Beach time!!

Wow, I didn't realize I haven't posted here since February!  Where has the time gone?  Oh yeah, doctor  and therapist appointments, but that's not what this post is about.  Maybe I'll post on the other stuff soon, just processing it.

We all needed some getaway R&R.  We left the house and animals in capable hands and headed to one of our favorite beach spots--Sandestin.  We are blessed this trip to be able to spend time with 2 special families.  Today we got to see Dawn and her family.  We have been friends since we adopted our first daughters about the same time 6+ years ago.  We unexpectedly found that they were staying 45 minutes from us and they came play on the beach today.  We got to meet Levi and they got to meet Eliana.  

Here are some pictures from our first night and our reunion:

View from our balcony

These 2 are the sweetest of sisters...

Shaoey and Grace watching the sunset over the bay

Dad & Shaoey at Roberto's 

Connor & Jacob

Shaoey is such a beach princess--she adores it!

All the China kids--Levi, Bekah, Shaoey (she's not really that short, she's standing in a hole), Grace, Leah, and Eliana

Connor volunteered to be buried and they jumped at the chance.

Leah and Grace jumping waves

Special moments

Shaoey looks like she belongs on a beach in Hawaii riding the waves!

Sweet Gracie was wiped out!  

Dawn & I
Thanks for coming hang with us today--what a blessing!

Prayers and fasting for SFCV--Friday/Saturday

Thank you for praying with us this week! Amazing things happen with His people bow their knees united and call on His name.  

Today I'd like to pray for those who are hurting in this situation.  In some ways I think I know where they're coming from.  The disappointment, the fierce love, the point where expections meet reality.  It is not a comfortable place to be.  I know.  They are grieving and and angry and hurting.  They want answers they may never get on this side of Heaven.  They need our love and prayers. But even more than that  they need the One who can heal body and soul, the One who knows everything and has a plan.   The one who loves their child even more than they do.  Pray for God to hear their cries and to comfort them.  Pray for their hearts to be softened, for them to be open to working together to improve the lives of orphans, not risk throwing it all away in grief.  

Thanks again for joining with us this week.  I spoke with Dr. Ana and have been emailing Tim and they say they feel our prayers, there's peace.  I hope that in the coming weeks, you will continue to lift up this situation and SFCV.  This isn't the end....

God bless!

Charlene

We interrupt this program to bring you this special news bulletin

I'm sorry.  I feel very burdened tonight to interrupt our prayers for SFCV to ask you to pray for ALL the NGO/foster care situations in China, specifically Henan province and any NGO that has children from Henan (which includes SFCV!).  The situation there continues to deteriorate.  

I posted a link earlier to a story about the LWB Healing Home in Henan.  The short version is that a Chinese woman was housing 18 children/youth.  She left to take some of the children to school.  While she was gone, a fire broke out and 7 children were killed.  The government has asked officials to make inspections of foster care homes.  It seems that even though these homes were given excellent reviews, the provincial government has ordered all the children to be returned to their original orphanage.  These are all special needs orphans.  This fire had NOTHING to do with NGOs.... totally separate.

As I posted in Wednesday's prayers, the Chinese culture (on a whole, not individually) has a different take on persons with disabilities and special needs.  

Please pray for these children that are being sent back to their orphanages.  Pray for their safety.  Pray for their hearts, this is another break in their attachment story.... each break makes it harder for future attachments.  Pray that their medical needs are met.  Pray that no more children will be ordered back to their original orphanage.  (As far as I know, SF has not had to return any children to their orphanage.)  And please pray that this is only temporary that they will soon be returned to their loving homes and reunited with their caretakers.  

Continue to pray for a hedge of protection around SFCV.  Pray for eyes to be opened, hearts to be changed and made new, and for the believers to stand firm in unity.

God bless!

Charlene

Prayer and fasting for SFCV--Wednesday

Spirit of unity  Pray for a spirit of unity among everyone at SFCV as they work together and with other ministry partners.

Now may the God of endurance and encouragement grant you agreement with one another according to Christ Jesus (Romans 15:5).

Resist temptation  Pray for missionaries to be quick to take the escape God provides when temptation sneaks up on them.  

God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13b).

As we pray, we need to be aware of some of the factors that oppose missionaries and can lead to their discouragement and make doing their calling challengine.  Here are 3  areas we can pray for SFCV.

1. Living in an alien culture.
2. Working among an unresponsive or hostile people. 
3. Shortage of personnel leading to work overload.

Chinese culture, in general, view children, especially those with special needs differently than we would.  Pray that the Chinese staff will be responsive to hearing any changes that need to be made, that they would see every child as deserving of their best love and care, that there would be an abundance of God honoring and loving workers to carry on this work.

Thanks for sticking with us.  Be sure to share any encouragement or word you receive as your praying.  

God bless!

Charlene

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Prayer and fasting for SFCV--Tuesday

Thanks for joining us in praying for SFCV this week.  I love that we have believers around the world joined together in prayer for the orphan.  What a blessing to be surrounded by all the amazing friends I have met through SFCV that share our Lord's heart for the orphan.  Thank you!  

Don't forget to share any revelation or inspiration you receive throughout the week. 

Purity Pray for the leaders, staff, and volunteers to be so renewed by God’s Word that no sin will have dominion over them.

Make my steps steady through Your promise; don’t let sin dominate me (Psalm 119:133)

Give glory to God Ask God to empower them to point people to Jesus and not seek undue recognition for themselves.

In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

Dependence on God  Pray for SFCV to model a life of dependence on God.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and he will guide you on the right paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Prayer and Fasting for SFCV--Monday (a little long, I promise they won't all be like this!)

As many of you know, SFCV needs our prayers.  I believe any place that cares for orphans needs our prayer.  There is a spiritual battle going on for the least of these.   Caring for orphans is God's heart.  Satan will do all he can to sabotage those who want what God wants and care for what God cares for.  

I had an interesting and timely vision this week.  As I was preregistering at the hospital on Thursday (as all this was going on on the internet), on the wall behind the worker was a poster of the Great Wall of China.   It read "Teamwork:  Many hands.  Many minds.  One goal."   I just sat there reading it over and over and felt God speaking to me.  We need to stand together for the orphan and those who care for them.  "A house divided against itself cannot stand."

With that in mind, I tried to think of what we could do to help from around the world.  

...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  Philippians 4:6-8

Prayer (and fasting) and thanksgiving and thinking on what is lovely!

On prayer and fasting:

I researched and came across a prayer list for missionaries.  A few didn't seem to quite fit, so I went through them and picked the ones that seemed appropriate.  I plan on fasting and praying on Monday, then continuing my prayers over the week.  Each day I will post a few more items to pray over.  Some will be more general and scriptural, some may be more practical.  I would love for all of you to come along side of us and pray for SFCV--the Bakers, the staff, the volunteers, adoptive families, and most importantly the children--those still there and those who have been adopted and need healing.  

Please use this however the Lord is leading you.  If He is leading you to fast, great!  Don't feel that you need to fast on the same day as me.  I think having people fasting throughout the week is awesome too.  I know some of you may be new to fasting and may be fearful of it.  A few thoughts (and I am not a pro!)--it can be food, but it does not have to be food!  Is there some other area God is asking you to fast?  Internet?  Shopping?  TV?  If you do choose a food fast, there are different kinds--liquid, Daniel, partial, full... I tend to do a combination.  I usually do liquids throughout the day and then around 6-7 pm I will have a small, plain meal.  Sort of a liquid/Daniel mix (no meat or sweets, nothing fancy).   The real goal isn't to be legalistic about it.  The goal is to replace that item/time with prayer time, that's what's important.  Don't get caught up in the how to, get caught up in the who--God!

On thinking on what it lovely:  lets share success stories! 

Ok, now that that's out of the way let's get to the praying!  Here are a few that I thought would be a good start to the week:

1.  Focus on God Pray for the leadership of SFCV to stay focused on God and His plans above all else.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you (Matthew 6:33).

2.  Confession and repentance Pray for them to regularly seek examination by God and to repent from any errors that have crept into their lives. 

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way (Psalm 139:23-24).

3.  Humility Pray for them to have a spirit of humility and to willingly ask God for wisdom in carrying out their assignment.

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him (James 1:5).

Thanks for joining us in this time of prayer and fasting.  I can't wait to hear the victory stories!

(This is my first time organizing a prayer and fasting.  I am new to some of this, so if you see an area I am incorrect or unscriptural/theologically off, please message me and let me know.  And I'm open to suggestions.)

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Language frustrations....

I don't know which is worse--coming to us with no English or coming to us with some and not wanting to speak any Chinese.  I know it's my mindset and expectations, but it still leads to MAJOR frustrations.  

Eliana wants NOTHING to do with Chinese and I think she has lost most of it already.  I also don't think she's progressed much in her English since coming to us so we seem to be at an impasse most days.  She has officially been home 3 months and I honestly don't feel that she understands us any more than day 1 home.  She gets the basic 2-3 year old stuff--eat, bathe, time to go bye-bye; but if we try to explain things to her, like why she was moved out of the girls room for waking them up and that she'll get to move back in when she shows us she's not going to keep waking them up, we get the blank stare or resaying what she thinks she heard which is totally wrong!  A funny one, I told her that one when she could prove to me that she wouldn't wake them up, she said "in one day I'll go back." NO!  We did NOT just move your whole bed for one day.  Or she'll say ok like she understands us but when asked to execute whatever she was told--nothing.  She has refused to listen to someone speak Chinese to her.  I was counting on that as a life line to communicate with her....that I could have someone explain the deeper things to her in her language.  

Today I read aloud 2 kid books for history.  When I finished she asked me, "mama, now do school?"  Huh?  I've been reading for 45 minutes!  That was school.  We do things like picture study (following Charlotte Mason).  It consists of the kids looking at a piece of artwork and telling me what they see.  She just stares.  She can't seem to tell me anything that's in the picture--and I'd take just about anything.  Tell me there's a girl, tell me a tree, just give me some indication you have looked at the picture!  All the others go first and then her, so she's heard 4 other students give their narration.  Nothing.  

I'm not sure how to proceed.  We're a verbal family--with 7 of us there's always talking.  She's surrounded by talking, playing, music, TONS of read aloud--I read aloud about 2 hours a day and baba reads books before bed.  Interesting...she will only listen to the book she picks out, she wanders off when Troy reads a book that Shaoey or Grace chose...hmmm.  When should I be concerned?  When should I consider taking her for an eval?  We're all frustrated.

Christmas fundraiser

Need a Christmas gift?  How about one that helps others?  

All proceeds from this Christmas fundraiser go to:

SFCV

and

Agape House

Both organizations care for special needs orphans in China.   We have been to both homes and met the wonderful, precious children there and the amazing families that have given their lives to care for these children.   By Christmas shopping here, you will be helping children on the other side of the world.

THANK YOU!

Mirrors $15

Bookmarks $10

Chinese Scripture $15

Chinese Scripture $15

Chinese Scripture $15

Chopsticks $10

Small trinket box $5

Wood carving $10

Wood carving $10

Woven purses $10

Wallets $10

Wallets $10

purses $10

Journal $15

Inside journal

Coin purse $5

Bracelets picture 1
$10 each

Bracelet photo 2
$10 each

Bracelet photo 3
$10 each

Bracelet photo 4
$10 each

Small jewelry boxes $15

Cell/ipod purse $10

Chess set $20

Pashmina scarves $20/each

A life lesson...

If Your Brother Sins Against You

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.  Matthew 18:15-17

Today's WWIII gave me a tangible way to show the children how the church is like a family and our family is like a church.  

As I talked to Shaoey and Grace about how we don't want this separation to be permanent, how we wanted it to bring about a change in Eliana, I found myself thinking of church discipline and family.  I had an aha moment of the similarities between church and family. 

Eliana sinned against the girls by continuing to wake them and bother them during sleep time and against us by disobeyed Troy and I.  The girls immediately would tell her to stop, that they didn't like being woken up by her. Shaoey and Grace came to us and we talked to her about it.  When she refused to listen (and change behavior), we had no choice but to remove her from the fellowship of the girls bedroom into a temporary bedroom.  

 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11

I was able to talk to all the kids about how we handle conflict, how we strive for repentance and reconciliation.

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. Genesis 50:20

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Praise God for allowing His word to come to mind to use this ugly, uncomfortable situation this morning to teach our children and me a valuable lesson in what discipline looks like at home and at church.  

And a wonderful word of wisdom from a FB friend:

Sometimes being a good mother means feeling in the moment like worst mother in the world.

I know I needed to hear that this morning, maybe someone else probably does too.

God bless!

...For he gives to his beloved sleep. Psalm 127:2

Oh how I HATE to do this & it's not permanent, but Shaoey & Grace are SO tired of being woken up.  

It's time for Eliana to move to a separate bedroom.    

We have told her, fussed her, discussed it with her, but she just keeps waking them up.  She gives us the usual "I'm sorry" which we don't put much stock in.  This has gone on since coming home, actually even in China she was doing this.   

Examples:

Poking Shaoey to ask her what time it is.  (She has a watch and there's a clock in their bedroom, AND she knows how to tell time.)

Waking Shaoey up to ask where Grace is. (Like she'd know...she was ASLEEP!!)

Waking Shaoey by announcing that Grace is not in the room.  (Like she cared, she was ASLEEP!)

Going up to Grace's bed and lifting her blanket off her to see if she's in bed.

I GET the common thread, she wants to know sisters are in the room with her.  I KNOW she was kind of like little mama in her room at SFCV.  We have talked with her time and again that she does not have to have that role in our home, I am the mama.  It is not her place to keep tabs on the girls.  She has been warned that if it continues, she will be moved to another room for a while.  

Well, that time has come and it's not a time I relish.  I WANT them in the same room.  I think siblings sharing a room is a great bonding thing, a slumber party every night; they're the ones you whisper secrets to, share giggles with, fight with--ok, not the last one, but figuring out the ins and outs of living with someone is part of it.  Maybe that's why I feel like a failure on this one, but it's taking it's toll on their becoming sisters and friends.  Shaoey and Grace are frustrated at her from the moment they get up, because she woke them.  I need to break that cycle.  

Pray with me that this can be a short time of separation that will lead to a closer sister relationship.  

I'm also open to ideas....