Ethiopian Traditions

Traditions are thick in Ethiopia where people usually greet each other by bowing heads. A greeting in Ethiopia can be a long and lively process- the longer the greeting, the closer the friends. Another custom is to kiss the cheek of your friend three times when you greet them. The coffee ceremony is a sacred tradition in Ethiopia, where the beverage originated and is an integral part of the Ethiopian lifestyle. Performing the ceremony is almost a requirement when you have a visitor at any time of the day.

The people of Ethiopia wear many different types of clothing. The traditional dress of the Christian highland peasantry has traditionally been of white cotton cloth. Since the time of Emperor Tewodros 11 (mid-1800s), men have worn long, jodhpur-like trousers, a tight-fitting shirt and a shamma (loose wrap).

The Muslims of Harar, by contrast, wear very colorful dress, the men in shorts trousers and a colored wrap and the women in fine dresses of red, purple and black. The lowland Somali and Afar wear long, brightly colored cotton wraps, and the Oromo and Bale people are to be seen in the bead-decorated leather garments that reflect their economy, which is based on livestock. Costumes to some extent reflect the climates where the different groups live - highlanders, for instance, -use heavy cloth capes and wraparound blankets to combat the night chill. In the heat of the lowland plains, light cotton cloths are all that is required by men and women alike.

Ethiopians are justifiably proud of the range of their traditional costumes. The most obvious identification of the different groups is in the jeweler, the hairstyles and the embroidery of the dresses. The women of Amhara and Tigray wear dozens of plaits (sheruba) tightly braided to the head and billowing out at the shoulders. The women of Harar part their hair in the middle and make a bun behind each ear. Hamer, Geleb, Bume and Karo men form a ridge of plaited hair and clay to hold their feathered headwear in place. Arsi women have fringes and short, bobbed hair. Bale girls have the same, but cover it with a black head cloth, while young children often have their heads shaved.

Both Muslims and Christians wear jewellery in silver and gold, often with amber or glass beads incorporated. Heavy brass, copper and ivory bracelets and anklets are also worn.

"Ethiopia ‘has ensured that its culture has remained remarkably intact, unpolluted and undiluted by outside influence. The country retains its own particular language and script, its own food and drink, its own church and saints, even its own calendar and clock. Endlessly fascinating, it defies any categorization and generalization; Ethiopia is like no other country in Africa". Frances Linzee Gordon - a Scottish author

We are now...

#8, YES #8 ! for a baby girl between the ages of newborn through 12 months old


AND WE ARE # 4,  IN LINE FOR A BABY GIRL 10 to12 MONTHS OLD!

Our paperwork has been in Ethiopia for

 5 months, 1 week, and 3 days.

 

There has been a lull in referrals coming in from Ethiopia, but this past week 5 families received their referrals (7 week old baby boy, 4.5 month old baby boy, 4 month old baby boy, 4 year old girl, and 2 year old boy)

ADOPTION, GOD’s MISSION

Adoption- The act of taking the child of other parents to be one’s own child.  Paul used the term to show privilege of sonship bestowed by God upon those who accept Jesus as Lord.

Adoption by God the Father:

 But as many as received him, to them he gave the power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.  John 1

Jesus said to her, Touch me not: for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go tell my brethren, and say to them, I ascend to my Father and your father, and to my God and your God.   John 20

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  Romans 8

And will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord almighty.  Cor.6

Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.  Eph.1

Sons of God

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.  Galatians 3: 26-29

What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.  He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time is set by his father.  So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world.  But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights as sons.  Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the spirit who calls out “Abba, Father”.  So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.  Galatians 4: 1-7  

Our paperwork has been in Ethiopia for 5 months today!

What makes today more special is that today is Timkat, Ethiopia's most celebrated holiday!  The celebration of Jesus' Christs baptism. 

We are now on the baby girl "unofficial" list with our adoption agency!

So what have we been up to lately?  We have been collecting and asking others to collect orphanage supplies for us to either send with other traveling families or for us to stockpile to take with us when we eventually get to go to Ethiopia.  This bin was collected by Kidz Depot in Brownsburg, IN by my sweet friend Summer Thomas.

Want to know how you can help with donations? 

 It is simple... the orphanages need supplies, pretty much anything we need for our kids here, they need there.  The most needed items we would like to collect are:  Diapers (cloth & disposable), diaper rash cream, A&D ointment, diaper pins, powdered baby formula, and wet wipes.  If everyone could donate just one of these items we could collectively make a HUGE impact!   

Love you all,   Angi, Tim, and Baby Aerie 

Update on Davids(Lativa 16 yr old)- An orphan no more!

Praise God for this AWESOME gift to this boy for his birthday! Life, a home, security, no more Latvia orphanage, no street abandonment for his 16th birthday, and the knowledge of Jesus Christs love for him! Words just can't express the JOY that God provided a family in LESS THAN 24 HOURS! How could we ever question God's hand in our lives?


See Davids Mom's post below...


Don't miss the 2nd picture of Davids and his JOY! God's over-the-top LOVE amazes me! (by the way... Davids birthday is 01/23/11)
On Monday, January 17, 2011

Blessed!

Today.....God blessed our lives beyond belief! He gave a smile to a little boy's face and restored hope in his heart. I am overwhelmed with joy......and I stand in awe of His glory once again! I know that my Redeemer lives and still works miracles. Today, Davids social worker spent time with him and shared the story of the thousands of prayer warriors across the United States. James 5:16, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." I KNOW that your prayers called out for Davids and brought him to our family. I wish that I could tell each of you how much I appreciate your prayers, offerings and unconditional love for "the least of these."

Ines, his social worker gave him a photo of our family and told him how much we already love him. I will share the pictures of his precious face when he found out that he will have a forever family. GOD IS GOOD! I cannot wait to talk with Peter and share with him the news of his brother. My heart is so full and I love my precious Savior. What a friend we have in Jesus. Now we wait for all the final arrangements to be made for travel. Psalm 130:5 " I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope." Please pray as we wait for the day we can be together as a family.

Love, Angi

Ethiopia Guest Home, Addis Ababa

Ethiopia Guest Home - More Than a Place to Stay from Session 7 Media on Vimeo.

Happy Timkat (Ethiopian celebration of Christs baptism) Jan.19

Timkat Festival


when: 19 Jan 2011 (annual)
where: Ethiopia

While Epiphany is not widely celebrated in most Christian nations, John the Baptist's blessing of Christ in the River Jordan is cause for grand commemoration in Ethiopia. Timkat, Ethiopian Epiphany, is the most important festival in the country's calendar.



The festivities provide a rare glimpse of a church tradition dating back over 1000 years. On the eve of Timkat, ketera (priests), debteras (deacons) and the congregation remove the tabot (symbolizing the Ark of the Covenant) from each church, and take it to a pool of water or river, which is blessed for the next day's celebration.

The keteras wear splendid ceremonial robes and are shaded by elaborately sequinned velvet umbrellas. They shake sistras (religious bells) and swing bronze censers from which great wisps of incense smoke escape into the air. The Tabot, carried on the head of one of the priests, is cloaked in layers of rich cloth to protect it from the gaze of the impious. When the procession reaches the water, the Tabots are placed in special ceremonial tents, and the priests pray throughout the long night. Crowds of people camp out, dressed in white, praying, eating and drinking by the light of flickering fires.

Towards dawn the crowds amass again to gather around the blessed water. Weather-beaten monks and nuns pray silently as the most senior priest dips a golden cross and extinguishes a consecrated candle in the water. Then the focal point of the entire festival arrives as the priest takes water from the pool and sprinkles it on the assembled congregation in commemoration of Christ's baptism.

Following the baptism, the Tabots return to their respective churches, with feasting, singing and dancing continuing and gathering pace. The best places to be for the celebrations are either Gondar, Lalibela or Addis Ababa.

It is 2003 in Ethiopia! Want to know why?

It is because of their calendar...
The Ethiopic Calendar

Ethiopia has its own ancient calendar. According to the beliefs of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, God created the world 5500 years before the birth of Christ.
Ethiopic is not the only calendar in Ethiopia either. The works of Enoch (hnk) had been in Ethiopia and Egypt before the times of Moses and on through the times of King Solomon and Queen of Sheba. As has been the case for Israel, Egypt and Ethiopia have had important roles in Biblical History. An Enochian year is completed in 364 days, Enoch 82:4-7 and Jubilees 6:23-28. Ethiopians followed the Old Testament before the introduction of Christianity (1 Kings 10:1-9).

Ethiopic months
Meskerm 11 Sept
October Tikemet 11 Oct 12 Oct
November Hidar 10 Nov 11 Nov
December Tahesas 10 Dec 11 Dec
January Tir 9 Jan 10 Jan
February Yekatit 8 Feb 9 Feb
March Megabit 10 Mar -
April Miyaza 9 Apr -
May Ginbot 9 May -
June Sene 8 Jun -
July Hamle 8 Jul -
August Nehase 7 Aug -
Leap-year Pagume 6 S

Each Ethiopian year is dedicated to one of the four Evangelists according to the cycle: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The year of St. Luke is Leap Year, and therefore always has six days in the thirteenth month of the Ethiopian calendar.

From Wikipedia:

The Ethiopian calendar (Amharic: የኢትዮጵያ ዘመን አቆጣጠር yä'Ityoṗṗya zämän aḳoṭaṭär), also called the Ethiopian Ge'ez calendar, is the principal calendar used in Ethiopia and also serves as the liturgical calendar for Christians. It is based on the older Alexandrian or Coptic calendar, which in turn derives from the Egyptian calendar, but like the Julian calendar, it adds a leap day every four years without exception, and begins the year on August 29 or August 30 in the Julian calendar. A seven- to eight-year gap between the Ethiopian and Gregorian calendars results from alternate calculations in determining the date of the Annunciation of Jesus.

Like the Coptic calendar, the Ethiopian calendar has twelve months of 30 days each plus five or six epagomenal days, which comprise a thirteenth month. The Ethiopian months begin on the same days as those of the Coptic calendar, but their names are in Ge'ez. The sixth epagomenal day is added every four years without exception on August 29 of the Julian calendar, six months before the Julian leap day. Thus the first day of the Ethiopian year, 1 Mäskäräm, for years between 1901 and 2099 (inclusive), is usually September 11 (Gregorian), but falls on September 12 in years before the Gregorian leap year.

The current year according to the Ethiopian calendar is 2003, which began on September 11, 2010 AD of the Gregorian calendar. It has six epagonemal days and so the following year (2004) will begin on September 12, 2011


New Year's Day Enkutatash is the word for the Ethiopian new year in Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia. It occurs on September 11 in the Gregorian calendar, except for leap years, when it occurs on September 12.

Eras
To indicate the year, Ethiopians and followers of the Eritrean churches today use the Incarnation Era, which dates from the Annunciation or Incarnation of Jesus on March 25 of 9 AD (Julian), as calculated by Annianus of Alexandria c. 400; thus its first civil year began seven months earlier on August 29, 8 AD. Meanwhile, Europeans eventually adopted the calculations made by Dionysius Exiguus in 525 AD instead, which placed the Annunciation exactly eight years earlier than had Annianus. This causes the Ethiopian year number to be eight years less than the Gregorian year number from January 1 until September 10 or 11, then seven years less for the remainder of the Gregorian year.


SO... HAPPY 2011 or 2003, you choose! :)

Happy Ethiopian Christmas! Jan. 7th

Christmas Traditions in Ethiopia
Ethiopia is one of the oldest nations in Africa. It still follows the ancient Julian calendar, so Ethiopians celebrate Christmas on January 7. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church's celebration of Christ's birth is called Ganna. It is a day when families attend church.


The day before Ganna, people fast all day. The next morning at dawn, everyone dresses in white. Most Ethiopians don a traditional shamma, a thin, white cotton wrap with brightly colored stripes across the ends. The shamma is worn somewhat like a toga. Urban Ethiopians might put on white Western garb. Then everyone goes to the early mass at four o'clock in the morning. In a celebration that takes place several days later, the priests will dress in turbans and red and white robes as they carry beautifully embroidered fringed umbrellas.

Most Ethiopians who live outside the modern capital city, Addis Ababa, live in round mud-plastered houses with cone-shaped roofs of thatched straw. In areas where stone is plentiful, the houses may be rectangular stone houses. The churches in Ethiopia echo the shape of the houses. In many parts of the country there are ancient churches carved out of solid volcanic rock. Modern churches are built in three concentric circles.

In a modern church, the choir assembles in the outer circle. Each person entering the church is given a candle. The congregation walks around the church three times in a solemn procession, holding the flickering candles. Then they gather in the second circle to stand throughout the long mass, with the men and boys separated from the women and girls. The center circle is the holiest space in the church, where the priest serves Holy Communion.

Around the time of Ganna, the men and boys play a game that is also called ganna. It is somewhat like hockey, played with a curved stick and a round wooden ball.

The foods enjoyed during the Christmas season include wat, a thick, spicy stew of meat, vegetables, and sometimes eggs as well. The wat is served from a beautifully decorated watertight basket onto a "plate" of injera, which is flat sourdough bread. Pieces of injera are used as an edible spoon to scoop up the wat.

Twelve days after Ganna, on January 19, Ethiopians begin the three-day celebration called Timkat, which commemorates the baptism of Christ. The children walk to church services in a procession. They wear the crowns and robes of the church youth groups they belong to. The grown-ups wear the shamma. The priests will now wear their red and white robes and carry embroidered fringed umbrellas.

The music of Ethiopian instruments makes the Timkat procession a very festive event. The sistrum is a percussion instrument with tinkling metal disks. A long, T-shaped prayer stick called a makamiya taps out the walking beat and also serves as a support for the priest during the long church service that follows. Church officials called dabtaras study hard to learn the musical chants, melekets, for the ceremony.

Ethiopian men play another sport called yeferas guks. They ride on horseback and throw ceremonial lances at each other.

Ganna and Timkat are not occasions for giving gifts in Ethiopia. If a child receives any gift at all, it is usually a small gift of clothing. Religious observances, feasting, and games are the focus of the season.

Reflecting on what Weimer's wrote in 2009...

The Weimer's have 4 biological kids and 6 adopted kids from Ethiopia... they inspire me SO much! Below is a post from Heidi in 2009. Check out their Blog at www.blessingsfromethiopia.blogspot.com

Friday, June 5, 2009
I wish I could tell you...
that the sacrificial life of following after Jesus and being His actual hands and feet on this Planet Earth would bring rewards on this planet. But I can't. Because it probably won't.

I wish I could tell you that if you take in an orphan and love that child as your own flesh and blood, that you will be blessed in this life in more ways than just spiritual. But I can't. Because you might not be.

I wish I could tell you that it's easy to adopt. That it's effortless and glamorous and always beautiful. But I can't. Because it isn't.

I wish I could tell you that it's easy after you adopt. But I can't. Because it's tougher than tough some days.

I wish I could tell you that this life of sacrifice is painless and prosperous. But I can't. Because it's often painful and rarely prosperous in the earthly.

I wish I could tell you all of those warm and comforting platitudes, but I can't. Because they're not true.

What I CAN tell you, though, is that this life is not your own. So none of the above matter anyway.

When I stepped off of the cliff in full recognition of that reality, I have had no control over my life since. Yes, I have choices. I realize that I chose this road. I said yes to this calling. I agreed to take in 6 kids that I did not have to call my own. But once I said yes the first time, I could never say no after. Once I took Jesus seriously, Jesus took me seriously. I was wrecked for Him and for this life and could never tell Him no. Never again. If I say no to a child who needs me, I'm saying no to the Child Jesus. If I say no to an abandoned baby who needs me, I'm saying no to Baby Jesus. If I say no to a sibling group who needs a family, I'm saying no to Jesus and his brothers and sisters. Think I'm exaggerating?

Matthew 25:44-46 (The Message)
44"Then those 'goats' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn't help?'

45"He will answer them, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.'

46"Then those 'goats' will be herded to their eternal doom, but the 'sheep' to their eternal reward."


I mean, it doesn't get more blatant than that. But alas there it is for us so-called Jesus followers.


And, here's a little warning: Once you utter that initial walking-off-the-cliff YES to Him, it doesn't get any easier. In fact, it gets more painful and far more difficult. Saying YES the first time was the easy part for us, even though that certainly was not easy. Because--the fact is--every single day I see the reality of my choice to say YES to Jesus in need. I see the white picket fences, the new cars, the private schools, the suburban "dream," the picture perfect families. I see that. I know what I'm saying no to. I am fully aware that I had a choice to embrace "that" life, but that I chose to embrace His instead.


It's often painful. Usually not easy. Typically lonely. Generally overwhelming. But I know that this life is not my own. The reward for me is most likely not on this planet. In fact, it most certainly isn't. Most probably I will never live in a fat house (by American standards) and drive a fancy car and have any spare cash to sit on. I realize that. I know that. And I also know that I could have sought those things for myself and could have had them. I absolutely know that that life is within my reach. Every time I encounter someone who has embraced fulfillment in the temporary, I am reminded like a big banner (or a slap in the face) that I chose this road instead. And every time I am reminded, I hear God asking me (practically audibly sometimes), "So, you still want to follow the narrow road?" [YES, Lord. Here am I. Send me.]


Loving the fatherless. Loving the abandoned. Loving the seemingly hopeless. The narrow road requires sacrifice.The narrow road. It's lonely. It's long. It's difficult. It's full of suffering and struggle and sacrifice. But isn't that what following our Jesus is all about? If you're following a Jesus that doesn't demand sacrifice of all earthly endeavors, than I don't know what Jesus you're following. Didn't Jesus, after all, sacrifice all earthly endeavors for us? What did He sacrifice so that He could love YOU? How much more, then, should we sacrifice in order to love Him? And if loving HIM means loving the unlovely and the unloved, then what does it mean if we live in comfort while the unloved go on unloved? While the orphaned stay orphaned? While the street kids still roam the streets?


I don't know how we can really claim to love Jesus if we don't love Jesus the Street Child. If we don't love Jesus the Orphan. Jesus the Prostitute. Jesus the Abandoned.

But what does it mean to LOVE Jesus the Orphan? What does it mean to love Jesus the Abandoned? It means that you do for Jesus the Orphan what you would want done to your own child.


Matthew 7:12 (New International Version)
12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

In a world that seems so complicated and chaotic, it really is as simple as that. It's what led me to see my own children in the faces of Ethiopia's orphans in the first place. It's what led me to say yes to children who simply needed a family. Who needed me. Who needed someone to see Jesus the Orphan in them.

Matthew 16:23-25 (The Message)
23But Jesus didn't swerve. "Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works."

24-26Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?


Matthew 16:23-25 (New International Version)

23Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

Where is your cross? What is your suffering? Go seek out Jesus the Orphan. You'll find your cross and suffering there. And there you will finally find Jesus. The One you did not see before and the One you did not know to love.


And then and only then, Great Will Be Your Reward. I can't count on much, but I can count on that.

Luke 6:34-36 (New International Version)
34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons and daughters of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Luke 6:34-36 (The Message)
31-34"Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.

35-36"I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You'll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.

I know my family is not the so-called American Dream. I know that having 9 kids is certainly not the goal for most sane and ordinary people. I know that having a multi-racial family can really mar some people's plans for a supposedly picture-perfect family. But so what? This life is not your own. Don't live a lie believing that it is. Whose plans are those, anyway, for the picture-perfect home? the picture-perfect family? the American dream? I don't remember Jesus standing on the mountainside preaching in favor of any of those, so whatever you do, make sure your plans aren't just that...YOUR plans.

My life is not my own. And if you claim to follow Jesus, your life is not yours, either.

Galatians 2:20 (New International Version)
20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Go. Leave behind the life you planned. SEEK OUT the orphan. Don't ask God one more time if He wants you to adopt. Because...HE'S been asking YOU, who WILL?



1 John 3:17 (The Message)
16-17This is how we've come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.

Biblical examples of adoption...

Jesus’ adoption by Joseph
Joseph, the husband of Mary, whom was born Jesus, who is called the Christ.
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ became about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1: 16 & 18-24

Phillip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” John 1:45
(Note: The lineage of Jesus, as prophesied in the Old Testament, is fulfilled through Joseph (see Matthew 1: 1-17). Joseph is fully and completely Jesus’ father- participating in his naming, protecting him from danger by traveling to Egypt, teaching him a trade, and presenting him at the temple.)


Moses’ adoption by Pharaoh’s daughter
Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the river bank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her slave girl to get it. She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said. Then his (Moses’) sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” “Yes, go,” she answered. And the girl went and got the baby’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying “I drew him out of the water.”
(God used Moses’ adoption plan to free the Hebrew nation by using Moses’ influence on his adopted family to free his biological family. See the book of Exodus)

Esther’s adoption by Mordecai
Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This girl, who was also known as Esther, was lovely in form and features, and Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother had died. Esther 2:7
(Note: Who would have thought that God would place his hand on a humble orphan girl and her faithful relative? Who would have expected that Mordecai’s work to rear Esther as a young woman of God would lead to her being such a vital link to the survival of the Jews? Without question, the story of Esther’s life is a beautiful example of how God is at work taking our broken lives to perform his will when we are willing. The book of Esther is a beautiful story of adoption and deliverance.)


Hannah gives Samuel back to God
Elkanah had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none… the Lord had closed her womb. And because the Lord had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. Elkannah her husband would say to her, “Hannah why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you so downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than 10 sons?” … In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord. She made a vow, saying, “O Lord Almighty, if you only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life… I am a woman deeply troubled… I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief. Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something and her face was no longer downcast. Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home in Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”… After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was… brought the boy to Eli, and she said to him, “As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there. 1 Samuel: Chapter 1
(Note: Through God’s gift to her of that precious son, Hannah testified that God hears and answers prayer. Then she lived up to her promise, bringing Samuel to the temple and giving him to another to raise.)

Will we remember Ethiopia in 2011?

In the Mid-1980's Ethiopian people and the famine plastered our television sets. Years of drought and famine have happened more than once for Ethiopia in the last 20+ years, but for some reason we no longer show the pictures on TV. Too awful? Too real? Too tramatizing for us? What about them? Please remember them and click on the video titled "Remember Ethiopia in your prayers". Pray for our daughter and her family there...
May 2011 be a year of positive change for this beautiful country and people!