Here we go again!

This time it's Ella's turn to return to her birth country.  We leave for Vietnam in less than 12 hours.  The hardest part to get ready for the trip has been getting Hannah's schedule ready for the people who are keeping her.  Ella and I will arrive Friday night in Ho Chi Minh City.  We will visit around Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday and then Sunday head to the province were Ella spent the first 21 months of her life in the orphanage there.  We will visit the orphanage on Monday and have some other opportunities that day as well.  We return to Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday and then fly out to Myanmar for Ella's first mission trip.  She's a little anxious about that part, especially since she has to wear a skirt every day :)  We will meet up with our Associate Pastor to work with Hung Kee Paing there.  We partner with Hung Kee Paing as he pastors a church there and has taken many children who did not have homes.  Bruce will lead a Pastor's Conference and I will update all the children our church members sponsor there as well as lead some Bible studies.  Ella is taking an soccer ball to teach some soccer!  Please pray for us as we journey.  Pray for Ella's heart as she experiences so much in a short amount of time.  Pray for our safety and pray for Hannah as we are separated for 2 weeks!  May God be glorified in all that we do!  Susie

Ready, Set, Go!

We had an amazing time in Yangon, Myanmar.  It is a beautiful country with beautiful people.  We did a little sightseeing to get a feel for the city including the market and Sule Pagoda, which is the Buddhist Temple in the center of Yangon.  It was quite elaborate and covered with pure gold.  Buddhism makes up 90% of the people here in Myanmar.  We spent the other 2 days at the Victory Christian Orphanage which also is the Grace Christian Mission.  A man named Hung Kee Paing and his wife live there with their 2 children and 12 orphans.  He is a strong Evangelist, even witnessing to the taxi driver on his way home last night.  They do not have much but they pray that God will provide.  Hung Kee Paing grew up worshipping nature (Animism) and became a Christian at the age of 16.  He has a Bachelor degree and a divinity degree and started the church there in his home.  He is from the Dialand area and continues to go back there to share his faith.  In 2008, a cyclone (Nargis) hit and he and his wife lost their rental house.  They spent 16 days homeless, so he knows how it feels to not have a home.  He wants to help children in the same circumstance.  He started with 6 children and now has 12.  They do not have much…the children sleep on mats, there is no refrigerator or stove, but they have cared for the children.  We are planning to help.  (Here's Hannah receiving a gift from Hung Kee Paing)

So this morning we headed to the airport.  There were no flights out to Vietnam from Myanmar until tomorrow, so we flew from Yangon to Kuala, Lumpur.  The excitement started to build.  Once there, we transferred to a different terminal to fly on to Ho Chi Minh City.  We will arrive there in 48 minutes.  It will be about 6:30pm when we arrive.  We are praying for daylight and that our luggage will be there as well.  We then have to find a taxi (I have 2 different names to look for) and give them our hotel address.  I’m a little nervous, but I think our excitement will carry us through.  Hannah has done beautifully so far on the trip.  We have had many experiences all ready…like the first night when 4 of us climbed into the taxi and she had to sit on Hung Kee Paing’s wife’s lap.  She didn’t know her, but she did it.  She has embraced the food and tried most everything (If you know Hannah, I know that doesn’t surprise you.)  Obviously we have had many stares from people.  An Asian girl with an American causes lots of attention.  She mostly gets asked if she speaks Vietnamese, which she doesn’t.  Most Asians don’t like that, but Hannah has enough trouble with school.  But we’re prepared for that.  We plan to just explore tomorrow and then head to Vinh Long on Wednesday.  Pray I can find the right travel agent to get us a trusting driver who speaks some English and knows Vinh Long.  I know that is a long shot, but I know our God can provide.  We are still in awe that we are on the plan about to land in Vietnam.  We thanked God and I have tears right now.  I really never thought this would be possible.  We know that God ordained this trip and we plan to make the most of it.  Again, thank you to those who have prayed and helped financially.  God is at work in Hannah’s life, and mine also.  I was reminded of several things while in Myanmar.  I am ready to help the least of these, but through it all, I am learning as well.  God is good! (Here's Hannah and I at the airport in Kuala Lumpur...Ready to go!)

Hard to Believe

This summer my girls and I went to Vietnam Camp sponsored by my Adoption Agency.  I heard again that this best time to take your adoptive child on a birth land tour was between the ages of 8 and 10.  Hannah is now 11 and as I continue to pay off my debt, I knew there was no way we could afford to head off to Vietnam.  We had been praying about it as a family and now in less than 12 hours, Hannah and I will step on a plane to begin an amazing journey together...one that only God could have designed.  We're first heading on a mission trip together...to Myanmar to look over an orphanage that our church hoping to partner with as we begin an Orphan Ministry at our church.  As I looked at the map, I realized how close to Vietnam we would be...too close not to go on to Vietnam and take Hannah with me.  Friends and family gave so generously to pay for Hannah's ticket.  I must say, she is just as excited about going on a mission trip with Mom as she is to visit her birth country.

We covet your prayers.  I know that the trip will be life changing for Hannah as she shares her faith in Jesus Christ with the orphans in Myanmar and then as we explore together her country of birth.  We plan to return to Vinh Long and see the area where she was born and return to her orphanage.  She can hardly wait to eat the food.  I'm a little nervous about traveling with my child, but I know God has ordained this trip and we are trusting in Him to take care of us and bring us back to Ella who has been so understanding of Hannah and I going on this trip.  She even wrote a note to Hannah telling her how much she loved her and would pray for her safety.  We so pray that Ella and I will get to take this trip when she is 11.

So journey with us as we see what God has in store for us! Susie