Kombolcha!!

This week our team is in Kombolcha, Ethiopia!!  They are visiting our Meseret Kristso's CarePoint.  Here's a few photos of our March 2013 visit. Please be in prayer for our team and the children.

Five Years!

Our dear sweet Henry has been with us for 5 years!  He is such a delight. We love you!

October 2013 Medical Mission trip

We had an amazing medical mission trip in October! 

We examined over 300 children at two Children's HopeChest CarePoints- Project greenlight which is located in Addis Ababa and our CarePoint,  Mesert Christos in Kombolcha.  We also examined and treated some ill children outside the sponsorship program and about a half a dozen parents.  

Kombolcha CarePoint

Children at Project GreenLight

We shared the gospel of Jesus, played games, washed their feet, examined and treated them. 

 Everyday we provided a snack of bananas for the children.  We treated fevers, cuts, strep throat and more.  We also removed items and cleaned out their ears.  Several children were referred to a hospital or clinic, including a child who appeared to have broken his arm while we were on-site.

When we arrived in Kombolcha some of the children had your photos- holding them up and asking if you were part of the team.  One boy was carrying a musical greeting card that was enclosed in his March care package.  Sponsorship matters, the children know your name and asked about you. Most of the messages they gave me were similar- "thank you for being my sponsor!  Please come to visit." 

If you provided medical supplies, helped financially or prayed for us- THANK YOU!!! You helped support an amazing team who ministered to many. Our next trip is March 8-18 2014 which will be structured much like a Vacation Bible School. 

Our team

Eight years!

Igor has been home eight years!!  He wanted 5 Guys for lunch and mac & cheese for dinner.  We celebrate 8 years with you as our son.

it's been a while!

This summer was so much fun.  Here are a few memories.

Igor's first sleep away camp

Merone's gotcha day!

Igor turns 11 yrs old!

Merone turns 4 years old

Merone's first bike ride!

pool time with aunt Christy

fun at the lake

fun at the lake

Henry's first solo kayak trip

fun at the lake

Merone loves sand

Igor loves the waves

Henry tries skim-boarding

and now school has started... here's my poem for my children as they drifted off to sleep:

Twas the night before schools starts when all through the house, 

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; 

The school clothes were hung on the closet door with care,

In hopes that the school bus soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of new I-pads (school provided) danced in their heads.

School starts tomorrow, it is all bitter sweet... 

welcome 2013-14 school year, I hope it's quite neat.

Thank you God, for my Daughter

Rob wrote this post:

Merone had a sad look on her face - we disrupted her world pretty dramatically when we adopted her and she was powerless to voice any kind of opinion. Even the language she had was taken from her. This look on her face is a good teaching tool for adoptive parents. We do something good - give orphans permanent homes. But in doing it, we have to acknowledge the trauma they have been through, the extreme losses they have suffered. We adoptive parents bring hope to them, but it must be a hope that is willing to take time, be patient, and honor the pain they are in and the pain they've been forced to endure. I see all of that Merone's sad eyes, in June 2011.

Two years ago...

Guess who has been home for TWO YEARS???  We celebrated with Tibs and Doro Wat.