The kids:)
We had a very action packed day! We attended a special church service that we do not usually attend. It was very thought provoking...the best kind of church service!!
Then we headed to our capitol city to get family pictures taken. Since it is a 1 1/2 hour drive we don't make this trip often...especially now with all of the kids. We have not had formal family pictures taken since before Grace came to live with us. By the time that Grace was "ours" Superman and Faith had joined the family - so what should the "family" picture look like? Besides...life was so incredibly crazy that first year (has it really stopped???) that dressing up toddlers and driving 1 1/2 hours for formal pictures was totally not in my radar screen lol! Anyway, by the time they were "ours" we talked about getting pictures done but didn't. Then the church directory was getting done so we got a family picture done there...and 2 weeks later we got the call on JJ! God has a sense of humor lol! Anyway, we had fun getting pictures taken and got individual poses of each child too:)
The most significant part of the day was having a meeting with a Sudanese pastor. God ordained a meeting a couple of months ago with a woman who has a ministry to South Sudan with her husband and some members of the Christian Sudanese community. We set up this meeting today to meet him and ask him if he will help us connect the children to the Sudanese culture...yet keep them safe. We have walked a tentative line of knowing the children must be kept safe with us but also wanting them to know their culture. The African American culture is not the same as the Sudanese culture. Their history is not the same. We want them to be able to look in the mirror and be proud of who they are. We want them to look in the mirror and not be afraid. When I asked Superman what he wanted to talk to the pastors about today he answered, "I want them to help me not be afraid when I remember XXXX." This is an important part of their healing.
The pastor was wonderful (the other pastor is currently in South Sudan). He assured us that he would help us keep the kids safe while teaching us about their culture. He recommended a book to help understand the culture. He is also from the same tribe as the children!! We are trusting the God has ordained this meeting and that His will will be done through these connections.
To walk a path not in fear...but to be aware of the danger lurking in the shadows. To know that God is sovereign...but also that evil still permeates this earth.
