Along with the video there was a link to the family's blog. I began to read along on their journey. The author talked about the organization Ordinary Hero, which her sister had began. I clicked over to their blog one day and little did I know at the time, but in a few short years I would be preparing to go to Ethiopia as well!
Between finding Ordinary Hero and deciding to go on a mission trip with them, God has led me to many other blogs that deal with international adoption. I don't know yet if that will be a part of our family's story. Let's just say God and I are having many conversations about it and Nick and I are having a few now and then :)
However reading along on these families journeys to bring their children home, all while keeping up with what Ordinary Hero does for "the least of these" was very inspiring, and was really working on my heart. What was I doing to help others? Did I feel that special, like I could really do anything that would make a big difference? No, not really. But wasn't that the whole point of the name Ordinary Hero? Yes, I am a normal wife and mom living the day-to-day routine.....but that doesn't mean God can't use me. He can use me here in the middle of that routine, and he can also use me in Ethiopia if I give a week of my life dedicated to being his hands and feet where I feel called. And as time went on it was becoming very clear to me I was being called to Ethiopia.
Combine all of this with the fact that during this time period we also became regular attenders, then members of a wonderful church after moving to a new city. We met great people, and became involved. My faith was growing like never before and I was back to reading and studying God's word. I had graduated college and was finally settling in to being a stay-at-home Mom that didn't feel like I had to split my time up between my "school life" in one city and my family life in another. We became pregnant and had Royce. It has been such a life changing time.
So when I received an email newsletter from Ordinary Hero containing their 2012 trip dates last fall, my interest was piqued. What if I just went for it? I knew in my heart God was telling me to go for it. Around that time I read this post. And my decision was made. I had seen enough pictures...read enough posts...it was time to go.
On July 5th I will board a plane headed for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and I can't wait! I will be putting together "blessing bags" as they mentioned in the Ordinary Hero blog post I linked to above. They contain an outfit with socks and underwear and a treat for a child. If you would like to be a part of that, let me know! I want to take as many donations as possible for the little ones. If you would like to visit my trip fundraising page it can be found here.
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:27 NIV
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