Flowing......

I am so thankful that today Tia and Garrett's little brother (pictured above) is no longer drinking this! Praise be to God that clean water is now flowing and available. This has been no easy task (by now we should know that anything we are involved in takes a little more prayer and a little more time than expected) as rock continued to be an issue as Water is Life tried to drill for water. Thankfully a few springs were located near the edge of the lake and they were capped, protected and pumped up in order to provide clean drinking water for the entire island.
Last Friday as David and I were enjoying our date day we received word that the water was flowing and of course our eyes started flowing. Tears of great joy as we thought about those who were in real need and that need had been met. Tears of joy for each person who made this a reality- First graders who gave up ice cream for a month, those who held garage sales, kids who heard about this at Garrett and Tia's school last year who brought their entire piggy banks, friends who I haven't seen since high school, great friends who live on the other side of the country, military who gave their bonus check, girls in Nebraska who shared the need in their school, those who sold crazy things on e-bay, our extended family, and many, many more have given. To think that thousands of dollars were given so quickly in order for this to happen still amazes me-
I clearly remember my long conversation with God last year as we pulled away from the island and I felt the weight of this great need. How I knew that we had a HUGE task ahead yet I had no idea how God was going to help us provide the much needed water. I would never have guessed all of those that He used to make this provision a reality.
David will be traveling to Ethiopia in November (and I get to go in December) to spend extended time on the island with our friends and family- We will then have many photos and video of the water............. flowing! For this we are more than thankful-

It's the little things......

A tin sign that hangs in my older girls bathroom says, "Don't miss the little things because one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." A few weeks ago God used that little sign that was given to us by a dear friend a few years ago to get my attention. As you can imagine my life is very full, busy and fast paced which many times makes almost everything seem little and insignificant. In all of the busyness God reminded me to slow down and not miss the little things..........



Less than a week later I found myself in Greenville, South Carolina celebrating Kaylee's 14th birthday. This was not a typical 14th birthday party but instead I glanced over and saw my daughter and seven of her friends with their hands held high in worship at a Hillsong United concert. God whispered, "Mendy, Don't miss this." Tears streamed down my face as I sang, "I see a generation rising up to take their place......" I thought about the fact that my daughter had chosen to spend this special time worshiping with her friends and I am so glad that I didn't miss it!

This summer Megan had to do an interview in order to be accepted into the school that she wanted to attend this school year and as I sat beside her during the interview I was glad that I hadn't missed it. The lady interviewing ask Megan, "Where do you see yourself in ten years?" Megan didn't hesitate and she said, "I see myself teaching as a missionary in another country." Again large tears formed in my eyes and as much as that scares this mom to death I am so glad that we decided to take our entire family to Ethiopia last summer. At the time it seemed like a little (but expensive) thing as we were deciding whether or not our entire family should go. Was it easy? No, but I know that each little thing that happened in Ethiopia last summer have added up to big things in the lives of my children to the point of changing the course of their lives.

The first day of school Lindsay came home very excited because she was chosen to be the classroom leader. In the busyness of filling out paperwork (I have signed no less than a million forms in the past two weeks), figuring out homework for six and preparing snacks I could have missed it. Instead I celebrated with her- I am so glad that I didn't get so busy and overlook what could have been considered a little thing in my day when in reality is was a big thing for my daughter.

As I hold my weeping daughter and remind her that I love her and will never leave her, as I whisper in my youngest sons ear that I think that he is amazing and I am so proud to be his mom, as I listen to stories from Jacob's trip to Mexico, as I wash two loads of laundry each day, as I explain another math problem, as I pack six lunches a day, as I read bedtime stories, as I listen to my kids pray, as I watch my kids serve, as I discipline my children, as I sweep the floor again, as I greet David, as I tuck six kids in, as I have lunch with a friend, as I wipe a tear, as I sit across the table from a younger couple and try to speak wisdom, as I sit in the backseat while my oldest learns to drive, as I sit quietly with my Father and as I see two very broken and unsure kids start to show affection and feel secure I don't want to miss it because these aren't just little things!

What are you considering little? What are you missing?

Words.....

It has been amazing to our family how quickly Tia and Garrett have picked up English. To see this video from a year ago and to hear her speak now is amazing! Although they have come so far sometimes they still say the cutest things! Here are a few that have been shared at our house the past few weeks......

Garrett was in a little bit of trouble the other day and so I said, "Garrett, look at my eyes." He quickly responded, "Mom, I already know what your eyes look like and I haven't forgotten how they look. Why do I need to see them again?."

Yesterday in the car it was "Soaking Hot!" when we were leaving church.

Tia continues to get cutie and pretty mixed up and she says, "Cutie, cutie please" often prior to correcting herself.

While fixing her hair the other day Tia said, "Mom, my hair looks like pasta!" At first I didn't understand and then she said, "You know the kind that we put red sauce on." So I guess her hair looks like spaghetti to her.

On Saturday, I had the boys go out and pull a few weeds in the front yard. I was explaining to Garrett how to pull the weeds and he said, "Mom, this is kind of dumb. You know that God makes these things grow right back. We are outside mom and green stuff is suppose to grow so why would we pull it up?" I have to agree with him but we needed them pulled.

Tia let us know this week that when she grows up that she is going to be a "rock star" and when she is not being a "rock star" she will be a "professional dancer" or maybe just a "karate girl." She followed this up by singing....."Someday Tia's gonna be a famous rock star....." to the tune of Taylor Swifts song Mean at the top of her lungs.

Garrett stopped while putting ice in the glasses one night last week for dinner and said, "Dad, who keeps putting the ice in here?" After a year of never seeing us put ice in the ice maker he wondered who put it there.

It is always fun to watch them have new experiences and I love to see them discover their new world even one year later.

Our First Year Home

A year ago we were making our way home- Never in a million years could I have guessed what an amazing homecoming we would arrive home to. I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love at the airport and it was priceless to bring Tia and Garrett into our home for the first time. To see them explore every square inch of our home, open every cabinet and drawer, turn on every light, run water in each sink or tub, climb on their beds, looking at each toy, turning on and off the remote controlled ceiling fan, opening the pantry full of food, seeing the ovens in the wall, pouring water out of the fridge, and both grinning from ear to ear.
To think of all that they have experienced in one short year is mind blowing to me. To remember that a year ago they knew very little English when we arrived home amazes me as I hear them speak and read. To see them feel so comfortable in our home and with us is something that we prayed for and it is a joy to experience. Just yesterday Tia and one of her siblings were in a little disagreement and David said to me, "This is what we wanted for Tia and Garrett to act like siblings with Megan, Kaylee, Jacob and Lindsay!" I smiled as I agreed and praised God again for a year that has exceeded all of my dreams and expectations.

Empty......

These containers that hold grain in Werke's hut apparently have been empty for a while. Many of you have contacted me over the past few days wanting an update on her medical condition yet every time I sit down to write an update I am not sure that I can even type with the tears that flow down my face. So here it goes......

Werke traveled to Addis late last week and had an MRI, ultrasound and blood work. On Friday Nicco took her to get the results of the testing and although her condition is better than we first thought, it is heart breaking to me. The doctor came in and explained that her medical issues are all due to malnutrition. As the doctor was talking and asking her questions she broke down and cried as she explained to the physician that she goes four or five days at a time without food in order to feed her children. Due to the fact that Werke has not been eating she has damaged several of her organs. Several of her organs are enlarged and not working properly now simply because she has been starving. The doctor gave her two units of blood and some medication in hopes to help her liver function.

I have known for over a year that Tia and Garrett were placed into an orphanage because of the poverty that Werke faced. This is more of a reality to me now more than ever. The sad part to me is that Nicco has money provided by us to care for Werke's basic needs yet she was embarrassed to let him know of her needs. At first I was upset that Werke had not been honest when Nicco would ask if she had needs yet when I started to think about myself in her position I am sure that I would have done the same. She explained to Nicco that she wanted to be able to care for her family and I am sure if I were her I would have been embarrassed to have needed help. I hope that she now realizes that we will take care of her needs and that she never has to be embarrassed with us or with Nicco.

I simply can't imagine..........she has been going to bed every night hungry. Not hungry like we think of hungry because we missed one meal or our bedtime snack but a hungry that we will never know. I can't imagine being at a place of almost starving to death yet Werke has found herself there. I can't imagine being a mom who is alone on a small remote island with literally no food.

Werke stayed in the city with Nicco this weekend and he was helping reintroduce her to eating. Apparently when you haven't had much food for a while your body rejects it when you begin to consume again. If she was able to eat properly by today (Monday) then he was taking her to purchase four types of grain, spices and anything else that he felt that she and the kids would need for the next six months. He will then return her to the island and make sure that she has more than enough food to care for her family until David's visit in a few months.

Please join me in praying for Werke. Pray that she will know that she is loved and that her basic needs will be provided for. Pray that she will feel God's love by His provision for her and her family. Pray for her heart to be open to receive the love, joy, peace and comfort that only He can give.

Thanks for praying..........

Thanks for praying.........
Werke was willing to travel with Nicco today to Addis to get the medical care that she needs. Here is a photo of her and Allo (a sibling of Tia and Garrett and you can read more about her from my blog on Aug 31, 2010 labeled Need.....) as they took the long 2 hour boat ride to the mainland this afternoon. They then traveled by car for 3 hours and so I am sure that they are tired and scared.
Werke will see a doctor tomorrow morning and so please pray that the doctor will quickly be able to know the extent of what her health situation is.
Thanks for thinking of our family- many of you have contacted us on how to help and for this we are so thankful!

Thoughts.......

I had more time today to think than I do on a usual day. David and I had to take a quick road trip and so we had several hours in the car both yesterday and today to talk, reflect and enjoy time together. Yesterday was full of talking about us and today we had a few things to talk about that we wish we didn't have to even think about.
We received word today that Tia and Garrett's birth mom is very ill. We were told early last week that she had typhoid but after being medically evaluated something more is going on.

I spoke to Nicco on the phone today and after having an ultrasound (not as modern as our ultrasounds) Werke has a large growth or tumor near one of her ovaries. This will need to be surgically removed in order for her to regain her health. She will need to leave from the island and travel to Addis to get the medical help that is needed. As Nicco was sharing me the information that he had gathered my heart was breaking for this lady that I have come to love- Here are a few of my thoughts:

Who will care for her?
Who will care for her six kids while she is away from the island having surgery?
How can she have surgery in a place where medical care is so poor?(a broken arm was unbelievably scary when it came to health care)
How will she ever be able to heal in an environment where she is expected to do so much to care for the basic needs of her family?
How long has she been so very ill without the opportunity to seek health care?
How scared must she be to know that they only hope to get better is surgery yet she has no money to get the help she needs?

My thoughts then went beyond Werke's health:

How does she live every day and night in her hut which is in the photo above? This photo is from last week and as you can see it is in need of much repair. When we visited her last summer we purchased an orange tarp to cover the roof until a new roof could be constructed. Obviously this has yet to happen and so her home is open to all of the outside elements. Below you can see where she and the kids sleep. Notice the water marks on the wall and the ground where the roof is not providing protection for them.

What does it feel like to be so ill and yet lay on the ground to rest and sleep? As I saw the photo last week of her sitting on her "bed" I was reminded yet again of the contrast between her life and mine. Each night as I crawl into my nice, fluffy, king size bed I forget that so many in our world are sleeping on the hard ground. To think of her in pain trying to get comfortable on the wet dirt floor of her hut makes my heart break.

Who is caring for the kids while she is not feeling well? David and I both noticed that Tia and Garrett's siblings didn't seem very happy in the photos taken last week. They were very happy and excited when we were there yet in the photos from last week they didn't seem very joyful. I am sure that they are each very scared. Welde (the oldest brother) and their older sisters remember when their father died and so I am sure that they are worried about their mom. Tia and Garrett often say that when people got sick on the island then people would be very afaid because when people would get sick they usually would die. This must be a very real thought for the six kids who are watching their mother progressively get more ill.

Here are a few thing that I know:

I would give up my bed, pack it up and overnight it to Werke if I could. I would sleep on the ground in her place right now if I could so that she could be comfortable in my bed while she is ill. How could I not?

I know that God wants to me to go and help care for Werke if/when she agrees to have surgery. A trip to Ethiopia may come very soon for me. This is overwhelming to me yet I know that today God clearly told me to go. How could I not?

Our family will find a way to provide for all of her medical expenses. I am not sure of how we will do this but how can we not?

I am going to be proactive the next few days finding the best care for Werke in Addis. If you happen to know of a great physician in Ethiopia please let me know. I do have a contact with a Hospice nurse in Addis and I hope to be able to contact her soon.


I know that these are all rambling thoughts and not very put together but this is where I find myself and my thoughts tonight. We are trying to protect Tia and Garrett from worrying about Werke and so each night we are praying for Werke to be healthy. We just ask that you join us in praying for her and not mention this to Tia and Garrett.

Pray specifically tonight that as we sleep that Werke would be willing to travel from the island with Nicco to get the treatment that she needs in Addis. I know that it will be scary for her and the unknown is great yet she needs to receive this medical care in order to regain her health. Praise God yet again that Nicco is willing to help us love on our extended family when we can't.

Below is a photo of Werke (sitting on her bed). I hope that God will remind you of your many blessings as you look at this photo and as you pray for her and her precious family.