El Roi Mission Trip, September 2011, Heart for Africa

El Roi Mission Trip, September 2011, Heart for Africa

Heart for Africa Missions Trip

Heart for Africa Missions Trip

CLick on the Heart for Africa Mission trip above to see an incredible video that our friend Laurie put together of our amazing experience in Swaziland. Paeton and I were so blessed to be a part of this team last month to serve the people, getting the El Roi baby home painted, and sharing the love and hope of Jesus Christ.

In Search of a Christian

www.thesimpleway.org/shane/

The Irresistible Revolution, Shane Claiborne

Recommend this book, would love to know who has already read it and your thoughts. Just took these notes from Chapter 3, In Search of a Christian.

One of the most sacred places I went was to a leper colony outside of Calcutta. Leprosy is a disease of numbness. The contagion numbs the skin, and the nerves can no longer feel as the body wastes away. In fact the was it was detected was by rubbing a feather across the skin and if the person could not feel it, they were diagnosed with the disease.

To treat it, we would dig out or dissect the scarred tissue until the person could feel again. It's a disease of the outcasts, the untouchables. One leper explained that often times lepers don't even know the words, thank you, because they have never needed to say them. They had rarely experienced occassions when they used language of gratitude.

John 14:12 "Very truly I tell you, all who have faith in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."

'The greater things', not just the miracles-- but to see that the miracles were an expression not so much of Jesus' mighty power as of His love. What had lasting significance were not the miracles, but the love Jesus showed. Yes, He raised Lazarus from the dead, but he died a few years later. Jesus healed the sick but eventually they became sick again. He fed thousands but they became hungry again. What we remember is His love. It wasn't that Jesus healed a leper but that He touched a leper, because no one touched lepers. The incredible thing about this kind of love is that it now lives inside of us!

Jesus assures us that the Spirit now lives in us. Jesus says He is going to the Father but will also remain inside of us and we in Him. We are the body of Christ, the hands and feet of Jesus to the world. Christ is living inside of you and me walking the earth. We shall do even greater things because the love that lived in the radical Christ now lives within millions of ordinary radicals all over the planet.

As I left Calcutta, it occured to me that I was returning to a land of lepers, a land of people who had forgotten how to feel, to laugh, to cry and a land haunted by numbness. Could we learn to feel again?

Orphanology

Christianity Today just reviewed this book, Orphanology, by Tony Merida and Rick Morton, it received 5 stars. I bought it and have started reading it. You will want to get your hands on a copy. Here is what they said, ""adoption and orphan care is not just another fad movement but a robust response to God's first love of us. Christians approach orphan care not as mere humanitarians but as people adopted by God through the work of Jesus Christ."

In his introduction, Tony writes," Adoption is a real-life illustration of the gospel.It shows us how God transfoms spiritual orphans into family members. He changes our names, identities, and families by His grace. Orphan care is acts of mercy that flow from the heart of one who has been changed by the gospel."

July 4, 2011 Home 2 years

Paeton and Phelix cooling off after a terrific 2 year anniversary of being home. So hard to believe 2 years ago we stepped off a plane we took from Africa with 6 month old twin sons. God is so good, we are so very blessed. . . so blessed
Phisher and his Daddy whoop! whoop! after Daddy tossed him up high in the air!!

A couple of proud Ethiopian/ Americans! Too cute outfits created by Heather at Momma Mia Chic! Thank you Ms Heather my lil' firecrackers looked so cute on our big day!
It just doesn't get any better than this . . . sweet Phelix smile. . . it just melts me, that smile and those gorgeous brown eyes at the same time. . . yep I'm mush
This kid is more fun than you have ever thought of. Phisher is constantly cracking us up, he is so charming, so smart he is the biggest party in a 30lb package. I love you boys!

Been a bad blogger hope to post more soon about our fun summer. The big P's are great, we are all doing great, we are blessed what more can I say HIS plans are so great!

Twins 2 year photos

Sweet, Sweet, Phelix. This little guy steals every heart he comes into contact with. Simply a beautiful little boy.

Phisher really enjoyed his photo shoot and was hamming it up for Carrie. The shots she got of him and his hat are a crack up! What a C U T I E ! !

The twins turned 2 January 25. February and March were not well months for us. In April I finally was able to get their photos taken after several rescheduled appointments and one attempt that was just plain miserable. . . for me. . . the boys. . . and especially our wonderful photographer! These are proofs and have her copy right letters through them but had to give you a peek into this handsome duo.

8th grade GRADUATION!?

Here is my first born, my son, Parker. The school he will be graduating from in a couple of weeks he started as a second grader. This is what my sweet little guy looked like as he grew and learned academically and spiritually.

2nd grade

3 rd grade

4 th grade

5 th grade

6 th grade

7 th grade

8 th grade

It really does not seem possible that he will be attending High School this fall. But as I think back on all of these photos and the achievements and trials he went through each year I know that he is more than prepared. I am so thankful for the Christian education he has had. He has been blessed with Missionaries as teachers who poured into him. Now it is his turn to go out and be HIS in the world. High school will be a very different environment for our son. He will be a light in the darkness, clothed in the ARMOR OF GOD, Ephesians 6: 10-20.

For His glory alone!

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.