I know I haven´t blogged in 2 months. I was in the states for a month and there will be a post about that soon. But today I wanted to talk about one of my #villagers. Most of you know that it takes a #village to raise an Andi…and many of you are in that club. For just today I want to take a minute to talk about someone else…not me.
The first summer being here in Honduras I met a lot of people. Since I started working with teams that June basically everyone I met was new to me. People from Georgia, Alabama, Maryland, Ohio, California, Tennessee and who knows where else.
During that first summer I remember a family that came with one of the teams. As we rode the bus from Teguc to Emmanuel the mom sat and talked about her kids as she held one of them up by their forehead. (Seems that the youngest was super carsick and even though she had had dramamine just was in for a long ride.) As I sat and listened she talked about how her kids are so quick to love others like Jesus. To make new friends- after playing with some kids at the park they will say ¨these are our friends Mom¨ even though they probably know nothing but their names. To pray for people and think of how they can help others. I remember this lady saying ¨My kids teach me so much about Jesus!¨
Later in the week I remember her bringing her kids and a couple of teens to help at our kitchen/dining room. I had them set out the water glasses and long story short the food wasn´t ready and chaos broke out, but they just did what they could to help. Because of the behavior of one of my kids during the chaos, later that day my girl asked to go to the team house and apologize. I took her there and asked the family to come talk to her. My girl apologized and the mom said "Of Course you are forgiven!" And they all wrapped her up in a hug. And I remember her sitting in the front row at the team house with her youngest sleeping in her lap as I shared my life story.
The team went home after their week was over and life moved on. I would have never guessed what was coming next. That mom asked me to be friends on Facebook, then Several weeks went by and as facebook goes, there are those who post stuff and it makes your heart smile, encourages, or challenges you. And this was one of those people. One day she posted this:
I believe my comment was "Can we be friends in real life? I think you would be good for me" She said yes.
Turns out I was in the US and we actually spoke on the phone. She told me her story (she had heard mine at the team house when her team was here). From there we imessaged each other and kept up with just daily life.
As time went by I found that she quit a perfectly good nursing job to make billions at home by homeschooling her kids 😉 and she was the prayer ministry leader at her church. And that one day they planned to adopt. And she´s hilarious.
Why do I tell you all this? The details of a beginning of a friendship? I think because I want you to see that it is clearly the Lord that let us be friends. As many of my friendships are…clearly just the Lord putting me with some awesome people. So many stories. But this one feels different. She lives in a state far away. Our contact face to face at Emmanuel was very minimal. The fact that she asked to be "Facebook friends" and then I asked to be real friends is steps to where He wanted us to be. The fact that the only reason we are friends is Jesus. All the commonality after that is secondary.
I have a found a prayer warrior in my friend Carrie Covey. A person who has taught me so much about grace and the love of God. Who challenges me to love my kids better. To keep seeking Him, to persevere when it feels too hard. She reminds me that in all things I should seek the Father´s heart. And she gets my stupidity, encourages me with scripture, and just loves me well.
I remember the first time I called her from Honduras. I had a difficult day and was praying about some things and just needed someone to pray with. I asked her if I called her would she pray. So I called her and she said ¨How you doing!?" And I just said "Nope. Just pray" and she laughed and she did. I can´t tell you how many times she has prayed on the phone with me when I needed it. How many times she has texted me her prayers when talking on the phone wouldn´t work. How many times she has walked with me through difficult things. And how each time she is Jesus to me. Shoving me toward the Father.
We joked about me flying to Ohio during that fall and it turned out that´s what the Lord had in the plans. With frequent flyer miles I flew to Ohio 5 months after she came to Honduras. When people said "Why are you going to OHIO?" I could only ramblingly explain it was the Lord who gave me this friend. Going to someone´s home in another state that I have not really had a face to face conversation. And once there I quickly found that she feeds me well too.
In the spring as I was seeking a diagnosis for all the issues I had, Carrie came down to Auburn for 4 days. The last day she was there was the day I found out what was wrong. It was the Lord´s grace that she was in town and was there just to pray as we went through that day, my appointments, and later as I thought I would have an anxiety attack in the truck. He is good to me.
Over the past 2 years I have found such a sister in Christ in Carrie. She is far from perfect…I can make a list. But she is a joy to call friend and just the fact that she has put up with me so much is amazing. And so grateful for the way she loves my Bigs from a distance. Crying with me over the heartbreaks and praying for them. And when she got to come this summer- to love and hug on them in person. To watch as she preached to our kids in church, only because He invited her to, about His love and grace and truth. It´s just almost too much. He is good to me with my friend.
Here is the POINT IN ALL OF THIS.
When I came to Honduras I came having sold everything I owned and still having debt. In the time I have been in Honduras I have paid down a little over $8000 in debt. I have about $15,000 to go. (I know. I know…you don´t want to know how much it was once….thank you home ownership…) And this year I have begun to diligently get out of debt. To pray for the Father to take care of it (and I hate praying about money…it makes me all try to figure out how to get it done my way…haha) And I am on my debt like a 3 year old loose in a candy shoppe, tryin to kill it.
Today as Carrie and I talked we were talking about money. The Covey family is on the adoption journey to adopt a child from India. The thing she has talked about since I met her is finally happening. Homestudy being done, tons of paperwork and crazy stuff getting done. To get little Indian Covey(s) home at some point in the near future. We talked about how we are in places that only the Father can provide for. We are in no position to work more hours and make more money. The Father has to do it.
As I pray for the Covey´s I am not in a position to give them much, so I pray for the Father to creatively provide and provide through others. I told Carrie last month how I think I can practically help them when they go pick up their child one day, but other than that there is not much I can do. But I can tell you guys about it. And maybe you can tell some other folks about it. Because here is the thing. Our God is BIG. He does crazy stuff through the body of Christ.
I can tell you story after story of how He´s done crazy stuff- like paying off $20,000 in medical bills for me last year. Like paying for our tilapia tanks here at Emmanuel ($100,000 and the yearly Maintenance too!) How I sat in Auburn last month and heard a lady say to another "My husband´s boss was adopted from the Ukraine and he wants to give you and your adopted ukrainian kids $10,000 to help you with the cost". I know He does it. I know He can do it. Carrie and John know this. He funds that which He commands. He will fund this kid coming home. Of this I am sure.
So. I am NOT asking you to help me get out of the hole that I have dug for myself. But I AM asking you to help out one of my #village peeps get her child in India get home to their new home in Ohio at the Coveys. I´ve had people say "this is not much…" and it be $25 dollars. That is huge! Can you imagine… 1000 people giving $25. That´s $25000! Dude. Let´s do this thing. Between you and me and Carrie and John, surely we know 1000 people? And $25? I know families who spend that buying coffee and doughnuts in one morning. (I covered the non coffee people in that…Krispy Kreme anyone?)
So let´s help a villager out. Get that indian kid to Ohio!
Here is how:
Buy something from Noonday. Shop and part of the money goes to the Coveys and part goes to help some women artisans in third world countries! Go to this webpage in the next week and pull up Carrie Covey as hostess when you check out: Shop Noonday
Just donate! They have a webpage set up where you can donate AND it counts tax deductible. (Win win for you, the Coveys, and the future Covey!) Covey´s Adoption Page
Tell others. I know India is far away. I know for some of you Ohio is far away. I know you have other things to do with your time, prayers, and money. But just think of what your investment will look like… one of the thousands of kids in India with a forever family. HOME. Spread the word and help get a child HOME.
Pray. Our Father in heaven´s heart is for orphans and widows…He commands us specifically in James to take care of them. It´s not an easy task to take classes on how to be a parent (especially for parents who already have 3 kids!), do endless paperwork and answer endless questions, then when time comes to travel across the world, more papers and questions and red tape….and then bring your child home to a whole other culture. And find $35,000 to make all that happen. They need prayer. It´s a crazy, frustrating, difficult time to fight an enemy who doesn´t want that to happen. But it´s sweet and joy filled. But they need prayer. So join me in praying for the Covey´s and their little Indian. 🙂 Pray for crazy fun provision. Small and Huge ways. For Jesus to be seen and exalted.
The body of Christ can do it.
HE CAN DO IT.
Be His.
(And Carrie. Please don´t kill me. I know I didn´t ask for permission. So If you are mad…I´ll ask forgiveness ;)
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