Jenni's Response to the El Salvador Article Printed in The OC Register

We are grateful to The OC Register for printing a story about Aidan's Silly Bandz outreach project. The article was titled "North Tustin brothers would rather give than receive."

To read the article, click here:

http://www.ocregister.com/news/salvador-309547-aidan-jenni.html

The original article (printed on July 23rd, 2011) contained a number of errors. We are grateful for the immediate response of the OC Register staff, who corrected the errors. The article will be reprinted in The Tustin News this week. I have included some additional information below which was not printed in the article:

(1) Our background in outreach/humanitarian aide. Mike and I have been honored to serve overseas in relief, development and outreach for over twenty years. Together we have served in over sixty countries. I am blessed to serve as the Missions Director at The Village Church of Irvine. Mike serves as the Elders of Missions at The Village Church and we have both lead many international outreach teams all over the world. Mike first visited El Salvador in 2006 to participate in an orphanage dedication and my work in El Salvador began in 2009.

(2) Our Adoption Journey. The writer did not include detailed information about our adoption. He only mentioned that our orphan outreach trips started through our desire to adopt in El Salvador. Unfortunately, we withdrew from the El Salvador adoption program last year after experiencing ongoing delays and corruption in our case. It was a heart breaking and devastating decision to withdraw from the program after waiting for over three years. We lost $15,000 when we withdrew from El Salvador and had to begin the process of adoption all over again. Last fall we were accepted to adopt from South Korea, and our family is anxiously waiting to be matched with a baby girl. We are currently raising funds for our adoption in Korea.

While we originally hoped to adopt in El Salvador, we believe that our orphan work in this country was part of our destiny. Our "eyes were opened" to the tremendous needs of El Salvador's orphans through our adoption journey. We are deeply passionate about adoption, which is why I work for an international adoption agency. We strongly believe that adoption or family reunification is the best outcome for every child, and that no child should grow up in an orphanage. Every child deserves a "forever family." We are honored to partner with two Christian ministries in El Salvador, which passionately care for the interests of orphaned children. The families that we serve under truly work "on the front lines of the battlefield in El Salvador" and we are priviledged to bring "relief and support" as we serve them through our trips.

Giving Away Our Shoes...

I have included two of the blog posts written on our orphan outreach blog during our recent El Salvador trip. To read through all of the blog posts, click onto:

www.allblessingswest.blogspot.com

Last night we arrived at The Calvary Chapel property, "Potter's Field." Potter's Field is a beautiful, lush and tropical "refuge," a sharp contrast from the shantytown located right outside the large green doors and concrete walls. This ministry was birthed by Dave Eason's (one of our team members) grandparents in 1968 and their family has a tremendous legacy in this place. Dave's father, Dave Eason Senior, is serving alongside our team and he has been a tremendous blessing. We have settled in here for the remaining last three days of the trip. This afternoon we will be serving a children's neighborhood outreach in a poor village about 1 1/2 hours away. We are bringing arts and crafts, pinatas, silly bands and hearts ready to serve.

Yesterday was our last day serving at CIPI, the government center. We brought the kids pinatas and took time visiting each group area to say our tearful good byes. It was also a blessing to bring shoes to most of the children, who laughed, screamed and loved picking their "perfect pair" of shoes. When we opened the bags of shoes in the teenage girls' area, we realized in grave disappointment that we did not have enough shoes for these girls. We had one bag filled with clothes, and some of the girls chose clothing instead of shoes. However, a few girls remained with empty looks, wondering if they would receive any shoes. Then something supernatural happened. We had recorded their shoe sizes, and realized that some of our team members were the exact same size. Amanda, Kendall, Jacque and I were honored to give up our shoes to bless these precious girls, who literally own nothing. Amanda later shared that her shoes were recently purchased (Nike running shoes), but God clearly spoke to her to give them away.


It's one thing to give away shoes that have been donated, but another to gladly take the shoes off your feet and walk away shoeless. I am so proud of this team and the way in which they selflessly give and serve. One of the highlights of the trip for me has been watching God powerfully transform the team members' lives. God is constantly reminding me that these trips are part of the "fruit" of our failed adoption. It is incredible. While our dream of adopting in El Salvador has been lost, we are honored to continue to serve His orphans through leading these teams. And He has not forgotten us. He has led us to wait and trust Him as one day we will finally hold and carry home our little Korean princess.

Finding God in the Midst of Suffering

This blog post was written in El Salvador on our orphan outreach blog. To read all of the team blog posts, go to:

www.allblessingswest.blogspot.com

This week our team has encountered stories of poverty, abuse, incest, unwanted pregnancies, abandonment, addictions and other atrocities in the faces of children too heart breaking to post on this blog. For most Americans, these issues pose the question, “Where is God in the midst of suffering?” I do not presume to have all of the answers to the deep things of God. But I do know this. In the past seven days God has been right here in our midst.


Our team has been reading through David Platt’s book, “Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream.” In chapter seven, David Platt submits that God’s people are the answer to the pain and suffering in the world today. He says that Christ’s followers “are the plan of God, and there is no plan B.” As I was reading through this chapter on the flight to El Salvador, God gave me a name for our team, “The Plan A Team.” It has been overwhelming and humbling to realize that we have truly been “God’s Plan A” for the people of El Salvador this week.


I saw the perfect plan of God as I watched my eight-year old son hold, feed and hug abandoned babies. I saw the gracious plan of God in a homeless man’s smile as he shouted “gracias!” and grabbed a bag of food from our truck. I saw God’s plan as my friend Tanya listened to and counseled a teenage mom. Later she cut her hair, and struggled to let her go in an unforgettable good-bye embrace.


I saw the plan of God as the men on our team worked tirelessly in life-squelching heat building a home for elderly men and women who have been forgotten. I saw God’s sacrificial plan as my friend Carin removed the shoes from her feet and handed them to a construction worker in desperate need of shoes. The stories of God’s plans being accomplished through our team are endless. It has been a privilege to be His plan of mercy, compassion and relief to “the least of these.”


We’ve spent a lot of time this week reflecting on God’s plans for our lives as “The Plan A Team.” Proverbs 19:21 says that “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Psalm 33:11 tells us that “The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purpose of His heart through all generations.” And Psalm 40:4-5 says “Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you, were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.”


Our world is broken. No doubt about it. This week we have been reminded that God is a Redeemer, and He can heal anything that has been broken. Anything. By His grace, He has chosen to use us in bringing hope and joy to El Salvador this week. As we return home, we have a heightened awareness of the fact that we are His plan for the hurting world around us. As one of the team leaders, my heart and prayer is that each team member will return home remembering that they are God’s Plan A to reach the suffering souls surrounding them. And Lord willing, many of us will return to serve His people in El Salvador one day soon.

Headed to El Salvador!

Tomorrow we will be leading a team of 16 volunteers from our church to serve in two orphanages in El Salvador. We love our team!!! God has clearly called each team member to serve in a unique way. Half of the team members are eighteen years old or younger and we can't wait to see how God works in their lives. Aidan is the youngest team member, he just turned eight last month! God has already been doing so much in our team as we've met together and prepared our hearts to serve "the least of these." We've also collected shoes, clothing, soccer balls and supplies, arts and crafts and 4,334 silly bands!










Aidan packing his silly bands

Follow our All Blessings trips blog this week! We will be posting daily updates and photos as we serve His orphans and the homeless community of San Salvador!

www.allblessingswest.blogspot.com

Godly Wisdom as We Wait

I have been deeply blessed by a little devotional called Jesus Calling (by Sarah Young) recently. I was reading this devotional the other day, and God spoke directly to my heart as we trust in Him on our adoption journey. I hope that these words encourage you as well:

"Rest with me a while. You have journeyed up a steep, rugged path in recent days. The way ahead is shrouded in uncertainty. Look neither behind you nor before you. Instead, focus your attention on Me, your constant Companion. Trust that I will equip you fully for whatever awaits you on the journey.

I designed time to be a protection for you. You couldn't bear to see all your life at once. Though I am unlimited by time, it is in the present moment that I meet you. Refresh yourself in My company, breathing deep draughts on My Presence. The highest level of trust is to enjoy Me moment by moment. I am with you, watching over wherever you go." - Jesus Calling, page 168

There are no updates regarding the quota situation in Korea. As we continue to wait for the referral of our little girl, we advocate passionately for orphan care. Next week we are honored to lead a team of sixteen volunteers to serve orphans in El Salvador. We are especially excited to see God move in Aidan's heart as he gives away silly bands and loves on the kids in the orphanages. Stay tuned for more!

Tremendous Encouragement From Friends in a Time of Sorrow...

We are so grateful to God for so many things. There is not enough room on this blog to write about God's goodness and faithfulness in our lives. While the circumstances of life can be deeply painful and confusing, God is always with us. In the past week we have talked, grieved and cried over the recent changes in Korea. In some ways the difficult news felt like a miscarriage, or the loss of a dream. However, God has been speaking to us over and over again about trusting His timing and His perfect plan. This week I have been reminded of our infertility journey and of the supernatural way in which God led us to adopt! I have received so many encouraging words, phone calls and emails. Thank you SO MUCH for carrying us and for supporting us through the UPS and DOWNS of our adoption journey!

A few days ago I received a very moving email from our close missionary friend in El Salvador, Kathy Knepper. Kathy had been praying for us early that morning, and had no idea about the recent changes in the Korean adoption program. God simply put us on her heart and she was praying fervently for us. She felt led to send an email to us sharing her thoughts that day. When she returned home, she saw the news of the quota on Facebook. Here is part of her email:

"Jenni and Mike, the Lord knows who your daughter is. She has been created knowing that you are going to be her mom and dad. She has been made to fill your heart with joy and burdens (you can't have one without the other). He knows when she will come. Though you are ready for her, she might not be ready for you. I want you to know that I was told by the Lord to write this to you BEFORE I read your post, as I was driving at 4:30 am in the morning, on the way to the airport.

Many wrongs have and will be done, and some will never recognize it. Yet you will still get the supreme joy of doing that which the Lord called you to do faithfully... adoption. It may not go on the record books, but it will forever change the life of a precious Korean princess, who has been made just for you. I love you, Kathy"


David and Kathy Knepper and their beautiful kids!

We are so grateful that God has been speaking to our hearts, and He is also speaking to you. He cares about the details of our lives and He truly does cause all things to work together for good. For now, we continue to wait and put our trust in Him!

Insights on the Korean Quota Issue

Last week I joined the Yahoo Korean Adoption Group after hearing about the quota in Korea. I felt like I needed to be more connected with families who share our journey into Korea. In the last week I have received many helpful and encouraging emails from fellow adoption sojourners and am blessed to be part of the group. Last night I spent a couple of hours reading through other family adoption blogs. It's insightful and encouraging to see how other families are procesing their adoption experiences amidst the quotas. Two families had some great posts on their reactions to the Korean quota issue. If you'd like to read more about the quota, please check out these blog posts:

www.heartontheline.com/2011/05/my-adoption-rant.html

minus1project.blogspot.com/2011/05/joining-army.html