Considering the devastation in
the Southern USA, are you wondering how in this
nation you can help? Here
you go:
Operation Save America
-
Salvation Army is helping...
you, can too.
-
PRAY for the people who've
been affected by the
devastation of Hurricane
Katrina.
-
Pray for the relief
efforts---humanitarian aid
and financial assistance for
the region.
-
Pray for the salvation of
the lost and for the people
of this nation to turn to
the LORD.
-
Read a
great
interview with Barbara
Curtis
in The
Choosing Home's September
Newsletter.
-
Slice of
Laodicea
has more links and articles
than you'll likely have time
to read--great site.
-
You
can't help but wonder about
the timing and location of
the hurricane.
Was it an act of God?
The
Welcome Home Blogger is on
a vacation, of sorts, for a bit.
While spending the next
week or so with my family,
I'll be seeking the LORD
for His direction and I'd
like to spend some time
working through a bunch of
notes I've been scribbling
and turn them into some
articles and messages.
So, since you're reading
this: God bless you
and your families ---
and thanks for your
encouragement and prayers.
I'm so grateful for these
and so many other things.
All God's ways are good.
welcome home,
little one.
Our friend's new little son
peering out the window above
Seattle just before sunset.
Wes took this picture of our
friend's boy so that one day
they'd be able to show it to him
when his life story is
recounted. It was a
precious time and an honour for
Wes that he'll never forget. He
says he'd love to go again and
escort other children to their
new family/homes in the US. He's
marvelous with children and
steadfastly trusts in the LORD
enabling him to serve in that
way. I sure ache for Wes when he
tells the stories of the little
orphans and he cries when he
mentions little Olivia. A
piece of his heart is
there---and yet, he knows that
that scene is repeated over and
over throughout the continent of
Africa and elsewhere in the
world. He's quick to avoid
over-romanticizing the situation
because he knows that emotions
really do get in the way of
clear perception and direction.
He's been asked now if he thinks
he wants to go back. He
smiles, he's filled with
emotion---I can tell he cannot "unsee"
what he's seen. I know him,
in that that he doesn't let
sentimentality dictate his
decisions or emotions because, I
guess he sees, as in other
things, that there are
situations there we can do
little or nothing about.
We wait on the LORD and seek to
obey His known commands.
He thinks/I think that's all
anyone should do. I
guess think it's dangerous to
get caught up in things He
hasn't directed or doing things
just because others do. It's
romantic and sweet---------but
God leads people in different
ways on different paths. I
don't mean different paths to
salvation----there is only
One; but different paths in
life... life work, locations,
etc.
PS: Thanks, Timothy, for
the good long talk. bless
you----- ;o)
People are stealing things right
and left from places in
NewOrleans---I guess, thinking
that either they or others will
want what they stole. I
marvel---------water, water
everywhere and not a drop to
drink. Think of all that's
underwater and where it'll all
end up------------------then
consider, for those for whom
this isn't actually affecting
them directly, what people
really want from that area is
gasoline. More gasoline!
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comments: |
Pam, Thank you so much
for sharing your heart
of gratefulness. It
brought me to tears.
Though my "journey"
yesterday was so much
smaller in the grand
scheme of things I am
blessed to share in your
thankfulness. Aaron
started back to school
yesterday, which is a
huge answer to prayer as
a week ago he found out
the school had dropped
him from all his classes
and taken back his
scholarship etc. It's a
long story but God is
worthy of our trust. He
has provided beyond what
we thought possible.
Aaron began yesterday
his final year in
seminary and he was able
to re-register with all
the same classes at the
same times. We have been
humble as we questioned
whether we were really
listening to His voice
and following His
leading and He has
picked us up and set us
back firmly on course.
God is faithful. What a
blessing it is, as you
know so well, to have a
godly husband who
follows the Lord! Thank
you for sharing your
praises~ Emily |
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Em, I hadn't read your
mail when I wrote the
above. And I know you're
commenting on what I'd
written yesterday but I
sure am amazed at how
God is working.
And no, no, nothing is
too small or
insignificant!
And, yes----what He is
going for you is
significant and is
beneficial for the rest
of the body to
hear---all God's ways
are good and His ways
are higher than our
ways. So... I
rejoice with you for He
is blessing and guiding
and writing your story.
I share it here so that
others can see that even
when seemingly
disappointing things
happen, the LORD is
working---working on our
behalf to show Himself
strong on the behalf of
those whose hearts are
turned toward Him.
Thanks for sharing that
encouraging letter.
YES! He is faithful.
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comments: |
Pamela, I am so thankful
that Wes and Troy made
it home safely with the
children! I was able to
feel the emotions you
were experiencing when
you say you were so
alone at night- yet not
alone! That's how I felt
when Chris was in
hospital. And to see
your beloved in the
column of passengers as
if in slow-motion-yet
you can pick out your
beloved! As I can
recognize mine! It is
like reading a love
story- which it is! A
real love story! I used
to think it was just for
romantic novels and
films; now I know it is
real and we both have
experienced it in all
its splendour! Blessed
be the LORD for He is
Love! And praise Him for
giving us both men who
have shown us that depth
of true love. A
beautiful account of
Wes's return. Thank you
for sharing it!
Misty-eyed, Glenys |
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I understand what you
mean, Glenys.
Yes---God is the author
and finisher of our
faith and He is the
author of love stories,
too! Lots of
different love
stories---lover's
stories, family stories,
friend's stories, His
story of salvation and
heaven and all that's in
between. The young
couple---Emily, who
wrote above... that's
another love story that
God's been writing out.
Our friend's who've now
enlarged the circle of
their family with the
two Liberian--now
American :o)
boys---that's another
love story. I'm
sappy enough to have
playing in the
background right now...
and I'm singing
along.... ahem, ahem...
(Louis Armstrong)
"... and I think to
myself... what a
wonderful world." |
I see trees
of green,
red roses
too
I see them
bloom for me
and you
And I think
to myself
what a
wonderful
world.
I see skies
of blue and
clouds of
white
The bright
blessed day,
the dark
sacred night
And I think
to myself
what a
wonderful
world.
The colors
of the
rainbow so
pretty in
the sky
Are also on
the faces of
people going
by
I see
friends
shaking
hands saying
how do you
do
They're
really
saying I
love you.
I hear
babies cry,
I watch them
grow
They'll
learn much
more than
I'll never
know
And I think
to myself
what a
wonderful
world
Yes I think
to myself
what a
wonderful
world.
|
August 31, 2005
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Another day, another thought
With the enormity of the
devastation in the southern US
and the long term effects of
loss of life, damage to homes
and businesses and to the
infrastructure of the city of
New Orleans and surrounding
suburbs, almost all other news
pales in comparison. And
yet, something I've learned over
the years is that no matter how
big someone else's problem or
situation is, whatever "big
thing" one is facing at the
moment is just as important.
I had a friend sort of teach me
that some time ago. When
asked how I was doing (as was
the case many times in that
season of my life, I was nearing
the birth of another child) and
I felt awkward replying to her
knowing that she, herself, was
dealing with years of chronic
illness and accompanying pain.
So, I always felt rather foolish
'complaining" of, or even
mentioning, my deals at the
time. But she shared with
me that whatever is person is
feeling at the time is big to
hem. And so it has been
over the years... I've been able
to realize that no matter how
great or insignificant a
circumstance happens to be for
whoever it's happening to, that
event is: big.
New
Orleans is under
water------------it's nothing
and everything at once. I
considered our friends today...
assimilating two new members
into the family---they've just
come from terrific pain, poverty
and disease. It's nothing
and everything at once.
They're in a new home, new
family, new city, new
country---a whole new life story
has just begun. Their
former life is nothing and
everything. New Orleans is
under water and I am considering
what our friends have to be
doing... to teach little ones
where to lie down and go to the
potty and how to obey(!)
and how to stay in the yard and
get along with new brothers and
sisters. Everything
that's happening is big to the
people it's happening to.
To most everyone else, it's
nothing---though it's everything
at the time to someone else.
Interesting how life goes.
A
year ago I would never have
thought this is how this last
day of August would be spent.
It's a whole new view. But
nothing and everything changes.
|
August 30, 2005
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The Journey...
a time to rejoice
My home is quiet. The
grandchildren are safely back at
their home, our children are
safely tucked in bed in our home
and more: sweeter this
than any other thing: my husband
is safely home... very well,
very tired, very emotional and
now, sound to sleep. I
came out here to the sun room
and no, it isn't sunny in here
at all, but this is where my
desk is and where my view of
everything from the willow tree
outside the windows beside me to
my window-to-the-world through
the screen in front of me.
I needed to come out here to
spend some time alone... to be
quiet, to pray and thank the
LORD. The LORD has
answered my prayers---my husband
is home and our children have
been able to each hug daddy and
praise the LORD with me.
We were able to witness what we
never could have imagined.
Never could we have envisioned
what we experienced today.
I
saw him far off---I can see him
in any crowd; it was surreal.
In the bright long corridor, as
though in slow motion, in
the long procession of
passengers, they appeared to be
walking alone as if out of a
battle---a battle of time and
fatigue and emotion, there
emerged our friend, Troy, and my
husband each holding a Liberian
toddler---one sleeping, one
bleary eyed. None of us
will ever know what that journey
really entailed. A war
rages in the middle east, a
hurricane pounds and destroys
the southern coastline, poverty
and disease ravage the lands of
millions of souls and yet---for
that brief period of time it
seemed to be sort of the
culmination of a triumphal
journey. I hugged my
husband --- crying; relieved and
joyful and amazed. And
then I was overwhelmed to see
our friend the new mother of
this boy so tenderly take her
new son into her arms.
Safely home. Her other
son, too: safely home. Her
husband, safely home. I
know to some, I might be going
to the extreme----but even to
all the others: our friends and
family who were gathered, it was
a poignant moment. We were
all gripped with emotion and
filled with thanks. One
journey had ended; another
journey has just begun. We
were there to witness both and I
guess, that's what I don't ever
want to forget.
I
thank and praise the God who
sees: my El Roi; the LORD who
has seen me in my low estate and
lifted me up and set me on a
Rock---the LORD who saw those
little boys and lifted them up;
the LORD who saw the men and
gave them strength. I
thank and praise my Jehovah
Nissi: the LORD our banner; for
it was of the LORD that my
husband was away---that our
friend was away, and in
the name of the LORD they went
and returned and the LORD was
the banner over them and
surely was the banner over us.
I thank and praise Jehovah Jireh:
for He alone is our provider.
He is our sustainer and
strength. He demonstrated
Himself strong on the behalf of
those whose hearts were turned
to Him and He provided a
way---for the orphan boys in
Liberia... a way of escape---a
hope and a future; shelter and
provision as He promised to
provide---and more than hope:
blessed Hope.
Because I have been too busy
each day but very much alone at
night and for some reason unable
to sleep, I feel as though I've
been in a "night valley."
Very alone, but never alone.
Each day I marveled at God's
presence and provision. I
marveled at the gamut of
emotion.
I
thank and praise my LORD, El
Elyon: the Most High God
–
Sovereign over all. psalm
91 has been my prayer and my
meditation all the days... I see
this more, now: " Because
he hath set his love upon me,
therefore will I deliver him: I
will set him on high, because he
hath known my name. "
Psalm 91.14
He had indeed given His angels
charge over us all to keep us in
all our ways. Whenever I
called upon Him, he heard me and
delivered me. I did dwell
in the secret place of the most
high and did abide under the
shadow of the Almighty. He
did cover me and I under His
wings I did trust.
My friend trusted the LORD with
and for her family just as I
trusted Him with and for mine.
Two men. One journey.
Two missions---but One purpose.
I think of all this tonight.
Our story ends here. My
husband is safely home...
resting after being on the go
for 46 hours. He is home,
this journey ends. And
then I consider our friends.
Troy... home, likely resting
after being on the go for 46
hours. He is home and now
their journey begins.
I
am so thankful tonight. So
grateful to God---grateful that
I know Him---grateful that He is
so merciful. My all in
all. I take the cup
of salvation and say: O, thank
you. and, again I
pray to the Most High God... as
we sang on Sunday, I sing this
now:
Take my life and
let it be
Consecrated Lord
to thee
Take my hands
and let them
move
At the impulse
of Thy love
At the impulse
of Thy love
Take my feet and
let them be
Swift and
beautiful for
Thee
Take my voice
and let me sing
Always only for
my King
Always only for
my King
Take my lips and
let them be
Filled with
messages for
Thee
Take my silver
and my gold
Not a mite would
I withhold
Not a mite would
I withhold
Take my love, my
God I pour
At Thy feet its
treasure store
Take myself and
I will be
Ever only all
for Thee
Ever only all
for Thee
Take my life and
let it be
Consecrated Lord
to Thee
Take myself and
I will be
Ever, only, all
for Thee
Ever, only, all
for Thee
And maybe some pictures.
After while. Now it's time
to rest. Here are a few
links that might be of interest
if you are wondering about
adoption or about helping with
the work in Liberia and
elsewhere.
http://www.wacsn.org
West African Children Support
Network
http://www.acresofhope.com/
Acres of Hope
http://acfinet.org
African Children Fellowship
International
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blog entry
|
August 29, 2005
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It's anniversary time again...
and we are blessed to be able to
watch the grandchildren as
Daniel surprised Tara by taking
her to
Leavenworth for their
seventh anniversary.
We love to go there---even
driving through is a sweet
experience---it's nice to see
the dramatic seasonal changes in
the surrounding area.
Attention to detail and
authenticity make the Bavarian
village a real treat to visit
and look around. There're
many lovely places --hotels, B &
B's, etc., to stay and great
authentic places to dine, too,
and I imagine it's made even
more special to Tara because it
reminds her of Germany, where
her mothers' family lives.
I love to eat at a fabulous
authentic Mexican food place
there----I know, I know...
authentic Bavarian. Wha...?
Well, speaking of Mexican---and
I was ;-) the other night I
was saying to Timothy---too bad
you don't have any horchatta and
he exclaimed, "O, you don't
know, you don't know! I found
some!" It seems that
Timothy has found a place on
Catalina that sells horchatta
(sweet rice water) in half
gallon containers. He told
me he drinks it all the time.
He was missing Mexico something
fierce, but finding the
horchatta was very satisfying to
him---even still, I imagine he'd
still like to be heading to
South America---but alas, he
suffers on the boat at Catalina.
He says it's tough, but someone
has to do it. ;-)
What in the world is the time?
...that's just what I was
wondering when I was studying
Wes's itinerary for his travel
home. Little dolly was
weeping for daddy to come home
and the others were wondering
just how long it would take.
So I visited the
Time and Date site to
figure out that he was seven
hours ahead in Liberia, but is
now nine hours ahead in
Brussels, and that he'll be two
hours ahead in Chicago---and,
well, right on time here
tonight!!
|
A cuppa
antioxidants, please
 I just knew I
felt better Sunday
morning after
drinking the
Starbuck's mocha
Kathryn brought home
for me. Little
did I know that the
cuppa coffee was
not simply emotional
uplifting, but
packed a health
benefit, too.
You know me... I'll
make these necessary
sacrifices for
healthy living!
So, here you go...
go ahead and gulp
down your
barleygreen-wheatgrass-spirulina
green-drink and then
be sure and get your
antioxidants from
Starbuck's;
now
coffee is supposedly
rich in antioxidants.
I chuckled as I read
that---especially
considering that
dark chocolate has
also boasts health
benefits, Starbuck's
stock probably just
shot up.
And speaking of
prices shooting
up---wow! gasoline
over $70 per barrel!
Yikes! Filling
the tank is going to
get pretty exciting
at this rate.
But isn't it funny:
I occasionally pay
$3. for 16 ounces of
coffee---really a
party in a cup---and
really don't balk
that much, but I get
pretty worried about
paying $3. per
gallon of gas.
Reality really
strikes home when I
consider that I'll
balk at paying $3. a
gallon for gasoline
and yet, a
Starbuck's mocha
costs $24. a gallon.
Bet the thought of
that makes Howard
Schultz smile.
All the way to the
bank.
|
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August 28, 2005
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Hey Timothy!
We're missing you!
|
Here's
a slice for you---we
missed you at the
fair!
|
|
Kathryn, Samuel and
Hannah had been
working out at Camp
Gilead this past
week. |
Larissa and Hannah
at the Fair last
night.
Yummy! Blue
cotton candy mouths! |
Glad to have a few of the
olders back home.
Missing our daddy. No
mails from him tonight.
Received this mail today...
gives you a glimpse of the
heart of a daddy and the
anguish of being in Liberia.
This, from our friend:
"All -
Words cannot describe this
country's poverty. It
is only made bearable by the
smiles and laughter of those
children around us. It's
been a long day due to
the extreme humidity, the
death of the little lamb,
the other baby that is now
in the Firestone hospital
and the other sick babies.
We've heard another little
lamb is burning up. The
doctors didn't know how the
first one died...
[-snip-] ...Please
pray for:
1. The other baby to be
released from the Firestone
hospital so it can make it
out of the country. This
climate has got to just
breed disease due to the
temperature, humidity, no
clean water, etc.
2. The other children would
all behave well. Pray the
intestinal systems would
hold out.
3. We all get on the plane
tomorrow.
4. Strength for Ernest who
is an amazing man who keeps
this place, 3 orphanages, 4
feeding areas and some more
stuff that I couldn't really
pick out from the pigeon
English of others. He has 63
workers under his guidance.
5. Wes / Troy - Patience,
humor and strength by the
bucketfuls.
Thank you dear Saints. Troy"
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August 27, 2005
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I
knew my husband would face grief
and heartache, that he would be
stretched greatly in the very
short stay in Liberia, I knew it
would grip his heart to face the
trials we'd already heard
about... but I was unprepared to
read his first 'broadcast' email
home... this first portion
confirmed to me a bit of why he
is there. I know some are
wondering why he'd do this---I
know---but he just had to go...
From Wes...
i
don't know how much time i've
got, but i'll type as long as i
have and then see what/when i
can again.
it's about 7am, their time, sat.
morn., and most of us are up.
the latest thing around here is
that another family from iowa,
who we met last night, has just
found out that one of their sick
babies has died
in the night.
and i was just told by the owner
of this laptop i'm borrowing to
send this out, that he and
ernest (the 'director' of sorts
around here) and probably the
family need now to go down town
to the
'office' and bring the baby in
to certify it's dead. this young
mid/late 30's family has 5
children of their own at home,
and is here to adopt 4 more, two
young girls <5, and the two
babies. i guess the staff are
struggling to know what to do
since the other baby is also
quite sick with the same thing.
I
read further, still trying to
take in what I'd just read...
everything
has gone real well. where i
thought i should be concerned
about the airlines bringing us
in here, they were actually far
more professional, kind and
generous than american air!!!
even though we
were in the econo class, the
treatment was really deluxe!
flight went as usual, and we've
had very little turbulence.
touched down on this air field,
and boy, you could sure tell we
had entered a more primitive
area. the "airport" really
looked like something you'd see
in one of those movies detailing
african poverty, cuz it seemed
to be crumbling while we stood
there. once outside, we noted
the building next door, 3
stories, was only a shell, like
something under construction
that only had the posts and
floors up. well, on the second
level, there were sandbags piled
up and a machine gun placement
with a couple UN guys manning
it. i got pictures of the
airport from the plane, but
didn't have my camera out until
we got off the property.
And then, a
description of their ride to
their accommodations...
a young,
good looking guy named fred met
us and guided us through, first
'entry'/visa inspection, and
then waiting for our bags, which
all came through just fine. then
another guy helped us load them
on a cart, and then we were just
whisked around customs and out
the door. we got in a van and a
couple other guys took off, and
i sure was wondering what was
next since fred was no longer
with us. turns out these guys
were taking us somewhere, so off
and down the only paved road in
the country (i think) ending up
after about 20 min. in a town i
think was monrovia. nice
straight road, but we did have
to slow from 50mph to 2mph
occasionally to go over some
potholes in the road. i think
they had to tear a spot out to
fix a small bridge, and so the
repair was dirt, quite prone to
potholes. that happened lots of
times. the rest of the times,
the problems were more related
to one side of the road, so we
just drove on the other side,
hoping the oncoming cars would
wait for us. actually, our
driver, an older man, was very
cautious, honking when we were
within a couple hundred feet of
a pedestrian who was also
using the road, and especially
honking at all oncoming cars.
lots of times debris was strewn
in t
This
is my blography - simply
my personal thoughts;
this blog is
just a small part or
purpose of this website.
The chief aim of this
site is to bring glory
to God and good food of
His Word to families.
May each visit fill you
with fresh bread and
lingering words to
savor.
because of Him, I'm a help-meet
for my husband, the mother of
eleven children and a
daughter-in-law and happy gramma
to three. I share slices of
life because of what God is
doing and has done --- and with
the hope
of being an encouragement to others
to press on toward the mark
(Philippians 3.14)