🌵 Thank you all for your comments, messages, and kindness regarding our big move back to the states (see last post). We’ve always said that just as much as God obviously called us to move to Tanzania years ago, God would also have to make it abundantly clear (when the time came) that he was calling us back to America. And it’s time that we now sense that call. 🕊 For the last several months, I have been seeing our home, our community, our city, our kids in this place, in a new light—so wanting to remember every sight, sound, smell (okay, maybe not ALL the smells) of this place that is so special to us. Even this morning, I was up before the sun for my morning walk and I treasured the sounds of the birds beckoning the morning.... Barely any cars or motorcycles yet on the road, and just a trickle of people walking home after finishing their night shifts or starting their long walks to their jobs across town. 🕊 Tanzania has been one of the greatest gifts to myself, Brandon, and our kids. And we feel so honored that God hasn’t just given us one home country, but two. A double portion. God has indeed done abundantly more than we could have ever thought or imagined. To have 2 places on this Earth that have so embedded themselves into our hearts... it’s just so kind, you guys. God’s just been so kind to us. 🌻 Over the next several weeks I hope to share our journey of transition back to the states and what it really looks like to leave home here to return ‘home’ there. It’s going to be quite the adventure and I’m thankful to have you all along for the journey. 🧡 #takingroute #velvetashes #velvetashesafrica #alifeoverseas #tanzania
🌻 I’ve hinted in some of my previous posts about some bigger things that are going on in our lives; asking for prayer, sharing some areas of warfare that we are claiming authority over, and generally that we are waiting on God for certain things. After months of praying, seeking counsel, and weighing our options, we have come to a decision that I now get to share with all of you. My husband, kids and I will be leaving our beloved Tanzania to return to the states come November. 🇹🇿🇺🇸 Not many know/realize that our program Kingdom Families—one that we have essentially built from the ground up over the last 5 years—is a program under a separate parent organization. And in February, the directors/founders of that organization that we serve under made the decision that they will be downsizing their non-profit; no longer extending support or covering to missionaries within the organization. And thus, our program Kingdom Families, under their NGO will be ending in November as well. We have thought about all our options and heavily considered what the best way forward is for our family. But the Lord has clearly lead us to return to America and we will be moving back to CA in about 8 weeks.
I want to say that we have never been more passionate about ethical orphan care or our beliefs that children belong in families than we are right now. Our program was growing, both in size and notoriety, and we were often called upon by others to shed light on the many things God has revealed to us about children’s rights, family strengthening, orphan prevention, family preservation, and the great risks of children growing up in institutions. We love Tanzania dearly, and it has woven itself so deeply into our hearts. Brandon and I first met and got engaged here in Tanzania 8 years ago, and we first moved here as a couple after we got married over 7 years ago. I have had both my pregnancies here, our blonde babes had both their first steps in this very house, we adopted our son Moses here 3 years ago, and God has spoken deep calls in both Brandon and I’s hearts for this country—calling us both to be a mother and father to this nation. And yet we leave....(continued in comments👇🏻)
In the words of my children: “It’s the Mommy mountain and the baby mountain.” 🤱🏼 Did you know that little peak to the right side of Kilimanjaro is called Mawenzi? Our kids are convinced it’s “baby mountain”, even thought they know it’s rightful name. 😂 Is it odd to have a relationship with a mountain, to speak of it affectionately, like it’s an old friend? Kili-girl is a good one and I very much admire her, especially on my morning walks. And once again, pictures can’t even do her justice. She’s so much bigger in person. (Don’t take it personally Kili... you’re huge... and we love it.) 😉 #mountkilimanjaro
I realize I never gave this update from a few weeks ago. Promise had her cast taken off, but not in the way we had hoped or planned (of course). Life is throwing some serious curveballs our way that will make good memories (one day). 😉 Promise was scheduled to have her cast off at the hospital she had her procedure at. But when we arrived to the hospital, the wait was going to be likely around 5 hours. We just couldn’t do it. 👎🏻 So we headed to another hospital to see if they would remove the cast....which they did....with a razor blade. 😂 Friends, I cannot even make this stuff up. We had to soak her cast in running water to soften it and once that was done, the nurses then used a razor blade to cut it off piece by piece. And yes, it was totally traumatic for Promise, as she begged the nurses to please not cut her. They were so patient though and after they began cutting away at the cast, Promise calmed down and eased into my arms. But to say this whole broken arm experience has shaken her up a bit would be an understatement. 😑. But now we come (again) to you all with prayer regarding her arm (it’s actually more her elbow). We waited awhile to see how she was going to use her arm after the cast was removed. And she has been using it in increasing measures. But we are noticing that she is not wanting to make her arm completely straight and when asked to do so she either begins crying or runs away. We cannot tell if it’s because of fear of making it straight that is preventing her from doing it (again, traumatic), or if there is something else going on. We need to have X-rays taken again this week to see how the bone has set and then will go from there. Will you please pray for us (more, again)? She does not complain about pain and uses her arm really well for most everything. It’s just the refusal (maybe inability?) to make it go all the way straight. Please pray for all fear to be removed and for her arm to be completely healed. We appreciate the ways you are all holding us up right now. Thanks friends! 🌻 #takingroute #velvetashesafrica #velvetashes #alifeoverseas
What a week. Thank you so much for your prayers of us regarding my last post. Brandon is starting to do better after being attacked by our cat. Since Koufax had her kitten, she has become really overprotective, and the attack on Brandon is proof of how unstable she’s become. We will be rehoming her soon. 😑 Brandon is on antibiotics and getting a series of rabies vaccines because Koufax has never been vaccinated (I know, I know... bad cat owners 😬). On the other hand, our dogs are all up to date on vaccines, and thankfully Dodger had just gotten his vaccines renewed the week before his attack. Dodger came home today, and the vets counted at least 29 puncture wounds throughout his body. 🤭 We are all heartbroken. We thought they were going to do surgery to reattach part of his ear, but there is no skin left there, and so the vet has said we just have to wait for it to heal on it’s own. Like I said, it’s been quite a week. That, along with our computer refusing to work properly, showing us that it’s time for a new one.... wowza (not fun when there is work to do and Brandon is doing a distance masters program which requires a computer). 👨🏼💻 But friends, I can’t tell you how encouraged I was to read all your messages, telling us that you’ve been praying. It’s so comforting to know that God is near, and your intercession of us is brought straight to His throne. Please continue to pray for us. We have some other big things going on right now that I will share when ready, but we can use your continued prayer. God is good—it’s what we know, it’s what we trust, and it’s what we will continue to believe. Thanks friends. 🕊 #takingroute #velvetashes #velvetashesafrica #alifeoverseas
Friends, we need some prayer warriors in our corner today. Things like this come in waves, and often to try and distract us from what God is wanting to speak or show us,... as if a spirit of confusion and chaos tries to edge its way into our lives... to get us sidetracked and distracted elsewhere. And the last week or so, we have been feeling it. And it’s all coming to a head this morning when Brandon and I woke up to our beloved dog Dodger severely attacked by a stray dog (most likely 2) who had entered our property in the night. Brandon is rushing him to the vet as we speak, but friends I can’t even show you the picture of him. It’s bad. 😭 How we didn’t hear it last night is beyond me. 😩 PLEASE PRAY FOR US. We have some bigger things going on in our lives right now that undoubtedly needs our full attention. And yet stuff like this happens. Brandon was also attacked by our cat this morning on his arm 🤦🏼♀️ (like latched on) and I had to be an impromptu nurse to wrap his whole wrist/hand up. We literally woke up to craziness (not to mention two of our kids coming into our bedroom last night because of fear). So often Brandon and I face these challenges by ourselves and pray our family through it; anointing our house with oil, praying over every corner of our property, praying over our children’s rooms, breaking up things in the spirit through worship. It’s what we will always continue to do, and yet today we need you as well. Would you commit to praying for us today? Pray for Dodger as he will definitely need some type of surgery, pray for no infection for Brandon especially as he just started his 2nd term for his masters this week, pray with us that peace would prevail and that what God is wanting would breakthrough. Believing God, trusting Him, and holding on to His Promise’s. 🕊🌈🌍
Happy Adoption Day to us! It’s been 3 years since we finalized the adoption of Moses! We adopted him right after his 8th birthday and now he is 11. Recently, we got to sit down and talk with one of the caretakers at the orphanage that Moses grew up at. She has known Moses his whole life and knows his journey. She told us that since Moses has entered our family, she can see that he finally has peace. She said that before he was a very different child, but now, he’s different in a good way. It brought tears to my eyes, and I thanked God for her affirmation of him (and us). Now, I don’t say this as a boast or a brag. No, there is nothing like adopting an older child to humble you like none other. But it’s to say that there are children who have never experienced peace in their life, who don’t have families, and who are uncertain of who they are and what will become of them. Friends, may we never neglect considering bringing in an older child into our families. I have prayed for so long that our home would be a place of healing for the broken of this world. And friends, we brought home a very broken child 3 years ago. But by God’s incredible transformation power, we are beginning to hear the words from others, encouraging us in the change they have seen. It’s been hard at many times...but looking back over the last 3 years to where we are today, I can say without a doubt that it is worth it. We love you Moses Michael! God has incredible plans for your life and I can’t wait to see who you continue to become! #adoptionrocks #adoption #adoptionday #gotchaday
Thankful for a little boy who is on the mend! I posted in my stories yesterday, asking for prayer for Shepherd. We were on day 4 of high fevers and he was developing some pretty nasty chest stuff, making barky coughs and sleeping horribly. 😩 But I am so encouraged that within hours of me posting of him, so many of you messaged me saying you were praying. So. Many. I was actually shocked... and humbled. And guess what? He began improving immediately. As the day went on and more answered prayers filled my message box, his fever broke, the coughing began to subside, and last night he slept soooo much better. To say I’m thankful for this Instagram community would be an understatement. I am constantly encouraged by so many of you and feel honored to get a peek into your lives—even though I have never even met many of you face to face. It’s such a blessing. Thank you all for praying! So happy to have my sunshine-boy back. ☀️ Also, we scored at our little, once-a-month farmers market today and brought home 4 boxes of blueberries, organic lettuce and herbs, and some of the biggest chickens (none alive 😂) that you ever did see. This week has been sort of a hard one for me, and usually when emotions are all over, cooking gets real sparse around here (sorry fam)(hello Enneagram 4!). But today, I’ve got chicken cooking away in the slow cooker with some Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey BBQ Sauce (thank you @anessa_freedman @christymorffi @garden.church for that) and we are doing BBQ chicken sandwiches for dinner with fresh salad and seasoned potatoes. It’s good to feel alive, and having predictable, purpose-driven activities are usually the ones that help me best get out of a funk. What’s your best tricks for picking yourself up and pushing forward? Would love to hear what you do! Happy Friday friends! ☀️ #takingroute #velvetashes #velvetashesafrica #alifeoverseas
God bless these 2 twenty-somethings, who 8 years ago decided to jump all in. We never dated, just got engaged. After meeting each other face-to-face 6 weeks prior, no less. I’m proud of who we were then, but even more proud of who we are now. This photo is blurry which actually perfectly describes the journey we have been on since this day 8 years ago: fast moving, non-stop, running our race—together, always alongside one another. Such a whirlwind, such an adventure. God writes good love stories, friends—of that I am fully convinced. Happy 8 Bran. I love you and I like you. 🧡HB
Last night after the kids were asleep, Brandon and I got to open up the 2 suitcases that our team from our sending church in Long Beach, CA (@garden.church) brought over for us from America. Inside was all the rest of our homeschool material for the coming year (🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻) plus loads of blessings for our family (food, candy, treats, craft stuff for our kids, new LEGO sets for each of our kids....). Today has been so sweet to see our kids eyes light up as we give them gifts from our church family, telling them that people they don’t even know wanted to bless them. It’s incredible. So today has been all about enjoying their new toys and our new read-aloud book (pictured) with a good cup of tea for each of us; being reminded of how near God is and how much He see’s all of us.
Friends, elders, and supporters at Garden Church, we feel so loved and supported. It is an honor to be with Alan, Anessa, and Christy this week and give them a peek into our lives here in Tanzania. Will you be praying for our time, that we would have hearts and minds attuned to what God is speaking for this time together? What a special opportunity and such a special church we get to be an extension of here in Kilimanjaro. #intanzaniaasitisinheaven #inlongbeachasitisinheaven 🕊 #velvetashes #velvetashesafrica #takingroute #alifeoverseas
