Forever Changed!

So much has happened in the Henderson world in the past six weeks and with the busy season of the Holidays I haven't had time to even process most of it much less sit down to blog. A few amazing things have taken place and so here is a small glimpse....

The day after Thanksgiving David traveled to Ethiopia for ten days with several guys from our church and a friend from Knoxville. The trip was more than he could have ever imagined it would be. Other than bringing home a nasty bacteria in his stomach it was a perfect trip for him. He visited with our missionary friends Trent and Carmen, spent a day with our extended family on Zadachu island and even got a quick visit in with Garrett's best friend Lemme in the orphanage where Tia and Garrett lived for several years.

He so enjoyed the day that he had on the island with Tia and Garrett's birth family and it was the highlight of the trip for him. The community on the island were thrilled when David's small boat pulled up. He was greeted with joy and the people of the island were so excited to show David the new wells that had been installed since his last visit to the island 18 months earlier with our family. What a joy for David to walk from well to well with the Zay people who knew that we as a family and as a community had cared for their very basic need of clean water.

David was thrilled to see that Werke (Tia and Garrett's birth mom) looked very healthy and well fed. As many of you know she had been very ill a few month ago due to not having enough food to eat. Tia and Garrett's siblings on the island all seemed very happy and healthy as well which was a great relief to our family. Only three of their six siblings were on the island because three are away at school and David made arrangements to visit with them on another day.

While on the island the island elders called a meeting in Werke's hut where they met with David much like the day when our entire family was there. David was able to ask them what needs they continued to have and those needs seemed to have stayed the same. They shared that they still need medical care and help with a way to grow more food. There is only one rainy season a year on the island which means only one harvest. This is not nearly enough food to feed the island for an entire year and with the help of irrigation their lives would be completely changed. David made a promise to continue working on these needs. I can hardly wait to see food growing there year round and a medical clinic up and running.

Prior to leaving from the island David wanted to have a few minutes where he could talk to Werke and so he, our good friend Brent, Nicco, Abraham (our newest friend), Werke and Ahitu (Tia and Garrett's oldest sister) went into Werke's hut. David was able to share about Christ and His love for Werke with her. Our new friend Abraham (who works with E3 partners) was able to help translate the gospel. It was in those precious moments that Werke prayed to receive Jesus as her Savior. With David there (I so wish that I could have experienced these moments) not only did Werke say yes to Jesus but so did Ahitu.

We are so thankful that this people group who have never had the chance to hear of Jesus, now have heard and not only have heard but that He lives in them- out in the middle of a small lake on a very small remote island......... HE IS THERE!!! We are also thankful for our new friends at E3 partners who work in that area to share Christ and to disciple those who trust Him. Please pray that Werke will be a light in a very dark place. Pray that she will be just like it says in Matthew 5:15- "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden"- Pray for her as she experiences this new life in Christ that she would know of His love for her and for her family. Pray for Abraham as he travels to the island every few weeks to encourage and teach more of God's word there to Werke, Ahitu and others that I know will trust Him soon.

When David called to tell me this news I cried tears of sweet joy. One of my greatest fears had been that something would happen to Werke and my son and daughter would ask if we had shared Jesus with her. I was so thrilled at this news that I spend much of the afternoon rejoicing and praising Him for the grace and mercy He gives to anyone who is willing to ask.

It was so neat to share this great news with Tia and Garrett when the arrived home from school. Garrett's first question was, "Mom, did dad buy Werke a Bible? She doesn't have one and so she needs one." I then reminded my sweet son that his mom couldn't read and that her language isn't written down it is just spoken. With tears flowing down my face I promised my son that somehow we would get God's word to her. I am praying and believing that someday this will happen- I know that this will take a miracle- I have seen more than enough miracles on this journey that He has had us on.

A few weeks after David's return I had tucked the little girls in bed and I was getting ready to tuck Garrett in. As I walked into his room he looked up at me and said, "Mom, I am ready. I believe Jesus died for me and I want to ask Him to take away my sin." David was out at a meeting and so I sat down beside him trying not to cry like a baby, placed his Bible on my lap and started to talk with him. As we were talking Tia opened his bedroom door and came over to sit on the bed with us. (This NEVER happens- Once in bed in our house the kids rarely get up- not really a rule just how it happens usually) Tia didn't say a word she just listened as I continued to make sure that Garrett understood. Garrett then alone prayed the most amazing, heartfelt prayer that I have ever heard.

As he finished Tia said, "Mom, I want to pray now. I believe that Jesus died for me." She then bowed her precious head as my tears dropped into her curls and she prayed for Jesus to forgive her. By this time all six kids were gathered around me and my heart was about to beat out of my chest- For me this is all I have longed for...... to know that all six of my precious gifts from God would know Him. Not know about Him but that they each would chose to follow Him with their lives. God is so good and His love for us never fails- whether we live here in our comfortable home in Harrisburg, NC or if we live half way around the world in a mud hut on a tiny, remote Zadachu island where basic needs are a daily struggle- He is there willing and waiting to adopt us as His very own.

Socks.....

It is Black Friday and I am amazed at the consumerism of our country. I have heard of people camping out for over a week, standing in line for hours and literally physically fighting over items that soon will be forgotten. Today as I read these facts online I am reminded of our shopping experience this past week with our family-

David is traveling today to Ethiopia and he will spend a good amount of time with Tia and Garrett's birth family while he is there. We pray for and talk daily about their family and as most of you know Garrett continues to be concerned about their basic needs being met. As David's trip was approaching we headed out to find a few gifts to send to each of their siblings and to Werke, their birth mom.

As the eight of us entered Target the kids headed straight to the dollar spot and I thought that they would pick out a few dollar toys that they wanted to send to each sibling. I was so wrong! The very first thing that Garrett brought to me was a small pair of socks and he said, "Mom, these will be perfect for Abush." Abush is Garrett's four year old brother- Not a toy for a four year old but a pair of socks...... I took the socks holding back my tears and said, "Garrett, these will be great and if you want you can now pick out something for him to play with." Garrett replied, "No, he will need more than one pair of socks mom. He doesn't have even one pair." He then handed me more socks. My heart ached as I watched my son look over all of the fun things in order to provide for his brothers basic needs. We purchased socks for the entire family and then picked out a few fun things for each of them as well.

As we were checking out I could tell that they were excited to be sending gifts to their family and God did the neatest thing. The lady who was helping us check out continued to stop what she was doing to look at Tia every few seconds. I found it a little odd but many times in public people stare at our family. The employee finally said, "Where are they from?" As soon as she started to ask I knew that she was from Ethiopia. We explained that everything we were purchasing was for Tia and Garrett's family in Ethiopia. It was so neat that as we were purchasing these things that in Tia and Garrett's native language the cashier was speaking to them-

It is the little things that God does to amaze me. Not things that money can buy but the memories and lessons of life that He gives. So thankful that before the hustle and bustle of this season God reminded me yet again that a pair of socks for a precious boy would change his little life half way around the world.........

Two years ago today we had to say goodbye......

By far the hardest day of my entire life! Saying goodbye to my precious children not knowing when we would return to bring them home. We made such sweet memories the week that we were together (as you can see in each of these photos).

I will never forget holding Garrett on my lap as David held Tia in the orphanage. I tried to pray out loud but had no words and so David prayed over us. Garrett was sobbing out loud and my shirt was soaking wet from the combination of my tears and his. I didn't want David's prayer to end because I knew that we would then share our last goodbye.

As I gave them each one last hug and kiss I couldn't imagine really walking away from this place and from them yet I knew that I had no choice. I looked into their eyes, said to each of them, "I love you", and whispered, "We will be back soon, I promise!" With that I had to hold onto David and walk quickly to the car or I knew that I would never leave. (Good thing that I didn't know then that it would be seven long months before our return or I would have stayed!)

We got into the car and as we drove off I looked up to see my daughter hanging out of her bedroom window crying and waving goodbye to us. She then quickly signed I love you with her small hands and as I signed back I cried like I had never cried before-

Thankful that two years later we daily get to say I love you and never have to be apart again!

Two blankets........

The moment that we had been waiting for and dreaming of came two years ago today. For the very first time we held our youngest son and daughter. Moments that I will cherish forever and a day that will never be forgotten.

I will never forget pulling up to the office of our adoption agency and walking into the office area where they told us to be seated. I grabbed David's arm and squeezed tighter than I had ever squeezed (even harder than during the births of our first four children) as we waited for the orphanage staff to bring Tizita and Geremew to us. We had seen hundreds of photos of them to the point that I felt that I knew them yet I really knew nothing about who they really were.

As they walked into the room I literally held my breath and fought back the tears. I didn't want to scare them by crying yet the joy in my heart was overflowing. All of the days of praying, seeking wisdom, making phone calls, filling out paperwork, and the heart break of thinking that they may never be ours melted away in that moment. Here we were holding these gifts that God had made to be ours.

I first held Tizita in my arms while David quickly scooped up Geremew. Just as I had when I was handed our four biological babies I wanted to take in each inch of my precious daughter. I wanted to see every small detail on her face and so I quickly put my hands on her cheeks and gazed into her eyes. She had a tear in her eye and as I wiped it I thought that this would be the first of many tears that I would get to wipe from her eyes- I am sure that the excitement and fear of that moment was overwhelming to her. To see her mom and dad in person for the very first time must have been unreal for her.

Tizita and Geremew grabbed our arms and continued to rub them over and over. It was as if they were just making sure that we were real and that they were not dreaming. They would then touch our faces and laugh in delight. They held tight to us both and from the first moments that we were together you could see the joy in their little faces.

We had very little communication that first day together because Nicco our translator was checking over their paperwork as we played and interacted with the twins. The twins didn't speak or understand any English and of course we knew very little of their language. Little did we know that Nicco was collecting information that would change the course of our adoption process as we played, took pictures and loved on our kids that very first day.

We brought bears for Tizita and Geremew that we as a family had made at Build-A-Bear. The six of us had recorded our voices inside the bears and so it brought such joy to them as they pushed the button and would hear Megan, Kaylee, Lindsay and Jacob speak to them. They would laugh out loud and push the button over and over. Pure joy for me as a mom to watch two very scared, shy orphans know that they were loved and that we were there only for them.

Along with the bears we brought both Tia and Garrett a special blanket for them to sleep with each night. We knew that this time together was so special but it was only a few days and we would have to return home without them. We decided to take a blanket for each of them to sleep with while we were apart. I literally prayed over these blankets- I prayed that God would use these simple blankets to remind Tia and Garrett each night that we loved them and that we would return soon to bring them home with us forever. They both had these blankets with them each night the months that we were apart. Tonight as I tucked them both in (and every night) guess which blanket was covering them first? These small simple blankets that continue to remind them that they are loved and cared for! Each night as I pull those blankets up to tuck them in I praise God for all that He has done- A reminder now to me how much He loves me!

I am not going......

Two years ago tonight I was in tears as I walked into our bedroom and announced to David, "I am not going with you." He responded, "You are going. You know that God has clearly said for us to go and we are going." He held me as I cried and explained that I couldn't leave because while I was tucking in Lindsay and Jacob they both cried and expressed that they didn't want both of us to go.

Our bags were all packed and tickets in hand for our flight to Ethiopia that was scheduled to leave early the next morning. After receiving word that Tia and Garrett were not adoptable a few weeks prior we felt God leading us to go to Ethiopia and try to find their missing birth family. Their birth family had to be located in order for the adoption to move forward and we knew that if we didn't go there would be little chance of ever bringing them home.

My mind swirled with all of the unknown- I thought of the millions of people in Ethiopia and how we were setting out to find one family out of the millions. I thought about the fact that we were leaving our kids here and that we were traveling half way around the world without them. I thought about the fact that I would soon be holding my precious twins not knowing if we could ever bring them home. I thought of how foolish it seemed to spend so much money on airfare with no guarantee of making progress while there.

I really wasn't sure that my emotions could handle what was ahead. What if we traveled half way around the world and didn't locate the family? What if we spend a few days with our twins only to break their hearts (and ours) because we had no hope for them to come home with us? What if we got to Ethiopia only to find that Tia and Garrett were no longer at the orphanage? The list went on and on long into the night.

All of these questions and concerns yet God's still, small voice continued to whisper, "Trust me." In my clearest thinking I knew that God was saying to go yet the circumstances sometimes paralyzed me. I quoted scripture after scripture to myself as I was laying in bed trying to get a few hours of sleep prior to our departure. I didn't sleep much at all but by the time our alarm went off at 3:00am I knew that God was going to do something amazing on this trip- I just had no idea how amazing the next two days would be............

What is God calling you to do yet the circumstances seem to be paralyzing you? What is He whispering? Are you listening and obeying? I am so thankful that we did-

His Story..........

The man to the left is reading a story about our family-Not our story but His story. He is attending the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta and this photo was sent to us from a friend who was sitting behind this man as he read the story.

Several months ago a lady from the Catalyst Conference contacted me to see if our family would be willing to share our adoption journey with the Catalyst community that is gathering this week. I of course said yes and that it isn't our story but God's story being played out as we simply follow Him.

My prayer is that the thousands of church leaders that are gathered in Atlanta for these few days will read this story and feel led to do their part to care for orphans in our world. So many times people who are attending this conference today feel that in ministry they can't afford to adopt or even begin to think about the journey of adoption. I hope and pray that when they read the story of how God provided for our family when we were simply willing to trust and follow Him that their hearts will be changed and challenged. That many of the thousands of leaders attending this conference will see the plight of the orphan and that many fatherless will have fathers as these leaders trust and follow Him.

I went back and reread this story today since months have passed from when I first wrote this article. God nudged at my heart as I read about how He had provided every penny that we needed to bring our precious twins home. We continue to feel God leading us to bring Limme home to be part of our forever family, yet I continue to see the financial piece as more than overwhelming. We have not one extra dollar to begin the process but today in my own words, I was reminded that I didn't provide it the first time- He did! He provided and will provide everything needed when He calls us to a task. Trusting Him with that today and glad that He has called us to share His story with those who I pray will step up and be His hands and feet to the fatherless of our world. I am thankful that today I was reminded of His provision.

Humbled that He uses us and so thankful that we have followed every step of the way!

No words needed..........Pure JOY!