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Friday, May 6, 2011
Love from India part 2
God called on us to approach the thrown of grace for a small group of people in the Mountains. God placed the a small groupd of people of India in the hearts of a small church of believers in north eastern Colorado. My heart would stir when we prayed for a people so unknown and far across the world. Emmanuel Baptist is God’s plan for the people’s of India. I am in awe once a gain to be a part of God’s global plan. With all the miracles and confirmations from heaven above I still tried to back out of the trip India. Lord, I do not have the money to go to India again. Money started to flow to the India mission trip. I give up, Lord please help me to obey with my stubborn heart. I can say I won’t forget, but human nature always takes over.
All I can say is that God answers the prayers of his people!!! My life is living proof of God’s faithfulness. Psalm 115:1 Not to us, O lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory because of your love and faithfulness! India is a very diverse land with many different people groups. I enjoyed seeing a different side of India the ocean and country-side . My plan was for the sky to open as in Acts and for people to be saved. God’s plan was not for the mountain people to even meet at the compound where we stayed, but for us to go to them on their own land and in their own homes. Walking from the jeeps stopping point to the village was out of a movie scene that only God can write. Walking on a dry dirt road between fields growing rice at different stages, watching herders watch their cattle graze, and watching the herder watching his water buffalo so they didn’t destroy the rice paddies that were so carefully tended and planted by hand one by one was amazing.. Seeing holes on the sides of the terraced fields that are filled with rats and cobras in the rainy season frightening. God’s plan for us to come in the hot dry season without snakes and rats, yay!!! A group of people welcomed us to the village with flower garlands. I thought this was only in Hawaii and secretly I had always hoped to be welcomed in this way. To see the villages that we had prayed for brought the dream into a reality. God loves this group of people in India and he is using us to show them. Pastor Sean spoke to the believers with a local pastor translating their words, your words Lord. I will never forget the disbelief and wonder in their faces upon hearing,” That a people that look so different came7,000 miles across the world and have been praying for their salvation for 4 years.. A church in America loves the people of India. “God will not forget the Indian people and he sent us as the strange looking proof. The group that listened out in the open was fairly small, but eyes and ears from others heard and saw. We were even able to pray over the home of the family of the very first Christian wedding to take place. What a life changing experience to be able to hold the hands of the people that we have prayed for. Hands that are so rough and leathery from hard physical labor I was embarrassed by my very soft hands. Rice fields with every single plant placed there by hand . Fields worked by hand, weeded by hand, transplanted by hand, and harvested all by hand. The air so fresh and the land so clean. Mathew 9:37 Then he (Jesus) said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”For years I have wanted to see terraced rice fields up close and to see and have water buffalo milk. These were just a few small items on my list for life. Little did I know that God remembered my small hopes. I went to China and never need see a rice field because we never left the city. I was able to see rice paddies at all stages of growth and close enough to touch. Anyone that knows me knows that coffee and tea can make or break a day. Let me tell you all that Inidan-Chai with buffalo milk is the best. Not my plans, but his and thank you Lord! A life and world so different and so far away yet God weaved our hearts together for eternity. My prayer is that groups from our church will keep visiting the peoples of India and that our prayers for this people would storm heaven.
Revelation 7:9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the thrown and in front of the LAMB. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
Revelation 7:16-17 Never again will they hunger; never again will they thrist. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the LAMB at the center of the thrown will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
All I can say is that God answers the prayers of his people!!! My life is living proof of God’s faithfulness. Psalm 115:1 Not to us, O lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory because of your love and faithfulness! India is a very diverse land with many different people groups. I enjoyed seeing a different side of India the ocean and country-side . My plan was for the sky to open as in Acts and for people to be saved. God’s plan was not for the mountain people to even meet at the compound where we stayed, but for us to go to them on their own land and in their own homes. Walking from the jeeps stopping point to the village was out of a movie scene that only God can write. Walking on a dry dirt road between fields growing rice at different stages, watching herders watch their cattle graze, and watching the herder watching his water buffalo so they didn’t destroy the rice paddies that were so carefully tended and planted by hand one by one was amazing.. Seeing holes on the sides of the terraced fields that are filled with rats and cobras in the rainy season frightening. God’s plan for us to come in the hot dry season without snakes and rats, yay!!! A group of people welcomed us to the village with flower garlands. I thought this was only in Hawaii and secretly I had always hoped to be welcomed in this way. To see the villages that we had prayed for brought the dream into a reality. God loves this group of people in India and he is using us to show them. Pastor Sean spoke to the believers with a local pastor translating their words, your words Lord. I will never forget the disbelief and wonder in their faces upon hearing,” That a people that look so different came7,000 miles across the world and have been praying for their salvation for 4 years.. A church in America loves the people of India. “God will not forget the Indian people and he sent us as the strange looking proof. The group that listened out in the open was fairly small, but eyes and ears from others heard and saw. We were even able to pray over the home of the family of the very first Christian wedding to take place. What a life changing experience to be able to hold the hands of the people that we have prayed for. Hands that are so rough and leathery from hard physical labor I was embarrassed by my very soft hands. Rice fields with every single plant placed there by hand . Fields worked by hand, weeded by hand, transplanted by hand, and harvested all by hand. The air so fresh and the land so clean. Mathew 9:37 Then he (Jesus) said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”For years I have wanted to see terraced rice fields up close and to see and have water buffalo milk. These were just a few small items on my list for life. Little did I know that God remembered my small hopes. I went to China and never need see a rice field because we never left the city. I was able to see rice paddies at all stages of growth and close enough to touch. Anyone that knows me knows that coffee and tea can make or break a day. Let me tell you all that Inidan-Chai with buffalo milk is the best. Not my plans, but his and thank you Lord! A life and world so different and so far away yet God weaved our hearts together for eternity. My prayer is that groups from our church will keep visiting the peoples of India and that our prayers for this people would storm heaven.
Revelation 7:9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the thrown and in front of the LAMB. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
Revelation 7:16-17 Never again will they hunger; never again will they thrist. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the LAMB at the center of the thrown will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Love from India Part 1-May 2, 2011
Love from India
Psalm 119:105-106
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous ways.
As I reflect on this journey I am struck by God’s mercy and grace in my life. I need to start my story in 2007. Four years ago God began a work in my heart for India. I remember when I was a teenager I always dreamed of going to China, but India looked so terrifying. The image that is in my mind is the masses converging on the Ganges to bathe. It looked so crowded and dirty, why would anyone on earth want to go to India. I made up mind then and there as a teenager I would indeed never go to India. God answers our prayers and gives us desires that would other wise never be in our hearts. It began with a little boy in China, God not only answered my prayer to visit China, but gave me a wonderful son who is fully and so wonderfully Chinese. While in the process of waiting to bring Wu, Chong li home God showed me a face in India. The face of girl that he wouldn’t let me forget about. I said, “Ok, Lord I will inquire about this face that you won’t let me forget about. Maybe I am just to pray for her family to come and adopt her.” Next thing we know the agency the little girl in the peach shirt is listed with says if you are serious about your interest in her you must travel to India next month to meet her. She has special needs and has been rejected by other families so you must be sure. Well, if this is what I have to do I will go. God removed my fears and I was prepared to travel alone. God knew that I could take this task on alone and so my mother’s very best friend from childhood said she would take the journey with me. God’s peace was with her and she knew she must go . After my first trip to India my life and heart were at an all time valley. How could I possible provide for a child that will NEVER be independent? I battled in my thoughts and constant prayers to the Author and Perfector of our faith. How could this be you send me to Hades on earth, I can’t even sleep now and I will never be the same again. I closed my eyes to hear car horns and see the toddlers wandering on the side of a busy high way. Children begging on a two foot strip of land between six lanes of traffic. God answered me very simply, but firmly,”If you don’t go get her there is no one else in the entire world that will!” There it is the beginning of my love for India. God planted the seed in my heart and I tried to pull it out many times. He is patient and waits for us to understand.
The last four years for the Arnold family have been full of joy and many hardships. Brent was laid off upon our return from China with Elijah. Step out and the attacks will come, but God always has the best strategy and protects his flock without fail. Brent was able to work at his dream job sending teachers to China for about 10 months while we were waiting for Sneha. Then the unthinkable happened again. Brent’s job was eliminated , two times in two years in the middle of two adoptions. The same day the social worker called to set up our final home study update for Sneha’s adoption. Lord how could we follow your will to India to be cut off, Please Lord save us………Brent needed a miracle, a job within a week to be able to bring Sneha home. Once again we doubt….How could this happen, how can we find a job in a week. WE can’t do anything in a week, but look what God did a week. The creation of everything in a week and I am not sure if he can give Brent a job in a week. Fast forward to Sterling, Colorado this is where we live. This is where God placed our family quite intentionally and provided the impossible job in less than 1 week. As many of you know our Sneha came home in November 2009. After our move to Sterling God sent us to Emmanuel Baptist Church. Of course no secret to our Father that Emmanuel began a journey to India in 2007 as we did. I am so thankful that God remembered the smallone in a small orphanage hidden away in a city of 15 million.
Romans 3: 10-12
AS it is written: “There is no on righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands and seeks God. All have turned away they have together become worthless; there is not one who does good, not even one.
Elijah Chongli
Elise
Sneha
Graedy
1 John 5:14-15
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him."
Psalm 119:105-106
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous ways.
As I reflect on this journey I am struck by God’s mercy and grace in my life. I need to start my story in 2007. Four years ago God began a work in my heart for India. I remember when I was a teenager I always dreamed of going to China, but India looked so terrifying. The image that is in my mind is the masses converging on the Ganges to bathe. It looked so crowded and dirty, why would anyone on earth want to go to India. I made up mind then and there as a teenager I would indeed never go to India. God answers our prayers and gives us desires that would other wise never be in our hearts. It began with a little boy in China, God not only answered my prayer to visit China, but gave me a wonderful son who is fully and so wonderfully Chinese. While in the process of waiting to bring Wu, Chong li home God showed me a face in India. The face of girl that he wouldn’t let me forget about. I said, “Ok, Lord I will inquire about this face that you won’t let me forget about. Maybe I am just to pray for her family to come and adopt her.” Next thing we know the agency the little girl in the peach shirt is listed with says if you are serious about your interest in her you must travel to India next month to meet her. She has special needs and has been rejected by other families so you must be sure. Well, if this is what I have to do I will go. God removed my fears and I was prepared to travel alone. God knew that I could take this task on alone and so my mother’s very best friend from childhood said she would take the journey with me. God’s peace was with her and she knew she must go . After my first trip to India my life and heart were at an all time valley. How could I possible provide for a child that will NEVER be independent? I battled in my thoughts and constant prayers to the Author and Perfector of our faith. How could this be you send me to Hades on earth, I can’t even sleep now and I will never be the same again. I closed my eyes to hear car horns and see the toddlers wandering on the side of a busy high way. Children begging on a two foot strip of land between six lanes of traffic. God answered me very simply, but firmly,”If you don’t go get her there is no one else in the entire world that will!” There it is the beginning of my love for India. God planted the seed in my heart and I tried to pull it out many times. He is patient and waits for us to understand.
The last four years for the Arnold family have been full of joy and many hardships. Brent was laid off upon our return from China with Elijah. Step out and the attacks will come, but God always has the best strategy and protects his flock without fail. Brent was able to work at his dream job sending teachers to China for about 10 months while we were waiting for Sneha. Then the unthinkable happened again. Brent’s job was eliminated , two times in two years in the middle of two adoptions. The same day the social worker called to set up our final home study update for Sneha’s adoption. Lord how could we follow your will to India to be cut off, Please Lord save us………Brent needed a miracle, a job within a week to be able to bring Sneha home. Once again we doubt….How could this happen, how can we find a job in a week. WE can’t do anything in a week, but look what God did a week. The creation of everything in a week and I am not sure if he can give Brent a job in a week. Fast forward to Sterling, Colorado this is where we live. This is where God placed our family quite intentionally and provided the impossible job in less than 1 week. As many of you know our Sneha came home in November 2009. After our move to Sterling God sent us to Emmanuel Baptist Church. Of course no secret to our Father that Emmanuel began a journey to India in 2007 as we did. I am so thankful that God remembered the smallone in a small orphanage hidden away in a city of 15 million.
Romans 3: 10-12
AS it is written: “There is no on righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands and seeks God. All have turned away they have together become worthless; there is not one who does good, not even one.
Elijah Chongli
1 John 5:14-15
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him."
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Busy week as usual. I leave for India on Friday, wow did this sneak up. We are working on completing the Adoption Alliance packet for Ghana, lots and lots of paper work. Last week we did our Colorado fingerprints and this week are doing the US and Ghana medicals. Six people to the doctor all in one week and I am thankful they are understanding about all the forms to be filled out. Of course my sinuses are in terrible shape before the trip so it is a good thing I have a doctors appointment this afternoon. Brent is still waiting for insurance and employment papers from his job. This all will help us get a jump start on things and we will be able to start the home study process again when I return. I can't wait until every thing is turned in and we can just wait to travel to Ghana. It sounds like an amazing place to visit and what could be better than meeting our little girl. She has waited a long time for a family and we have waited 4 years for our Ghana adoption to become a reality.
Did I mention that I am so excited for the chance to be a part and witness lives changing! I love India and I can't wait to go back. So different than my trips before no child to bring back and no adoption paperwork. I am excited to finally go to the beach, it has been a long time. I will miss my family, but what a great opportunity~
Friday, March 25, 2011
The word is YES for the state of Colorado and Ghana!!!!
We had the long awaited phone call to answer if we had to work with 1 or 2 agencies to bring home Joy from Ghana. The answer is 1 agency will be enough and that translates into a lot of money saved!!! We started to inquire about Beacon House and Ghana in December and we will finally be getting started officially. The package from Adoption Alliance is in the mail and we should receive it any day. This package will contain the formal application,fees schedule, application for state of Colorado clearance, application to be get an inviation for Federal digital fingerprints, child abuse clearance forms, and many other important other papers. Then we will start on the homestudy, the visits, and all the questions. It should be a breeze, but it is hard to tell a stranger everything past and present. The kids very stressed to answer questions and talk to a stranger. All these steps to bring a child home that her parents abandoned into the hands of strangers. What a crazy world that we live in. Luckily with everything here at home 4 children, fulltime work outside the home,and all details of every day life I don't have much time to obsess on how long each adoption step takes. I had plenty of time with this before Elijah and Sneha came home, but not now. WE ONLY HAVE ONE CHANCE IN THIS LIFE SO WE MUST BE INTENTIONAL EACH AND EVERY DAY!!!!
Here are some photos that I thought were lost from our 2009 India trip and I found CD's and copied them to the computer. I am so thankful that they weren't lost.
Here are some photos that I thought were lost from our 2009 India trip and I found CD's and copied them to the computer. I am so thankful that they weren't lost.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
God is moving mountains!!!!!!
Luke 17:5-65
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
Where do I even start?? Our Sneha turned 10 years old on March 1 and we had her party in Fort Collins on Saturday. Her first real party. Last year she had just begun having seizures and had the broken arm and we were adjusting to life with Sneha. A hard time in life, but things are definitely smoothing out. The transition period of some one that never had responsibility, severe malnutrition, illness, couldn't remember family life, and had lived on one floor of a building for 5 1/2 years, and has multiple learning challenges is a little longer than the average after adoption period of adjustment. Her 10th birthday party was so much fun. She loved all the attention and presents. She squeals with excitement and happiness at the sight of new beautiful clothes for her. To go from wearing and sharing ugly clothes to a closet full of her own is so exciting for her. In India no matter where a woman lives they dress beautifully and take pride in looking amazing. Kids walk out of slums with beautifully braided hair and very nice and neat uniforms ready for school. I am so glad that God laid this girl on our hearts. She has gone from the least of these that has no worth in society to a person of impact with out even knowing it. God knew the great plans for her life. She has said so much without words.
More good news is coming........God is moving mountains for our Joy waiting in Ghana. We knew that God wanted her to be part of our family and our biggest fear was the expense of it all. We stepped out to begin without a penny in place to bring her home. My verse and prayer for the year is Luke 17:6. Having the faith of a mustard seed is very difficult. It seems like it should be so easy and why do we doubt our Father's will when it is written in the Bible and right before our eyes. As plain as day right there are the answers to all of our questions. The money is the easy part for God and it is. Praise be to God we should be able to stay out of debt with Joy's adoption!!!!!!!! The means are on there way now we just need to keep being patient and obedient.
My India trip is coming. I am so excited for the adventure across the world. Everything is unknown and up to God. It is hard to believe that 3 years ago I said that I could never go back, but would only go to get Sneha and NEVER AGAIN. Now I am excited to go back. Let me say that I am the person that fears Walmart with children in tow and God has removed the fear to go across the world. I am the person that would never be able to speak to a crowd and now I am about to embark on the adventure of a life time. I am just so glad that they don't eat much meat or unknow sources of protein. Vegetables are good across the world. I have to say that I hate hot weather, give me a blizzard any day over sweltering heat. Guess what where we are going?It will be 90 to 120 degress and we have to dress in long clothing. Only God could convince me to enter into that kind of heat. Join me in praying for this crazy adventure.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Praise to the God of All Comfort
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
Where do I even start?? Our Sneha turned 10 years old on March 1 and we had her party in Fort Collins on Saturday. Her first real party. Last year she had just begun having seizures and had the broken arm and we were adjusting to life with Sneha. A hard time in life, but things are definitely smoothing out. The transition period of some one that never had responsibility, severe malnutrition, illness, couldn't remember family life, and had lived on one floor of a building for 5 1/2 years, and has multiple learning challenges is a little longer than the average after adoption period of adjustment. Her 10th birthday party was so much fun. She loved all the attention and presents. She squeals with excitement and happiness at the sight of new beautiful clothes for her. To go from wearing and sharing ugly clothes to a closet full of her own is so exciting for her. In India no matter where a woman lives they dress beautifully and take pride in looking amazing. Kids walk out of slums with beautifully braided hair and very nice and neat uniforms ready for school. I am so glad that God laid this girl on our hearts. She has gone from the least of these that has no worth in society to a person of impact with out even knowing it. God knew the great plans for her life. She has said so much without words.
Yesterday was Shriner's Hospital and Salt Lake City for Elijah and I. Wow what a long day 3:30am wake up and back home at 10pm. We have good news about his hand. I looks good and we don't need to see surgeon Wang for 3 months. In 3 months he was also due for spinal x-rays so we can do every thing at once with-out another additional trip. The tendon transfer and tightening of his thumb on his left hand should improve the ability to grasp objects. Now his thumb doesn't pop out of joint all the time and his thumb doesn't fold into his hand to prevent grasping objects. His spine is being monitored for a curve. They are the best hospital to get x-rays done in record time and knowing exact positioning for guaranteed results. They have been such a huge help to our family and Elijah's medical needs. He has been through so much in 3 years, but is on the road to health and recovery. It is hard to imagine that he had a 4cmx6cm area on his head with-out skull bone, he couldn't touch his left heal down and walked on his tip toes, had mini fractures in his shin bone, a mouth full of cavities, and believed in a golden statue as creator. God has transformed his body and soul from the inside out.
More good news is coming........God is moving mountains for our Joy waiting in Ghana. We knew that God wanted her to be part of our family and our biggest fear was the expense of it all. We stepped out to begin without a penny in place to bring her home. My verse and prayer for the year is Luke 17:6. Having the faith of a mustard seed is very difficult. It seems like it should be so easy and why do we doubt our Father's will when it is written in the Bible and right before our eyes. As plain as day right there are the answers to all of our questions. The money is the easy part for God and it is. Praise be to God we should be able to stay out of debt with Joy's adoption!!!!!!!! The means are on there way now we just need to keep being patient and obedient.
My India trip is coming. I am so excited for the adventure across the world. Everything is unknown and up to God. It is hard to believe that 3 years ago I said that I could never go back, but would only go to get Sneha and NEVER AGAIN. Now I am excited to go back. Let me say that I am the person that fears Walmart with children in tow and God has removed the fear to go across the world. I am the person that would never be able to speak to a crowd and now I am about to embark on the adventure of a life time. I am just so glad that they don't eat much meat or unknow sources of protein. Vegetables are good across the world. I have to say that I hate hot weather, give me a blizzard any day over sweltering heat. Guess what where we are going?It will be 90 to 120 degress and we have to dress in long clothing. Only God could convince me to enter into that kind of heat. Join me in praying for this crazy adventure.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Praise to the God of All Comfort
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
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