Summer Sunday Hikes

We have been enjoying our summer. It has been quiet, uneventful, non-strenuous, and peaceful. I would have to say this has been Duane and mine favorite summers. I have found that a life of an American is to plan how much you can cram into a day...and even into a vacation, we didn't do that this year. We have enjoyed each other. We have "been still and known God is God." (Psalm 46:10). We have discovered we enjoy our surroundings and we have so much to be thankful for.

One of the routines we made for summer was our day of rest. Being that we attend church on Saturday nights, we are able to enjoy a full day of rest on Sunday. So we have been doing Sunday hiking...other than the beach there is not a better place to experience our Loving God.

Blessed be your wonderful name. It is more wonderful than all blessing and praise.

You are the only Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, with all the stars.

You made the earth and everything on it, the seas and everything in them; you give life to everything.

The heavenly army worship you.

Nehemiah 9:5-6

I will praise the Lord at all times; his praise is always on my lips. My whole being praises the Lord.

Psalm 34:1-2a

Shout to the Lord, all the earth.

Serve the Lord with joy;

come before him with singing.

Know that the Lord is God.

He made us, and we belong to him;

we are his people, the sheep he tends.

Psalm 100:1-3

Let the sea and everything in it shout; let the world and everyone in it sing. Let the rivers clap their hands;

let the mountains sing together for joy.

Psalm 98:7-8

God, my heart is steady.

I will sing and praise you with all my being.

Psalm 108:1

The Lord lives!

May my Rock be praised. Praise the God who saves me!

Psalm 18: 46

Everything on earth, shout with joy to God!

Sing about his glory!

Make his praise glorious!

Say to God, "Your works are amazing! Because your power is great, your enemies fall before you.

All the earth worships you and sings praises to you. They sing praises to your name".

Psalm 66:1-4

You do great and wonderful things, Lord God Almighty.

Everything the Lord does is right and true, King of the nations.

Everyone will respect you, Lord, and will honor you.

Only you are holy.

All the nations will come and worship you, because the right things you have done are now made known.

Revelation 15:3b-4

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is the Father who is full of mercy and all comfort.

2 Corinthians 1:3

And so we know the love that God has for us, and we trust that love. God is love. Those who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

1 John 4:16

God is strong and can help you not to fall. He can bring you before his glory without any wrong in you and can give you great joy. He is the only God, the One who saves us. To him be glory, greatness, power, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord for all time past, now, and forever. Amen.

Jude 24-25

He created the skies and stretched them out. He spread out the earth and everything on it. He gives life to all people on earth, to everyone who walks on the earth.

The Lord says, "I, the Lord, called you to do right, and I will hold your hand and protect you."

Sing a new song to the Lord; sing his praise everywhere on the earth.

Praise him, you people who sail on the seas and you animals who live in them.

Praise him, you people living in faraway places. The deserts and their cities should praise him.

Isaiah 42 5-6a; 10-11a

Skies, sing for joy because the Lord did great things! Earth, shout for joy, even in your deepest parts!

Sing, you mountains, with thanks to God.

Sing, too you trees in the forest!

The Lord saved the people of Jacob! He showed his glory when he saved Israel.

This is what the Lord says, who saved you, who formed you in your mother's body:

"I the Lord, made everything, stretching out the skies by myself and spreading out the earth all alone."

Isaiah 44:23-24

Because of the Lord's great love

we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-24

Questions and Answers

There are so many questions we get. We welcome them, for we feel that we have people interested in knowing our adoption journey. We also know that there are people who just don't want to ask them. These are the questions and statements we have heard. If there are any that we haven't posted, please feel free to post them so we can address them.

"Have you heard anything yet?" Well actually, no. We hear the same things that we know. Liberia is messed up. The government is corrupt, and views their well being the priority. They show from their lack of actions that they don't truly have a heart for these children. It is so hard for Duane and I to answer this question, even though we are thankful so many of our family and friends are interested in our struggle...but what we know is what goes on in our prayer life, we don't have anything tangible or any evidence of what we are hearing from God.

"Why are you dong this?" We are being obedient to God. We have seen a vision and have said "yes" to what we belive God has called us to. God has confirmed our direction many times through this journey.

"This is so messed up! It doesn't make sense. Why don't they just..." In order for them "to just ..." they would need to remove their Liberian mindset, all the turmoil they have known - the war and tribalism, and put on a American mindset. In Proverbs, it is noted that wisdom and understanding go hand in hand, one doesn't happen without the other. In order for wisdom to rule Liberia, one must have understanding...that just isn't the case.

"So what are you going to do?" Wait and pray. We will wait on the Lord, caste our burdens on the Lord. That is all we have. We can't give up for this is the road God has clearly put us on. Has He given us this turmoil? I don't know...but I do know that He is a caring God, a loving God and has extreme compassion for the orphans. With that said, I don't believe God has willed this on us. I do believe He is victorious and will win this fight in the end.

"Why Liberia? Why not one of our "own" children in the US, there are so many?" Yes, our hearts are for orphans. And we have a heart for those needing a home in our own country, let alone state. But God directed our paths to Elijah and Ruthie. He has specifically picked out these two children to be in our home, and for us to be in their lives. We will wait for our children.

"If it doesn't work out, will you be out all that money?" Yes. As with all international adoptions it is a risk that is taken. We know up front that there is a risk, and a government can change their ways at any time. We have signed a document stating we do know this risk. Duane and I both feel that it isn't about the money. We have considered it a pure joy to be able to support our children financially, and wish we could even do more.

"Since Elijah has your name, why can't you bring at least him home?" We need two final things. We need his case history, which can be done simultaneously with Ruthies', and his Visa. Both of these things are not being done at this time until Liberia establishes new adoption laws.

"How long have you been waiting?" We have committed to Elijah two years on August 31st. We have only been committed to Ruthie for 8 months. We are not counting the years prior where we have tried adoption and failed, or even when we knew that God laid this on our hearts. Otherwise, it all started almost 17 years ago. Again, we will continue to wait, we will continue to love, and continue to call them ours.

"Isn't your agency doing anything?" They are doing everything humanly possible. They are spending many countless hours fighting this fight FOR us. They are spending many hours on their knees and trying to break down the barriers. We ask for you to pray for them, that God will continue to use them in a mighty way and for them to not get weary in this fight. The one thing I want to make clear is that Duane and I are extremely proud to be part of Addy's Hope. Addy's Hope is not only about adoption, but also the care of the Liberian people. Through Addy's Hope we are able to help educate, feed and share Christ with the people of Liberia. Christ has used Addy's Hope to not only bring light to these people, but to bring hope. It is the Liberian people that are for what Addy's Hope is doing, it is the government that is fearful and remain controlling.

"Are you guys the only ones going through this?" No. The orphanage that our kids are coming out of has approximately 60 children under their roofs, all waiting for their forever families who have been matched with each of them. All these children are waiting. We aren't the only orphanage/agency either. Other agencies have had to close their doors because they couldn't afford to take care of their children because of the lack of adoption fees coming in. And the few remaining agencies are continuing to press on and fight for the sake of these children.

"I just don't understand all this. It isn't fair. It isn't right. You should have them in your home. They need a good home." Thank you for your support. Unfortunately, the Liberian government doesn't see things like we do. A lot of it is because of lack of education about adoption. When a country doesn't have adoption in their own country, it is so hard to understand how a family can take another child in that isn't theirs and love them as if they are.