"Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel just as He promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises He gave..." (1 Kings 8:56)

#1058- #1072

-Deborah's Visa is in!!!!
-leaving for Ethiopia tomorrow
-bringing our daughter home very soon!!

-flowers from my thoughtful sister-in-law

-dressing up for the fun of it!

-spa (while waiting for a turn of shuffle board)

-serious game of shuffle board with my mom!

-games night

-supportive Christian teachers

-hugs and prayers from teachers

-lots of hugs and prayers from our amazing church family

-suitcases full of donations to bring to Africa tomorrow from friends/family

-homemade/knitted hats made out of love specifically for the children in Africa
-jumping with the children on the trampoline

-proud older brothers and sister who can't wait to bring home their little sister!

Adoption Update- Deborah's Coming Home!!

"I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer"

(Psalm 17:6).

This is me, hyperventilating with excitement as we received the news this morning that Deborah's Visa is ready, just after my last post of asking God for wisdom in deciding what to do. Another lesson in just trusting in Him and that He has control over all things! We were informed this morning from our MP that her Visa is printed and is being couriered to Ethiopia. We leave on Tuesday night, fly to London, then to Addis Ababa to meet our baby girl and to bring her home!! We are beyond being excited! Paul was shaking when he came home this morning to tell me the news. I needed to know for sure that we were leaving and now that we have our flight arrangements all made, I'm flying higher than a kite!! What an answer to many prayers! God is so good!

Serenity

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight"

(Proverbs 3:5,6).

Paul prayed at breakfast this morning for wisdom. We need to decide whether or not to go to Ethiopia on Tuesday. We still have no word where Deborah's Visa is. It is our prayer that God will give us peace, and wisdom and that we'll hear soon that Deborah's Visa is in Ethiopia.

Gleaners

"When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and alien. I am the LORD your God"

(Leviticus 19:9, 10).

Today we were very blessed to tour the Ontario Christian Gleaners. Shelley (the manager), toured us, introduced us to all the volunteers, and then graciously and humbly gave us 14 bags of dry soup mix to take to Ethiopia. Each bag gives 100 servings of soup. We can't wait to distribute the bags to the many needy children/families in Ethiopia.

Many are blessed and will be blessed by the humble work of the Gleaners.


About the Gleaners:
"Gleaning is a biblical concept in which God commanded farmers to allow the poor to gather food from fields already harvested. Today we can feed the hungry through gleaning from the surplus fruit and vegetables from farms, food processing and food distribution companies

Inspired by the Okanagan and Fraser Valley Gleaners and after much prayer, several committed believers were led by the Holy Spirit to start a similar operation in Ontario. As a result the Ontario Christian Gleaners (OCG) was established in 2004. In September 2008 production began at the new facility in Cambridge, Ontario.

The OCG exists to share God’s love and compassion by supplying out of our surplus to those in need around the world in Christ’s Name."

http://www.ontariogleaners.org/

-the process

-my father-in-law cutting the veggies



-Fred placing the veggies in the dicing machine



-veggies going into the ovens to dry

-veggies donated by local farmers


-Shelley- the manager- a person with a big heart!




-a map showing the many countries around the world where the Gleaners have distributed their dry food packages. We can't wait to put a red sticker on Ethiopia on the map behind us!

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD" (Psalm 150:6)

My list of praise and thanks continues...
#1 046- 1 057

-amazing supportive church community
-a creative God -love those leaves!
-Deborah's Visa being issued and granted
-bazaar preparations

-surprise visit and Visa cake from awesome friends!

-studious children


-athletic children

-daughter and son running cross country (they seem to be doing things in pairs this year)

-daughter completing her first race! So proud of you, Nicole and Jesse!

-the best present you can get at a wedding (presentation of the wedding Bible)

-decorating my office space

-my new "office" space

Adoption Update- Light at the End of the Tunnel

"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD" (Psalm 31:24).

Agh...what a confusing day. No Visa, yes Visa. Disappointment, excitement. Our Visa did not come in the pouch today (but congratulations to the five families that did get their Visa). However...
Good news, we have been issued a Visa! It still needs to be printed, and officially documented, but it has been approved and issued, we just didn't receive it because of some computer glitch in the process.

Since we still need to wait for it to be printed (not sure why, in this electronic age), we will probably need to wait until mid to late next week to travel, but at least we have an answer now!
Thanks for all your prayers.

Adoption Update

"For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth" (Psalm 71:5).

Apparently the Embassy in Ethiopia was closed today.
Here's hoping for good news tomorrow that Deborah's Visa is ready!