Wow. Please take a few minutes to watch this video. I know that sometimes you want to help, but are scared to contribute to a foundation that you don't trust. I can tell you from the bottom of my heart, Shane Willard Ministries is making a difference in this world. I have seen many of the faces in this video with my very own eyes. I have kissed their sweet faces. And I have had to walk away and leave them in conditions your mind can not fathom. Shane Willard Ministries is going into these places and truly making a difference in these children's (and adults!) lives. Please watch. Please help bring Heaven to earth for so many.
Shane Willard Ministries
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
FAITH
Three years ago exactly. That's when we received the call with a referral. We were so excited to be matched with a precious little one. She was just 7 months younger than our bio daughter, and we couldn't wait to have the girls grow up together.
There was no way at that time that I could have known the way our story would end. There is no way I could have known that in just 7 months from that call, my heart would break into a 1000 pieces. A thousand pieces of my heart that felt like would never, ever heal. I have wondered so many times if I had known the way our journey would go, would I have still wanted to travel it? Would I choose the most devastating time in my life, just so I could have my eyes truly opened to the plight of the orphan?
Yes. Yes, I would. Over and over.
You see, my heart was changed over the course of those few months. I have always wanted to adopt a little girl from China. To bring her home and love on her here. I knew I would travel to China to get her, I just didn't know how my heart would change once I got there. At that time, it stopped being about her, the little girl I so longed for, and became about them.
While our adoption journey didn't end the way I always dreamed of, it ended in a way I never imagined. I am so much more aware of the orphan crisis. Not just in China, everywhere. I believe part of the reason God chose to send us down that path, was to accomplish so much more than making a difference to one little girl. I believe with my whole heart we are suppose to make a difference to as many orphans as we possibly can.
As I have blogged about before, in April, I had the privilege of traveling back to China to serve in an orphanage in Hengyang, Hunan. This particular orphanage is the home of many, many special needs children, as well as adults. I will share about that trip soon, but I just wanted to say that it was that trip when I realized just why we were told to embark on the greatest act of faith of our lives.
We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We are called to get out of our comfort zone to love and serve, just as Jesus did. That is my purpose. Miraculously, those children, those adults, that have never known life outside those walls, brought a joy and healing to my heart that I never imagined possible.
It gave me a renewed since of hope. For the first time in 2 years, I felt Faith begin to fill my heart once again. The devastation that I lived every day was starting to have purpose.
I don't know how our journey will continue to play out. I don't know if we will one day, finally bring our girl home. But I do know I will be forever changed. I will travel as much as I can afford to serve. Fortunately, I have built a relationship with the wonderful workers at International China Concern that will allow me to go back as often as I can. So while our actual adoption is on the back burner for now, my purpose is not!
Early in our journey, I discovered Jiayin Designs. For years I wanted a custom charm, but I just couldn't afford it with every free penny being saved. I would often go to their website or facebook page, Jiayin Designs, and just look. Always thinking about what I would get one day when I was finally able to get one.
I have been constantly reminded to have faith. Just have faith, Michele. You can trust whatever Jesus brings your way. You can trust any journey he asks you to take. Faith. So not to long ago, I was looking at the charms again and I knew. I knew what my custom charm would be - the Chinese character for "Faith". I was telling my mom about the charm, and how much I would love one. I just wanted that constant reminder to just have faith, when I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I was so excited this past Christmas when I finally got my charm (thanks momma!!)! I can tell you, it has not left my neck since I opened that beautiful little wrapped package! I love it! It is so beautiful, and hand made! It is honestly one of my most prized possessions, absolutely worth the wait!
So now, when I feel that sadness come over me, I just reach up and touch my charm. My reminder that He is faithful. He will never let me down. I just have to have faith!
There was no way at that time that I could have known the way our story would end. There is no way I could have known that in just 7 months from that call, my heart would break into a 1000 pieces. A thousand pieces of my heart that felt like would never, ever heal. I have wondered so many times if I had known the way our journey would go, would I have still wanted to travel it? Would I choose the most devastating time in my life, just so I could have my eyes truly opened to the plight of the orphan?
Yes. Yes, I would. Over and over.
You see, my heart was changed over the course of those few months. I have always wanted to adopt a little girl from China. To bring her home and love on her here. I knew I would travel to China to get her, I just didn't know how my heart would change once I got there. At that time, it stopped being about her, the little girl I so longed for, and became about them.
While our adoption journey didn't end the way I always dreamed of, it ended in a way I never imagined. I am so much more aware of the orphan crisis. Not just in China, everywhere. I believe part of the reason God chose to send us down that path, was to accomplish so much more than making a difference to one little girl. I believe with my whole heart we are suppose to make a difference to as many orphans as we possibly can.
As I have blogged about before, in April, I had the privilege of traveling back to China to serve in an orphanage in Hengyang, Hunan. This particular orphanage is the home of many, many special needs children, as well as adults. I will share about that trip soon, but I just wanted to say that it was that trip when I realized just why we were told to embark on the greatest act of faith of our lives.
We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We are called to get out of our comfort zone to love and serve, just as Jesus did. That is my purpose. Miraculously, those children, those adults, that have never known life outside those walls, brought a joy and healing to my heart that I never imagined possible.
It gave me a renewed since of hope. For the first time in 2 years, I felt Faith begin to fill my heart once again. The devastation that I lived every day was starting to have purpose.
I don't know how our journey will continue to play out. I don't know if we will one day, finally bring our girl home. But I do know I will be forever changed. I will travel as much as I can afford to serve. Fortunately, I have built a relationship with the wonderful workers at International China Concern that will allow me to go back as often as I can. So while our actual adoption is on the back burner for now, my purpose is not!
Early in our journey, I discovered Jiayin Designs. For years I wanted a custom charm, but I just couldn't afford it with every free penny being saved. I would often go to their website or facebook page, Jiayin Designs, and just look. Always thinking about what I would get one day when I was finally able to get one.
I have been constantly reminded to have faith. Just have faith, Michele. You can trust whatever Jesus brings your way. You can trust any journey he asks you to take. Faith. So not to long ago, I was looking at the charms again and I knew. I knew what my custom charm would be - the Chinese character for "Faith". I was telling my mom about the charm, and how much I would love one. I just wanted that constant reminder to just have faith, when I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I was so excited this past Christmas when I finally got my charm (thanks momma!!)! I can tell you, it has not left my neck since I opened that beautiful little wrapped package! I love it! It is so beautiful, and hand made! It is honestly one of my most prized possessions, absolutely worth the wait!
So now, when I feel that sadness come over me, I just reach up and touch my charm. My reminder that He is faithful. He will never let me down. I just have to have faith!
Monday, September 24, 2012
PLEASE PRAY
We are at the ENT with Julianna. She has had a reoccurring ear infection since May. What scares me about it all is her lymph nodes have been swollen since then, too.
Will you all please lift her up in prayer. I'm just worried sick. Scary things (do not google!) when your lymph nodes remain swollen!!
Thank you!!
Will you all please lift her up in prayer. I'm just worried sick. Scary things (do not google!) when your lymph nodes remain swollen!!
Thank you!!
Friday, September 14, 2012
REMEMBER ME?
It's been quite some time since I blogged. I sure have missed the therapeutic benefits of typing out my thoughts. I am also sure so much time has passed, that I no longer have readers! LOL!
April was my last entry! Gracious! That seems like a life time ago. A lot of big things have happened since then! Days after I blogged last, Julianna and I went on our trip to South East Asia! It was the trip of a lifetime. We were gone 15 days! I will share more details of that awesome trip soon!
Things are finally settling down after a long, hard summer. I lost my precious grandmother in July, and then Brad lost his grandfather one week later. I have to say, it was a very difficult time for our family. On top of the losses, I have been dealing with crippling anxiety/fear.
It's been a craptacular few months to say the least. I hope though, as I share some of my experiences and the things that have helped me overcome the difficult times, it will encourage someone out there.
So I have lots to share! I do hope someone will be here to read along.
April was my last entry! Gracious! That seems like a life time ago. A lot of big things have happened since then! Days after I blogged last, Julianna and I went on our trip to South East Asia! It was the trip of a lifetime. We were gone 15 days! I will share more details of that awesome trip soon!
Things are finally settling down after a long, hard summer. I lost my precious grandmother in July, and then Brad lost his grandfather one week later. I have to say, it was a very difficult time for our family. On top of the losses, I have been dealing with crippling anxiety/fear.
It's been a craptacular few months to say the least. I hope though, as I share some of my experiences and the things that have helped me overcome the difficult times, it will encourage someone out there.
So I have lots to share! I do hope someone will be here to read along.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
IT'S ALMOST TIME!
I can't believe in less than 48 hours, I will be somewhere over the USA on my way to China! So surreal! Anyway, I wanted to let everyone know that while I am gone, I will be posting on a shutterfly site. Originally, I was going to post here and put photos to share on shutterfly. I just think for the sake of convenience, I will just post everything there. I am not sure how much time I am going to have, so if I can post everything from one place, that would be best.
As far as I know, shutterfly.com is not blocked in China, whereas Facebook and blogger are. If you would like to follow along on our journey, the website is...
www.ourasianadventures.shutterfly.com
I hope you will follow along! Feel free to make comments if you want! Unless of course you have something ugly to say, then well, don't.
Yay! I am ready. Of course, it is taking every ounce of my strength to fight the growing knot in my tummy anticipating saying goodbye to my boys. I am not ready for that!
Well, I guess I am off! I have to get my house prepared for my departure. If you happen to see my boys and they look dirty or hungry, please help them! HAHA!
As far as I know, shutterfly.com is not blocked in China, whereas Facebook and blogger are. If you would like to follow along on our journey, the website is...
www.ourasianadventures.shutterfly.com
I hope you will follow along! Feel free to make comments if you want! Unless of course you have something ugly to say, then well, don't.
Yay! I am ready. Of course, it is taking every ounce of my strength to fight the growing knot in my tummy anticipating saying goodbye to my boys. I am not ready for that!
Well, I guess I am off! I have to get my house prepared for my departure. If you happen to see my boys and they look dirty or hungry, please help them! HAHA!
Thursday, April 5, 2012
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
We are leaving in under two weeks! ACK! 12 days to be exact. That seems crazy to me. I have begun packing and getting things organized. I kept emailing Shane to ask him if we had secured domestic flights and hotels - he always said, "Not yet!" So I begged him to let me make the travel arrangement for us. The ticking clock was beginning to stress me out. Shane and I are very much a like, with a lot in common, yet this is clearly one of our major differences. I am such a planner, I can't sleep at night until everything is secured. I truly missed my calling as a travel agent.
Anyway, so I have been hard at work. It's been so much fun! I tried to do a little (yeah right) research on hotels and flights, so when he did tell me to go ahead and book us, I would be ready to go. Finally I wore him down and he gave me the go ahead! WOOT! HAHA!
Julianna and I leave the US on Tuesday morning, the 17th. We will arrive in Hong Kong on the night of the 18th (it will be early morning here). It will take us approximately 24 hours to travel there. I have to be honest, the thought of being on a plane for 15 hours with no laundry to do, meals to cook, or phone to answer thrills my heart. Twenty four hours of just sitting with my best girl. Ahhhhh.
Anyway, we will get to Hong Kong a couple of hours before Shane and the girls. We will be staying at the Novotel City Gate near the Hong Kong airport. It looks pretty nice. We have a full day free on Thursday and part of the day free on Friday to do a little sight seeing. I don't know what the other people in my little group (Shane, Juju, me and two Australian ladies that are helping the ministry.) would like to do, but I am open to whatever they want. One of the girls mentioned DisneyLand - which we would love, of course. At the same time, I want to see the city. I can see the Mouse anytime. It really doesn't matter though.
We will leave HK Friday evening. We are flying on a direct flight to Guilin, China. Once we get there, we will stay one night because it is quite a drive to Yangshuo, where we will be for the week. We have to be in Yangshuo by early evening on Saturday, so I am hoping to do a little sight seeing in Guilin before we head there. At the very least go to the carrefour or Walmart to get some supplies (and by supplies I mean Coke. LOL. Lots and lots of Coke.) From what I understand, there is no large store like that in Yangshuo. I have arranged a private van to take us, so it will be a little easier to navigate without a facilitator.
We will be in Yangshuo from Saturday until Friday. However, one of the ladies and myself will be traveling to the orphanage in Hengyang either on Wednesday or Thursday. We will have the opportunity to love on the little ones there for a day or two (hoping for two!).
From there, we will be heading back to HK for a flight out Saturday morning to Singapore. We will have the privilege of staying with one of Shane's friends there, so no hotels to arrange. Shane will stay in Singapore a full week, but Juju and I will be heading back to the states on May 2nd.
I am wondering about what type of weather we will have. I guess I will just pack layers. If anyone has been to the cities I am traveling to, I would love input. When we visit the orphanage, we will be traveling via high speed train and going through Changsha.
I plan to blog the whole time, should anyone want to follow along. I will create a shutterfly site for photos too.
So that is my update! Can't believe it's so close!
Anyway, so I have been hard at work. It's been so much fun! I tried to do a little (yeah right) research on hotels and flights, so when he did tell me to go ahead and book us, I would be ready to go. Finally I wore him down and he gave me the go ahead! WOOT! HAHA!
Julianna and I leave the US on Tuesday morning, the 17th. We will arrive in Hong Kong on the night of the 18th (it will be early morning here). It will take us approximately 24 hours to travel there. I have to be honest, the thought of being on a plane for 15 hours with no laundry to do, meals to cook, or phone to answer thrills my heart. Twenty four hours of just sitting with my best girl. Ahhhhh.
Anyway, we will get to Hong Kong a couple of hours before Shane and the girls. We will be staying at the Novotel City Gate near the Hong Kong airport. It looks pretty nice. We have a full day free on Thursday and part of the day free on Friday to do a little sight seeing. I don't know what the other people in my little group (Shane, Juju, me and two Australian ladies that are helping the ministry.) would like to do, but I am open to whatever they want. One of the girls mentioned DisneyLand - which we would love, of course. At the same time, I want to see the city. I can see the Mouse anytime. It really doesn't matter though.
We will leave HK Friday evening. We are flying on a direct flight to Guilin, China. Once we get there, we will stay one night because it is quite a drive to Yangshuo, where we will be for the week. We have to be in Yangshuo by early evening on Saturday, so I am hoping to do a little sight seeing in Guilin before we head there. At the very least go to the carrefour or Walmart to get some supplies (and by supplies I mean Coke. LOL. Lots and lots of Coke.) From what I understand, there is no large store like that in Yangshuo. I have arranged a private van to take us, so it will be a little easier to navigate without a facilitator.
We will be in Yangshuo from Saturday until Friday. However, one of the ladies and myself will be traveling to the orphanage in Hengyang either on Wednesday or Thursday. We will have the opportunity to love on the little ones there for a day or two (hoping for two!).
From there, we will be heading back to HK for a flight out Saturday morning to Singapore. We will have the privilege of staying with one of Shane's friends there, so no hotels to arrange. Shane will stay in Singapore a full week, but Juju and I will be heading back to the states on May 2nd.
I am wondering about what type of weather we will have. I guess I will just pack layers. If anyone has been to the cities I am traveling to, I would love input. When we visit the orphanage, we will be traveling via high speed train and going through Changsha.
I plan to blog the whole time, should anyone want to follow along. I will create a shutterfly site for photos too.
So that is my update! Can't believe it's so close!
Monday, March 26, 2012
ANONYMOUS FRIEND
Sorry that I am having to address this on my blog, but I have no other way of contacting you. No, we were not able to complete our adoption, and no one is more upset about that than we are. Devastated doesn't even begin to cover it. I can guarantee you, any money donated to us was used for adoption fees/costs. Not ONE cent was used for any thing not adoption related. We paid $30,000 total for our adoption. I can tell you that approximately $27,000 of that came out of MY pocket. If you would kindly email me your address and name, I can get you a check out in today's mail to refund your donation. jackjujam at yahoo.com is my email address.
I will share something else that I intended to keep to myself. We donated a large amount of money to various foundations (such as International China Concern), several families that were in the process of adopting, as well as a couple of random people that needed help financially. We felt it was a way of "paying it forward" for the donations we received. We were not able to track down the handful of people that donated to us to refund their money. We thought the next best thing was to give it away to people in a similar situation, the orphan and the poor.
I will be looking forward to your email. If you could also tell me the amount of money you donated, that would be helpful. Like I said, I insist on refunding your money. Thank you so much for making bringing light to the way you feel. I hope it helps you feel better to have it off your chest.
I will share something else that I intended to keep to myself. We donated a large amount of money to various foundations (such as International China Concern), several families that were in the process of adopting, as well as a couple of random people that needed help financially. We felt it was a way of "paying it forward" for the donations we received. We were not able to track down the handful of people that donated to us to refund their money. We thought the next best thing was to give it away to people in a similar situation, the orphan and the poor.
I will be looking forward to your email. If you could also tell me the amount of money you donated, that would be helpful. Like I said, I insist on refunding your money. Thank you so much for making bringing light to the way you feel. I hope it helps you feel better to have it off your chest.
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