Amazing Story's Behind Mestas' Adoption

Hey, I have posted some awesome videos of the Mestas' Family that my sister Sharon and I had a chace to meet when we went to Wake Forest, NC for a cousin's wedding! It was so amazing to meet them and we had a wonderful time playing with the kids and talking! It was awesome to finally meet the family that we had read a lot about on their blogs! Hope you enjoy the videos and the blogs! -Kayla

Ellie Mestas' blog - http://myethiopiansisters.blogspot.com/

Eileen Mestas' blog - http://jobsdaughters.blogspot.com/

Ellie Mestas Etaala International

Ellie talks about her siblings adoption. It is so awesome how God worked through Ellie which lead the way to bring home her siblings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPrkYbPgzNk

Kolfe Mama "Adopting in Your 50's"

God knows the plans he has for you life and age usually doesn't relate to them.
So many people think that they are too old to adopt and their parenting days are over but then God suprises them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzEizXn-PgQ

Etaala International Ellie's Orphan Testimony

http://www.youtube.com/user/Mothertheworld#p/u/4/qnop1pFwvMA

Etaala International "Let Light Shine Out Of Darkness"

http://www.youtube.com/user/Mothertheworld#p/u/7/7D7Motb2K_s

"Kolfe Mama's Hugs" Eileen Mestas

http://www.youtube.com/user/Mothertheworld#p/u/14/PY3pgxjJ4iA

Kolfe Mama "Adoption Testimony Part 1"

http://www.youtube.com/user/Mothertheworld#p/u/13/NmeMGxz3KaE

Kolfe Mama "Adoption Testimony Part 2"

http://www.youtube.com/user/Mothertheworld#p/u/12/_Co89oW9XHM

The Star Thrower

The Star Thrower

One early morning, after a fierce storm had hit the coast, I strolled to the beach for my morning walk. Horrified, I saw that tens of thousands of starfish had been washed up on the beach by the winds and waves. I was saddened by the realization that all of them would die, stranded on the shore, away from the life-giving water. Despairing that there was nothing I could do, I sat down on the sand and put my head in my hands.

But then I heard a sound, and I lifted my eyes. There in the distance, I saw a man bending down and then standing up, bending down and standing up. Curious, I rose and walked toward him. I saw that he was picking up the starfish, one at a time, and throwing them back in the sea.

"What are you doing?", I yelled.

"Saving the starfish," he replied.

"But don't you see, man, that there are tens of thousands of them?" I asked, incredulous. "Nothing you can do will make a difference."

He did not answer me but instead bent down, picked up another starfish, and cast it back into the water. Then he smiled, looked me in the eye, and said, "It made a difference to that one!"

Loren Eiseley

A Hole In Our Gospel by: Richard Sterns

So i totally love this book! It is so awesome! Here is the introduction, i almost want to type up the whole book because it is so cool. Anyway this is a great book and is also available in AudioBook on iTunes. Enjoy!

What does God expect of us? That's what this book is about. It's a simple question, really. But is the answer so simple? What is the Christian faith about? Going to church every Sunday, saying grace before meals, and avoiding the most serious sins- or does God expect more? I am a Christian-perhaps you are too. But what does that mean exactly? To even be Christians, we must first believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. That in itself is no small idea. If it is true, it changes everything, because if Christ is God, then all that He said and did is deeply significant to how we live our lives. So we believe. But God expects more. And so the question, "What does God expect of me?" is a very profound one-not just for me, but for everyone who claims to follow Christ. Jesus had a lot to say about it. Yes, He did give us deep insights into the character of God and our relationship with Him as well, be he also spoke at length about God's expectations, our values, and how we are to live in the world. So how are we to live? What kind of relationship are we to have with a holy God? What is God asking for, really, from you and me? Much more than church attendance. More than prayer too. More than belief, and even more than self-denial. God asks us for everything. He requires a total life commitment from those who would be His followers. In fact, Christ calls us to be His partners in changing our world, just as He called the Twelve to change their world two thousand years ago. Certainly the twenty-first-century world is in need of change. It is hard to read the headlines each day without a growing sense of alarm. We hear about terrorism, ethnic and religious tensions, wars and conflicts, widespread hunger and poverty, global economic turmoil, brutal dictators, corrupt governments, massive natural disasters, climate change, nuclear intimidations, and even child trafficking and slavery. Our post- 9/11 world seems both frightening and threatening, and the majority of us struggle to understand it, let alone do something about it. The world's problems just seen too big and too hard for most of us; it's so much easier to retreat from them than to take them on. On Sunday morning, safe in our church pews and surrounded be friends, it can be all too easy to leave the world's violence, suffering, and turmoil outside-out of sight, out of mind. But wait-as Christians, are we really given the option of turning away from the world's problems? Does God permit that? I write this book from a very biased perspective. I believe that "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). And if Jesus was willing to die for this troubled planet, maybe I need to care about it too. Maybe I should love the people that live on it more. Maybe I have a responsibility to do my part to love the world that Jesus loves so much.

=D

Follow You

New Favorite Song! :)

Children of the World Choir

Children of the World International Children's Choir is made up of 39 children from Guatemala,
Uganda, and Nepal. Many of these children are orphans and they all live in children's homes
in their country, because their families were not able to provide for them. They are between
the ages of 7 and 12. They travel to the US to raise awareness for the plight of orphaned and
disadvantaged children all over the world. The children who participate in the choir will receive a four-year scholarship to the college of their choice in their home countries, after completing high school. These kids do an awesome job, I was was so surprised at how well they preformed. I love the songs they sing, and it is so cute when the little ones sing a solo. You can find out more about these children and World Help at this website: http://www.worldhelp.net/Children-of-the-World/cotw-faq.aspx

Feed The Forgotten

Here is another great post from Brandi. It's very heartbreaking to read and hear about these things. It takes so little to do a big job. There is an urgent food crisis in Uganda. What can we, as the church, do to help??? This is a start...

FEED THE FORGOTTEN

Too often we hear heartbreaking stories like this and do nothing. We feel helpless. . . and so we move on. Not this time. There are people DYING in Uganda right now. There are children who's bellies are hungry and aching. There are mamas who are too weak to stand and babies begging to be held. There are people trapping termites hoping for food and eating dung in helplessness. DO NOT CAVE TO DESPAIR. YOU CAN DO SOMETHING.

Join us and Children's HopeChest to FEED THE FORGOTTEN!!! (CLICK HERE TO GIVE NOW) (note: please write FEED THE FORGOTTEN in the notes section)

For $0.14, we can (and WILL) feed someone a meal of posho and beans. (posho is cornmeal, which is filling and beans are protein). Take that in for a moment. . .

$0.14 a meal

$2.86 for 20 days

$1 per FAMILY

$20 feed a family for 20 days.

How much was my Chick Fil A yesterday? How much is your Starbucks? The bigger question is how much am I willing to give up SO THAT OTHERS MIGHT EAT?

Remember Jesus story of the Good Samaritan? Remember how his very neighbors walked right by him? They probably looked at him with pity. . .probably thought "oh poor guy, that breaks my heart" but the fact is THEY DID NOTHING.

What will you do? These children are starving. . .

these actual children. . .

will you help? The money raised will feed those precious children. There are 3 - 4 villages that we are targeting (I'm hoping for more after we see how much we can raise!) to bring food relief to asap. These people are literally starving. . and waiting for you to act. Will you help? Even with paypal fees (2-3%) even $1 will feed 6 people! You CAN make a difference.

Spread the word, blog about it, facebook it, twitter it, ask your church or school or business to give, post the blog badge anything. Truly, we are begging you. . .on behalf of these children not to forget this post and move on to the next in your google reader list. Stop, pray, act.
GIVE TO FEED THE FORGOTTEN CHILDREN!!!!!

(note: please write FEED THE FORGOTTEN in the notes section when you give)

Three Little Words...

This is a post from Brandi's blog.

Three Little Words...

Originally posted by Brandi McElhen

Kendric spent the first 5+ years of his life in Uganda. He was adopted 8 months ago by a pretty amazing family. I had the awesome privilege of meeting and spending time with this precious boy and his family a month ago. . you may remember my super cute pictures! (if I do say so myself)

On Wednesday night, his mama was in Raleigh for a meeting on Uganda and his dad had the kids home for dinner. Keith, his daddy, prepared a huge meal for his growing group of kiddos (they have 6 total, with 2 of them being the newly adopted Ugandans!). After the kids had consumed a large meal, these growing boys asked for even MORE! Keith, being the wise father he is and knowing that kids shouldn't gouge themselves, told the kids "no more food" and sent them playing.

Kendric, however, did not go play. He went off pouting a bit and hiding to be by himself. Keith noticed his behavior and took the opportunity to talk to Kendric about why he was in a funk. Thankfully, with Keith's sweet desire to shepherd his son's heart, Kendric opened up.

He looked up at his dad with sad eyes and said this:
"My belly used to hurt in Uganda. For many, many times there was 'no more food'. My auntie, she used to say "no more food" and my belly would hurt many days.
Tonight, when you said "no more food" my heart, it got very sad and very scared."

Keith (obviously tearing up just like we are) was able to take the time to assure Kendric that there will be more food tomorrow, and the next day and the day after that. He told Kendric not to worry, we will not ever use those words again, "no more food" since it is the source of such a difficult memory. He was able to hold his boy and comfort the wounds of his heart.

Today, there are children just like Kendric. They aren't a nameless, faceless bunch of kids halfway across the world who don't matter. They are kids just like sweet Kendric who are hearing from their aunties, "no more food" and like Kendric they are sad and scared.

Will you change that? Will you provide for them? Will you help the memory of Kendric's past hurt be used to change the lives of children today in Uganda? (remember to note: feed the forgotten on the notes line when you give)

PS: remember our SWAP IT weekend Challenge!!!!