I'll give you the short version of our life predicament: Went to PHF (a Special Needs Orphanage in China), met Mei Mei-Tiffany, Grady, Gregg, Elijah & many others, but those were the kids that truly left a lasting impression on our hearts. The kind that forces you into motion, not just to dream. We truly felt God was calling us to pursue adoption again, only this time for one of these SN kids, putting our hearts on the line in a totally new way, accepting that hurt would most likely emanate. After wrestling, heartache and prayer, we felt prompted to move forward with Mei Mei. We began researching and found that she indeed may be adoptable...THEN, my husband lost his job and our sole income. We have since, lost our house, moved 2 states and are living with MIL, no job prospects, living completely by faith, as we have nothing else to rely upon, but frustrated that God's timing is not ours. (I know we're not alone in this!) These children haunt me, but I am helpless to change their circumstances. In the midst of this, we have felt a calling to look into full-time ministry in China and are in the beginning stages of researching organizations and looking into what our specific needs as a family would be and what organization matches our passion for China along with the details and unique support we'd need to succeed as a family in another country and culture, so different from our own. As I have mentioned previously, we met a family who has committed themselves to being long-term missionaries in Argentina. They are Phil & Wendy and little Isabella Perez. http://web.mac.com/philandwendy/Site/Home_Page.html They invited us over for dinner this past week and knowing that they are many steps ahead of us in this call to missions, we took full opportunity to grill them with tough questions. Not only were they happy to share their journey with us, but with such grace and beauty, began to talk us through some of the difficult issues a family has to address and overcome when deciding to give up a "normal" lifestyle and live out of the calling that God is pressing on you. We talked about passion, financial aspects, grieving the loss of your home and the familiar, being confident in what you will need to succeed, training, what others' may say or think of your decisions, walking in faith that your financial needs will be met, health care in another country, that not everyone understands, education for your children...so many different things that are involved. Phil & Wendy are both passionate about College Campus ministry and have partnered with the Navigators outreach group to work at The University of La Plata to begin implementing ministry for the 100,000 students attending this University. Just as our eyes light up when we begin talking about China, their eyes sparkle when they get to share about this opportunity in Argentina. Please share in praying for them and if God ignites a spark to financially partner with them in this ministry please contact them directly through their website, or I can direct you into finding out more! 
We are especially thankful for the new relationships that we are experiencing and although these past weeks have been a huge trial, we have also had such blessing. We finished up with Lakeside's (http://www.lakesidechurch.org/) "BLiTZ" or their version of VBS, this week! I honestly have not experienced such exhaustion, but as when our kids were infants! Four Days of 940+ kids, worship, crafts, bounce-house/water & story times that were amazingly created by the hundreds of volunteers made this week a success in fun, but also in representing God to the Folsom community. Brian was lead photographer for this event and was pushed physically, emotionally and professionally, while I was merely responsible for 7-5th grade boys and 2-5th grade girls. Here is my humble group: Gretchen, Carson, Nnambi, Ryan, Mitchell, co-leader Conner, Cameron, Cami, Eliza & Christopher. (Spenser was MIA) One of our pastor's recently shared that not many things can compare with the Love of Christ followers on a mission. (His quote was: "Nothing moves the world like a loving church." Brad Franklin) It is life changing, and this week is nothing short of that Truth. What else could/would motivate 500+ volunteers to give of themselves for no financial gain, other than to serve The Lord? When God's people move, the world or community, feels it and we were honored to be a small part of such an enormous project!
We are especially thankful for the new relationships that we are experiencing and although these past weeks have been a huge trial, we have also had such blessing. We finished up with Lakeside's (http://www.lakesidechurch.org/) "BLiTZ" or their version of VBS, this week! I honestly have not experienced such exhaustion, but as when our kids were infants! Four Days of 940+ kids, worship, crafts, bounce-house/water & story times that were amazingly created by the hundreds of volunteers made this week a success in fun, but also in representing God to the Folsom community. Brian was lead photographer for this event and was pushed physically, emotionally and professionally, while I was merely responsible for 7-5th grade boys and 2-5th grade girls. Here is my humble group: Gretchen, Carson, Nnambi, Ryan, Mitchell, co-leader Conner, Cameron, Cami, Eliza & Christopher. (Spenser was MIA) One of our pastor's recently shared that not many things can compare with the Love of Christ followers on a mission. (His quote was: "Nothing moves the world like a loving church." Brad Franklin) It is life changing, and this week is nothing short of that Truth. What else could/would motivate 500+ volunteers to give of themselves for no financial gain, other than to serve The Lord? When God's people move, the world or community, feels it and we were honored to be a small part of such an enormous project!
