Bring Love In

The following post comes from our dear friends over at "This Grace Filled Life"

Hello Friends!
We would love for you to take 5 minutes to click on the above link and watch the video before you read the rest of this email.  :)



Bring Love In - Uniting widows and orphans to create new families in Ethiopia from Levi Benkert on Vimeo.
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Ok...So, thank you for taking the time to watch the Benkerts share about the ministry Bring Love In, in Ethiopia. 

We are really excited to tell you that Levi and Jesse Benkert will be here in Lancaster on September 15th to tell you more about this really amazing ministry.  They are traveling around the country to bring awareness about the needs of widows and orphans in Ethiopia and the concept (now becoming reality) of placing orphans into the care of Christian widows to receive the love of family.  After being in Ethiopia, and seeing the great need for better solutions to Ethiopia's orphan crisis, we were overjoyed when we discovered this ministry. 

If you are reading this, and are located close enough to Lancaster County, PA, we would really LOVE for you to attend the Bring Love in event to hear more, see more and be inspired and challenged more as to how God could use You to care for orphans in Ethiopia. 

Here are the details:
When:  Saturday, September 15 at 3:00 pm
Where: Lancaster Bible College Private Dining Room
What:  Enjoy samples of Ethiopian food, Ethiopian coffee (and American dessert...:)
          See items and pictures from the Ethiopian Culture
          And...hear amazing stories of God's leading and redemption from the cofounders of Bring Love In, Levi and Jesse Benkert

You Must RSVP for this event.  You can email Rebekah at gregandrebekah at hotmail dot com

Here is the website for Bring Love In - See for yourself:  CLICK HERE 

New Mission

"Hello! Please click on my picture"

Yes, need to make time to update the blog...

Yes, an Update is Long Overdue...

... Stay tuned for a joyous update on the "next chapter" coming "soon"...

In the meantime..."greetings" from Mila and Yana...

"Make 5" and Watch

Please make 5 minutes of your time to click on this link and watch the video posted by our sister in Christ Alla from the Bible Orphan Ministry team.

As you look at the faces of these children and young adults, consider that many of them are not available for adoption.  Let us give praise to the Lord that they are able to receive His Truth that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the love and care brother Misha and the BOM team bring to these orphans. 

Galatians 5:13-14

¹³ For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ¹⁴ For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Yana's Surgery Update 6 - Home

Praise the Lord!

Stephanie and Yana arrived home Tuesday evening just before 7pm. 

Last ECHO check showed no issues with heart function.  She will go back to A.I. Dupont Hospital next week for a follow-up check with the surgeon.

It is a joy to have them home...

Check out my bed-head

Colossians 3:12-17

¹² Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³ bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴ And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Yana's Surgery Update 5 - Homeward Bound?

Praise the Lord!

In a previous post, I mentioned that the earliest Yana would be released would be Wednesday (tomorrow).  Well, it look like God may have other plans...

Due to Yana's continued "smooth" recovery (Praise the Lord!), it is looking like she could be released today!  She has been eating and drinking, and her heart function is looking great (Praise the Lord!)...

Here are a couple videos from yesterday showing our beautiful daughter who has been given a new "lease on life" by God's Grace!

Yana's Surgery Update 4 - Almost "Out of the Woods"

Thank you to those who continue to pray!

Yesterday, Yana got moved from ICU. to a “regular” room.  All of her tubes, including the IV, have been removed.  This is a praise considering the discomfort and confusion it gives to any 4 year old…

Here is a picture of her cage; uh, I mean crib…

Yana has, understandably, battled some irritability and was rejecting food an liquids a good part of yesterday.  She had periods, some lasting hours, where all she did was cry.  Steph eluded to this period being the toughest and most stressful.  I reassured her that her presence there with Yana was doing more than she could maybe see right at that moment.

Well, today I received this update:

“I dolled Yana up and took her for several strolls around the unit.  She loved it.  I love her!  Then, she ate an entire package of cream of wheat.  Also, had 4 oz. Juice.  Yippee!”

We were able to have a video Skype session where the boys and I got to see Yana sitting in a chair playing with her pin wheel.  Steph said she even let out a couple smiles…

Regarding Yana’s release, the medical team stated that the earliest would be Wednesday, but we are prepared for it to carry into next weekend.  Her recovery so far is progressing well; yet, I still solicit your prayers as she continues to recover.  Please consider these prayer items…

May it be the Lord’s Will that:

(1)  Yana’s pain management allows her to sleep well.

(2)  Yana continues to eat and drink, as this will keep her from having the IV put back in.
(3)  Yana draws closer to her mother for comfort and companionship
(4)  Stephanie is able to rest well.
(5)  Yana is able to be discharged from the hospital on Wednesday.
(6)  Yana does not withdraw at her homecoming; that she continues to progress within her family.

Blessings to you all!

P.S.  Meanwhile, Mila is enjoying the attention and interaction with her brothers; here is an example (taken on iPhone):

Yana's Surgery Update 3 - God's Common Grace

Praise the Lord!

I am praising the Lord for His Common Grace; specific to Yana's surgery, I am thankful for His Grace as revealed in the gifts He bestows upon:

• Doctors
• Nurses
• Other Hospital staff
• Engineers who design/build the medical equipment
• The volunteers and staff involved at the Ronald McDonald House
• My company which helps provide my family with health insurance
• all of the prayer warriors out there (He knows who you are)

Yana is over the first major hurdle - the surgery.  In short, the surgical team was able to do the repair they sought out to do.

Cool, calm, and collected right up until surgery time

She isn’t “out of the woods” yet, but this is obviously a huge answer to prayer regarding the heart repair.  Yana will be in ICU (pictured below) for the next few days, and will be fully sedated for at least a couple days…

Stephanie has had many encouraging things to say about the hospital staff and the Ronald McDonald House.  I am comforted to know they both are in good hands; especially His Good hands.  Amen?

Yana's Surgery Update 2 - Faith Like a Child

Well, the Lord's Will was done regarding Stephanie and Yana's safe arrival to the hospital.  Yesterday's agenda included performing all of the pre-op items; e.g., Echocardiography, meeting with the anesthesiologist, and some other diagnostic checks to make sure Yana was healthy enough for surgery.

In summary, the main feedback I received from Stephanie yesterday was about how cheerful Yana was; how cooperative, giggly and happy she seemed (except for a brief period when she came out of sedation required to do the ECHO). 

Once all of the pre-op work was completed, they then went to check-in at the Ronald McDonal House, where they enjoyed a nice volunteer-provided dinner and a private room to get some sleep and prepare for the Thursday 615am appointment to prep Yana for surgery.

As I write this, Yana is in surgery.  May the Lord's Will be that the gifts He has blessed the surgical team with be used effectively to repair Yana's heart condition.

More to come; stay tuned...

Yana's Surgery Update 1 - Prayer Requests

If you read Stephanie's post from February 25th, you will recall her mentioning Yana's upcoming surgery.

Well, this morning, Yana and Stephanie left for Nemours/Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children, located in Wilmington, DE (http://www.nemours.org/about/location/nchaidhc.html).  Yana will be having surgery tomorrow to repair a heart defect known as Atrioventricular Canal (AV Canal or AVC).  You can read about this condition @ http://www.lpch.org/DiseaseHealthInfo/HealthLibrary/cardiac/avc.html.  The expected hospital stay is 7-10 days.

We had known of Yana having a heart condition before the adoption; albeit we did not know the specific condition and its severity.  We are praising God that He ordained us to become her parents, and that He has blessed us with the ability to have her condition treated properly.  God is Good!

His timing is also perfect; as Yana’s condition would eventually have proven fatal, and the likelihood being small that she would have been given further treatment in her birth country.

Would you please consider lifting my household up in prayer? 

I have listed some specific prayer items; I am certain that many, many other items exist that I am not thinking of at the moment. 

May it be the Lord’s Will that:

(1)  they safely arrive to the hospital. [as I write this, Steh just called me to say they made it to the hospital!]

(2)  Yana survives the surgery, and that the doctors are able to fully repair Yana’s heart

(3)  Yana’s recovery has no complications

(4)  Yana realizes the presence of her mother and is comforted by Stephanie's presence.

(5)  Stephanie is able to be comforted and encouraged through His Word, prayer, and being able to communicate with her entire family (church and us).

(6)  for the Fruit of the Spirit to be evident in my behavior as I play “Mr. Mom” during the time Stephanie and Yana are gone.

(6)  this trial draw our household even closer to the Lord and each other.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Our Beautiful Daughter - Yana Kathleen

The court decree naming Corey and me parents of Yana became official January 23.  We took her out of the institution two days later, and she's been with us ever since.

She is such a beautiful giggle box!

The first day we met Yana we were told that she had open heart surgery at thirteen months of age, and might need future surgery.  We were also informed that she took a daily heart medication.  The day before we left her birth country we received a translated copy of a cardiology report dictated November 2011.  After reading this report, I knew her initial surgery didn't correct her heart defect, and the surgery was for something different than what was told to us (or at least lost through translation).

Four days after arriving home, I took Yana for an evaluation with a pediatric cardiologist.  An echo cardiogram was performed and it revealed her heart defect to be "AV Canal".  This defect is a combination of several abnormalities in the heart, and is present at birth.  Her initial surgery didn't correct this defect, but without it she currently would be inoperable if she were still alive.  We praise God that she had this initial procedure performed.

On March 1, I will take our beautiful daughter to have this defect corrected.  We are so thankful for her life, and thank God for taking us to her.  She would have sat in the institution and died from this defect.  We are grateful to have an outstanding team of doctors, nurses, etc. to care for her during this time.  I will be with her during the entire hospital stay, and Corey will stay behind to care for precious little Mila (more about her in a future post) and our other children.

No words can describe the joy in watching her blossom.  She is quickly coming out of her shell, and it feels like she's always been part of our family.  Please pray for her and our family during the next couple of weeks.  Pray that it is God's will for her to survive the surgery, and to have a speedy recovery.  Also, please pray for little Mila as I will need to be away from her 7-10 days.

Too Cute For Words!

Double Trouble

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

How "Radical" is our Christian Sacrifice??

Hebrews 10: 32-36

³² But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, ³³ sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. ³⁴ For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. ³⁵ Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. ³⁶ For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.



If you have been following this blog, you may recall me mentioning the Bible Orphan Ministry.  Stephanie and I were blessed with the opportunity to spend time with them during our mission to Ukraine.  This is a group of brothers and sisters that many of us, I am certain, can learn from regarding Christian service.  They have faced many trials during their service; recently, they experienced a pretty large trial - you can read about it by going here. 

There is much more to this story, but I am not a liberty to share.  What I can say is that their recent trials have made me consider the passage above and others related to the topic of what Kingdom service is and how obedient am I with regard to what my Father in Heaven commands. 

Please visit their blog, and learn about how they serve the Lord.
Pray for them...
Donate to their Kingdom work...
Contact them and encourage them...


So, ask yourself, "How radical is my Christian sacrifice?"  Do not compare yourself to other Chrisitans; compare your service against what God commands.  I commend the following message to you.  Yes, it is 65 minutes long, but isn't being subjected to Truth worth every second? 

I place the video below, but you can also go here to view it




Hebrews 12:1-2

¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

If You Were Mine Adoption Workshop

If you are what you consider to be an acceptable driving distance from Lancaster County, PA, and you want to learn more about adoption, then this is for you:

Greetings Everyone!

 

Please give prayerful consideration in helping us support the following event. How can you help?

 

(1) PRAY that the Lord would use this workshop to raise up His Children to serve His Kingdom with regard to the orphan.

 

(2) Consider the following questions, and consider attending this workshop (for those local to our home area)!

 

· Is adoption part of God's plan for your family?

· Do you know what God's Word says about Him being the Author of Adoption?

· What are God's expectations for His children (the Church) regarding care for the orphan/fatherless?

· What questions should you ask in choosing an adoption agency?

· What financing options are available?

· What paperwork is involved with the process?

· What can you expect once you bring your child(ren) home?

 

'If You Were Mine' is a DVD based workshop created by Hope for Orphans that explores the 8 basic steps of the adoption process.

 

Come join us for this two-day workshop as we explore what God wants us to do in response to His call to care for orphans. Through this biblical and practical video workshop, we’ll learn the processes, challenges, and joys of adoption. It’s a workshop you’ll not want to miss.

 

When:

Fri, 02/17/2012 - 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Sat, 02/18/2012 - 8:30am - 4:15pm

 

Where:

Lancaster Evangelical Free Church (LEFC)

419 Pierson Road

Lititz, PA 17543

 

Friday check-in begins at 6:30 pm

Saturday check-in begins at 8:30 am (only necessary for families who did not check in on Friday evening)

 

For more information and to register, please go to:

http://www.team127.com/if-you-were-mine-workshop-2012

 

 

EE MIssion Day 57 - HOME !!!!!!!!!

Well, the plans were all set.  We had the travel Visas for Mila and Yana, we had out flights booked, we had our pickup at the airport arranged.  All was in place to arrive home Friday, 2/3. 

That was not how it worked out.  The Lord had ordained a different itinerary home.  Let me just say that we got dropped off at the airport Friday morning at 330am (Thursday, 8pm US Eastern Time), and did not touch down at Philadelphia International Airport until 330pm US Eastern Time SATURDAY.

Here is a description of what happened:

(1)  During the last 10 days of our stay, Ukraine was hit with severe cold temperatures; we're talking minus 20 to minus 30 degrees Celsius.  The day of our flight, it hit -33 C at the airport; it was -28 C when we arrived.

(2)  Apparently, the type of de-icer that the Lufthansa Airbus fleet uses is rated to somewhere between -25C and -28C.  Any colder, and it is not effective.

(3)  During our drive to the airport, we already knew that the flight was delayed (due to the cold temperatures) until 730am.  No sweat, right; our 5.5 hour layover in Frankfurt was now reduced to 3.5 hours.  Still enough time...

Once again, the Lord blessed us with the opportunity to spend time at the terminal with other American RR families.  Admittedly, I sometimes take this for granted.  I praise God for the opportunity to repent of this attitude.  Being able to have support from other brothers and sisters is something we should NEVER take for granted.  Amen?

(4)  The "delayed until 0730" turned into the "delayed until 0930".  Uh oh, our layover "time budget" is at a danger level.

(5)  The "delayed until 0930" turned into the "delayed until 1030".  Hmmm; maybe they can hold the plane to Philly???

(6)  The "delayed until 1030" turned into the "delayed until 1130".  Okay; we just lost the PHL flight.  Okay; there is a flight to Dulles that leaves at 1700; maybe we can get booked on that one.  Just get me out of Kiev, please

(7)  Check in starts (Praise the Lord the flight was not cancelled); after the controlled chaos of getting through passport control and security, we get to terminal waiting area. 

(8)  We don't start boarding until closer to noon.  We get in our seats, and start taxiing to runway.  Part of the pre-takeoff check is to rev up the engines.  During this check, a malfunction is detected in the right engine.  We proceed back to tarmac parking spot for troubleshooting.  Fortunately, we are told to stay on plane.

(9)  Plane is checked out, re-fueled, and taxis back to runway for engine check.  If it passes, we go; if, not, we head back to terminal.  At this point, the people around me must have heard me praying out loud.

(10)  Engine check PASSES (Praise the Lord!).  It is now 3pm, but we finally take off.  Looks like we are spending a night in Frankfurt.

I must interject here that Lufthansa's flight attendant service was excellent.  There was one woman in particular that kept talking with Stephanie, provided us with baby food and comforting words.

(11)  Before landing, Lufthansa announced the flights that had been re-booked.  Our flight to Philly was rebooked for Saturday (US Air 701 leaving 1245pm).  They also announced that hotel vouchers were being provided.

One wrinkle here; Mila and Yana are not yet American citizens; they are Ukrainian citizens who do not have a travel Visa to Germany; only to USA.  Technically, they cannot leave the terminal.  This means spending the night in the transit area of the terminal.  NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Again, must interject a note about Lufthansa customer service.  After getting to Frankfurt, we are directed to their service counter.  The man helping us, after hearing our pleas about our daughters needs, explains to me that the Federal Polizei (Police) can offer 1 day visas for the girls, since we as their parents can leave the terminal.  He walks over to the police station and brings one of the officers over to us to talk to us.  PRAISE THE LORD, yet again.

(12)  After about a 90 minute wait (getting our new ticket, filling our the forms for the girls' one day visa, and waiting for the visa to be processed), we leave the airport with hotel voucher in hand!

(13)  We arrive at hotel about 8pm Frankfurt time (18 hours after leaving our apartment in Kyiv).  My description of this hotel is it is like an oasis in the middle of a desert.  We are able to get a good meal in, a good 7 to 8 hours sleep, a shower Saturday AM, and breakfast before heading back to Frankfurt airport. 

Part of my thoughts went to those that could not leave the terminal.  It made me even more aware of the fact that we did not deserve to get to this hotel.  This was yet again an act of Grace and Mercy from the Lord...

(14)  We get to US Air check in counter about 1015am Saturday morning.  Our boarding passes have the 4 of us kind of split up; 2 are next to each other, but the other 2 are separated.  I explain to customer service rep that this will not work, for somewhat obvious reasons.  She tells me to see cust service rep at gate check-in to have them changed.

(15)  I arrive at gate check in and explain that we need seats changed.  Agent tells me that flight is "full",  but they have some blocked seats (then it is not really full, is it?) and they will do what they can.  She tells me to wait where we are sitting and someone will come to us with an update.

(16)   After about a 45 minute wait (about 15 minutes before flight is supposed to start boarding, a woman from US air comes over to us and hands me a new set of boarding passes.  Row 13, the 4 seats in the middle.  Just what I was hoping for; 4 seats in the middle...

Once again, another act of Grace and Mercy from the Lord.  What did I do to deserve to have these seats changed?  Absolutely nothing...

(17)  Flight takes off on time.  After about 8.5 hours in the air, we land at PHL airport. 

(18)  We proceed to US passport control.  After waiting about 10-15 minutes, we hand over the passports and the special brown envelopes to USCIS agent.  He walks us to secondary interview room, and tells us that he will put us at the front of the line to minimize our wait.

Once again, another act of Grace and Mercy from the Lord. What did I do to deserve getting moved to the front of the line? Absolutely nothing...

(19)  We wait only about 15 minutes; I am called up front to receive the girls passports that are now stamped.  This means they are now US citizens and we are told we are free to go.

(20)  We proceed, now with a new burst of energy, to baggage claim.  I get luggage cart and wait only about 10 minutes to grab all 4 of our bags, which are intact.

(21)  We proceed to custom officer who takes our pre-completed declaration form; he immediately tells us to move along.

(22)  We now walk the 100 yards of so to the International Arrival Hall in search of our church family members who offered to pick us up.  They snapped a few pics...

One of the few times Steph walked faster than me...

Hmmm; I wonder what is causing me to smile?

I never realized how beautiful the American flag was until seeing it at PHL airport

(23)  One of the many lessons learned on this adoption mission was just how much I yearned to be "home".  It makes me think, however; do I really yearn for my true home?  Not the temporal place I call home in Pennsylvania; my REAL home.  The place being prepared for me by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Our Heavenly Dwelling

¹ For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ² For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, ³ if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. ⁴ For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

⁶ So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, ⁷ for we walk by faith, not by sight. ⁸ Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

EE Mission Day 54 - Jumping Ahead to the Blessed Part

Yes, we have much of the story to be told yet, but I wanted to post this now...

We Are Now Free To Move Out of the Country...

...No; that is not Southwest’s slogan, that is my new slogan for what these pictures represent:

These mean that we can honor our booked flights for Friday and “get outta Dodge!”

 

56 days….2 flights, 8 overnight train rides, 11 apartments, 4 different drivers, 2 weeks of Metro subway rides, dozens of orphanage visits….all this and more to bring our daughters home.  Worth every second; worth every penny…

DON 'T LET ANYONE BUT US IMMIGRATION OPEN THIS!

PRAISE THE LORD!

Thank you all that have participated in His Kingdom work of ordaining these girls to become part of the Kimble Household.  We will be spending many days of our remaining life here pondering all that occurred.  There are many stories to tell, and more yet to be told with regard to how God may use us to be a Witness for Him in Ukraine.

Please continue to pray for strength, good health (for us and all of our children and caregiving families), good flying weather, safe aircraft, on-time flights, quick ride through immigration and customs, and a safe ride back to Lititz…

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

EE Mission Day 46 - Quick update

Many of you are probably wondering where we are at.  We have had poor internet access since being back in Kathleen's region, and can only pick up a signal with Corey's computer.  He is on his computer most of the time working.

We are finishing up paper work today and tomorrow for Kathleen (Yana).  I am feeling very much out of my comfort zone today.  Corey is traveling to Yana's birth town today to obtain a new birth certificate, tax ID number, etc. 

Entrance to Government office for Birth Certificate Records

Tomorrow, I will travel to the capital city of this region, with Yana (2 hours away), for her passport.  We don't like being seperated in this manner, but feel it's in the best interest of Mila. 

Mila started with a fever yesterday, and I am very concerned for her.  Please continue to lift us up in prayer.  We have been feeling down and weary this past week, and know that this gives no glory to our Father in heaven.  We have been in country 6 1/2 weeks, and are hoping/praying to come home 2/1.  We continue to praise God for bringing us to these beautiful girls. 

Sorry this is so short.  We have so much to share, but it's difficult to do at this time.

EE Mission Days 41 thru 45 - Quick Summary

Here is a summary of days 41 through 45; during the last week spent in Yana's Kathleen's region:

01/19/2012 (Day 41) - We took our 7th train ride from Mila's region to Yana's region.  Train left at 0730 and arrived at 1650.  We were not able to get the same apartment that we had the first two trips here; thanks to another RR family beating us there ;-)

Mila did very well for her first train ride

01/20/2012 (Day 42) - Finally got back to see Yana (no more leaving this city without her).  Since we had Mila, and did not want to take her to the orphanage, Stephanie and I took turns visiting Yana.

Meanwhile, Mila was getting acquainted with yet another apartment.

01/21/2012 (Day 43) thru 01/23/2012 (Day 45) - Continued our rotation of visits with Yana; with Mila hanging out waiting for the day her sister would arrive.

Yana trying on her winter coat

"What other toys you got in there?"

Mila practicing interaction with a "pretend sister".

EE Mission Days 36 thru 40 - Quick Summary

So, where were we....

We apologize for the gap in posting.  We have been focusing our time between getting acclimated to Mila Gayle, visiting Yana Kathleen and preparing for her "Gotcha Day", as well as communicating with family back home.

Here is a summary of days 36 through 40; the last spent in Mila Gayle's region:

01/14/2012 (Day 36) - Spent the day indoors getting acquainted with Mila, and letting her adjust to her new surroundings.

01/15/2012 (Day 37) - Enjoyed some fellowship with the Eubanks; they brought pizzas over to enjoy with us...

01/16/2012 (Day 38) thru 01/18/2012 (Day 40) - We spent this time getting to know Mila; her likes and dislikes regarding food, toys, and interaction with us. 

Yes, she is picky about eating certain foods.  Yes, she dislikes her teeth being brushed.  Yes, she fights naps.  Yes, she throws a tantrum when she doesn't get her way about something.  Sounds pretty typical to me for a toddler...

With that said, the evidences of Grace abound in her.  She enjoys being held and gives nice squeeze hugs.  She blesses us with her smiles and quiet giggles.  She amuses us with what may be deemed "babbling"; but I think it is her attempt to vocalize and communicate.  She has been a trooper during our car rides; where the motion seems to comfort her.

Over these days, her resistance to baths has diminished; she has started splashing and playing while in the tub having soothing warm water poured over her body.  She moves around alot during sleep, but has started snuggling up against me when restless.

I call this the beginning of her coming out of her "orphanage shell".  She has received, and will continue to receive certain liberties in life that she would have never been given as an orphan.

It makes me think about the liberties we have as Christians.  We are constantly making decisions about whether to pursue Godliness or ungodliness.  As Chrsitians, what a blessing to know we CAN make that choice; that is true liberty.  And just like little Mila Gayle, we sometimes choose to resist and rebel against the love of our Father.

James 1: 19-27  - Hearing and Doing the Word 

¹⁹ Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; ²⁰ for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. ²¹ Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

²² But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. ²⁴ For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. ²⁵ But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
²⁶ If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

EE Mission Day 35 - Meeting Mila's Birthparents

When we arrived back in Mila Gayle's region to finalize her adoption paperwork, our facilitator mentioned to us that Mila's birth parents desired to meet us.  This was something that, although we had heard of and read about from other families, did not really expect to happen to us.  With that said, we told her we were open to meeting them.

When we had our first meeting with Mila ("known as "Gayle" then) back on 12/14/2011, some of  her life story was shared with us:

(1)  She was the second child of her birth parents; has an older sister.
(2)  When her parents heard of her DS diagnosis, she was brought to the orphanage, but her parents continued to visit her for the first year.
(3)  After the first year, when instructed of what Gayle's care needs were going to be, her parents decided to leave her there.  The visitations stopped.

Hearing this brief outline of a 3+ year story left us pondering some "why" questions:

• Why would they stop visiting her?  Was this some kind of rule linked to them giving up parental rights?
• Why would they now desire to see her and meet her adoptive parents?

Simple questions; yet I am certain the answers are far more complex.  It is easy to speculate answers, but the danger can include an ungodly judgement of people.  So, as I reviewed our prayer journal, this line item stood out:

That through the adoption journey, our witness to those "neighbors" we encounter advances (not hinders) the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our facilitator confirmed that when we returned to the orphanage Friday, to sign some final documents and present the donation from Mila's bank account, that we would meet not only her parents, but her (maternal) grandparents...

So, Friday came; we drove over to the orphanage with Mila.  Our facilitator said that she could have lunch there; so as we were walking up to her OLD groupa room, there they were - her birth parents and grandparents...

To make a long story short, the meeting with them was a bittersweet blessing.  We could see the sadness in their faces as they provided us with gifts for her - some clothing, a baby doll, a snowsuit, and her gold Cross necklace from her Baptism. 

I noticed the sadness and shame in her mother's face as she explained to us (through our facilitator who translated) about how, in her country, they just do not know how to properly care for children like her.  Now, that is an easy comment to judge; yet, I am convinced that this is simply how this culture views "special needs" children.  Also, I do not think the good ole USA has it all together, either; with respect to the role of family and how to best disciple a child (notice I said disciple, not just teach).  You can agree or disagree with me on that comment...

Yet, we also experienced the comfort of knowing that they were very very happy that she had a new family that would be able to provide her the proper love and care.  They wanted to take pictures with us.  They asked if we would be willing to stay in touch with them, via Skype, regarding Mila's progress when she is home with us.  Remember the prayer journal line item mentioned earlier:

That through the adoption journey, our witness to those "neighbors" we encounter advances (not hinders) the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We agreed to make contact once we get home and settled.  I pray and hope that doing so will be used by God to draw this family closer to the Lord...

As we prepared to depart, I remember seeing something that will stick with me for a while.  Mila's birth mother gave Mila one last hug and kiss, and then walked over to Stephanie and handed Mila to her, as if to say, "YOU are now her mother".  They offered us God's blessings, and then left.

We waited a couple minutes before leaving.  As we were entering the car with Mila, we could see her birth parents walking down the sidewalk together; not looking back.  I can only imagine what must have been going through their mind and heart...

Time will tell how this particular chapter to our adoption mission ends, but I do know for certain that, one way or another, God will be glorified!

Soli Deo Gloria!