Thankful that God's purposes are better than our requests...

My heart overflows with thankfulness...

 I stand in awe of the blessings God has given

us this past year.  A year ago, we had never

heard of Kolfe Orphanage.

A year ago, our family of 4 was "enough".

Our world was small,

and we wanted to serve the Lord,

 but we had no vision big enough

 for God's plans for us...

 Only God could give us something

 better than we knew to ask for. 

 Emnatu John, 19.

What started eight months ago as just a
penpal friendship, has blossomed
 into so much more.
God has used this sweet,
sweet young man,
our son,
 to open our eyes
to a world we never knew,
 and to become the family
we never could have dreamed of.

Mezgebu John, 15 on his "1st birthday"
later this week.

I am so thankful for our son, Mez.
He challenges me greatly,
and his journey in life means
this isn't always easy,
 but when he opens up
and shows us glimpses
 of the sweet boy inside... oh, the joy.

Ayal John, 20

What a journey God has taken

us on this past year.

Orphans are real,

they are many,

and God clearly calls us to do something,

 anything! to show them His love.  

John and I struggle with how best to use

the money God has blessed us with.

There are so many in need..

is it better to send our money

 rather than going ourselves?

It is a question we struggle with even today,

 as I make plans for another trip to Kolfe,

 and next time take John and the kids

with me.  The connection we have with

 our sons keeps smacking me in the face

 when I think of not going. 

The best I can come up with

 for now is that we do both...

we dig a little deeper,

we give up a few "wants" here

 so that we can meet some "needs" over there,

 and yes, we go.

We touch their lives in the way that

 only a physical hug,

or the action of holding their hand can do,

 and selfishly...

 well, our lives get touched,

stretched, challenged and

changed in the process.

We have had many of you question why we don't travel with a "tax deductible" charity, so that we could get people involved in helping us get there.  Truthfully, we don't do this because of the boys at Kolfe.  We could travel with an organized group, but after getting tax deductible donations, and spending so much time, money, and effort to get there... we wouldn't be able to do what we most want to do.  Spend time at Kolfe. 
 

Kolfe doesn't make it on the list of orphanages groups visit.  If we went, we would see wonderful things, (most spend time sightseeing at least a bit) meet wonderful people, share wonderful experiences... but, we would miss out on the joys of real relationships...the kind that last well beyond a whirlwind trip with makes a different stop each day.  We would miss out on the kids who ask us to pray because they are hurting over something that has happened in their life, or pray for a test that is coming up in school.  We would miss out on... family.  That's why we will go, and that's our main priority.  Yes, we are collecting baby clothes, formula, and children's clothing for a couple of other orphanages that we hope to visit, but our reasons for going are deeper than a quick 1-2 hour guided tour stop.

 -- - - - - - --

On a side note...

I got a phone call this week,

from a visitor to Kolfe.

Her words, and later, her photos,

 made me smile.

"I just LOVE your son!"

"There is something so special about him."

"He is such a sweet young man."

"I had so much fun spending time with him."

Me too, my friend, me too...

God has blessed us abundantly!