Launching Dreams and re-defining "the" church!

Since September 16, 2006, Doug and I have had a dream.  For four long years he has been writing something in our hearts that was beyond just the adoption of our little girl from China that hit American soil on that day.  For four long years, my precious husband would arrive home from work on random days with new visions of what h/we "thought" this dream would look like.  As a strategic planner at heart, he had some awesome flow charts, graphs and "plans" of an orphan ministry we hoped to present to "a" church that was being birthed in his heart.  I too felt rumblings of something more but we could never quite grasp what that entailed.   We did know one thing, now that we had seen, we were responsible ... responsible to act!  

The Lord continued to expand our horizons and our responsibilities once we got home.  Each time he brought opportunity to be used by him, we have said "YES"!  We have had the privilege of serving as Texas Associates for America World for 3.5 years now.  We love this role as it gives us the opportunity to not only advocate adoption and orphan care through their "Orphans Ticket Home" initiative, but also to advocate for an agency that serves HIM first.  What an honor!  It is so rewarding to visit with families about adoption and watch the Lord break down walls of fear and even sometimes disappointment in their lives to bring them to a place of knowing he is calling them.  In the process, some of those very families have become like family to us!  Isn't it true, he calls us and we think we will "Bless" others only to discover that we are the ones who are blown away by the blessings!!

Next, the Lord added the opportunity for us to serve on the Board of Visiting Orphans.  We LOVE this ministry!  As a missions sending agency devoted to orphan care, Visiting Orphans sends in teams to over 13 countries throughout the year.  This year, the goal of 50 trips blows my mind.  God is doing huge things through Visiting Orphans and getting to watch and be a part in any way is and has been incredible!
In February I was blessed to go on one of the trips into Ethiopia for 12 days.  I was blessed beyond belief by amazing team leaders and 29 other teammates who in all intensive purposes became family!  We we went into new territory, we loved big, and we were completely wrecked in the process.
Once again, the Lord broke me down further.  It's easy for one to say "163 million orphans", but when they each becomes a face, with a name and a story, something bigger happens.  Our longings, our flow charts and our "plans" took on identity's!  I came home a mess!  I also came home with a family that extends across our country that I love more than I could ever dream!  I watched 30 strangers from different churches and backgrounds be "THE" church.

It dawned on me, throughout these four years, the Lord has also done something bigger than giving us opportunities  ... he has given us a community!  Through each opportunity and each adoption, he has knit together a community that extends beyond "our" church walls.   During these four years he has shown me that caring for the orphan isn't about "a" church but instead "his" church.. and indeed, the community we have grown to love is "the" church.   Through my time with AWAA he has birthed an adoption community here that extends far beyond that "one" agency.  Through my time with VO, he has shown me that he can create a team of 30 .. who don't even know each other, don't attend the same "church" and join them together for his purpose.  30 people became the church over those 12 days and we were blown away!

So, now the Lord has opened another door and we are SO excited about this opportunity because we feel it allows this very community we love to do what we do best ... simply love (as my awesome team leader would say!)

On June 17th, we will be launching a "CarePoint" sponsorship in Awassa, Ethiopia.  Through Doug's coffee company, Ground to Cup Coffee, we are partnering with Children's HopeChest  to take on the awesome task of getting 250 plus children sponsored and pouring into a community by gathering and encouraging our community to BE the church!  This sponsorship of this community will not only provide an education, food and discipleship for each child that is sponsored but also we will build into the community at large.  We will get to send in teams 1-3 times a year.  We will get to love on the very children we are writing to and praying for.  We will get to watch and be a part of something the Lord is up to in this community!  We will get to be "the" church by loving community on community!

Our vision and our goal is to gather our community and be "the" church.  It makes no difference where you live, where you serve, and what body of believers you serve with on Sunday mornings.  This community is being knit together because of a few common things; we love the Lord, we love orphans, we know we have been called to care for the least of these, and we are ready to act.  


I am praying right now for every person and family that is to be a part of this awesome community!  Is it you?

We will be following up with details on how you from afar can sponsor a child and join us in this community from wherever you are!   In the meantime, write down June 17th on your calendar as we are throwing a huge launch event and we want you to join us this night!  Amazing worship by Billy and Cindy Foote, dinner and Children's HopeChest will cast the vision for how we will care for this community!

It is FREE!  One request, you have to reserve your seat so we can be sure we have yummy dinner for everyone that night.

Register here:  "No Double Yellow Line Event" - click "The Event"
Seating is limited, so don't wait!

Community Bible Church
6:00 - 8:30
Featuring Cindy Foote's new EP release "No Double Yellow Line", when adoption collides with music!

FOUR months DTE

We are officially FOUR months DTE as of yesterday, April 10th.  That would be "lingo" for, our paperwork has been in Ethiopia now for four months.  For four months we have been past the "paper chase" and waiting to know just who our Levi is.  It's funny, I'm starting to feel like the kid in the back of the car during a long road trip.  How many times will I say "Are we there yet"?  I don't have a clue how long the trip will take.  I don't have a clue how we'll get there.  I don't know the directions, haven't seen the map ... but I know my Daddy is driving and that means, I can trust that we'll get there someday.  I may get bored or frustrated along the way.  I may begin to loose heart and need a break.  Every once in a while, I will throw tantrums and we'll need to stop the car and readjust.  BUT ... in the end, I don't really need to know anything other than the final destination will be worth every moment.  I know my Daddy has prepared an awesome destination ... why else would he drive so far!  So, today we wait another day.  And yep, today,  I woke up thinking "Lord, are we there yet"?  

"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation"  Psalm 5:3 

4/7/11 - Conference Call on Ethiopian Adoptions with AWAA

First, I am so blessed by an agency who is not only an advocate for families, but an advocate for orphans at large!  
I loved hearing the opening of the call up by telling us that each and every morning the staff gathers to pray for the Ethiopian program and for the families on the journey!  There is such a peace knowing that they go to him FIRST!  


Notes on the call:


This week the USCIS held a conference call on the findings from a joint trip of USCIS and Department of State officials to Ethiopia in January 2011. A hand out from this meeting can be found through the following link here. Our adoption agency held a conference call yesterday to go over the status of adoptions in Ethiopia and the findings of the USCIS and DOS visit.  

It was a long call here are the highlights:

• The Ethiopian government, judges and MOWCYA are all committed to international adoptions.
• The infrastructure is not there for the number of international adoptions taking place. They are doing the best they can. They are committed to ethical adoptions and working to make the process more fluid.
• MOWCYA is not stating the number of letters it is writing each day, but it appears to be processing a good number per day.  AWA has seen many families pass court in March and April which means their recommendation letters were present.
• Our agency is hearing conflicting reports on whether or not the number of MOWCYA letters will be impacted for families whose court dates were issued after that date - March 8, 2011.  They should know more in the next few weeks.
• The court is being more meticulous with the documentation needed to complete an adoption. In some cases judges have asked for additional documentation. While this can be frustrating to adoptive parents, AWAA supports this as the judges are trying to make sure all adoptions are ethical. 
• USCIS and the Department of State has reviewed the process and adoption program. They did some baseline analysis based on 4000 cases. They were looking for abnormalities. Generally, they did not find fraud but some paperwork was not 100% complete. The process may need some refinement and they are working with the Ethiopian government to put those practices into place.
• Currently, the embassy does it's investigation of a child's file AFTER the family has passed court and before Embassy clearance.  This seems upside down.  They are looking into a new process that could be done as a "voluntary" option that would have a child's case submitted for "pre-approval" prior to court date.  If put into practice, AWA would highly suggest this for all families.
• The Department of State sees some weakness in the processes. They have proposed a voluntary option (this is not in place now and no dates were given) that was described above, which would allow the Embassy to do it's investigation after the referral but prior to the family's court date. This may slow the issuance of a court date but could make the court to Embassy visit faster as a child's case would already have been reviewed and a "pre-approval" given prior to passing court.
• AWA stressed that they feel Ethiopia is still a strong program and option for families in International Adoption and looking into adoption.  AWA stressed that both the Ethiopian Gov't and our State Dept. are working together to put into place appropriate staffing and processes to ensure that all adoptions are in the best interest of the child/ren and families.
• AWA stressed that their is a great need in Ethiopia and they have a government who desires for IA adoptions to continue as an option for children.  
• AWA mentioned our strong relationship with the Ethiopian gov't with our Director, Duni (who is in country) and our founder, Brian Luwis (who just returned from meetings in country).  AWA strives to be a leader and is doing much work in Ethiopia, including a domestic adoption program in country for children that IA adoption is not an option.    
• AWA stressed when asked, that Ethiopia has no intention on closing the doors to IA adoption.

Overall, the call was positive and AWA is optimistic of the future of Ethiopian adoptions.  



The call ended in a prayer time.  What a blessing to be a part of an agency who not only informs us of everything they know ... and do not yet know ... but gathers us to pray in his name.  I was listening to the call on my speaker phone as I picked up my kids from school.  As each person began to pray, my sweet children's eyes lit up.  I explained to them the heart of our agency and why we continue to work with America World both in our own adoptions but also in serving as Texas Associates for them.  What a testimony to be able for them to see that first hand.  

It's all about community!

There is so much to learn about adoption.  There are so many books to read on attachment.  There are so many conferences to go to.  There is "Lingo" to learn .. yep, tons of "Lingo" (DTE, court, embassy, Dossier, paper pregnancy, paper chase, I-171 ... you get the picture).   There is a new culture to learn.  There is a family to prepare.  You can do all of this on your own.  But there is one thing you can't do.

Get through the LOWEST LOWS!

Man, last week I took a nose dive.  My ability to "wait" gave in and I was sinking.  By Thursday, I had e-mailed our Family Coordinator to see if she could give us any "CLUE" on our process.  I vented my sadness.  My lack of patience.  My feeling blue.

I also posted on my "yahoo" group for my agency that I was just feeling blue as could be.  So many questions swirled in my head and I bombarded them with every one!

Let me just tell you ... Adoption isn't and shouldn't be a journey you walk alone.  One day I'm up and can encourage another and every once in a while there is a day that just feels like it will never end - like last week.  It is those days that I am ENCOURAGED!!  By strangers.  By ladies I have never met.  By "friends" on facebook that share two things "mutual" ... adoption and other "Mutual friends" who are ALLLL walking this journey.

How blessed I was to receive sweet responses both privately and through my yahoo group.  How blessed I was to know that my family coordinator not only took the time to respond to my questions but assured me, over the weekend, she'd be praying for my Momma's aching heart.   Jennifer, boy did I feel them!

I guess I say all this to say ... if you are on the outside looking in, I SO wish you could experience and know what I have ... THIS is community!  We celebrate each other's milestones.  We rejoice with good news.  We rally the troops when it's time to pray.  We answer concerns.  And better yet, we just listen.  We share a kindred spirit.  And yet ... some of us have never met!

I adore and love each and every friend that the Lord has blessed me with through my adoption journey(S).  My very closest friends are all ones he has given me along the way.  Is that not the sweet spot in this journey?

We can prepare for many things ... even the blessing of our child.  But what we don't expect are the blessings of sweet friendships!

On another note, on the "unofficial list" our yahoo keeps our family is #2 for an child over 3.  BUT ... the #1 spot was a family seeking an older girl and I have since seen that with the other 6 referrals given out on Thursday that they were referred a beautiful little girl.  SO ... does that mean I am moving up to NUMBER ONE??

Only the Lord knows ... and today is one of those days that I totally feel his peace with that.  Today, it's my day to encourage.  Who needs a lift??

Psalm 145

Psalm 145

A psalm of praise. Of David,

"I will exalt you, my God the King;

I will raise your name for ever and ever.

Every day I will praise you

and extol your name for ever and ever.

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;

his greatness no one can fathom.

One generation will commend your works to another;

they will tell of your mighty acts.

They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, 

and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

They will tell of the power of your awesome works,

and I will proclaim your great deeds.

They will celebrate your abundant goodness

and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

The Lord is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and rich in love.

The Lord is good to all;

he has compassion on all he has made.

All you have made will praise you, O Lord;

your saints will extol you.

They will tell of the glory of your kingdom

and speak of your might,

so that all men may know of your mighty acts

and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is faithful to all his promises

and loving toward all he has made

The Lord upholds all those who fall 

and lifts up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to you,

and you give them their food at the proper time.

You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways

and loving toward all he has made.

The Lord is near to all who call on him,

to all who call on him in truth.

He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;

he hears the cry and saves them.

The Lord watches over all who love him,

but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.

Let every creature praise his holy name

for ever and ever."

David, a man after God's heart.  Boy, I pray that in life I can have a heart like David.  Praying that I can enjoy an intimacy with the Lord that flourishes with resting in the "knowing" of these truths of who he is!  I Love how David praises the Lord for how he is "loving toward all he has made" several times.  Isn't that so true, just like your own Daddy, he wants the very best for you and me!  SO many truths we often forget in the middle of our journey in life, so many times we forget this when we're in the middle of the desert; He hears our cries.  He watches over us.  He lifts up those who have fallen.  He gives to them ...  at the proper time.  He is rich in love, compassionate and gracious.  He is slow to anger.  He is worthy to be praised!  He is faithful to ALL his promises!

Laura Story - Blessings

The Lord gave me this song recently. Our family has been on a great journey for a while. Not just adoption ... that's just one branch, but in total faith dependency each day. We also are walking daily as Doug seeks to follow HIM through running two business's that he started (in the past two years), including "Ground to Cup Coffee". We know God has led us to this place. Every day we ask him to close and open doors. Every day and every month we struggle to see his big picture ... but we KNOW that he continues to push us and this is what he has called him to do. It's been a long journey and some days, I have asked the Lord frankly "when will you bless him"? I don't know if I have ever seen a man work harder and seek him more purely and diligently than my sweet husband.

He reminded me through this song that he may just be blessing us by all the times we have seen him provide, guide, and answer in the small ways. I ask for "blessings" and yet daily he provides for us blessings after blessing. Our adoption is no different. We don't know his timing. We don't know the end of his story. We know he's called us on this journey. But if I have learned one thing about HIM during my first and now second adoption and working within the adoption ministry/community it is this: The Lord wants to be made KNOWN MORE and to KNOW US MORE! That is the blessing!

A new "NAG"

It felt like a harder day than most!  Friday!  For some reason, every Friday my heart races and my stomach is full of knots but this past Friday when the clock hit closing time (for our agency) it felt like I had just had a negative pregnancy test.  Disappointment.  I suppose it's because in my heart I know that it's the last day of the week before an entire long weekend of for sure no news.  But also, from watching the yahoo boards, it seems like referrals often go out on Fridays.  Every Friday my hopes go up just a little.  Every Friday I wonder if maybe, just maybe, that day will be our day.  And, each Friday just keeps getting harder.  Referrals can happen any day of the "work week" ... but Fridays feel the hardest.

We sit in this weird place on the "adoption train" so to speak.  There is an "Unofficial DTE list" on our yahoo that someone on our groups keeps.  It's a list of each family by the day they were DTE (the day their paperwork went to Ethiopia), what their age request is, gender, multiple children etc.  They also have the "on deck" families listed and numbered ... you know, the ones that America World says is anywhere between 1-3 months from getting a referral.   The ones who can "Expect" to be SOON.

We're not on that list ... and will probably never will be.  There's a "2" by our name ... but we still aren't a "top 10".

Why?  Well ...

We're seeking an "older" child.  With that, they tell us their is "no trend history" for referral on older children.  On one of the conference calls they said that those seeking an older child would probably never receive that "on deck" e-mail because well, they don't know when that referral might come.  The wait at the time of that conference call for an infant boy (we are seeking a boy age 3-5) was 4-6 months.  They followed up by saying that "those seeking an older child would be shorter than an infant boy".  That's all they could GUESS ... because, well, really that's all one can do ... GUESS when their is no "trend history".

Why not a trend history?  Well, frankly, because their has to be more "in line" seeking that age to create a "Trend".   Looking down the "List", we are one of the only families seeking a child who is a boy in our age range.

So, here we are, almost 4 months since are paperwork got there.  Just before I left for Ethiopia, my sweet family coordinator who has since moved away did say that their were "very few, if any, families in front of us for a child in our age/gender request".  She followed up by saying "you know what that means in international adoption ... it could be a week or a month".  That was a month and half ago.  Of course, that was also prior to the whole MOWA fiasco slowdown.  A further confusion to the "trend".  Unknown timelines for all parts of this process were further created.

On our yahoo group they do this awesome thing that shows the "NAG" - needs at a glance".  They post families in different stages of the process so people know how to pray.  "top 10 on deck families", "waiting on court", waiting on embassy", "just received referral" etc.  You get the picture.  We also have an awesome community that prays.  I love this part.  It is why I have always loved my agency ... awesome praying and believing families.  So this week, someone sent out the "NAG" and asked if we would pray for each family in those different stages "by name" and then listed them this Sunday night.  I am so honored to do that!

Then I thought ... hmmm, I think their needs to be one more "NEED".  How about the "NAG" for the families that say "Clueless"?  That's us.

Every day someone asks when we'll know.  Every day I wake up and wonder "is today our day"?  Every day my kids go off to school and pray that the announcement will buzz in their classroom and they'll be called to the office because we have promised that we WILL NOT look at Levi's pictures without them.  Every day could be our day.  Every day gets harder.  Man, oh man, do I also have a NEED!

So, I'm praying tonight for all those needs.  BUT, I've added my own column and jotted down a few family names that I see seeking older children.  I have them under the "clueless" or "only God knows" column because if they are anything like me.  They are feeling CLUELESS!  I think after walking this now 2 times (in China you can follow what days China has matched and KNOW if your coming up),  being totally in the "Unknown" is as hard as the journey itself.

I suppose that's why the Lord called me a second time ... and this time ... to a journey that I really cannot have any control over.  He knows my real NEED ... LETTING GO!