4th of July

Hi All,
Jessica and I will be set up at the Fourth of July Celebration in Etowah tomorrow. We will have all three t-shirt designs for sale and will be taking orders for any color you want that we do not have "in stock". We will also be distributing information on the issues affecting the Congo through www.raisehopeforcongo.org. Part of the Enough Project.

If you have purchased a shirt from us, we would love for you to send us a picture of yourself wearing it or wear it tomorrow, come by the booth, and we will take the picture for you. We hope to gather all these pictures and make a collage for Noelle to give her one day (probably when she is a little older) to show her all the people who were a part of her adoption.

Process Update: Our dossier is all but complete. We had our fingerprinting last Friday and once we receive our approval from USCIS it should be ready to send to the DR Congo for their government to review. Also, we were denied for our first grant request but we are awaiting word from two others and will be applying for a fourth this week. We appreciate everyone's prayers.  Once we receive our official referral, we will continue our last half of '90 Days for Noelle'.

Status Update

Status Update:

Well, I know it has been a long time and I apologize. We have been completely swamped with life the last couple of months. For some reason I assumed that we had a spare five minutes in our daily routine and have returned to school full time. Things are starting to calm down a little, now that Jessica is out for the summer. Her schedule has opened up a lot and I am starting to balance out the school schedule.

Now about the adoption process. We are making progress:

• We are currently working on our dossier. This is a package of documents that has been requested by the Congolese government. We should have all of these accumulated in the next couple of weeks with the exception of our USCIS approval (I will mention that in another bullet).               **If anyone is a notary in our area and would be willing to swing by my work to notarize something, it would be greatly appreciated**                  **Also, if anyone knows a way to get a notarized proof of residence, let me know. We are having a little trouble here as well.**

• We have applied to USCIS (U.S. Customs & Immigration Service) and they have received our application. We are awaiting our appointment to go to Atlanta to have our fingerprints taken. This approval will be what determines how long it takes to submit our dossier.

• The DR Congo is now requiring copies of our passports to go with the dossier, so we have sent to have Jessica's updated.
• We are still awaiting word on grant approval. Please pray that we receive favor.

• The t-shirt fund raiser has been going great and if you want one, please let me know. We are going to have a booth at the Etowah 4^th of July. We will be selling t-shirts and have information raising awareness about the issues affecting the DR Congo. www.raisehopeforcongo.org

• Also, we have started a couple of adoption auctions on eBay. Check them out if you are interested. eBay Adoption Auctions

Thank you for all of your prayers. We are getting very close to the point to getting our referral of Noelle. Once we get the referral, we will complete our 90 Days for Noelle devotional. We truly appreciate all the support we have received and we will try and do better about keeping everyone update about what is going on.

1 Peter 5:9-11

⁹ Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.
 ¹⁰ In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. ¹¹ All power to him forever! Amen.

Website & Fundraising

Hi All,
 We have created a website to expand beyond the capabilities of the blog. We will still continue the blog but have added the website for additional information. You can now check out www.AdoptingNoelle.org to stay connected with our adoption journey. Also, we are beginning our first fund raiser. International adoption is VERY expensive. The cost of agency fees, governmental fees, travel, and etc. are almost overwhelming, but we know that God will provide. We are selling adoption themed Simply Love t-shirts (thanks, Kari). Since we are the first family adopting from the DR Congo to use the Simply Love trademark, Kari from www.mycrazyadoption.org named the DRC design 'Noelle'. The name Noelle actually shows up on the shirt beside the country shape. (You can see the DRC designs on the website) There are 3 different designs to choose from and the shirts look awesome. We are very excited about this. Every penny of the sales of these shirts and any donations will go toward our adoption fees and travel expenses. Jessica and I are advocates for sponsorship of children in other countries. In fact, we currently sponsor two children, one from India and one from the Philippines. It is a wonderful thing, but what is sad is that we will never get to meet these children or see the difference we made in their lives. By supporting our adoption, you will see the fruit of your giving when you meet Noelle for the first time. On the website, choose the link 'SUPPORT OUR CAUSE' for more information. Also, we will be able to apply for grants very soon to help in our expenses so please pray that we find favor with these foundations.

**Also, thank you to all of you who are helping us with our fundraiser. It means more than you know. If you would like to help, let me know and I will get you a brochure with an order form to pass around.** 


In His Service,
Jason

This design is called 'The Heart of Africa' - for ladies only

"The least of these...."

The following is taken from an email sent by a missionary to some fellow DRC adoptive parents-to-be earlier this month. Check out their website & blog at www.preparingaplace.com. It is concerning the the Pygmy people of the Congo. Being at the bottom of the list in the 2nd poorest country in the world is a tough place to be, but these are God's children as we all are and He loves us all the same.

“The least of these My brethren…The least of these My brethren… The least of these My brethren.
I believe the least of these My brethren is an unborn Pygmy girl in the Efe tribe of the Ituri Forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  I do not know her name yet.  According to my research, she has a one in three chance of surviving to five.  She will be pregnant by eight (yes, eight) years old.  If she does not die in childbirth (less than a 1 in 16 chance), she may live between 16 and 24 years (average life expectancy).  In her life she will be subject to rape, murder and cannibalism from rebel armies; HIV and other diseases, malnutrition, parasites.  She will probably grow to only about 4’6”; become a slave or underpaid worker to the surrounding taller people groups; never receive an education; never have an ID (not officially exist); and, never hear the gospel.
Except for the height of this as yet unborn Pygmy girl, can I make a difference?  Can I go there and change what would be her life. Yes.  I leave on Monday (Feb 14).
Why am I drawn to this particular, as yet unborn and unnamed child in this particular tribe? Because, the Lord has called me to the “LEAST of these My brethren” and “further north” and to go “lower still”.  He tells me this over and over and over.  It keeps me focused.
I know of no other people so low.  According to the Pygmy Fund, ‘The Ituri Forest Efé pygmies occupy less than 1% of the land preserved for African wildlife. Their numbers have been reduced over the past 75 years from 35,000 to about 3,000 individuals. ”. “Pygmies are the most ancient surviving human race”.  Over a century ago, there were millions. They are subjected to enslavement and endangered by the destruction of the pristine Congo forest on which their lives depend”. “To this day, there are places where entire pygmy families are naked because they have no clothing”.  Jean Francois Mombia said, “Hunting has become almost impossible, because the animals have become rare, having fled the noise of machinery used by the loggers,” and “Pygmy hunters are often forced to walk for a week before finding game, while their families starve.”
John the Baptist said, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”
And James said, “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead”.  James 2:15-17
“Jean-Pierre Lola Kisanga, governor of Orientale Province, said “…only two out of 1,000 pygmies had access to education”. Marc Mali, of the Pelican Centre NGO, said, “Girls and women are often raped or used as sexual slaves, and they do not resist for fear of being killed,” Sinafasi Makelo, a representative of Mbuti pygmies, told the UN’s Indigenous People’s Forum that during the Congo Civil War, his people were hunted down and eaten as though they were game animals. In neighboring North Kivu province there has been cannibalism by a group known as Les Effaceurs (“the erasers”) who wanted to clear the land of people to open it up for mineral exploitation. Both sides of the war regarded them as “subhuman” and some say their flesh can confer magical powers.  In the Republic of Congo, where Pygmies make up 5 to 10% of the population, many Pygmies live as slaves to Bantu masters.
That is why I want to go to help an unborn Pygmy girl in the Efe tribe of the Ituri Forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo.   If you pray and support me, I can do more.  Either way, I am leaving on Monday, February 14, 2011.”

The missionary serves with Iris Ministries in Africa. Please keep him in your prayers as he reaches out to these hurting people. Thank you Adam & Jen for allowing me to share this and God bless you on your journey.

90 Days for Noelle - Day 45

**This will be our last '90 days' post for a little while. Jessica & I decided, because the process is so long we thought it would be best to break it up and take a hiatus. We will continue our '90 Day' prayer focus once we reach another major milestone in the process such as sending in our dossier or once we receive a referral or something along those lines. We will still be making posts regularly but not as part of the '90 Days for Noelle'. We actually will be starting something later this week that you can find out about on the blog, and if you would like to get involved with our adoption, we have some ways to do so. So stay tuned.**

Well, a while back I posted at how I have been amazed by the response we have received from our blog. I am still amazed! Since we began the prayer focus on New Years Day we have had over 4500 different visitors from at least 14 different countries (I can only view the top 10)! For my small mind, those are big numbers. I hope that our blog has been a blessing to you all and that you have learned a little about adoption. I hope that through our posts, that maybe you have looked at yourself and your walk with Christ a little differently. That maybe you see you are part of something bigger and that you become inspired to do something "extravagant" for God. (Thanks, Scott) But most of all, our purpose is for Noelle and we hope that you continue to keep her in your prayers everyday. Today is Valentine's Day. A day to express your love to each other. I have told Jessica I love her, and Cora that I love her, but I have not told Noelle yet so here goes.... Noelle, I love you very much. WE love you very much. I can't wait until the day I can hold you in my arms and tell you that I love you more than you will ever know. Happy Valentines Day, Noelle.

Lord, thank You for loving us like no other and thank You for giving us the ability to love others. We love you Father and we ask You to send our love to Noelle this Valentine's Day. You are love. We praise You for what You are doing in all of our lives. In Your name we pray. Amen.

1 Corinthians 13:13

 ¹³ Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

90 Days for Noelle - Day 44

My pastor's sermon today was about extravagant love.  He began his sermon with a story of a pastor who had a bus ministry and was knocking on doors one day to invite people to church.  At a house three miles from the church, he encountered a young boy.  The pastor asked if the parents were home to which the boy responded that his parents take the weekend off while he watches his little brother.  The pastor told the boys about Jesus and they wanted to go to church the next Sunday.  While at church the eldest boy noticed that they were passing around a plate that people were putting money in.  He didn't have anything to give and felt distraught when the plate passed him by.  After the plate was a few rows back, he got up and asked to see the plate again.  He sat it on the ground and stood in it saying that he didn't have anything to give but himself.  Pastor Scott followed the story with John 12:1-12 which tells of Mary anointing Jesus' feet with oil, washing them with her tears, and drying them with her hair.  He talked about our praise having worth.  You are the only one that can give your praise.  I contemplated this a long time today.  I think we all struggle with self worth thinking that we have nothing to give or thinking that what we have is not good enough.  We find our identity in our past sins, hurts, scars.  We have them all boxed up in a "safe" place, but God wants all of us.  As I was at the alter, I kept thinking... "God all I have is broken pieces."  "My righteousness is filthy rags."  "Like the little boy, I don't have anything to give but myself."  I felt like God spoke to me and said that's all I want.  God is the only one that can give us worth because he created us. He paid a high price for us by giving his son to die in our place.  He asks us to cast all our anxieties on him because he cares for us.  He doesn't want us to hold on to old stuff because He wants to make all things new.  God wants us to submit to him and only when we truly surrender do we find peace in our souls.  If I give everything to this great, big God then I don't have to worry or fear because I know He can handle it.  I always wanted someone in my life just to tell me that everything was going to be okay...well...it is.

Psalm 139:14

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.

Father, Thank you for faithfulness and  loving kindness.  Your mercy is new every morning.  I praise you for all you have done in my life.  I know that you are at work, preparing me for Noelle.  Continue to make me into the mosaic that you would have me be.  I  love You. Amen.

90 Days for Noelle - Day 43

When I woke up this morning I thought I smelled smoke.  I instantly dismissed it because I always think I smell something.  Jason says I'm like a bloodhound that can smell things from miles away.  As I was washing the dishes, I started hearing sirens and looking out the window I saw a guy directing the firetruck.  I immediately went to look out the back door and saw the neighbors house engulfed in flames.  I panicked because I knew there were at least three young children that lived in the house.  I literally hit my knees on the kitchen floor and prayed for life!  I got Cora dressed and we walked around the block.  Lots of people were standing around watching the firefighters, but I didn't see any sign of children nor ambulances.  Finally I spotted a group of people huddled around watching the house beside a car with the three boys inside.  I was relieved to know that no one was hurt, but felt convicted that I didn't recognize my own neighbor by sight.  I have lived in my house for almost ten years and know that they have lived behind us for at least three.  I have realized many truths today.  1). Stuff is stuff.  Nothing is more important than life.  Yes, it's devastating to lose everything you have, but I can't even imagine if one of those boys had not made it out of the fire.  2). It's a shame that we don't do nice things for the people that live close to us until "something like this happens".  In relation to adoption matters, people talk about how expensive adoption is.  I think to myself... No, it's not cheap, but I could either use the money God's blessed us with to buy more stuff, perhaps a new car, or choose to use it for a meaningful life.  We may not have a crisis in our backyard everyday but there is a crisis going on for someone everyday.  Choose to do something that has purpose.

Mark 12:30,31

³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” 

Lord, Thank You for keeping your hand over my neighbors today and for helping my eyes to be opened to your truth.  Set us free from the mundane. Give us real purpose and passion for You. We love You. Amen.