Worship, Birthdays and Blue Bell

Jacob's Favorite Zoo Animal

So many firsts this week.  Eyes full of wonder as they contemplate everything new.   Sunday we went to worship and oh it was great.  Great to go back to the throne to say to the Lord:

"YOU DID IT!!!"  Just like you said you would, just like you enabled Israel to cross the Jordan,  to march around walls and watch them crumble - You did it Lord just as you promised!"

The next thing was to watch Jacob as everyone said "hey Jacob!" - while he's thinking "uhhhh how do they all know me?"  What a great day - on Sunday we felt like we were finally home. So just a bit of advice - If God tells you He's going to do something - believe and then duck!  Because it is going to happen.


Sunday was also Jacob's 12th birthday.  He never had one like this before - first the Zoo and then a meal of Dad's adobo (a Philippine staple) and  then gifts and cake with blue bell ice cream.  This morning he told me"that was the best birthday ever".  It's fitting, the first birthday with a family, "coming home to a place he'd never been before".  I am in AWE of my Father.

Naomi - A Blue Bell Queen

So you probably want to see pictures.  Well, we can't per our adoption agreement for another 11 months.  So I guess you'll just have to come worship with us next Sunday.  Come and worship the one who does what He says he's going to do, the one who 'meant' you and me and Jacob when he said "Let there be". We invite you to 'be' with us today.

The Worthey's

Rocky Mountain High

The Cover of John Denver's Album by That Name

Jacob woke up yesterday morning in a place he'd never been before - home. Now I hate to quote John Denver but I keep thinking of that line in one of his songs:  "...he was born in the summer of his 27th (11th) year...coming home to a place he'd never been before..."   I watched him as he was amazed at all the new things - really, his eyes were the size of silver dollars all day.  As I watched him lost in wonder, I wondered what he was thinking as he experienced new smells, new sights well ... new everything.

My goodness what a day.  The first of many.  The best thing I saw was he and Naomi, his old friend headed into the woods to get a primer on outdoor play in Colorado sunshine.  If you think you can't adopt an older child...think again.

Marshall

Back on line...

Padre Burgos

I bet you were wondering where we have been!  We're now back in Manila.  The last day in the Philippines. For the last week we have been as far south in Leyte as you can get at a place called Padre Burgos.  After retrieving our precious package in Taclobon (and ensuring everyone was healthy - thanks for the prayers as Naomi recovered as you prayed).


We journeyed South across the most beautiful country  - imagine....jungles, rice patties, ocean - blue of a kind you've never seen. we were awed by the beauty of this country that gave us two of our children.  We stayed at a place called Padre Burgos Castle and it was the perfect place to just sit with our Jacob and let him absorb that he finally has a family, a home.  It was a wonderful and fulfilling time for us as a family - Jacob left that place very much part of our family.  As we snorkeled, swam, explored and just laid on the beach there something wonderful happened...Jacob became part of us, he became what we knew he would be....son and brother.  It's like he's always been here.       

Visiting Everett

We  returned to Manila on Thursday, 10 May.  Another beautiful drive through this exotic and beautiful country reaching the airport in Taclobon around 3 PM.  Funny thing about that airport -  as you wait everyone is facing the same way in seating very similar to  movie theater - so we did what came naturally to us - moved to the only available space (the front) and became the show.  Lots of wondering who these 2 Filipino kids are with this obviously foreign family - it was funny.  We boarded the plane - whisking us home.  As I watched Jacob look out the window - I knew it was both hard for him and exciting at the same time.  There are people, good people that we know (and have grown attached to ourselves) in Taclobon that love this boy too.  He has friends in the orphanage and many tears were shed.  I wish I could understand the deep water that was stirring in his heart as we flew away from Taclobon.

Who the Artist Saw this AM

Yesterday we paid a visit to my uncle Everett.  The first visit from family since he left Texas in 1940 to be stationed in the Philippines.  At the US cemetery there is a memorial to those who's bodies were never recovered and I found him.  I could not help but think that he was smiling as he saw one of his family with his family - and low and behold two of them are Filipino.  Naomi told me later - she "asked God to say hello to him" for her.

I'm not even trying to understand the depth of all we have experienced - I'm just soaking in it - taking it in. So here we are in Manila watching as a local artist by the name of Alberto Magsumbol sketches the two great gifts given to us by this great country. As I reflect, I just Praise the Lord who made us all...who was, and is, and is to come....  Have a blessed day.

The Worthey Clan

Wouldn't you know it....It happened. We have a sick little one.  Miss Naomi woke up today throwing up and with a fever.  So we once again covet your prayers.  Please pray for her speedy  recovery and for the health of the family.  Pray for Jacob today.  His party to say goodbye to his caregivers and the other kids in the orphanage is today.  Naomi is sad to be missing it (and I am too as we need to nurse our  little Naomi).


POSTSCRIPT - I'm writing this about 6 hours later... Little Naomi is fine now.  Thank you for your prayers!

We love you guys

Marshall

A song borrowed from Hannah...

Yesterday we were re-united with Jacob.  Do you believe it!  God did yesterday -exactly what he said he would do.  He said he'd do it all - and he has. There is no way I can write how we feel about what he has accomplished.  I can't help but think about Samuels Mom this hot Filipino morning:

Naomi Returns to the Orphanage

Then Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance.  "There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. "Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.  "The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength.  Those who were full hire themselves out for food, but those who were hungry hunger no more. She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away.  "The LORD brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up.  The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.  He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. "For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's; upon them he has set the world.  He will guard the feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. "It is not by strength that one prevails;  those who oppose the LORD will be shattered. He will thunder against them from heaven; the LORD will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed."

Exalting him this morning, humbled and still taking in the fact that - I'm the Dad of 5 (Five), Cinco, Fumpf, children....  

Exalt him this morning - or evening - because he accomplished this through his people - you.   

Manila and the Unexpected

Manila.  I'm sitting here trying to figure out how to describe this city to you.  I'm sitting in the lobby of our hotel looking outside.  Jeepneys wizzing by playing chicken with each other, motorcycles always with two riders, ingenious, homemade tricycles - the like of which you have never seen.  It's an amazing place.

Robinsons Big Honkin Mall!

As we sat down for breakfast yesterday,  we were spotted through the window by some local vendors.  Now I know how a trout feels as a fly fisherman attempts to lure him out.  It was really funny, as we ate - they kept smiling, beckoning us to come out and sample the wares.

Yesterday we went to explore- with the vendors following us for 3-5 blocks - must have been trying to make a quota..   Now then for those of you who have been here  you know. But for those of you who have not picture this: a family of 6 walking around, through and almost over traffic (real sidewalks - no)  exploring.  Past the street vendors - purveyors of all kinds of stuff - knock off sunglasses, hats, guitars and many other things.

We wound up at the Mall....Huge.  Like the Mall of America looks like Delaware kind of big.  Now I'm a geographer and pretty good with direction - but we came real close to never getting out of that place.  So we come across these three guys - obviously Americans - so we go say hello.  We had a great conversation with them about what it's like for them to live here in Manila, how they got here and how to pronounce 'Taclobon'.  These guys, one a retired Marine, another retired out of Federal service and another a retired NFL player that played for the Broncos - no kidding.  What a neat bunch of fellas.

Americans once here - fall in love with the people here.  We met all kinds, expats, hipsters, some shady - most not - just trying to get by in a busy city.  What I remember most though is sitting outside the hotel last evening with the family as it was cooling down.... A little boy, no more than 5 walked up, alone and asked for something to eat. Naomi gave him her soy drink, he turned and slowly walked away.  The need is great.  The call is real.   - Look around you now.  You are blessed.

We fly to Taclobon today - the city where our son is.  We covet your prayers - for him and us.

Marshall

Mabuhay!! From the Philippines!

We're here. We started at about 430 in the AM in Colorado and got here last night at 10PM.  LOOOOOONG Flight and uneventful - exactly the kind we'prefer!

So we're up it's about 9 AM here in Manila and - we're Hungry!   Thank you for your prayers and we'll post more later.