Our Hawaii Adventures In Picture...

So.... I am now home from China and Hawaii, and repacking to leave in two days for Anatomy and Physiology camp in North Carolina!

BUT, I'm most thrilled at this moment to say that TOMORROW Sarah and Dan (+Abby) come home with their new daughter and my new niece Olivia Hope! Jeremiah 29:11 says ' "For I know the plans I have you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." ' This is one of the verses that we kept coming back to in China, knowing that the Lord knows each of His children by name, that He created them on purpose for a purpose. I am simply blessed beyond words to see Sarah and Dan obeying Jesus' call to us in James 1:27 to care for orphans. Jesus said in John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command." I am forever grateful that He has placed Olivia in our family, forever blessing us all because of Dan and Sarah's obedience to Him. I cannot wait to meet her tomorrow! The adoption journey sure is a lesson in patience... and she's not even my own daughter! Way to go Dan and Sare... through all that waiting and work, look what God has given you!

Okay... now that I've gotten some of that joy and celebration off my chest, I want to share some of my most amazing memories from Hawaii with you.

(Note: I'm sure as I get more pics from friends, I'll be sharing more!)

View of Waikiki at the top of Diamond Head

another view

Waimea Bay

Rock jumping at Waimea Bay! I kind of blend in with the rocks but you can kind of see my striped suit.

love the ocean

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Hike to Maunawili Falls and beyond!

The only two not from Hawaii... to see him climb you'd think he was a native (we call him Tarzan), but it was great to have someone else who found as much excitement, awe, appreciation, desire to take in all our adventures much as me!

Fearless leader Sean, who wanted to use this part of a palm tree that he found as a raft, so he carried it the whole way there.... it was sort of a fail as a raft but it was great to watch him hike with it.

Slippery trek to the top of the cliff

Top of the 40 foot cliff at the falls!

The girls... we all survived the jump (after the boys made sure it was safe of course :) and I was ready to do it again!

John (or as we call him, Tarzan) climbing a cliff/rock wall opposite the jumping cliff.

Sean's epic back flip off of that cliff!

Attempting to climb a waterfall... I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING!

made it half way up... loving it all

How'd he get up there so fast? Oh right, he's Tarzan.

Old, old bridge and stairway way back in the woods... I thought we might have a Horton Hears A Who experience!

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At Waimea Bay

(PS-Best shades I've ever had- thanks Mikey for helping me get them for 20 RMB!)

With Suz's brother Andrew (loved chatting about the old days!) and her boyfriend Jared.

My wonderful friend since birth.... Suz, you and your fam are such wonderful hosts! I've more than loved every adventure we've gone on, and your love for God and desire to follow Him is so encouraging to me. I'm so blessed to have met some of your amazing friends and to be a part of your life! xo

Aloha from Oahu

Having a blast in beautiful Hawaii with the Stercho family! It has been wonderful to experience some of their life in Hawaii, and of course reminisce about the old days in Bear Creek. Rich and Margie were like our second parents when we were little, and Andrew and Suzanna like our brother and sister (in fact, Suz introduces me to her friends as "her mom delivered me at birth and my mom delivered her"). So after them living here for ten years I'm so glad to finally be here and experience beautiful Oahu. Yesterday Rich and Margie took me to see Pearl Harbor. I like visiting historical sights and this one was particularly cool to see in real life.
Later, in the hot sun, we hiked up the side of a crater called Diamond Head. It was a pretty steep climb but from the top it was a beautful veiw of the ocean and Waikiki beach- a famous Hawaiin place.
Two days ago Suz took me cave diving with some of her friends. It's unlike anything I've ever done before- seriously epic! I do get a little claustophobic and some of the small, dark caves were a littler nerve racking (and being underwater didn't help) but they made me be brave and once I did it and knew how to navagte it, it was the best and most beautiful adventure. We saw tons of beautiful fish (and a scary eel that the boys were harassing and we thought was going to bite us), but the best part was swimming with the sea turtles! I was so happy that they came around... Oh the things you do when you live here! The rocks did give me some angry scrapes, but it's great. Good battle wounds...all part of the adventure, right?!

Later we went to Waimea Bay which has a huge rock in the water that makes for great cliff jumping. While we were there I got to experiece something that I love about Hawaii- it can be hot and sunny while it's raining! It was perfectly sunny but there was a small raincloud somewhere to shower us in the sun.


Today Suzanna, Andrew, and some friends (Ryan, Sean, John, Danielle, Tehani, & Leslie) went to a place called Maunawili where we hiked through beautiful Jurrassic Park type land (reminds me of the beautiful rain forests of Costa Rica). We came to a waterfall with a deep pool and a good 40 feet or so cliff over it. It was a slippery climb up to the top of it and some of us were a little nervous staninding at its edge, but the boys assured us it was safe and fun and I can honestly say that that jump was the most exhilarating thing I've ever done. I wish I could jump from heights like that all the time! We continued our hiking and swimming through the jungley forest, sliding down waterfalls, climbing slippery hills and crossing old bridges. We climed up a huge banyan tree on the way back, and man the roots that hang from those trees make for great climbing. While climbing, we realized that our one friend John who we nicknamed Disney Prince actually more accurately looks like Tarzan. He with his long dread locks navated all the way up this massive tree and out to the end of its limbs. He was the only person in our little group besides me who isn't from Hawaii, so I appreciated having someone who's excitement and thrill in doing all of this was as great as mine. This was a day of true adventures in Oahu's mountains!

I will be sure to post some pictures of these great times in Hawaii and also stories from amazing China will come when I get back to PA!

OH!! And I have to say how excited I am that my sister Sarah and her husband Dan are in Ethiopia RIGHT NOW getting their baby girl Olivia! Abby went with them as well to be a helper and photographer... What an exciting time for them! I so wanted to go but we can't be everywhere at once...only where God has called us to be at the moment. I good line I've been reminding myself lately: wherever you are, be all there!

AND- my brother Andrew and his wife Jen found out that they are expecting twins, VERY hard to believe- but praising the Lord for it! I will soon be the aunt of six!

Beijing>Tokyo>Honolulu

Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, that you are not your own?
- 1 Corinthians 6:1

It seems odd (and sad) to say that my wonderful two weeks in China have come to an end already. What a blessing it was to spend this time with an amazing Show Hope team of 16 wonderful girls, our amazing team leaders Wendy and Katie and our terrific host Mikey! I couldn't ask for better people to venture around China with and to be at Maria's Big House and New Hope with. I was continually blown away by the Lord's faithfulness and love in blessing our time. He has opened my eyes to see in a new way what it means to fully trust Him and have peace in knowing that He has a plan for each of us. He hasen't promised that we will be able to see the whole picture of exactly what He is doing, but He has promised that He will be faithful to sustain us every step of the way.

It was hard saying goodbye in China and although I know that I will soon be craving real Chinses food and holding sweet little babies, I know that God's timing is always perfect, so I look forward to the next step and how He will continue to use me and my team for His glory as we seek His will in caring for orphans.

As all the other girls fly together back home in the US, I am flying alone to Hawaii to visit some very special family friends. They have come to see us in Pennsylvania quite a few times and I always talk about how one day I'm going to see them, so I am grateful that it is finally happening!

I have much to tell about our trip and many pictures that I will share when I get home!

For now I want to leave you with some words from a song that have kept coming to my mind on during these past days:
...if this should be my last day on this earth, how then shall I live? If this should be the last day that I have before I breathe the air of heaven, let me live it with abandon to the only One that remains after my last day here on earth.... And if tomorrow finds me looking in the face of Jesus, will I hear Him say the words "well done?"

What Am I Willing To Give?

When I was in Nashville, the topic of Gary's ministry came up on several occasions. He runs a non-profit called Hope Network that works with the persecuted church in Asia. Each time that we talked about how it's extremely difficult and risky to be a Christian in China, it challenged me to think about how seriously I take my faith and what I am truly willing to give for it. In a country and culture where anything is acceptable, it becomes easier to take my faith for granted and forget what hardships so many of my brothers and sisters in Christ around the world are going through for the sake of the Gospel. In Matthew 5:11-12, Jesus said, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

I think that I can know to certain extent what this passage means, but for someone living in a country where they will be thrown in jail, beaten, and possibly killed for following Christ, I think this verse must really hit home. The pastors and their families that Hope Network works with works with have to literally live out this persecution daily and have and have to trust that they really are blessed for their suffering on a level that cannot be understood by someone who hasn't suffered in the same way.

I wonder how many people living in a free country right now would give up their faith if they were to be beaten or put into prison because of it. I asked myself am I willing to go through anything, to give up everything, for Christ's sake? When I hear stories about these pastors and families clinging to their faith and service to God amidst such persecution, I see what an authentic faith looks like and what I need to be ready to endure for Christ. The entire purpose of my life is to live for the glory of God, so it is my prayer that I can keep an eternal perspective in mind and know that if I am to prosper or suffer, it is for the glory of God and I am blessed to go through whatever comes my way.

Hebrews 13:3 says, "Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering."

For those of us who do not suffer as many of our fellow believers do, I pray that we will remember them as if we were in their position and that we will continue to pray that God would give them the strength, courage, and hope that they need to continue growing in their faith.

I'm so thankful to know Gary and this amazing ministry Hope Network that is not only changing lives in Asia, but so many more, including me.

My family's friend Chris also runs a stellar organization called Alpha Relief that works mainly in North Korea. So awesome to see what God is doing in these nations! Please continue to pray not only for the believers in these countries, but also for the leaders, that they will turn their hearts to the Lord.

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In other news.....

I swam in the lake for the first time this year yesterday! We went in again today and it's BEAUTIFUL! I think the kids (at least our neighbor's kids) have been swimming since there were ice chunks still in the water, but I haven't been swimming since Sanibel, about a month ago, so it's really nice to have this great weather... and the lake is WAY better than the pool! :)

Cappy and Willow have a new buddy, Dash. Mariah really wanted this little miniature pony and he is GORGEOUS. Willow and Cappy are cute, but he is just so beautiful with his black coat and long, dark mane (and he pulls a two-person cart which will be really fun for the kids!). I think it will be a lot to have three horses around, especially when Willow has her baby and there will be four. If I was going to be here the whole summer to help Mariah care for them it wouldn't be such a big deal, but I'm afraid that if mom gets busy then all of the work will fall to Mariah and that's a lot! I know that Nathan has been loving to help her with the minis and Abby and Katie sometimes help, but they aren't committed caretakers like me and Mariah, so I'm hoping that mom will do the work with her while I'm gone. It sure is fun to have these cute ponies here, but the more there are the more work we have!

My sister Sarah and brother-in-law Dan have recently become the legal guardians of my new BEAUTIFUL NIECE OLIVIA! They will be going to Ethiopia in June or July to bring her home, and I CANNOT WAIT! Sadly my summer is so busy that I will most likely not be able to travel with them. I have been wanting to go back to Ethiopia ever since I went two years ago, but I guess this will not be the time for me to go back, so I'll eagerly wait for them to get home!

AND.... I am VERY excited to say that in 8 days I leave for China with a Show Hope team!!! My friends Katie and Wendy are leading the trip, and I am thrilled to be going with them and a team of 16 others girls. Ever since I went to Hope Healing Home about two years ago in Beijing, I have been praying and waiting for when God would have me go back. I am thrilled beyond words to finally be able to go back, and also to go to Maria's Big House of Hope in Luoyang! I know this trip is going to be amazing and I'm so glad that I will be going with my dear friend Wendy and Katie, who lived in China for six years!

ShowHope.org

Thanks for a great weekend, Wendy. You're the best! Even though Gary's and my travels home so far has been a nightmare (totally delayed and cancelled flights...what in the world?!) it was so worth it to see my Show Hope peeps!

Funny story that I have to share... Cole's 8th birthday was on Saturday, so we went to a Japanese restaurant for dinner. Afterwards as we were walking out, we walked by the bar to find that Cole had left a few minutes earlier and was sitting at the bar, just chilling out, watching the TV. As if that wasn't a funny enough sight to see, when were walking to the car, Gary jumped in a puddle, totally soaking his foot (it had been rainy all weekend) and Wendy said, "he jumped in a puddle!! I think Cole sitting at the bar was more mature than him!"
You might just have to know Cole and Gary for this to be funny, but we were cracking up!

toms.com

For every pair of shoes that are purchased, TOMS gives a pair to a
child in need.

Where are your TOMS taking you?

Mine are taking me to Nashville for a Show Hope event! (showhope.org)
I am so excited to see all my Show Hope friends and my friend Gary who
is flying in from California!

Mom and Dad are in Haiti this week, so a big THANKS to Grammy for staying at the house with the kids so I could go to Nash. Also to Tammy, Sarah, and the Rodriguez family for taking such good care of them while Mom and Dad are gone. THANKS guys! (and thanks to Uncle Robby for taking them to a play in Philly!)


One last thing before I go: I drove Dan to the Philadelphia airport a couple weeks ago, and on the way there the GPS was telling us to get off at EVERY exit. Dan kept telling me that I put in the wrong address, but I assured  him that unless there's more than one Philly International Airport, we definitely had the right address! Thankfully he knew how to get there without the GPS. Well, on my way home I had no Dan and a GPS that was giving me wrong directions! So I had to call Dad several times to make sure that I was on the right track. That was a nerve racking experience! When I got home Dad checked out the GPS to make sure it was working right.
WELL, when I began my drive to Philly this morning, the GPS told me to turn right at the end of our road when I knew I was supposed to turn left. So I called Tammy to make sure that I was supposed to go to the turnpike. She told me that I was going the right way but that one GPS wasn't working... I told her though that my dad had fixed this one. Just when I didn't know what to do because I knew very well that it was going to keep telling me to go the wrong way, I remembered- the SETTINGS! It's default setting was to avoid toll roads, thus taking me the long way around and not on the turnpike! I quickly disabled all avoidances and it took me the RIGHT way! So made it safely my first time driving alone to the Philly airport.... The moral of the story is ALWAYS check your GPS settings OR know your way around and don't have to rely on technology!

listen to this....

My sister-in-law Jen sent me this video of one of our friends, Josh, who composed this song. What a gift! Definitely one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard.