Saturday, May 23, 2009

We're HOME!!



Well, here we are...Exhausted but elated none-the-less. Our "babies" are home in our arms. Justin, Zoe, and Davis. I'm going to make this brief and then the details will start coming in, in short quips as I have time.

Suffice it to say that the trip though short, made profound impacts on our lives. This was not only because of the three new lives joining us, but for the experiences we had in Ethiopia. The Lord had several divine appointments for us while we were there. We met some beautiful Christian people. We saw some heart wrending scenes. We took in some very interesting experiences. And again, our lives were changed because of all of it.

Ethiopia is full of beautiful people - both poor and rich, living basically side-by-side. We met many adoptive families in Ethiopia, that was heart lightening - even if there were 20 some crying babies on the plane ride home!

We got to experience the deep, deep love of a church family that does not hesitate to step in and do whatever is needed - Brenda, Linda, & Nancy - took care of our babies while we were gone. We will forever be indebted (a debt of love) to them. May the Lord pour out tremendous blessings on them.

Nancy kept up our blog for us while we were gone. She writes better than I do.

Much, much more to come.

8 comments:

Della said...

Yay! Praise God! Just grinnin' with happiness for you all here. :D What a beautiful family!!

Nancy H. said...

Pam and Juan,

I am sure I speak speak for Brenda and Linda, Pat, Gary and Emily (who was the most excited of all) when I say it was such an honor to be a part of all of this. We owe you our heartfelt thanks for allowing us to be a part of this from the very beginning. We were more blessed by this experience more than we can ever express, and like you, our lives will be forever changed because of this.

Rick Lawrenson said...

Welcome home Johnsons!
I can't wait to meet the newest members of your family today at church.

Nancy said...

Precious, precious times! I am SOOO happy for you!

Nancy in CT (blessed mama to ShaoXi, adopted Changsha Hunan China 11-26-97)

atelierlemlem said...

Qh! You are a brave family! As I was a couple of summers in Ethiopia and my husband was born and raised there, I can inmagine that you went trough a weird time overthere again... You saw probably that there are so many children living by themselves on the streets..so terrible. But, as I come there since 1995, I can see that it became a lot less than before and I hope it wil increase more and more. As many ethiopian woman die after birth or just by ilness, in almost each family are adoptees. Although the people call this just their own children or brothers or sisters. I think this is so great, we overhere in the Netherlands are always concerned about the 'money' that we need to raise another child and the time that is left over for ourselves... But the poorest family's in Ethiopia still take in children. I have an Et. family in law and I learned a lot from them. The familyboundings are great overthere and I love it! I am just their white-bleached sister and nobody ever asked my husband why he did marry a white woman. (you should have heard the comments overhere in the Netherlands, so ugly). In fact, they all loved it that he brought me as a special family-member. I hope that you and the children will all become very happy and that you will relieve on Gods' advice in the days that problems appear (and with children they always do appear..). Did you already learned how to make injerra with woth sauce? I have just one question; why did you gave the children another name? I realy wonder, they are old enough to have their own identity..can you explain that to me (if you wish or cource)?
Good luck for all of you!
Mama lieveheersbeestje.

Karis said...

You are a beautiful family :)!

Diana of Diana Rambles said...

Congratulations! Welcome home. Such beautiful additions to the family!

Anonymous said...

wow i seriously teared the whole time while reading your blog. congrats on your extended family. its so awesome to see people like you guys.