Fast Tuesday

There's a couple, Jessi and Levi Benkert, who live in Ethiopia.  They are working hard at building houses that will house orphans with older women "house mothers".  They're not orphanages.  They're new homes for children.  They won't be adopted out, they'll be given opportunities inside their own country...which is the ultimate goal.

Over the next couple months we'll probably be talking more about the Benkert's because....they're scheduled to come to our house when they're home this summer....and speak in Warren about what they're doing!!!  How awesome is that?

ANYWAY...there have been some road blocks in the last couple months in the Ethiopian government that has slowed them down from starting some of their homes.

Today Levi posted on their blog that he has really been drawn in to pray more.  It's not that new obstacles have arisen, but that he recognizes the need to bath the entire process in prayer.  So they are asking people to join them this Tuesday to fast and pray.  Pretty simple.

(You really should check out Levi's blog....it's so good. You can go there HERE.  He is a regular blogger and you can follow them on Facebook HERE.  You totally want to do both.)

This Tuesday is also our first meeting with our Homestudy lady for our adoption.

What's a homestudy?  Well basically they go over EVERY aspect of your life.  Your family history.  How you were raised.  What discipline style was used.  Your siblings and how you got along with them.  Your job.  Your income.  Your spiritual life.  Your outlook on life.  How you plan to deal with an extra mouth to feed.  Everything goes through a fine tooth comb.  Can you image if they did that every time someone got pregnant to see if they were fit to have a child?

So we've done two homestudy's in the past.  We like the lady who does ours.  She loves us.  We're not worried about what's going to happen.  At the same time....there are lots of hoops to jump through and it's mentally taxing.  There are a lot of questions to answer.  There are a lot of papers to go through.  Every t has to be crossed and every i has to be dotted. 

In the New Testament the Bible talks about fasting not as a suggestion, but pretty much expecting that we'll do it.  But Jesus clarifies how it should be done.  Basically He says, don't draw attention to yourself.  Do it joyfully.  Don't complain.  Don't moan and groan.  Matthew 6: 16-18.

You can fast from anything.  Food is the most common.  But you can fast from the internet, TV, chocolate, smoking, whatever.  Fasting is giving up something you do regularly, so you can focus on prayer and Jesus. 

ACTION STEPS: 
-On Tuesday we have agreed to fast with Levi and Jessi...to be in prayer for them and what they're doing in Ethiopia.  That a way would be made straight. 

-As part of our fast we will obviously also be in prayer for our own adoption and in particular the first step of the Homestudy.

-Will you join us?  Will you commit to fasting with us on Tuesday?  Would you be willing to give up something big to spend some extra time in prayer for the Benkert's and us...as we each move forward with our journey's?