39,000 smack-a-roos

Today Levi got out a stack of post-it notes and and orange highlighter with the intention of writing a letter to Santa. We have never really promoted this so I am sure some movie is to blame. Of course, I also assumed that he would have a laundry list of things he'd want, but no. He instead mentioned one squeezy frog and asked each of us what we'd like to ask for. He put them in a white envelope and wrote Santa on the front and asked me to mail it. In the meantime, Ivey has been asking all day if we could put up christmas decorations. I love to put up christmas decorations but this year there is such a strong resistance on my part because putting them up means a realization that we won't be in Sierra Leone by Christmas. I so wanted to spend our Christmas with all five kids and it just isn't going to happen. We have gotten to the point where we are ready and waiting. Craigslisters' have bought most of the things we needed to sell and we packed everything that we didn't need immediately. The Big Berky is on top of the refrigerator being tested, I have spent more time than necessary on pinterest claiming to research homeschooling ideas, and we have enough dove soap to wash a whale-which I might be if I don't stop eating pumpkin pie.
So we wait. And we hear about the good things happening at the center. Erica just got back and said that they had been blessed enough to give all the staff raises this year. I love that! And, the 'Kids Against Hunger' container has hit port. I love that too! I wish we could be there to experience the joy these things bring and to share in it with these people that we are growing to love. At the same time we are so going to miss the people here that we are leaving. We decided to have a portrait made so that we could hang it in our new house and remember the wonderful faces that we are so blessed to label as friends. I can't wait to see the framed product. I guess I should really get busy with that since I am the one framing it...
Some other things that have happened since my last post:
Andrew finished his missions class.
I got older and my kids woke me with the best cake I've ever received.

Levi started Kindergarten

Halloween
Love Ivey's spirit! She really is a delicate yet boisterous 'queen of hearts'

Levi requested a lizard that walks on water. Nothing like a good challenge:

We had our first Sierra Leonian guest ever-Quami. The kids instantly loved him and we very much enjoyed his stay.

And I accomplished two goals that have been pending for years. 1. I shared a booth with a great friend at a craft fair. 2. I have a small section of my bibs, mobiles, and hair bow holders in a specialty shop. Two checks off my bucket list!

And, while I don't have any photos of this, the list of people who amaze us with their generosity continues to grow. Thank you all so much for your strong support of us. There just aren't enough words or thank you notes in the world to express how much we really do appreciate all those who have given their time, efforts, prayers, and money to us during this transition. I am sure you guessed what was on mine and Andrew's post it notes so if anyone has $39,000 laying around...well, you know.

www.siscomission.com
~Heather

nurturing

Sometimes when things happen here it so exposes a persons inmost being that I feel like maybe I shouldn't tell it. It feels almost like I've been told a secret. However, I couldn't resist telling this because it so deeply exposes the heart and mind of the orphan which I think is important to think about.
There are a few older boys at the center here who have an appearance of a tough outer shell. One in particular doesn't smile much and is a bit stand-offish. Yet, I adore them. This is only my third time visiting in the last year but there is an obvious difference in them even from 6 months ago. There are the beginnings of something. A smile here and there, allowing hugs, and believe it or not the hardest seeming one requested prayers for me when I was sick. His prayers for me were beautiful. I spent a good thirty minutes yesterday just sitting on a bench with several of them and every time I felt like getting up I resisted because I kept feeling that it was important to sit there with them. Tonight a few of the same ones sat on either side of me in silence for a while and then slowly questions began to come.
"Do you have children?" (they know I do) "Do you spank them?" they asked. I should probably note here that a few of them are prankster types so this conversations was infused with plenty of demonstrations. One boy held my arm strait and slapped the inside of my arm really hard and giggled. "Yes, but not like that" I say. "How?" "On their bottoms" I reply. I thought that the questions would end there due the the uncontrollable laughter but then the quieter one asked how I wake my kids. I wasn't sure what he meant so I asked him to say it again. Also, I wasn't fully sure how to respond to that question because I don't necessarily have a set procedure. So, in response I said, "Well, they usually just wake up on their own but if I ever do have to wake them up I will usually just pick them up and pat them or rub their backs." Inquiring looks abounded so while most of them weigh as much as I do I demonstrated by picking up the one who is somewhat small and jokingly cradled him and patted his back saying in a babying voice "wake up amara, wake up". They didn't laugh. They smiled. Longing smiles. I repositioned myself in between the main two questioners and asked "How do you wake up?". They said that their companion slap their shoulders to wake them sometimes. I don't doubt that in this prankster group. The next in the line of questioning was "Do you scratch their backs?". Again, I had to make sure that I understood what they meant so I asked "Like this?" and gently scratched one's back. "Yes" he says. So, I told them "Yes. Levi loves to get his back scratched". Again, they had that sort of dreamy look and I was just overcome with the sensitivity that they were exposing as the questions went on. I don't know what experiences they have had in the past with mothers or the lack thereof but I know that they should have one now. I know that I hate that these boys-beautiful boys-should have someone scratch their backs at times, to listen and answer basic questions, and to just sit and be present with them. It was such basic questions, things that every good mother would do without thinking- but that it appears they have never experienced. How that saddens me! So I scratched their backs. And if all that was their way of playing the white women into a back rub then I am such a sucker!

running

Today I am remembering when we initially felt in our hearts that the Holy Spirit was leading us to adopt three children. We made a list of all the things that we would need to have money for. The most expensive on the list was a car that would seat seven and three plane tickets. Within two months a friend told us that they too had been adopted and offered to pay for the flights. Within a month of that we had one car flooded and totaled and then our second car totaled. So we went ahead and bought a mini van. And Erica called to tell us that someone we did not know wanted to give us a car. Since we received insurance money for the car that was flooded we ended up with two vehicles that were better than the two we had before, including the seven seater car we were able to scratch off the list of needs. I remember more than a couple of amazing people had a yard sale for us with donated items. They used their time and efforts to raise over 1000 dollars and a mini van was donated. I remember that when we had to make several international trips another couple gave us a check for $10,000. And then again after submitting all of our expensive paperwork and traveling twice each we decided that I should return a third time. We did not try to raise money but a couple felt the desire to give and decided to send a check. When I received the total left to owe on the trip it matched the check amount exactly! I remember when people we did not know began coming out of the woodwork to adopt children from the same place as us and had such a heart for this country. Crazy people who are adopting when it was not their plan but saw a need and decided that children are more important than nice houses and vacations. I have heard the similarities in the stories of how we came to these conclusions and can only deduce that it is a movement of God himself that all these families are being called at the same time and in the same way. So here we are, a growing list of families joined in the cause of Sierra Leone, awaiting a way. Everything we have tried has been shot down so far but we are sure that these children are supposed to come home with us. We are running towards the Red Sea with the hope and expectation that God will part it.

Where to begin.....

The question of why we are moving to Africa is difficult to answer in one line. But if I were going to sum it up I would just have to say because we believe God wants us to. It is even difficult to pinpoint a beginning. So, I'll start by saying that I remember being at church camp in the summer between seventh and eighth grade when I first realized that I needed and wanted to be a Christian. I was in the back of the auditorium on one of the last few days of the week thinking about how I didn't really want to walk down to the front in front of all the people. I squirmed in my chair wrestling with this decision and the weight it would carry knowing that I'd have to agree to follow into unknown territory. The only knowledge I had of Africa was the Ethiopia commercials and I had not ever thought anything about going there until strangely enough it was part of my decision that day. I remember bartering with God and thinking, "ok, I am really ready to make this life changing decision but please don't ever make me go to Africa". I guess that I viewed that as the 'ultimate mission' and that only the most notable christians go there. Billy Graham types or weirdo's. And no one in between. Life went on and in college I gained a further understanding of the Bible and God himself. I have always loved children and my heart hurts for those abused or abandoned. Andrew and I were feeling that God was beginning to stir something up in us and so we prayed that we would understand what we were supposed to do. We spent 6 months helping on Sundays with the children's ministry, helped with a small refugee project in Nashville, and a list of other things trying to find the answer to that question. We knew we were supposed to do more but we weren't feeling like we had found the 'it' thing. Until August of 2009. A new couple visited our small group and while I usually like to dominate all conversations we let them tell us what they did for a living and when the wife began talking I became speechless(i know that this blog has just lost all credibility). Andrew was hitting my leg under the table. She said that she ran a non profit organization that was about to open a center for orphans in place that I had never heard of nor could locate on a map. But I was in awe. I had spoken that same 'i want to open a home' speech to Andrew four years before in a detail that I still can't fully believe. I wanted to do what she was doing years before I met her only I wanted to do it in America. I didn't mention that to her but we followed her blog very closely for the next few weeks while she was in Sierra Leone opening the center. Andrew and I were hooked. We had found the thing that God was stirring in our hearts for a year before. We weren't sure what exactly we were supposed to do but we knew it involved The Raining Season and orphan care. From that August to the next we debated, swayed, wrestled and finally decided to move to Sierra Leone. It was not without a fight on my part and I decided that since God was being so clear that I would just ignore him which I did for three weeks. What a terrible three weeks it was. One Sunday morning I decided that enough was enough and that I would read once again and I picked up where I left off three weeks earlier in Matthew 13. That chapter has several parables about the kingdom of heaven, sewing seeds and the good sorted from the bad. I kept thinking how I don't mind sewing seeds-I just wanted to stay here in my house, in my town where my friends and family live and there is a Target. I like Target. I like Target a lot! But in the very last paragraph Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, that a prophet is not without honor except in his own hometown". So, I shut that Bible and drove to church. I can't remember if I took the scenic route or the freeway because I was to busy thinking of a rebuttal. It went something like this: I am not a prophet so maybe this doesn't apply to me. And, not everyone has to leave their hometown to spread the seeds. So, maybe I can just stay where I am and work harder on the things I am committed to here. I got to church and the guest speaker was talking about the validity of Christ and I thought, "whew, thankfully I am not going to be provoked here since I was already very convinced of that point" but church is not a very good place to go if you don't want to hear what God has to say. So would you believe that that dumb guy ended the whole thing with the comment that if God took all the pains to ensure that we had the right guy wouldn't it be a good assumption that we should listen to what he has to say. Of course everyone is thinking yes so he says, "lets find out what he does have to say", and he went on to quote the great commission. "Go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them everything I have commanded you. And I am with you even till the end of the age" Matthew 28 ( or Mark 16) I was sitting in my seat dumbfounded(no remarks on that please) and got out of my seat like a zombie to go home. I called Andrew who was in Memphis and told him about the morning really just wanting him to agree that we should stay in suburbia and live opposed to what we were supposed to do. While I wrestled these thoughts out loud to Andrew I was coming around the corner of a turn I have made a million times. I had just ranted these words, " I just really want to be sure that we have to go there and that we can't stay here. I need a clear sign that we have to go there" when rounding that corner and dropped my jaw. There on the corner was a large wooden playset like you see in backyards all the time. It was the kind that had a canvas top. This particular canvas top had obviously seen better days as the stripes had been faded with the sun and had come loose on one side and was flapping in the wind. I did a double take and checked to make sure I was really seeing a blue, white and green striped canvas flag waving all around in the wind. Yep. That is the Sierra Leonian flag! These three happenings only cover a four hour time period so you can imagine how many other things I don't have time or space in this dissertation to mention. So, we are going. And I am excited about it. Andrew has been offered a position with The Raining Season(visit therainingseason.org if your interested) and will be learning a lot about business as missions. I will be raising our kids at home and homeschooling(God help me) and learning how to milk chickens. We have been on a two week survey trip and have gotten our budget figured out finally so we will go as soon as we sell our house and have the funds raised. Our goal is November but we will see. We aren't sure how long but we are viewing it as long term and would be there at least two years. It's funny how when you decide to just give in and obey you find that it usually isn't nearly as big of a deal as you made it out to be. Kind of like kids eating peas. I am sure that it will be hard. We are going to miss all of you so much more that you will know. But we will be taken care of and God has a way of providing all you need. Thank you so much for all of the support you have been to us. We have been showered with kind words and great friends to support us during this rocky time so we are very blessed!

Fun at the beach with beautiful Isatu.

I am so proud of this boy and love him so much!

uh hum, attention please....

We are moving to Sierra Leone West Africa. I will be raising five children and 6 chickens. I am intending to home school, cook from scratch and make all my curtains with gingham fabric. I am excited! and nervous! and I realize that this won't really be news to anyone.

Feb. trip to Sierra Leone first 3 days

It was really good to see the kids! We did a lot of the same things that we have done on previous trips so I'll just post photo's and stories that aren't repeats.
We were greeted by the kids at the bottom of the hill singing welcome songs and holding signs. We walked up to the building and gathered in a room where we were prayed for and welcomed further and then Albert showed us his photo's of us taped to the wall by his bed(which is the very top bunk).


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Then we went outside for some playtime. The boys were doing push ups and wanted 'uncle' Andrew to do some. He did and John decided that it was too easy to just do regular push ups in humid heat so he jumped on Andrew's back laughing.

I had to record Andrew pretending that they were too heavy to pick up because John was laughing so hard!

The kids went in to change and get ready for sports day which is much like track and field here. There was Auntie Tina's red team, Auntie Erica's yellow team, Uncle Jason's blue team, and Uncle Paul's green team.

Since each of our three sponsored children were on a different team we found ourselves traveling from tent to tent all day.




Even the staff was very excited about sports day. Each one was assigned to a certain team and wore that teams color. When Albert ran by me at the speed of lightning and won the 100 meter dash the green team staff rushed the field to grab him cheering. A pain filled my chest. I wanted to be that person and it was hard to watch but it made me happy at the same time. This trip was filled with mixed emotions because I am so grateful that they have bonds with their teachers and caretakers, but I also find myself feeling sad that I haven't been able to have the time to bond with them one on one myself. I watched Isatu in the downtime between events learn to balance a bottle on her head and thought about how Ivey would never even think to do that. These kids are a unique part of their culture and I am glad for that.






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(Albert is holding the right side of the green team banner)There were MANY events and at the end of being amazed at the speed of several kids we witnessed the 'Africa queen' contest. Each team dressed a girl in traditional African queen outfits, hair and etc. Each girl very seriously strutted out and did a little dance that had us laughing so hard. Isatu won! It was too cute!!!

I'm not sure if I laughed harder at her dancing or her running....




Sunday was church day and afterwards the kids watched "How to Train Your Dragon". I have seen this movie countless times with Levi but I saw this movie through new eyes as I wondered how many of them remember scenes similar to the one of the vikings fighting the dragons. Does that even trigger memories of the war-I don't know. Some did look nervous but maybe that is normal. I wonder how many of these orphans have experienced the same feelings that Hiccup feels of being an outsider and how many have had their fathers say "your not my son" just like Hiccups dad says to him. And, I wonder how many of them feel the love of a father now the way it turns out for Hiccup when his father apologizes and all is well. It breaks my heart to look around the room at these faces that have experienced so much that should never happen. My prayer is that their hearts would be able to fully heal and that they would be able to save others from those hurts because they choose to save their nation.




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The second movie was "Finding Nemo" which Albert apparently had no interest in. I followed him outside when I realized he hadn't come back in. He was playing ball by himself so I played too for a while before we noticed some kids on the third floor and he started throwing the ball up the wall for them to catch. It was funny to watch and I really enjoyed that time with him.