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A Big, Big Summer

A few Sunday's ago Derek Thomas preached from Romans 8:28-30 - "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose..."

Near the beginning of the sermon he quoted from John Piper's book, Future Grace:

“If you live inside this massive promise, your life is more stable and solid than Mount Everest. Nothing can blow you over when you are inside the walls of Romans 8:28. Outside of Romans 8:28 is confusion and anxiety and fear and uncertainty. Outside this promise of all-encompassing future grace, there are straw houses of drugs and alcohol and numbing TV and dozens of futile diversions. There are slat walls and tin roofs of fragile investment strategies and fleeting insurance coverage and trivial retirement plans. There are cardboard fortifications of deadbolt locks and alarm systems and antiballistic missiles. Outside, are a thousand substitutes for Romans 8:28. Once you walk through the door of love into the massive unshakeable structure of Romans 8:28, everything changes. There come into your life stability and depth and freedom. You simply can’t be blown away anymore. The confidence that a sovereign God governs your good and bad and all the pleasures you’ll ever experience is an incomparable refuge and security and hope and power in your life.”

People wonder how we could adopt a teenager from another country that had been abused as a young child... it is because we live inside the walls of Romans 8:28.

People wonder how we can now leave the comfort of the ministry I have served for 12.5 years with a steady paycheck, a nice place to live and a beautiful place to work to face the uncertainty of support as a missionary especially under the current economic times... it is because we live inside the walls of Romans 8:28.

What an incredible promise Romans 8:28 is. It is the promise we rest in... it is the promise we live in... it is the promise we take the next step in... it is the only way we can go on.

God has given us a big, big summer. He blessed camp in many ways... over 1600 children, 130 Leaders in Training, 70 staff... good health, safety, dozens of professions of faith, growth in Christ, growth in the desire to serve others sacrificially, lots of fun... some kids being put, for the first time in their life, into an environment where they see how Christians live... and a great program featuring the story of David and Goliath.

My children had the privilege of being Philistines along side of our 6'9" Goliath (thanks, Paul!). Above you see Harrison, Noah and Karina just before David came in the name of the LORD and conquered the giant and then the Israelites slayed the Philistines.

The children were taught not only that the battle belongs to the LORD - that God fought for his people, but also that the judges and kings of the Old Testament were not enough. They could not bring salvation to God's people. The judges and kings saved the people for a short period of time but something so much more was needed. The judges and kings point to something much greater... they are just a small picture pointing us to Jesus... the one who came to truly save his people.

I thank God for a great summer at Twin Lakes. Here are a some pictures of our children at camp:

Even Storey Grace was able to attend camp this year. She was ready, so at four years old she spent the night for a whole week at camp... she loved it. All the kids attended and had a blast. Karina is too old to be a camper so she served as a Leader in Training - a program designed to train young people from Scripture to lead by serving others. Karina thrived in the program and served for two weeks. She loved all the friends she made, the Bible studies and the work.

Karina had a great summer and is doing well. Her English is excellent. She is growing both physically and spiritually and we are thankful for God's grace in her life. Today marks seven months with her family.

Many of you know that this was our last summer at Twin Lakes and that we have been planning to move to Peru to serve as missionaries with Peru Mission under Christian Missionary Society.

Peru Mission is an incredible mission that proclaims the good news of Jesus Christ along with deeds of mercy. Church planting, training pastors, seminary, schools, language school, medical clinics, economic development, agricultural development, micro-financing, disaster relief, university ministry, music ministry, summer camps, publishing of Christian materials and orphan ministry are just part of what Peru Mission is involved with in order to renew Peru through the power of the gospel. It is exciting to see how God is using this mission to draw people to himself both in Peru and the United States.

This summer the camp pastor at Twin Lakes preached a sermon where he said that God's plans are deeper, wiser and bolder than ours... we have truly seen that this summer... God has orchestrated life for us in a way that will change us from serving primarily with Peru Mission and being based in Peru to serving with Christian Missionary Society (the mission organization that oversees Peru Mission) with a focus on Peru, Ukraine and expanding missions to other lands as God leads while being based in the United States. We are so excited about the direction God is leading and the scope of his plan.

Here are some of the ways God led us:

This summer we found out that we are expecting a new addition to the family! We are all so thankful and joyful about the coming of a new baby Nasekos. Karina, especially, looks forward to having a baby to help care for. She told us that she has never been taught how to care for a baby and is glad she will be able to. The kids are pulling for a girl to even the number out at 3 and 3.

Just a few weeks after we found out about the baby and just three days after camp ended, Sheila was hospitalized with a blood clot. It was a scary time for all of us. Karina was afraid for her mother and said, "I need my mommy. I just got a mommy and I do not want to lose her." She was very concerned for her mother and prayed continuously for her.

After several blood tests we learned that Sheila has a certain condition that makes her prone to blood clots and the loss of babies early in pregnancy. The fact that we have four biological children with one on the way is amazing.

We thought the adoption of Karina was a huge step of faith for us... we realize that step was only the beginning of what God has been doing with us this year.

Camp had ended and it was time for us to prepare to leave Twin Lakes and begin our mission work. In the hospital the doctors told Sheila that because of the blood clot, the condition of her blood and the pregnancy, she cannot get on an airplane for about a year... major change in our plans... what was God's plan for us?

We also learned that there was one medicine she could take that would help her condition and not harm the baby... one medicine that was incredibly expensive with no generic. Our insurance was maxed out immediately... then our savings... how were we going to pay for the medicine?

Next we had to find a place to live since we were already planning on leaving Twin Lakes. Where could we find a house that would fit us that we could afford in the States?

We had several questions... several major things in our life that we had to trust God for... and he has provided in amazing ways. He always does. He was growing our faith.

With Sheila's health condition keeping us in the States for now, we will be doing development work for Christian Missionary Society - a great need that they have. In a nutshell, we will be raising awareness in the States for all the ministries of Peru Mission and the developing mission in Ukraine, growing the prayer support, raising money for the mission, recruiting people to help and developing the orphan ministry both in South America and Eastern Europe. Being based in the States will allow us to do all of this which meets many needs that the mission has and uses the gifts God has given us. His way is better than our way... bolder, wiser, deeper.

Sheila is recovering from the blood clot and the baby is doing well. We were able to have a sonogram and see a healthy, wiggling little baby.

We let the drug company know our financial condition and they sent a 90 day supply of the medicine at no charge... telling us they might send more later... we are thankful for God's provision and pray that they will supply the medicine for the duration of the pregnancy.

A friend called to offer a house that we could afford to rent, it is large enough for our family and in a great area.

God has provided... and cared... and shown us a better way. He has stretched our faith and shown us how much we must rely on him... and trust him...

and TRUST him.

A few days ago I returned from a trip to Peru where I was able to share the good news of Jesus Christ, map out the coming year of ministry, visit all aspects/ministries of Peru Mission and spend time with the orphans that we support and work with.

When we learned that Sheila could not come with me on this trip we decided that Karina would go. Seven months after coming home from an orphanage in Eastern Europe, Karina flew to South America where she was able to minister to and love on orphans in Peru.

When I was packing before the trip she came into the room, looked at what I was taking and asked, "Daddy, where is the stuff for the orphans? What are we taking for them?"

I am thankful that she thinks of others and that her heart is to care for others that are still in the situation that she once was in. I pray that she always cares for others and always reaches out to them in mercy.

We packed a suitcase of things for the orphans.

It has been a big, big summer. A summer of conversions... a summer of growth... a summer of new direction and expanded ministry... a summer of faith in our great God... a summer of remaining inside the walls of Romans 8:28.

Karina's Big Day

One year ago today - July 8, 2008 - Sheila and I asked Karina if she wanted to be adopted. She quickly and enthusiastically said, "YES!"
Later that evening, her guardian from the orphanage in Ukraine that was accompanying her told her, "You did not even think about it! You said yes so quickly. Don't you think you should take time to think about it?"
Karina responded, "I have been thinking about having my own family for years. There is nothing more to think about. I know I want to be adopted and I know I want them to adopt me. I said yes quickly because this is what I have been dreaming of for most of my life."

Today I asked her if she was glad she said yes to us a year ago.
"Oh, daddy! Of course!"
She has been with us in the States for over five months now and God's grace continues to be evident in her. Monday night one of her classmates from her orphanage flew into the Jackson airport with his new family. How amazing to see God's hand at work to not only bring another orphan home... but to bring an orphan that has lived with Karina for several years to the same state... less than an hour away from one another.
Karina walked up to Grisha at the airport and said, "You see all these people? They have been praying for you. Welcome home."
On the ride back home Karina said, "It is just so amazing to see how God has provided for Grisha. God has given him a family that loves him and a family that loves God. He will be OK now. This is what he needed... this is what all of us orphans need."
Karina says that July 8 - the day we told her we wanted to be her family - is bigger than her birthday. It is her big day.

Birthdays, Rain and Promises

Tomorrow is Karina's 14th birthday.

Her first birthday with her new family and her first birthday in the United States.

A couple of days ago we asked her what she would like to do for her birthday and she looked at us with a puzzled look on her face...

"I do not know."

I asked her what she had done on past birthdays....

"I remember one time... about a month before my birthday M had a party for some of the kids that were having a birthday during the summer and that was fun...

I remember when I was eleven and my biological dad found me at camp and told me he did not want to be my father...

I remember when I was five...

I ran away...

I ran away from...

I have never had a birthday party on my birthday and I have never done anything on my birthday because it was my birthday. It always rains on my birthday. Every single birthday I have had I remember rain. I would like to call someone in Ukraine on my birthday and ask if it is raining."

We have a big day planned for Karina... even if it rains we will have a big birthday for her.

She is excited about her first birthday with us.

We recently saw a rainbow and had a conversation about promises.

She has mostly known broken promises... learning to trust is something very new... some of her earliest birthday memories are of broken promises...

We have made her promises since meeting her and bringing her into our family and she is thankful for the fulfilled promises she has seen.

We looked at the rainbow and talked about our God who always fulfills his promises.

We talked about how much God has blessed her even through tough times... and we looked closer and saw two rainbows.

God keeps his promises...

even when it rains on our birthday.

Four Months

Yesterday marked four months that Karina has lived with her family in the United States.

We continue to see God's hand and thank him for the incredible blessing of Karina.

She is enjoying camp and is a great help around Twin Lakes.

These four months have flown by.

Please Pray

Tonight while we sleep in the United States, the government in Ukraine may be voting on a bill that could end international adoption.  If this bill passes, thousands upon thousands of children may never have a family.  Please pray that this bill will not pass and that international adoptions will continue in Ukraine.  There are families in Ukraine right now and families soon on the way that could be turned away without children if this bill passes.

These children... these orphans desperately want families.  Every day throughout the weeks we spent with the orphans they asked us the same thing...

"Will you find a family for me?"

"Will you tell someone about me?"

"Does anyone know I am here?"

"Does anyone care about me?"

"Will you forget me?"

"Will you remember me?"

"Will I ever have a mommy and a daddy?"

Everyday they asked these questions.

Every single day.

It is the main thing on their mind... it is what they desire... it is what they ask God for... it is what they ask visitors to the orphanage for... these children want a family.

Please pray.

Sometimes It Makes Me Sad

The sun was setting as Isaac, Karina and I walked from camp towards our house...
"Daddy, there are children that no one comes to see."
"What do you mean?"
"The sick children. The ones that have diseases... no one talks to them about being adopted... no one says they will think about adopting them. Sometimes parents come to the orphanage to spend time with kids to see if they want to adopt them. People do not come to see the sick kids. The other kids make fun of them and tell them that no family would ever want them because they are sick. When the other kids laugh at them and tell them this, it makes them cry. Remember V? He cries a lot. He thinks no one will ever want him....
sometimes it makes me sad."

For the rest of our walk Karina looked at the ground... her demeanor was sad... after having a family for three and a half months she is beginning to realize what she has... and what the others do not...

She thinks about the classmates she left behind and asks us every once in a while, "Do you know if someone will go get them? They need a family."
We do not know what God has in store for Karina but is encouraging to see her thinking about the needs of others and asking us to help them.

Three and a half months... how the time has flown by. Karina's English studies continue to go well. She has two more hours and she will have completed all levels of Rosetta Stone's English. Her reading, handwriting and cursive studies are going well. There are some words that she asks us to explain in more detail but we almost never consult the Russian dictionary anymore. She has learned fast.

In the process of raising support for missions, we have traveled to eleven different churches since Karina has come home from Ukraine. She has seen a lot and met many people. Some people we have met are considering adoption and it is so encouraging and exciting to see families that are thinking about and praying about adopting an orphan. You are in our prayers.

Someone recently asked me these questions:

"How did you know it was time to proceed with the adoption?"

"When do you do what is best for the orphan or what is best for your family?"

Sheila and I have been thinking about and discussing these questions as we continue to learn how to live as a family that recently adopted a thirteen year old girl from Ukraine.

How did we know to proceed?

We saw the need: Karina. A girl without a family living in an orphanage. Her future looked bleak. The statistics show that over 60% of girls become prostitutes when they leave the orphanage. About 10% commit suicide before they turn 18. They have almost no skills to be able to live and work outside of the orphanage. Karina knew Jesus. Dear missionaries had told her the good news of what God has done for us. She did not own anything but one set of clothes, a purse and a Bible. She wanted one more thing... she wanted a family.

We saw our blessings. We had a family that loved one another and Jesus Christ. In Christ, we have all that we need and God has blessed us in so many ways.

We saw God's heart: "... to care for orphans and widows in their distress...."

We saw God's provision and promises. We did not have the resources but we knew that God owns everything and that he provides for his people to answer his call in their life.

We saw the need, our blessings, God's heart, God's provision and God's promises. We had dozens of questions and even some fears... but we took the first step... and the next... and the next... and now Karina has been home for over three months.

The second question, "When do you do what is best for the orphan or what is best for your family?" really made me think about what God did for us.

We need to make sure that we loving our spouse and children and raising them in the ways of the LORD.

Part of loving them and raising them includes reaching out to others in mercy.

Mercy... it is what God did for us when he sent Jesus.

Mercy... it is what Jesus did for those he met while on earth.

Mercy... it is one of the things God calls us to do for others.

We realize now that reaching out to Karina was good for her and for our family.

God has used this adoption to grow all of us... to show us how selfish we have been... to show us sins in our life that need to be uprooted... through the struggles that came from the adoption we have seen God change us... and that is so good. What was best for an orphan God used to be best for our family... they are one and the same.

Some people have confronted, challenged and questioned what we have done.
"Is this a wise thing for you to do?"
Some are concerned about the "dangers" of bringing an older child into our family and how that could have a bad impact on our family.

There seems to be a fear that if we are not in control from day one raising a child then it is not wise to bring that child into our family.

The God we serve is bigger than that.

The God we serve is a better daddy than I am.

The God we serve can raise a child for thirteen years and then bring her into our family and it "work" better than if I had raised that child for thirteen years.

Is it wise to bring an older child into our family?
Is it dangerous?

Is it wise to ignore the cry of those in need?

Is it dangerous to ignore God's call on your life?
We believe that God is in control of all things and that he is greater than we are.
We rest in him.

We recently took a family vacation. With summer camp approaching and all the traveling we had done, our family needed a break... so we went to the beach.
I wish you could have seen Karina laughing and playing in the ocean as the waves rolled in against her, see her catch a touchdown pass as we played football in the sand, scream with delight as fish and stingrays swam around her, see her catching crabs late at night, reading books beside her mom on the beach... doing things she had never done before.

Speaking of books... a dear friend gave Karina several books in Russian and Karina has read all of them. She told us that she had only read one book in her life... one book in thirteen years. In three months with us she has read seven. She loves to read. If anyone knows of a resource for good Russian books, please let us know. She reads them as fast as we get them to her.

One day at the beach Storey Grace and I were playing... tickling each other, tackling each other, laughing, running around... I noticed Karina was just staring at us... watching everything we did. Storey Grace got tired and laid down... Karina came over and said,
"I never played with my dad... I never did anything with my dad."
She leaned over and cried in our arms.

Later on we were walking on the beach. The boys were ahead of us, stopping occasionally to splash in the waves or tell us they found a jelly fish or some kind of animal. Storey Grace was holding my right hand. Karina was behind us. Eventually Karina walked up and put her hand in my left hand. Looking at Storey Grace she said, "I never held my dad's hand."
She held tightly for the rest of our walk.

As time goes on she sees more and more the things she never did and never had... and she sees more and more what she can do now and what she has now... and she thinks of her friends still in the orphanages and she says,
"...sometimes it makes me sad..."