Day 1 - CAFO Summit VI

We are at the Christian Alliance for Orphans in Mnpls, MN.
What an Exciting, Spirit-filled, challenging and exhausting day we had!
The morning session was very good, with some keynote speakers introducing themselves and their heart for adoption.  There was a guy their named Peder Eide that led worship.  He was amazing and he shared some stories about his family and how God used orphan ministry to change his heart.  He sang this song called "Why wouldn't I".  I didn't know if I'd ever stop crying from this one.
Then, we hooked up with some friends from Estherville, Iowa who are adopting from Ethiopia.  They just received their referral and are awaiting a court date.  Their 2 new kids will be home with them some time around July, Lord willing.
We spent the morning and afternoon in and out of breakout sessions.  The one that most impacted me was Tom Davis, author of Fields of the Fatherless, talking about engaging youth and college age kids for reaching out to orphans and engaging in orphan ministry.  It was so exciting to hear him tell about how God has used orphans to teach middle school kids about Christ and having a relationship with a savior.  But it all happened by doing.  Going to an orphanage, or developing a project that brought help to an orphanage, or something tangible that kids could do.  One ministry called Both Hands is an amazing ministry.  You have to go to their website.  Read the story, that will help you understand :)
The most difficult part of the day was a session about child trafficking.  Girls especially are being exploited all over the world in this horrific evil.  Tom Davis, again, shared ministry opportunities with this from sites like Not For Sale and his new book Priceless.
For supper, we gathered all of our friends that joined us at the conference, (Nordstroms and Beavers and Estherville Friends) and went to our FAVORITE ethiopian restaurant, FASIKA's. This was no easy task, because we were in Eden Prarie, MN and had to travel to St. Paul, with 2 cars and 17 people and mega 5pm traffic.  We lost the Beavers at one point, but we smacked our tails on the pond (using cell phones) and they found us. It was so fun.  JJO met us there and ordered for everyone.  The food was amazing, the fellowship was very fun, because they have never eaten authentic Ethiopian Food before.
FINALLY, we headed back to the Summit site and got to hear Mary Beth Chapman and Steven Curtis Chapman speak about how Christ has moved their family through the loss of their sweet Maria Sue.  SCC performed.  HE WAS INCREDIBLE.  I am in awe of the incredible talent that God has given him.  He stood up there with just his guitar, after hearing his wife pour out her heart about their daughter who is now in heaven and then sang SO beautifully and just worshiped with all of us in the room. It was an amazing experience that these words can not express.  I REALLY MISS OUR KIDS right now, and I'm so thankful to my parents and Tanya's parents for taking such good care of them!  Thank YOU!!

Now for some pictures.