This is for those of you who have not received the evite invitation:
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND RSVP VIA EMAIL TO dave@stearnsinafrica.com! Please join us for a special Christmas concert presented by our Zambian orphan guests and learn about Lifesong’s ministry to orphans around the world from Lifesong president, Gary Ringger. We will also share what Lifesong is doing specifically in Ukraine and Zambia. Continue reading
Today is Saturday July 14 and as most of you know by now my family is reunited. This Monday coming up will be three weeks since we arrived in the USA. Our reunion as a family could not have been sweeter. We are so thankful to be all under the same roof again and sharing daily life together. We have had a great time of recounting our time in Zambia together, and we remain humbled as a family that God would call even us to such a mission. We give Him Praise and Glory for going before us. We will always remember the privilege we had to be His servants in Africa. Samson is doing significantly better than we could have ever imagined. Continue reading
Just a quick update of GREAT news for our faithful prayer warriors!
The petition for our adoption was just completed in Johannesburg late this afternoon. Continue reading
HI!
I wanted to give you a short update on Dave and Samson. Unfortunately, the US side of the adoption of Samson is taking much longer than any of us had anticipated. Dave and Samson have now been in Zambia for over 6 weeks without any of us. Dave and I both have been able (on most days) to see this as God’s perfect plan and to trust Him in the midst of our separation. Dave and Samson did move out of our home in Kitwe on May 29. Continue reading
What a roller coaster these past three weeks have been for me as I remain in Africa working on finalizing our adoption of Samson. Some of what I have experienced emotionally was self-inflicted. I have had two false starts as far as leaving Kitwe for Lusaka each time with my hopes high and each time disappointed. I now know I was too optimistic as to the time frame and requirements to complete the adoption abroad with the USCIS (Citizen and Immigration) office in Johannesburg and the US Embassy in Lusaka. At this point, I have no idea if my last submission of Samson’s Under Five Card (quasi birth record) and Affidavit have been accepted or rejected. Continue reading
Wow! It is hard to believe that the younger children and I left Zambia 3 weeks ago today. I will have to say that I had no idea how emotionally and physically drained I would be when I returned home. In fact, after I had been home about 2 weeks I asked my sister if I seemed “out of it” when I first got back. She replied, “oh yeah, kind of like when you have a baby, but way worse.” I thought I had “acted” more normal! Thankfully, Mary-Frances had told me that it would take between 7 and 10 days to “feel” normal, so that was helpful advise. Continue reading
First of all, I just wanted to let everyone know that my mom, David, Ella, and Sadie Grace made it home safely. David and my dad did have malaria when they left but they have both recovered, thank goodness. Sadie Grace also threw up a few times on the flight and when she reached home, but she is better now. It has been so good to have almost everyone back together and in a normal routine of things. I will be excited when my dad and Samson can come home and we will all be together again! So just please pray that they will be able to make it home by the end of this month (that’s what we are hoping!) Continue reading
It is with unimaginable joy, grateful hearts and praise for our God that I introduce to you our Son, Samson Soko Stearns! Today, April 27, 2012 God moved swiftly to bring the finalization of the Zambian adoption to completion. We now turn our efforts to the completion of Samson’s adoption with the USA through the Embassy in Lusaka. On behalf of Shelley and I and Samson’s brother and sisters we thank all of you for your prayers before the Father and your support of us as we have been pursuing adoption in Zambia. God has brought glory to His name this day and He has shown His goodness to us all!
“Behold children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of ones youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!” Psalm 127: 3-5
-Dave & all of the Stearns family
It’s hard for me to believe that the girls have already been gone 3 1/2 weeks. I imagined that I would be extremely lonely after they have left; but, in fact the days have passed quickly and we have been unbelievably busy. I still miss them and look forward to being with them in just 10 days, but am also keenly aware of God’s faithfulness to me during this time. Their adjustment back to life in America has gone as you would expect. They have had some difficult times but overall have enjoyed being home. They all 3 say that they miss Zambia, would come back tomorrow, and that their hearts are still here. I think once the rest of our family is home it will be easier for them. Continue reading
Growing up in a non-Christian home in Indiana with four sisters there was always a soap opera on the TV. I remember thinking “As the World Turns” sure seems like an odd name for a show? As I get older this name means more to me, obviously not as a soap opera name but as a way to describe life and the faithfulness of God. As the temperatures in Zambia are transitioning towards the cold season again and the rains are decreasing and the winds are increasing, it is a reminder that by God’s grace as the world has been turning everyday I have almost made one full ride around the sun on the continent of Africa! What a year it has been. I am so grateful to have been here this time, but as one of the Christian songs says you and I do not know how many rides around the sun we will get. My encouragement to you and me is we must live every moment to His glory. Continue reading
