Mission Trip to Ethiopia

Wow! 2 weeks from today we will be on our way to Ethiopia for our mission trip.  During our stay we will be working in orphanages in Addis Ababa and Awassa and a youth rehabilitation facility in Addis. At least that's the plan. We've been told that "Flexibility!" needs to be our motto, so we need to be open to last minute changes in plans.

We are very excited to see some people that we met when we adopted our son 2 years ago.  We will be staying at the same hotel we did 2 years ago, which is next door to Caleb's care center he was at when we  picked him up.  I think there are going to be a lot of good memories. 

We fell in love with the Ethiopian people when we were there the first time and we are looking  forward to going and seeing these beautiful people again and hearing their stories.  We would appreciate your prayers as we serve the orphans and children of these countries. Keep following for updates and prayer requests before we leave and during our trip.

Gymnastics

Kenzie and Alli are still involved in gymnastics and absolutely love it.  Here are some pictures of the annual gym show, they were both excited because Amee and Papa got to come and see them perform this year.  Kenzie had a stress fracture in her foot so she had to take it easy.  But she was happy that she still got to do the show.  Kenzie will be doing rec op this coming here so she will do some competition and Alli will be a level 3 this year.  They both did a great job and we are so proud of them.

Now for Allison

Both of the girls had the same coach this year, and she will be missed by both of them this year.

Kenzie, Alli and Alli's best friend Audrey.

Sixth Grade Graduation

Mckenzie graduated from 6th grade this year.  I can not believe that she is going to be in middle school next year.  She had a wonderful year and loved her teacher. 

Kenzie getting her certificate

                                            Kenzie and Hailey - Best Friends

                                                                        Friends

                                                              More Friends

                                            Hailey and Kenzie with their teacher

                                                               Congrats! Kenzie

Catch you up to speed

Wow! it has been a long time since I have posted. Sorry about that I will try and do better at keeping this blog updated.  Here are a few pictures to show what we have been up to lately.

Deanna in the parade for flag team.  She did awesome!

.                                          Kenzie playing the saxaphone at the Spokane arena with all the elementary  schools in our district.  Those music teachers are amazing how they work with all those kids, and the music was great!  Good Job Kenzie!

Kenzie playing her heart out!

Deanna and Kenzie playing minute to win it games at youth group

Deanna playing her bass at a JCA concert

An african drum concert that we hosted at our church.  It was a fundraiser for our mission trip to Ethiopia in November.

The following pictures are taken Memorial Day weekend at our yearly family reunion at my Aunt Carols house on the Columbia River.  It was a wonderful time of fishing, playing, baking, laughing, spending time with family and just having a great. I love my family and love spending time with everyone.

Noah playing a frisbe game

Cousins just hanging out together

My aunt's beautiful log home

Alli absolutely adores her cousin Kirsten

Kenzie and Caleb in a wrestling match

Caleb eating a smore

Eating smores

Being silly together

Hanging out with dad

Sisters!

Deanna and Papa

Getting ready to go rafting down the Columbia River

Caleb missed his cousin Corbin while he was gone at the river

Just hanging out together

My adorable nephew!

Kassidy and Deanna

Roasting marshmellows

Mission Trip

As most of you know we adopted our son from Ethiopia in July of 2008. We were touched by the people and the needs of that country. We loved our time there and since that time we have been feeling God calling us back there, but was not sure what He wanted us to do. In October of 2009 God opened the doors for us to lead a mission team from our church back to Ethiopia in Nov. 2010. On this trip we will also be taking our two older children with us. We believe that this is going to be a great experience for our whole family.

During this trip we will be working in orphanages in Addis Ababa , and a transitional home called Hannah's Hope. Then the second week we are there we will fly up to a northern city in the Tigray region. The city is called Mekelle. We will also work in some orphanages, doing VBS, working with Women's project, and also working at a hospital. The hospital provides care for the families in the area that can't afford regular medical care. They provide services for prenatal care, pediatrics as well as providing training for orphan Ethiopians that want to be nurses, but are unable to afford schooling otherwise.

We are very excited about this opportunity that God has provided for us. Please join us in prayer as we prepare to go on this trip spiritually, and financially. We are taking a step of faith that God is going to provide everything needed for this trip.