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!!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Dinner with Misganaw
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!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
DIVINE APPOINTMENTS THIS WEEK
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!!
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!!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Solomon's Letter March 17, 2009
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."
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."
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Travel Plans Have Changed??
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!!
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!!
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