We are still in Alabama. We had an offer on the house and then the
people pulled out the day before we were leaving for NE. Yes, we were
disappointed for just a bit. When our realtor called my eyes welled
up with tears and I was mad. In the midst of these feelings and as my
realtor was talking I felt the Lord say, you can trust me. You don't
have to cry you don't have to be mad you can trust me. So we are
trusting God for his timing. When we drove away from Alabama in
December I said to myself I will never go back again and I said I will
never spend another summer there. Well here I am in Alabama and in
the summer!! I am more then willing to stay as long as we need to.
We don't know how long we will be here living one day at a time. Not
sure where we are going or when we are going. God continues to push
us to let go of this world. Some times I feel like I let go for like
a minute and then I grab it again. We are fighting to let go and not
look back.
As we are here we are fighting much sin. Fighting sin that comes and
stares you in the face as you deal with much stress. I believe the
state of your heart truly comes out when you are pushed and pulled.
Wow, my heart is in bad condition. I am being pushed from every angle
and it is not pretty. God says, you asked me to show you your sin
daily and I am answering you. I say here I am God, how can you love
this. When I have my worst days I picture my unshowered, frowning,
yelling self with the blood of Christ over me. I am so thankful for
Jesus. God continues to show me in such a real way that I have no
hope, not at all, not for one moment. People tell me a lot, God will
not give you more then you can handle and that is a rotten lie. God
has given me way more then I can handle so I can see Him work. If He
never gives me more then I can handle then I would do it all on my
own. I want to see God work so I need more then I can handle, so I
can be broken before God.
We have gotten to spend some time with Anthony and Hannah and it has
been so great. The kids could not wait to see Anthony and they don't
ever want to leave him. Anthony and Hannah could not believe how much
the kids had changed. Abreham often asks, Mom, Anthony's house? We
are so thankful for their friendship through all of this!!! Anthony
and Hannah's daughter Ellie is also from Ethiopia and when her and
Adanech met it was like they always knew each other. They giggled and
talked for hours, very very cute.
The kids are doing great. Adanech loves to run and dislikes the heat.
Pray for her as she struggles to be a child. She does not like being
under authority but we are begging God for his grace as we shepherd
her heart. I am seeing fruit. Abreham loves bright colors and
dislikes to fall down. God has done a miracle with this little boy.
Marya loves adventure and dislikes bananas. She is at the root of
almost every argument with the kids, but she loves to make up. She
still gets the most spanks. We are so much alike!! Ezra loves
snuggle time and dislikes clean up time. He loves to wrestle with his
brothers and is getting tougher. Petros loves just about everything
and dislikes cold things in his mouth. He has come so far in
obedience. We are working on his strength, when he falls down he gets
right back up. The five of them get along so well. I often look at
all of them and think WOW!!
love love
Jen
