts, and renew our/your commitment to ‘the least of these.’ If your church isn’t doing anything substantial for the poor, who cares?"
TOM DAVIS BLOG:
This is what Tom Davis said after he visited Kolfe.
"This trip has been so amazing. My heart burns for Ethiopia in a million ways. The kids here are amazing. Full of life and as kind as can be. Today, we were in an orphanage called Kolfe, a boys home with about 120 kids. You would think this place so filled with testosterone, would be a bit dangerous, cold and resistant. Just the opposite. These boys had incredible manners, they showed so much respect to us, even bowing when they met us. And, it is dirt poor. They have nothing, and I mean nothing. They never get to eat meat, and don't even have the money for a hair cut. They just want the chance to be men, to make their mark on life and accomplish something. Many have dreams of going to college, and I want to help them.
Sponsoring this place would transform your community, I promise you. I'll post pictures and video when I get home.
I think we are up to 6 orphanages that will soon be available for sponsorship. I'm hoping to have 8 by the time we leave. The vision trip looks like it will be some time in April. Please email me if you want to come.
Thanks for the prayers. God is doing great things in this beautiful country. With His help we can change the lives of these kids forever. Want to be a part? Just say yes!"
RESPONSE TO MY COMMENT ON THE RLC BLOG:
"I just got back from Kolfe with Children's Hopechest and Red Letters Campaign: http://www.redletterscampaign.com/blog/2008/10/day-4-kebebtsehay-kolfe/
Hopechest has the single best model I've ever seen because it's about on going, holistic care for the young people like these. Kolfe is a great fit for their model, and they could basically pull the trigger on sponsoring the boys as soon as a church would be ready to sponsor them.
Pray for the right church that would see the potential in these future leaders of Ethiopia."-Jamie Wallace
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)