Sunday, December 16, 2007

The Latest

The latest news from Rachel for those of us still waiting for a referral. There have been many miracles among our group lately~ many families will have their children home for Christmas! Please continue to pray for those of us still waiting to know who our child is~ that that can be our Christmas miracle!

I spoke at some length with Eric last night about the referral situation. There are plenty of children being prepared for referrals. The staff are working to make room in the orphanages, as well as to complete all the pre-referral steps. The whole purpose of restructuring the referral process on the Liberia end was to set a new standard of excellence. This takes time, but Eric really wants to ensure that everything is done well. Why bother restructuring and only doing it half-way?
I cannot tell whether they will be able to make any referrals before Christmas, but I am hoping (right along with you all!). There are difficulties now with the Liberian Ministry wanting to sign off on every child before he or she is eligible to be referred (this is for all agencies). This is an extra measure of security, so that is good.
Please check out the website for updates on how the referrals will now be issued. In addition, Eric is hoping to be able to include a photo of the child, a photo of the first family, a photo of the family home, as well as a case history, and possibly more in the referral report families will receive from now on. It's always hard to wait, my friends, but this seems to be really worth the wait.

Christmas Story in Liberian English

"Every Man Heart Lay Down"

Long time past - before your father live - before his father live
Before his father's father live - long time past
Before them big tree live - before them big tree's father live
That time God live.

And God look on the world - that He done make
And Him heart no lay down.
And He walk about in the town to see the people.
And He sit down in the palaver house to know the people.
And He sorry too much.
And God say "The people no hear My Word.
The people no walk My way. Nev mind.
All I can do is make a new country - and make new people."
And this time God's one small boy - Him small child
Hear God's Word, And the child grieve for people and for His Pa.
So he go for God's face and make talk for His Pa.
"Pa, I come for beg you," so He say,
"I come for beg you; Don't make the new world.
Don't lose the people what you done care for. I beg you.
Make it I go, I talk to people. I walk with people. Bye-m-bye
They savvy the way."

And the child go down softly softly and hold God's foot. (i.e.begged Him)
So God look on Him small boy. And Him heart be very soft. And God say,
Left me now, but hear me good; If you go you must be born like a man
You must live like a man - and you must have hurt and have hunger.
And hear me good; men will hate you and they will flog you, and
Bye-m-bye they will kill you, and I no going put my hand there."(i.e. interfere)
And the Child say, "I agree."
And bye-m-bye God call Mary to be Ma for the child.
Now Mary be new wife for Joseph and Joseph ain't touch Mary self.
So first time Joseph vex. But God say, 'Nev min', Joseph; this be God palaver.
And Joseph heart lay down.

And God see one king who try for do good for all him people.
"Ahah, now I send my Son for be new king."
And God send star to call the king.
And in a far country, God hear a wise man call his name.
And God say to the wise man, "I send my Son to be new wise man;
Go now with the star." And the star call. And the wise men follow.

And by the waterside - men lay down to take rest.
And they hear fine music in the sky like all the stars make song,
And they fear. And all the dark make bright like day.
And the water shine like fire. And no man can savvy.
And they hearts turn over. But God's angel come,
And God's angel say, "Make glad, all people,
God's child be born in Bethlehem."
And the star come low and stop. But when they go for mansion house
The star no be there. And when they go for big man's house,
The star no be there. And bye-m-bye when they go for hotel,
The star no be there gain - "Ahah, the star be by the small house
Where cattle sleep! " And it was so.

And they found Joseph and Mary and the small child fold up in country cloth.
And the king bring gold for gift
And the wise man bring fine oil
And the country people bring new rice.
And they look on the God child
And every man heart lay down.

Friday, December 14, 2007

Merry Christmas~ Third Day

Thanks for sharing this Loriann. It has deeply touched my heart.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Anxiously Waiting...

Every day I have to quickly scan my emails from the AoH yahoo group to see if anybody has gotten a referral yet. The offices will close on the 23rd. I'm really PRAYING that in these next 10 days things get moving and people start getting referrals (including us). It is so hard waiting and not knowing WHO she is. Sometimes I think I can visually picture her but then again I've looked at so many little African children since we began this journey that it could be a figment of my imagination! The Lord's holding on to the secret and I want in on it. It is all I want for Christmas. It would lighten up the holiday like no other!

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Monday, December 3, 2007

Another Yooper Family Adopts

I was encouraged to see that a family from 'back home' has also adopted. I don't know this family, but in my mind its rare to see this type of thing where I'm from. If you are interested in reading about the family who adopted from Ethiopia you can click here.

Sunday, December 2, 2007