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A sneak peak from Zambia…

Thi momma has been a busy bee…and I’ve got company until Sunday—AND I’m preparing a craft lesson from my Sunday school mommas for tomorrow night (sharing a sweet family tradition with the mommas at my church). ALL the while, still processing. I wanted to share just a sneak peak from our time in Zambia with […]

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Julie Bennett - July 31, 2011 - 10:55 am

Andrea, I’ve just loved following your journey as well as the ministry of WIPHAN! A while back you talked about the possibility of Wiphan in Ethiopia. Our church is ministering in the Amhara Region of ET and would love more info on the Wiphan Ministry possibilities there. ?????? (We brought home Hermela from ET in January.)Blessings!

Living in plenty…

There was something about his eyes that got me. Standing there in his washed out long-sleeve red collar shirt…dispite the heat of the day–he wore all that he owned. And he looked at me. Those eyes. They reminded me of someone. Who was it? And it hit me. They reminded me of my precious son […]

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Lauren - July 27, 2011 - 3:53 pm

oh my heart. There was a precious little boy who completely stole me in one of the pictures on facebook. red shirt and overalls. Is this the same boy you’re talking about? I love him.

leslie - July 27, 2011 - 4:15 pm

Tears. Forgive us Lord for the way that we live so full of ourselves and comfortable in all that we have. Open our eyes to this need and demand that we each respond.

Katie - July 27, 2011 - 4:16 pm

Just signed up to sponsor James. Thank you for all that you do to get the word out about the needs of these children! It is truly a blessing to help in this small way.

Sandi - July 28, 2011 - 10:11 pm

Thank you for putting your experiences, though hard, into words. Once you know the stories, see the struggle, the faces, the children whose innocence is stolen, the pain it just takes away all of that feeling of needing more & just makes you want to give more. It makes it impossible to live a “normal” life. It changes everything…Africa, oh my, it has stolen my heart…

Rebecca - July 29, 2011 - 7:43 am

Thank you for this. Thank you for sharing this story that will likely always come to mind every time that I use a wipe with my littles.

Thanks for breaking my heart once again for the orphan with no mother to simply show love through the wiping of a tiny hand.

Oh how we live in such plenty, most having no idea.

Keep the stories coming.

Amy Beyer - July 30, 2011 - 2:58 pm

Precious. Thank you for sharing your heart.

Adjusting and Readjusting…

If you’ve ever spent time in the third world, then you know the real culture shock isn’t visiting the third world–but rather when you return to fairy land back home. Richard apologized for not having time to go to the grocery before I got home and told me I’d need to go today. I opened […]

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Becca - July 26, 2011 - 11:46 pm

I love your heart and what you’re doing and I think the things you are teaching your kids are the MOST important things! We want to have y’all over to our new place in the hood sometime soon! 🙂 Maybe after the baby gets here in a week or so . . .

Lauren - July 26, 2011 - 11:58 pm

I love this post and I so relate. I find myself having the same feelings in church lately. We just finished a sermon series about how to be a spiritual graduate. Basically it was all sort of “self help” type stuff. Not wrong, but I can’t help but feel like we’re missing it… like we’re really not getting it – not living it. It makes my head spin. My hearts been going crazy over the last few weeks. I’ve wanted to post but I just can’t seem to get the words out right. Spending a lot of time on my knees with Africa in heart. Thank you for sharing what’s going on in you. I pray that we all get our pretty little American lives wrecked for His sake.

jenn - July 27, 2011 - 12:00 am

I’ve watched the video you sent me about a thousand times and I am having culture shock just stepping away from my computer screen…so I can’t imagine what you are feeling right now. Uncomfortable is hard…but God can do the most through us when we bend low…so keep bending friend! You won’t be alone…He will meet you there!!

It Feels Like Chaos - July 27, 2011 - 1:56 am

Such a great post! I’m linking to it from my blog! We are leaving for Ethiopia this week and I can definitely imagine these feelings upon re-entry.

rebekah - July 27, 2011 - 7:11 am

Thank you so much for sharing, Andrea. We all need to live with our eyes OPEN to what is going on in the rest of the world.It is so GOOD for us to see the reality of what life is like for so many people and how easy we have it here. God has given us much and there are SO many ways we can give back, share and serve with what He has given. Thanks for showing us what life is like in Africa and giving us glimpses into your trip and the dear people there.

Rebecca - July 27, 2011 - 8:13 am

Oh, these feelings are so, so good, but so hard. Only someone who has been on such a journey can fully understand. What a blessing that God lets us see our lives, His world and His heart with new eyes over and over.

We are taking a team to Haiti on 8/6. So happy to be taking first time mission trippers. We are praying over their hearts, knowing the breaking that God is going to do. So glad though that a few more people will see the world with new eyes.

Praying know that God will calm you and focus your heart on gratitude and action.

marci - July 27, 2011 - 9:29 am

Beautiful painting with you words…..the day we are not bothered and feel so comfortable is the day we know longer are the hands and feet of Christ Jesus. SO, yes, Andrea God made you different and in turn your family will be different and that is a “Good Thing”….Blessings and Pax,m

Katie - July 27, 2011 - 9:40 am

Beautiful post, Andrea. Thanks for sharing your heart. You are not alone & if you’re crazy, I’ll gladly be crazy with you. We’re packing all of our stuff in a moving truck today, and I’m sitting on the floor in my empty office with boxes all over my house wondering why in the world we have all of this stuff. Why do we think it takes so much for a family of 5 in America? Please keep sharing about your trip because you’re right – we SHOULD be bothered, compelled, desperate to do something. Thanks again, friend.

Mary Beth Picker - July 27, 2011 - 10:27 am

Oh, Andrea,
Thanks so much for this. I understand exactly how you feel, and it’s good to know that there are others out there who can’t go back to “normal.” I don’t think I’ve felt “comfortable” at home for a couple years. It’s a hard place to live, but I think you’re right that our goal should not be to get back to that normal place. Thanks for sharing.

Mary Beth Picker - July 27, 2011 - 10:28 am

I hope you don’t mind if I share this on Facebook.

Robin English - July 27, 2011 - 10:51 am

Andrea,
Thank you for the reality check. So many blessings pass us by each day without our realizing just how big these blessings are. We’re so blind to all of the gifts the Lord gives us every day, every minute, just because we’re “used to it.” Thank you for your mission, heart, and honesty. The Lord’s work through you and your family is an inspiration. Thank you for being willing to be such an open vessel for his message to our world.
Glad you’re back with your sweet family.
love, Robin English

Melissa - July 27, 2011 - 11:01 am

Andrea, your blog is so beautiful. I traveled to Haiti last summer and know just how your feeling about culture shock. A year later, I still have moments where I am simply overcome by what we have and what others don’t. Mostly, I am struck by the people who aren’t even grateful. Traveling to see “the least of these” changes everything, and I personally think that is just how it should be. Blessings to you!

Tiffany - July 27, 2011 - 12:04 pm

So difficult Andrea…been following your trip and it makes my heart break. Since God opened our hearts and eyes to the sorrow so many children face…I do look at our life so differently…so many “things,” so much waste…it feels hopelessly overwhelming at times. I’m spreading the word about sponsoring Wiphan kids. As we are thinking about adding #5 to our family…I do know God is working…because this whole adoption thing has taken on a life of its own in our family. Have loved your journey…your heart encourages me to do more…

JJ - July 27, 2011 - 12:45 pm

It’s been 1.5 years since we returned from Ethiopia and I am STILL experienceing culture shock. I have a picture of our sponsor child above our FILTERED WATER on our refrigerator to remind us to NEVER complain about having “just water”. Christmas this last year was TOTALLY different than usual. Splurging on gifts for ourselves and our kids when it’s really all about Jesus and we could be sending that money to kids in TRUE NEED just made me literally ill. I got a gift card for my birthday for a pedicure and a massage and I still haven’t brought myself the go get the pedicure. I wish I could turn the gift card into money or bring a mother from Africa here to having her sore tired feet pampered instead. I CONSTANTLY think of Africa. I don’t buy new clothes unless it’s going to say something about the orphans, widows, or fatherless or bring awareness to the huge need in Africa. Oh, and my shoes are in mint condition compared to the shoes I saw in Ethiopia. I see life in a totally new perspective. Andrea, THIS IS HOW GOD WANTS CHRISTIANS TO LIVE. It’s NOT all about us. It’s about helping others. We can’t be conformed to the ideas of the world. We must open the eyes of those around us. One by one, we can do it. I so often get SICK, literally sick by the messages spoke IN CHURCH too. They are getting further and further from the TRUTH. I truly would LOVE to move to Africa, but my husband is active duty military. We’re sort of stuck here for a while. Can’t wait to see what the Lord has planned for us when he’s retired in a few years. Keep up the eye opening posts.

Sandi - July 27, 2011 - 3:03 pm

Sponsored another child & sent e-mail to 100 folks encouraging others to do the same a few days ago for child sponsorship day! Praying for hearts to be broken & eyes to be opened. Praying for a sponsor for every one of those precious children! Maybe God makes us so incredibly uncomfortable so that we will realize just how much extra we have to give…

Kim - July 27, 2011 - 7:58 pm

This post said everything that I haven’t been able to say about my recent return from Ethiopia.. you hit the nail on the head. Praying for sponsors for every one of those children.

Christy - July 27, 2011 - 9:32 pm

Oh girl, we sponsor 2 Compassion children and I wish I could do more! Starting to sell Thirty One in hopes that it will help go for helping ministries and adoptive families and even maybe sponsorships – we’ll see how God works it out. Thanks for being real. My heart understands!

Brantley - July 28, 2011 - 4:24 pm

LOVE This. I haven’t been across the world [YET], but I pray that God will rock my world even more one day by allowing me the opportunity to travel and love on the many orphans! Their lives break my heart and I pray daily for my heart to continue breaking! Thank you for sharing your story with us! Continuing to pray daily for these precious faces!

Stacy - August 8, 2011 - 10:59 am

I am behind on your blog, but catching up today. Thank you so much for sharing what’s on your heart and for being real. Thank you so much for reminding us that there is more to live for than this life.

Processing…

We are home…and safe. And experiencing culture shock. I walked in my home to see my clean children…faces so clean…barefoot but no dirt…big smiles and happy hearts. Even with mommy gone for 10 days, they were safe, happy and well–because they had a mommy just gone for a bit…not forever like so many of the […]

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Dawn - July 25, 2011 - 6:56 pm

Feeling the burden. Thank you soo much for your posts….making it all real – again. Reminding us there is soo much to do!!! PRAYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thinking, remembering, feeling….

Stacy - July 25, 2011 - 8:16 pm

My Mom and I will sponsor 3. How …?

Rory Cookman - July 26, 2011 - 9:47 am

I didn’t even go with you to Zambia and I feel like I need to process!:) Praying about what God would have our family do in response to this. Praying the same for others. You’re right, we can all do something.
Love,
Rory

Brittany - July 26, 2011 - 10:30 am

I desperately want to help…in any way possible. I am moving from FL to Atlanta in 2 months and would love to get involved. Let me know how!!!!

Allie - July 26, 2011 - 4:40 pm

Andrea-
I just LOVE your heart. We just sponsered a child from the Wiphan website! I actually went to Zambia in college for a few weeks and my heart will never be the same. We will continue to pray for our new sponsered “daughter” Sarah and the rest of the precious children on the other side of the world!

Sweet Memory

Another full day… We started our day at 8am in the compound. We went to a Bible study with Pastor Frances…and met with a group of 30. It was a sweet time of fellowship–and encouraging them in being lights in their community. From 9:30-11:30 we listened to the teachers requests of our schools. Such simple […]

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jenn - July 23, 2011 - 4:04 pm

DO NOT show me pictures like that when I am stuck here and you are THERE 😉 She is beautiful (so are you) and I am so thankful that you are there loving on those precious kiddos!!!!

Christy - July 23, 2011 - 8:18 pm

Oh my, she is just precious. Praising the Lord with you for this journey He’s taken you home and praying you will have good time of worship and reflection with Him on your way back.

Christy - July 23, 2011 - 8:18 pm

ooops – should say journey He’s taken you ON! I’m just a bit tired, I guess. 🙂

Audrey @ The Brown Brigade - July 24, 2011 - 1:29 am

I am praying for your journey home, those you leave behind and the work yet to be done.

Jen - July 24, 2011 - 9:28 am

Thanks you for sharing about all your experiences. I love your heart and you passion for children. I felt the same way in Ghana, I wanted to stay and show all the children that they were loved.

Cara - July 25, 2011 - 9:11 am

Amazing! Thank you so much for sharing with us!

Lauren - July 27, 2011 - 12:04 am

On my knees… double orphans… handicap… I have room in my home and plenty in my heart. Oh if only I could hop a plane today!! Praying for HIS guidance because this mommy just wants to bring them all home right now!!