A Marathon

This is my brother Wayne. Which by the way I do not have permission to post a picture of. I thought it better to ask forgiveness than permission! In high school they called him "Captain Billy Boogie." Why you ask? Because he was such a fast runner. He was a legend. I don't know how many of you grew up with an older sibling being a legend, but it is tough. Somehow you are always looked at with hope that just maybe you could be a legend like them too.
So my first day of Algebra my freshman year I had the Football and Track couch as a teacher. He is calling role and he gets to my name. He calls out Dawnell Hall.....pause....."not Captain Billy Boogie Hall?" I reply with, "who is captain billy boogie?" He asks me if I was Wayne Hall's sister as he was approaching my desk. He asks me to stand up as he gives me a look over and then asks me if I run? I tell him I don't think I am capable of becoming much on a track but he insists I come on out to run for him.

Fast forward...WHY I showed up for track practice is beyond me. All the coaches are there with their time watches to see what "captain Billy boogie Jr's sister could do" I have to say I was quite a let down. I was not horrible but definitely not a first placer! However, I found myself a place as a sprinter and a shot and disk thrower. One thing I never became was a distance runner. If the run went beyond a mile I was throwing up.
　
Much of what God calls us to takes some sort of running. Sometimes it is a sprint and others it is a marathon. We see in 1 Cor. 9: 24-27 that Paul refers to our Christian life as a run for the final prize. I have learned however that life can be broke up into segments of that race. It seems early in my walk with God he gave me sprints and as I mature in my relationship with Him the runs gets longer and longer.

I Corinthians 9:24-27 says, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

It has been hard to write for awhile because quite honestly my heart is heavy and my head is swimming. There have been so many things lately that have cast so much doubt to weather or not this is ever going to be a reality. If the raising of $30,000 dollars were not enough, we have been hearing rumors about a major slow down in Ethiopian adoptions. We have heard that what was a 9-12 month process could become substantially longer. Although we are happy that Ethiopia wants to make adoption in their country protected we mourn thinking that so many orphans may have to live in orphanages for so long of their life. We also feel so nervous not knowing what the process will look like for us. As for now it looks like I have to run as if I am in a sprint but train as if I am in a marathon. I am running hard to work toward the financial goal and yet preparing my heart for a long wait. I am asking God to give me endurance of faith and hope so that I have the attitude he wants me too for the long haul. We have so many friends we want to thank for running with us.

Thank you Michelle Mills Hernandez

I just wanted to say thank you to Michelle Hernandez and all your friends for the awsome Mary Kay party you did.  Your awsome..awsome...awsome!  I also want to encourage any friends out there that are wanting to help but have been nervous about the book parties.   All of the book parties have gone well without too much trouble and you would be suprised who would love to have an excuse to pamper themselves with makeup.  Some friends just took a couple books to work and let co-workers look through them.  Some friends just had family order.  Just email me at juneh7@hotmail.com and let me know if you would like to try a party and I will send you everything you need. 

Possible!

Have you ever seen the Tetons? These are them! They are stunning! Have you ever been before an amazing mountain and wondered how you were going to make it up? Kevin, his brother and I once thought we would go on a mountain bike ride up a trail in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. We weren't 10 minutes on our journey until I regreted my decision. Tears fell and mean words were given before accomplishing that ride. It didn't help that Kevin was quoting scripture at me for encouragment. The only thing it encouraged me to do was get mad! It was Kevin's brother that rode up the mountain and came back to tell us that we were not far from the top that gave encouragent. I needed a scout to tell me I could make it.

For years I thought of adoption but thought it was an impossible task. How could we ever come up with that kind of money? I know my God has compassion on orphans and if I had my Fathers heart I would too, but I didn't know my part in his plan. Psalm 10:17-18 says, "You hear oh Lord the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listed to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more."

I know it is asked of us to care for the orphans of the world.
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this; to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep onself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

What I needed was a scout. I have found that in many blogs. I have read many families who had nothing but who have brought orphans home to live with them. They trusted God with this task and I can too. What I needed to be reminded of was that when it is God's task, He is responsible to provide for it. He has provided Kevin with a job that is flexible for overtime. He has provided friends that are walking along side us in our fundraising and my Father in heaven has truely encouraged me. "For every animal of the forest is mine and the cattle on a thousand hills." Psalm 50:10 This is possible!

Im so encouraged by some great friends and their hard work to help us get our feet off the ground. Our first Mary Kay Book party was given by our friend Brian Maloney. Yes, men can sell makeup! He did awesome and we are so thankful for him. Also big thank you to Kim Heim for her party with her family. We have had friends sending gifts and buying our bracelets as well. We have now reached $1100. We are 1/4 of the way to our first goal. Praise God!