8 Colemans Becoming 10


The journey of a family of ten, loving Jesus, loving each other, loving a hurting world.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

When Momentum Runs into a Mountain

Momentum...Forward movement, the wind in our hair, seeing results, the goal just ahead. We have been in that place of momentum in several areas of our life for a short six months. Finally, it seemed things were moving, God was bringing results, and we were seeing the promised goal just ahead. Suddenly, the path reveals a unseen obstacle and with a shocking, violent slam, we hit headlong into a looming mountain. Disbelief, heartbreak, disillusionment...we didn't even see this mountain coming. For long moments, we stand on the path before this jagged, ominous barrier, the wind knocked from our lungs, tears streaming down our faces. We are left with no tools to climb it, no weapons to fight it, no map to find our way around it. For two weeks, we have stood here, looking around at the injustice of the mountain, asking God what we are to do with this blockade, trying to comfort one another and regroup. One of the areas this mountain has blocked us from is our adoption. Until we find our way around it, we are delayed. Our sons are growing and changing. Our oldest is now 15 and running short on time. We were just about to file for emergency clearance on our USCIS clearance because of his age when this mountain landed before us. My mother's heart is tempted to panic. Momentum has been disrupted. This was not supposed to happen right now. This mountain couldn't come at a worse time, in fact. Standing before these jagged cliffs, I am reminded of one of my favorite stories from Scripture. I could camp out reading the books of Joshua and Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, and 1 and 2 Kings every day. Nestled in these books are amazing stories of victory despite horrible odds, courageous, yet simple people choosing to believe the impossible. One of those stories I love is of Johnathan and his armor bearer. They found themselves along with Saul and 600 men hiding in caves, afraid of the enemy outside. They had no weapons except for one sword. 1 Samuel 14 contains this amazing story and as Jonathan and his armor bearer decide to regain momentum, the story continues... On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez and the other Seneh. One cliff stood to the north toward Mikmash, the other to the south toward Geba. Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few." “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.” The story unfolds in an amazing picture of what Jesus, as Jonathan, does with us as wearers of armor, but for this thought, the cliffs and the enemy are what catch my attention. Jonathan had a huge obstacle in front of him, with one weapon and one other friend to help him overcome the enemy, but he confidently declares, "Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many for by few." He and his armor bearer scale the cliffs, confident of the Lord's ability to save. Scaling the mountain before Kurt and I and our family may delay our adoption for just a season, but we are confident God will act on our behalf as Jonathan declared. Our sons expect me to arrive in Ethiopia the first week of November. The mountain we came crashing into two weeks ago appears to threaten that possibility financially. We are without income in the moment. We are seeking God's plan and looking for open doors. Nevertheless, my children need their mother. They need promises to remain, hope to remain, plans to stay intact. With that before us, we again look to the Kingdom of God for those who might help. I need $2000 to get to my children in November. With the delay in the adoption, they especially need me to come in November. They have waited for two years for me to come. Currently, in our adoption PayPal account, we have $66.00. We have used what others have so generously given to get us to this place in our adoption...right at the tip of being able to apply for grants. That will have to wait now until we are employed and have housing, but we had arrived at a good place with your help so that we will be able to pick right back up when God brings us employment. The two women, also adopting from Kolfe that are going to Kolfe the first week of November are buying their tickets this week. The airline is running around $1400 and the rest I will need for the guest house and expenses. God is big. God's people are givers. I need to get to my sons, but I cannot without help. Our goal: $1934.00 There is a PayPayl button at the top of this blog. God always brings a harvest to our seed and as you sow seed to get me to my children and to the other children at Kolfe, God will return your investment 100 fold. Thank you for investing into the orphans of Kolfe. Momentum will return, for now it's a climb as we pull and hang on to this cliff before us. God will save, by many or by few....

Thursday, September 20, 2012

The Little Things

Your son comes bouncing home from school with a good grade, his face beaming with pride and you share in the joy, hugging and high fiving. Your daughter gets asked to her first homecoming dance and she flits around the living room in excitement and nerves and you put on a serious face, demanding the boy come to the door and warn her about no close dancing. Your son lies in bed, burning up with a fever and body aches and you sit and hold a cold rag on his head and feed him chicken noodle soup. The little things...they feel so very important to us as parents and they become glaringly important when we miss them. My younger son messaged me about his first day at private school in ET. He received the highest marks in his grade last year which allowed him to attend a private school this year. He was so excited! His teacher gave him homework and he told me with great excitement that he was going to study hard and wanted to get the highest marks again. I told him how proud I was, but how I wished I could scoop him up with hugs and high fives. He is half a world away. He is growing up without me. The little things... My oldest son messaged me in the middle of the night in Ethiopia. He was burning up with a fever and was very sick. The language barrier made it very difficult for him to tell me exactly what his symptoms were...only that he was sick, couldn't sleep, and very,very hot. I prayed for him, I talked to him, but I couldn't bring him medicine, take him to the doctor, offer him comfort. The little things.... However, God is so good to give us favor in these moments of waiting. The most precious young missionary in Ethiopia, Carmen Post, let me know today, she sent her oldest son over to Kolfe to bring Cherinet medicine. My heart exhaled...comfort for my son on the way. The little things that people do for one another...they make all the difference. What little thing can you offer someone today? What little thing can become such a big thing in another life? It's the little things....

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Two Little Girls

Two little girls...birthdays five weeks apart, lives half a globe apart. Two little girls as different as they are same. One born into blessing and love, a mommy and a daddy, abundant nurture and belonging. One born into poverty and neglect, orphaned and fatherless, hunger and abandon. Two little girls...September 13, in their first year of life, two little girls' worlds invisibly collided. The first little girl crossed into eternity to be with Jesus, breaking all of our hearts, changing life forever. Only seven months old, Jesus cradled her in the crook of His arm as He carried her home. Meanwhile, the little girl across the continents struggled to live, sickness and disease, hunger and loneliness. Two little girls... the parents of the first grieving in deep sorrow. The new parents of the other hearing the call to rescue. A mountain of grief and a mountain of impossibility. One life gone far too soon, bringing loss, yet the promise of heaven. One life drowning is hopelessness, stricken with malaria, yet the hope of adoption. Two little girls...months pass and God wakes the first mommy in the deep, late hours. God speaks and she acts. The second mommy restless into the deep, late hours awaiting a miracle to bring her baby home. God speaks and she believes. Two little girls...from the southern end of Texas to the central plains of Kansas, provision is sent...from one set of parents to the other. Provision from the loss to provide provision for the found. Exact amount required... Two little girls...the first adored by Jesus in heaven now for five years...the second home with her new family now for four years. One loved and cared for by God and all His angels, spending her days in perfection, waiting to see her family again. One loved and cared for by her new family, spending her days at kindergarten, her wait is over. Two little girls... Forever connected, hands holding through life. One missed by her parents and the other found by her parents....but only because of the first. The first with a deep legacy, her life giving life to one lost. Her life rescuing a child abandoned at a post office. Her life forever valued, forever meaningful, forever remembered. September 13....we remember two little girls, our precious friends' little girl, a miracle in heaven, a life with great wonder and legacy and our little girl, a miracle in our lives, our precious Ethiopian Princess. Kyandee and Julianna Kynadee. Oh, beautiful little girls....we remember.

15 on 22

Sounds like a football play...15 on 22. However, it's a much more important phrase than a route a wide receiver might take on my son's football team. 15 on 22....our oldest son turns 15 on the 22nd of this month, September. 15 is a pivotal year in the adoption world. It's the last year a child can be adopted and brought home to a family. Our paperwork and funds need to be raised within this year. Our first goal was to have it all done before his 15th birthday. Our paperwork will be finished by then, but we are still praying about our funds. We've been so blessed by so many of you stepping out and giving towards our boys. Several of you have sent donations multiple times and it completely sends us to our faces. We are overwhelmed by your hearts and generosity. The task is great, friends. As soon as our final paperwork is submitted, we will begin to apply for grants. It is our hope that God shows us favor in these and your prayers are so appreciated. When God gives vision, He always gives provision. We know the vision, now we wait with expectancy for provision to complete the task before us in bringing home our children from Ethiopia. Our hope is that I can travel in early November for a couple of days to see our sons. We are waiting on God to open that door as well. 15 on 22....it's numbers on a page, but oh such important numbers to a precious young man on the other side of the globe. Our 9 year old, too, needs to be home sooner than later to begin the adjustment period with his new life and family. If God nudges your heart to give today toward our adoption process, we would be so grateful. You may use our donation button on the right or mail donations directly to us or our agency. Thank you for your prayers most of all. Prayer moves heaven and that is what we are counting on.