My Heart Overflows...

Crispy, Duckett and Stick serving in Guatemala at New Jerusalen Church.

KiKi and Stick at the seminary in Guatemala.

Madison and Hannah Brown at the seminary in Guatemala.

Jett playing at New Jerusalen.

KiKi and Paola in Guatemala.

When I think back to being 13 or 11 or 6, I don't recall having a passion for the lost people of the world. I was self-absorbed and caught up in my own world. I don't think I even realized that people actually LIVED around the world...outside of my small town in south Alabama. Well, I knew that there was a larger world but it never dawned on me that those were REAL people with names.

But my children have seen the world...well, some of it anyway. They have helped lead VBS in villages in the desert of Arizona. They have walked the dirt roads of Swaziland and fed hungry children. They have held children in an orphanage. They have walked into the dump of Guatemala City and given away food. They are learning at an early age what it means to truly give of themselves.

May God strengthen and sustain them for His service throughout their lives. May they be willing to go to the unreached people of the world for His name's sake. May they seek to bring glory to the Father in everything that they do. May I encourage and support them wherever God calls. May I go with them if that's what He beckons. May we all just seek to obey....

Latest Happenings....

Madison's birthday present...she was a little excited!

Madison's braces outside of Dr. Stephanie's office!

Christy and Jett were intertwined at the yogurt place and were feeding one another!

The kids sending an I Love You message to Christy while we were in Arizona!

It's been such a full summer with lots of travel going on! We've already been to Arizona for a week an a half and Guatemala for a week. Not to mention all the people staying in our home. Our hearts are overflowing with God's goodness!

Here are some of the latest happenings at the Turner home:

• Madison got her braces on her top teeth!
  
• Madison celebrated her 11th birthday early so that all of her family could be here! She had a sleepover with several great friends.
• Kaitlyn went to summer camp with the students from Brook Hills. She met several new friends and enjoyed time learning about God's Word!
• Jett has been asked to be in a wedding next summer, and he is practicing being a ring bearer....
• We have switched the playroom and schoolroom to allow for more space for more children in the schoolroom. God's grace has shown amazingly through this whole process.
• JT is in Uganda right now leading a team. As soon as he comes home, we have 1/2 day to get ready for the Guatemala trip.

We are planning for some rest time in August. My friend Shelly has helped us find a beach house where we can just relax for a few days. We are looking forward to uninterrupted time together as a family again!

A Crowded House...A Full Heart

God blessed us in 2005 with a new house (after a total fire that destroyed almost everything we owned) with lots more room. We are so grateful, and it is coming in handy these days.

Almost every day this week, there are at least 12 people spending the night and sometimes 14-16! It makes for a crowded house, and my admiration for large families like the Hobbs and Halls has grown exponentially! The washer and dryer are ALWAYS going, and the whole gang works together to finish clothes each day. The dishwasher runs after every meal, and many times we have to wash by hand in order to get it all done. There's someone in every room.... I can walk into any room of the house and find someone talking, singing, playing, working or praying. It's a good thing. My heart overflows.

This Thursday, a majority of my household will be leaving for Uganda. It will be awfully quiet. Crispy, Tiki, Madison, Jett and I will be here by ourselves. Just the five of us... we won't know what to do with such a quiet house. But, we will pray. Please join us in praying for our friends and family as they go minister in Kampala.

His Mercies are New....

Today was the day. We were leaving for Guatemala City to leave our friends, Greg and Kathy Brown, as missionaries. We were taking 32 people on a mission trip. But, it didn't happen. I'm sitting at my kitchen table in Alabaster, Alabama typing this. Why? Because a volcano has erupted several times this week, and the ash is still covering the city. So, we wait.

After much time on the phone and even more time in prayer, God made a way where there was no way. NO, Mrs. Turner, we can't get you all on a flight until Wednesday (we're supposed to leave on Saturday). NO, Mrs. Turner, we can't get you all on the same flight. We can break you up into groups of 2. NO, Mrs. Turner, we can't fly you into Honduras...or Belize..or El Salvador. NO! NO! NO! But, God had other plans.

Okay, YES..Mrs. Turner we can fly you into San Salvador the next day but it will cost $4800. NO! NO! NO! We can't afford that!!! We are a ministry...we don't have that much money! But, God had other plans!

JT went to the group and told them the dilemma. One by one they came to us and told us how much they wanted to give. One college student handed me $200 cash....another recent high school graduate emptied his checking account and gave $1000...another one wanted to give $600...and on and on they came. God placed us all in a place of total surrender and submission. Give your all....I want it all. All of you and all that you have.

Then, Delta called back..."Mrs. Turner, I have good news for you. We got you all on the flight to San Salvador. And, we're waiving all the fees!" God made a way where there was no way. God showed Himself strong. He did what ONLY HE could do. He gets ALL the praise. He gets all the glory. We just got to watch Him do it. What a privilege to be His servant. He is worthy of ALL praise!

Good News out of Uganda...

Today we received good news from our friends as well as our adoption agency. Adoptions are proceeding in Uganda after a month long debate about whether children can be adopted fully in the United States. Our adoption agency stated the following:

"Today in Uganda, the chief justice gave judges permission to rule on legal guardianships and state that they understand it is for the purposes of adoption! This should set a precedent for future families; now judges have the confidence to state their complete understanding of the children’s adoption in the US and their dual citizenship status.

Because this happened today, there have been no families yet go through the Embassy. The next step will be ensuring that this statement will align with what the US Embassy will require to issue an immigrant visa for children who have been granted legal guardianship. I will update as we know how the Embassy will view this latest development."

So, now we wait.... Our paperwork has been approved by CIS and we are currently waiting on our referral. The referral will tell us how many children we will be adopting as well as important information on each of them (name, age, gender, medical history, etc). We will not be post any photos of our children but we will have them with us at all times...so feel free to ask to see the latest Turners when we get our referral!

God is the Father to the fatherless! Over the past month (and longer), we have prayed that resolution to this matter. He has shown Himself glorious and faithful. To Him be all the glory!

Enjoying the snow....

For all of my friends up north, it barely snowed. You could even see some parts of the ground...there was only 2 inches on our deck. But, for those of us who live in spring/summer weather most of the year, it was HUGE! If there is even one inkling that a lonesome snowflake may fall, everything (and I do mean everything) will shut down. But hey, no one here dies from the heat (like in Chicago a few years back). We can handle the heat...bring on the beach, the sunshine, the 100 + temperatures and 100% humidity any day. We can take it. But, cold temperatures? snow? We are totally underprepared.

It has now snowed 3 times this winter which is totally contrary to global warming and living in the deep South. But, our kids have LOVED it. It snowed just last night (a thundersnow) and it was amazing. We are reminded each time of how great our God is to send us snow. He is Sovereign and amazing! Just thought I'd post a few pics of our kiddos enjoying the snow!

Adoption Update

We officially started the adoption process in September. It has definitely been easier so far just because we don't have to get every single piece of paperwork notarized....and in turn, get the notary verified by the county...and in turn, get the county notary notarized by the state. So, the paperwork process has been a cinch!

We turned in our official home study in December, and it was sent to the Alabama DHR at the beginning of January. It is only the first week of February, and our home study is already at CIS in Atlanta. That was quick! We anticipate the CIS approval process to take 3 months, but timelines are always questionable.

Every day we pray for our child/children wherever they are right now. We pray that God will prepare his/her/their hearts to be a part of a forever family. May God give us the patience to wait on His timing and to know that He is in total control.