Field Trip!! {Day 5}

Imagine the JOY on our faces this morning sitting in the lobby when the orphanage van pulled up FULL of kids!!! They were waving and squeeling as we loaded up for a field trip! The driver took us on about a 45 drive through the city and over a large river. We got out and realized we were at a temple.  Not just a small temple. A very large, ornate one with hundreds of gods. There were people there worshiping and making offerings. Let me say in all honesty, to the eyes it was very beautiful. Full of color and details. Built into a hillside with amazing views.

BUT

I've never felt more spiritual darkness in my life. I told Lori, it was hard to breathe inside. Hundreds of gods. People bringing offerings of food. Burning incense. So I just sang...outloud, "How Great is OUR GOD" over and over. I reminded the team members with me of  1 John 4:4,"He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world"..the Holy Spirit that dwells in ME is greater than every.single. one of those pieces of concrete they worship. I know that as ticked off as the enemy was that the Holy Spirit was all up in there, breaking up his party, and there wasn't a thing he could do about it....because we are in Christ, things have to go through Him first....He was our SHIELD in that place today!!!!

I talked some about the spiritual warfare that was happening surrounding this trip. It's still on. My camera is broken.

Yep.

The devil tries to get us where he *thinks* we'll break. And he knows I love my camera. And he knows what i'm going to do with the pictures. And he knows that they are telling a story of this place and he hates it.  The issue is a simple fix in the US, but not here. But it's just a camera. (Right, Kimberly Ann??) And the Lord doesn't need me or that camera to get His message out. And Lori let me use her dslr today...see? Just like that, my God came through!!!!

Then.

When I left the temple today, my iphone totally went dead.  With full battery it was dead and wouldn't come on.  I told Anna "he's really trying isn't he?" We were riding on the bus. I slipped it into my bag and thought, no sir. Not going to be shaken. Bring it on. The Lord is right beside me. (Psalm 16:8) After several minutes I pulled it out and handed it to her. She powered it right up. She said, "now go take the best darn iphone pics the devil has ever seen!!!"

After we left we headed to lunch! We pulled over on the side of the road and I was a little in shock at the place we were walking into.

But the food was actually really good and seeing the children enjoy their food......PRICE.LESS. They probably eat rice porridge every single day. THIS was a treat. They ate circles around us all. What an experience....full bellies on GOOD food.....worth the smell, the fungas soup AND the hole in the floor toilet. i'd eat there every meal if we got to bring them along just to see them eat.

We take so.much.for.granted.

Our afternoon was filled with baby time! Play time with the little ones and feeding them dinner. Oh my heart. What I wouldn't give to be there everyday feeding those precious babies rice porridge. I wasn't ready to leave when it was time to go. I just wanted to stay and put them to bed....maybe play some music and rock them. There's not a rocking chair in sight. There is always a nanny right by...but a nanny is not a mama. They need mamas.  And daddy's. And sisters and brothers and hugs and tickles and nighttime prayers and boo boo kissers. Oh Lord, break us. It's so easy to see His heart when you hold one of these precious children. It's like a one way ticket straight to the middle.

SO SO thankful for your prayers. PLEASE do not stop.

Emily

Orphanage Day 1

Well our first day in our orphanage is complete. 

It's really going to be hard for me to put it into words but I'll try my best. Honestly, even coming up with a sentence is difficult...

The building is just a short 15 minute drive from our hotel. When we arrived we were given a short tour of the children's floors. We were shown babies that had just arrived...one that had to not be more than a few days old with a large cleft lip/palate. Two down's babies and a set of twins with some sort of craniofacial issue. Just laying in beds silent. I think it was me (seems foggy) that broke the silence and asked of we could touch them. I think we all let out a breath of air when she said "of course!" We saw a lot of hard stuff.

But in the midst of it, there is a lot of good.  Happy, seemingly healthy (other than mental disabilities) children. Giggling and running and playing. Duck, duck goose with the older children. Rehab with some of the SN kids. Lots of Down's kids, mostly boys. So precious.  The staff are incredible.  They really love the children.  They are caring for over 200 children and literally doing all they can.  You can see it in their faces and it's reflective in the kids.  

We had lunch there (so hard) and they let us come back to the hotel for a break. Even though we'd only been there a few hours, it was much needed. Just to process and pray and talk things out.

When we returned, it was a much different atmosphere! Light and fun as the children put on a performance for us! It was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! Singing and dancing all kids of drama!! The nannies had dressed them and put make up on all of them (even the boys!). We were asked to do something for them as well so we did a few songs...they were MUCH better than we were <3

Before we left the assistant director spoke to us. She says she wants all the children adopted. To please tell people about them so that they can have families. We assured her we will. I'll be getting a list from her so we can get pictures and get them out there and advocate for these treasures!!!!

Last night, she was telling Anna and I about the children. She said many are boys because they have special needs. She said, "you may not think they are beautiful..."

oh my heart.

I pulled up Asher's picture on my phone.  One that clearly showed his hands. And talked about how beautiful and perfect he was created. She doesn't understand. It's all she knows.  Many of us had opportunities to lay our hand on babies and pray and whisper over them scripture and tell them they are perfectly made by a God who adores them.  Ale spoke those words over a downs syndrome child, who looked up and her, nodded, and had a tear rolling down his face. We believe the Lord opened that little boys ears for just a minute to allow him to hear and understand despite the language barrier...that he was perfect.

There is no solution for these children apart from the Gospel. No hope. And the Gospel can reach them in two ways. Someone coming here to share Christ. Or adoption. When I think about my children living in a place like that....even a "good" orphanage, it makes my heart physically hurt.  

This is a plentiful harvest. It is ripe.  It is beautiful and it is waiting for workers. 

Please pray for:

Conversations with nannies...a few speak a small amount of English

Protection from sickness

Food.  It's hard to eat what they are serving us. We've had Chinese for 5 straight days and we need a break.  Even one western meal would do us all good. 

Moments like Ale had with the little boy. Holy Spirit guided moments where we listen and obey.

Continue to pray for Joan, our guide.

Good rest and sleep.

I know the Lord is going to tie our hearts to this place.

He already is. 

He's giving us the opportunity to be a voice for these orphans and enter right into a piece of His heart.

And we're going to soak it in.

Matthew 9:37

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

Isaiah 1:17

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans.

Planes, Trains..and Vans

Today was a looooooooooong day of solid travel for our team.
We left one hotel at 6:30 and didn't arrive at the next one for 12 hours.
But this team!! They are such troopers!!! They made it through two flights, two baggage claims, two security checks (and the Chinese don't PLAY when they pat you down, just sayin...)
AND
One very long van ride to our orphanage city.

I can't even describe to you what the city is like. The poverty left most of us speechless. Not many words were said in the van I was in.  All I could think was, "WHO is telling these people about Jesus???? WHO???"

I feel like I can confidently say that most of these people have never heard His name. You can feel the darkness here very thick.  We learned tonight we are only the second team to ever come here. That both humbles and makes me take a deep breath all at the same time. This task won't be accomplished in a week, I know that. But if one person came to know Christ and their life was radically changed....it could change this city of 5 million people like a wildfire.

We had an opportunity to "drop" some of our Chinese/English bibles today. Will you pray with us that they get into hands that will read them? The Word IS God, and all they need is to read it...Lord, PLEASE let them just read it.

Another opportunity came on the airplane. A few of us were in a row with a woman and a precious baby girl. She let Lori hold her while she used the restroom, and we just couldn't take our eyes off her!!! Before we got off, Lori handed her a Bible in her language. She is one in a million Chinese now with the translated Word in her hand.  She was giggling she was so excited to get a gift!! Little does she know the GIFT just waiting for her on those pages. Pray with us that she will come to know Christ when she reads the LIFE giving words!!!!


I'm crying. You? Ok. A few pictures.  Not much from today.
Our first day in the orphanage starts bright and early!!! We are so anxious to be there. This is it. He has prepared us..each one of us in a different way...for these 5 days. We COVET your prayers.

"And this Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world, as a testimony to all nations...and then the end will come" Matthew 23:13

China Day 2!!!

Wellll...lets try this again....I just typed a huge post and the secure tunnel got cut off right before I published it....

We're here.
In China.
It's foggy and smoggy.
The food is SO good.
Our feet are worn out.
We walked about 987 miles today.
We climbed a zillion steps up the Great Wall.
We gave a Mandarin Bible to our guide who doesn't know the Lord.
We were chased by Chinese people wanting to take our pictures.
Duck is a sad dinner if you happen to love ducks.
Anna is a MEGA sneezer.
Alexis's red hair causes long looks and LOTS of paparazzi.
I want to scoop up and kiss every Asian baby I see.
Madison, Brittny and Nichole climber the highest...about 20,000 steps UP the Great Wall.
Taylor, Lori and I didn't get so far.
There are 10 million people in this city.
They are so lost.
God heard our prayers! NO RAIN!!!!!!
I'm going to publish this quick before it gets cut off again.

Tomorrow we fly to our orphanage city!!!!!
Thank you for praying....we feel it.
<3,
Emily
 

Tommorow.

Tomorrow I'm getting on the big "hairplane" (asher) and flying to China.

I don't think the weight of that will actually set in until my feet are on China dirt. In 2010, I wanted to linger....it was a sting to leave and believe that I may not be back anytime soon.

But God.

He is so good to His kids, y'all. He knew. This trip. This time.  He knew.

And my God is allllllllllllllllllllllllll about making that cup run over.....

Our first day in the orphanage will be Ashley's birthday.

I wasn't there the day she was born. Her birth mother held her and no doubt loved her...smelled her and examined her from top to bottom. Probably grieving that her baby wasn't born "perfect" for society. And made a hard, hard choice.

But I will be there this July 1st.

Putting my arms on babies who's mama's made the same one and who are waiting for their forever families to come for them. Holding them. Smelling them. And whispering over them that they are fearfully and wonderfully made by a God who adores them...

He's redeeming the time, friends.

 In His own extravagant way that never, ever, ceases to amaze me.

Psalm 4:7

You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.."

Thank you for your prayers......next blog....CHINA!

<3,

Em

How you can be a PART!

Team is set.

Visa's are in hand.

Packing lists have commenced.

Prayers are going up.

Money is coming in.

Two weeks from TODAY we'll be in Shantou, China loving the least of these a world away. Our team of 13 will depart for China June 27th at 8am.

It still doesn't seem real to me.

And although looking from the outside in, it would appear that 13 of us are going....that couldn't be farther from the truth. The truth is...

Our team is much, MUCH, larger.

In fact, it may include YOU.

If you've prayed for us, YOU are on this team.

If you've given to make this possible, YOU are on this team.

If you've participated in a fund raiser, YOU are on this team.

And if you haven't done any of those things...here's your change to GO WITH US.

We need prayer.....lots and lots of prayer. Specific prayers. Interceding prayers. Covering prayers.

The utterly amazing and unfathomable truth about prayer is that what you do here...changes things there.

Think about that and marvel at how the Body of Christ works. Prayer changes things.

CHANGES. 

I'd love for you to choose one of our going team members and pray for them specifically. Maybe one each day, maybe one for the entire trip, whatever the Lord tells you to do. 

Here they are:

Anna

Shaun

Brittny

Braley

Ale

Nichole

Alexis

Madison

Lori

Taylor

Emily

Sandy

Gabby

Here are some specific prayers you can pray:

*unity for our team (1 Cor 12:12, 1 Peter 3:8)

*that the Gospel will transcend language barriers, and that "as we go" we'll be sharing it ( Acts 8:40)

*Safe travel and connections (Ezra 8:21)

*Against sickness (Deut 7:14)

*Protection over our families and children at home (Isaiah 33:21)
*For the children and adults we connect with a the orphanage, that they would feel the love of Christ through our actions, words and attitudes (1 John 3:23)

We believe the Lord has gone before us...He is there preparing a work for us to do in His name. And we know that ticks the enemy off. So we covet your prayers, believing that this is a TEAM mission.....

And we'd love for you to join us.

You don't even need a passport :)

2 Thessalonians 3:1

 Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you.

I need you to GO...

I will not leave you as orphans...I will come to you... John 14:18

In January, I had the opportunity to attend the Created for Care conference in Atlanta with 500 other adoptive/waiting/praising/Jesus-lovin/COOL/fun mama's from around the country. And while this blog will not be about all the Lord showed me there, it does play a part in the story that leads me to where I sit today.

I'm just gonna say it.

The Lord very gently told me that we were done bringing kids home.

He had been working that in me for some time, but that weekend He confirmed it.

In His Word, and through the Holy Spirit.

And I was a mess.

A snotting mess.

For a few days, I grieved. My mama heart wanted to mama more, but I knew I had to be just as obedient in THIS as I was when He said, go....so I sucked it up, dried the tears and asked the Lord what was next. Little did I know :)

About 2 weeks later the opportunity came to lead a mission trip to an orphanage in China.

*ARE YOU KIDDING ME????* *insert shock face*

After prayer and prayer and prayer and digging into the Word, I knew the Lord was saying this was my opportunity. And even though we were done bringing kids home, He had a new plan...and He LOVES ME SO... that I'm not kidding when I felt like He whispered to my heart..."I know your heartbeat for these children, because I gave it to you...(Psalm 37:4)...and I'm not done with it...so here's a little gift..."

*insert sob face*

So....

This is where YOU come in. I need a team. 

I need people to come with me to love and hold and pray over and serve the least of these in a very far away place. Nobody is going to clap for you. You won't get recognized and praised for your good work. But you will gain a glimpse into the Lord's heart that I can guarantee you would not have had otherwise. You will experience Him in a way that will blow you away!!!

I need some line jumpers.

People who get to the line of status quo Christianity, and don't just get comfortable there. 

People who aren't content to just wade and splash in the shallow waters of what He has for them...but are willing to go take a swim in the deep end. 

"They have seen the works of the LORD, And His wonders in the deep."

Psalm 107:23-25

People willing to jump right over that big white line that hundreds of Christians are sitting behind living boring, mundane lives....and just trust that the big old net of Jesus is going to catch you.

And here's the deal.

Jesus didn't call us to adopt all the orphans. You will never hear me say, "All Christians are supposed to adopt, that's in the Word" like you hear people-who-aren't-in-the-Word say. Because it doesn't say that. What it does say, is that we are to "care" for orphans (James 1:27 and dozens more). How that looks for your family may be totally different for my family....so how is your family obeying that call?

Now what's on your calendar for June 27-July 6th?

Yes, I know it's $4,000. Yes, that may seem like a lot of money. Nope, you won't get much sympathy from the girl who watched the Lord GIVE her family $50,000 to bring two kids home in 3 years.

I know if you're a parent, it's hard to leave your kids for 10 days and go across the ocean. Trust me...any fear you have, I've already experienced....and I'm begging you to just try Him....Psalm 34:8

The Lord FUNDS WHAT HE FAVORS. And He HIGHLY favors orphans. And He HIGHLY favors willing people. And He HIGHLY favors line jumpers. AND HE WILL FUND THIS.

I'd love to talk to you.

I'd love to pray with you.

I know the Lord is speaking to someone right now about this and saying, "trust Me......"

My email is emilysflynt@gmail.com and my cell is 229-449-3184

Let's go love on some babies and be the hands and feet of Jesus together friends!!

Trip Details:

http://www.awaa.org/ACT/trips/China(Guangdong)/default.aspx

Matthew 9:37

"Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few."