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COLUMBUS DAY: Beyond the Holiday

10/9/2011

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Riding Out of Córdoba


He was riding out of town on a mule: a broken man who had staked everything on a dream. Having spent the past seven years seeking investors for his bold plan he had only managed to secure about half of the necessary finances. He had traveled from one court to the next, making his appeal before kings and queens. Now it seemed Opportunity would have to be tossed aside and buried in the dust of Complacency.

But then he heard it: the sound of galloping hooves. Turning around, he was shocked to see a member of the royal guard chasing after him. “You are to return to the palace at once!” the man ordered. “Queen Isabella has changed her mind!”

               ____________________________________________________       


Christopher Columbus is an inspiration to me. While I don’t agree with everything he did or stood for, I admire his tenacity. His desire for discovery was matched only by his perseverance in the face of discouragement. What would have happened if he had given up trying to find funding for his voyage?

           

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Columbus before the Spanish Monarchs in Córdoba.


In some ways, we can identify with Columbus. It has been almost seven years now since we took that first step in pursuing full-time overseas ministry. Seven years since we began preparations to cross over to "the far side of the sea." We have come a long way: we spent 9 months in Spain, learning the language and culture, and we now have a little over half of the monthly support needed to return there and to begin our roles at Evangelical Christian Academy. But we’re not there yet. We’re still short on partners: people who will invest in our ministry through prayer, through encouragement, and through giving financially. 


We believe God has uniquely gifted us to minister as house parents to boarding students. I am also hoping to help meet the ever increasing demand for ESL teachers at the school. Through us, our partners will not only impact the lives of students, they will also share in the work of other missionaries who - because of the school - are able to stay on the field in Spain and beyond!


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Some of the ECA students we met at Youth Group.

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Seven years it took Columbus to gain enough support to furnish three ships for a voyage across uncharted waters. Undoubtedly he learned perseverance during those seven years. The lesson served him well. Over two months into the journey, with his sailors on the point of mutiny, Columbus finally realized his dream as a sailor awakened the crew at 2 o'clock in the morning with the joyful news of land sighted. It was Friday, the 12th of October, 1492.




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The words "Plus Ultra" appear on the coat of arms of the Spanish flag. The words are wrapped around the Pillars of Hercules (the Rock of Gibraltar and North Africa). The old coat of arms used to read "Non Plus Ultra"  No More Beyond. Hundreds of years ago it was believed that there was nothing beyond this gate. Sailors dared not venture far from it. Columbus' voyage proved that there was indeed more beyond: Plus Ultra!

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Introducing...

10/1/2011

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Ati
Picture
We can't post Ati's whole picture until we've passed court.




Beautiful

Precious
Ethiopian
Out-going
Happy
Brave

Loved



From the moment we received her referral in November, 2010, Ati has held our hearts. A beautiful little girl, Ati has been lovingly cared for in two different orphanages during the first two years of her life. Charis and I will be traveling to Ethiopia at the end of this month to meet her for the first time and to appear in court. We hope and pray that we will soon be able to welcome her into our family.


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Ati was born in July, 2009.
We began the process of adoption in March, a few months before her birth.
We did not know her then.
But we were praying for her,
Waiting for her,
Loving her
Even before we knew.

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In the middle of the process, our family moved to Spain.

With only a few months of language acquisition, we went from one government office to the next, trying to complete paperwork and doing our best at communicating.

Running through narrow streets.
Trying to find our way.
Jumping in another taxi.
Struggling with what to say.

And at the end of a busy morning, we would catch the train back to Alcalá, just in time to pick up our boys from school.

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US Embassy in Madrid, Spain.


3 different agencies,

3 separate continents,
3 long years.


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Completed dossier, October, 2010.
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Mailing our dossier from Spain.



On Thursday night, November 18, 2010, we were just about to switch off the computer for the night when we saw an e-mail in our inbox from our adoption agency. The message was about a little 16 month old girl who was waiting to be adopted! The next day we called the director and told him we would absolutely accept the referral!


Here is an entry from my journal:
"At that point we had only one old photo of her - when she was only 4 months old. Saturday we received 4 adorable updated photos - she has to be the most precious little girl I've ever seen! We can hardly contain our excitement and joy. Charis has hardly been able to sleep (I've been so exhausted that I've had no problem)."

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Celebrating the referral.



We're back in the States now. 

It's been almost a year since the referral.
We are just 4 weeks away from meeting her face to face.


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What will be her reaction to us?

Will she run and hide?
Will she cry?
She will be confused, I'm sure.
But then, trying to comprehend a Love that has pursued us from before we were born 
can get a little confusing for any of us!


"You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
      as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
  You saw me before I was born.
     Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
   Every moment was laid out
      before a single day had passed."

Psalm 139:15-16  (New Living Translation)



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Below is a poem I wrote for Ati shortly after receiving her referral. I've included the English translation along with the Spanish...


Hija mía


    Hija de África
Preciosa hija mía

Amada por el mismo Dios
Nacida de la misma tierra

Un largo tiempo hemos esperado
Sin saber a quien

Espera un momento más
Intentaremos también

En tus sueños te cantaré
Duerme en paz pequeñita

Hija de África
Preciosa hija mía




Daughter of Mine


Daughter of Africa
Precious daughter of mine

Loved by the same God
Born of the same soil

A long time we have waited
Without knowing for whom

Wait a moment more
We too will try

In your dreams I will sing to you
Sleep in peace little girl

Daughter of Africa
Precious daughter of mine


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    Author

    Mark Jackson

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