Into the Woods

An End and a New Beginning

2011-05-19T12:28:00.003-05:00

My time in the office of Pastor at Evergreen Church - Gurdon, Arkansas is quickly drawing to an end. This Sunday, May 22, 2011 will be my last Sunday. We loved our time at the Gurdon church. We developed many strong, lasting friendships. I consider most of the people attending there to be like family. I got the word and confirmation that it was time to go from God. I had many concerns about Evergreen. But God has been faithful. He provided a pastor with the skill-set necessary to lead the congregation into future ministry. God is good.

There was always the nagging thought in the back of my mind: What am I going to do next? I mean I have a great job at Ouachita Baptist University, I love this area, and I love the local people so I wasn't eager to move off. I also know (at least at this point) God does not want me to take an office in a church anytime soon. Not because I was burned by a church or have a bad feeling about church in general, but because I have a new calling, a new beginning.

I have always been concerned with the lack of growth in the followers of Jesus. In the church we call them Disciples and what they do we call discipleship. I have been researching the current state of discipleship and it is lousy. There does not appear to be ANY difference between those claiming to follow Jesus and those who the bible says are "enemies of God". I am going to set about to change that.

Among the personal changes I am making is:
o I am ending this blog. Most everyone who reads it can get the same personal stuff by friending up with me on facebook. Plus I almost never write here anymore because i didn't want to duplicate the stuff I was putting on facebook.
o I have started a new blog at wordpress to publish some of my research, writings, and news: Evergreen Life .

So if you are interested in the personal stuff that used to go here, friend-up with me on facebook. If you are interested in how to better connect with God and make a difference in your church check out the new blog. Or do both! I hope you will stay connected with me.
I appreciate you and pray for God to move in your life.
To God Be The Glory,
David Owens

January 2011 Chair Report for the Church of God in Arkansas

2011-01-13T14:13:00.001-06:00

It is with great excitement that I write this month’s letter. The Transition Team has done the hard work and accomplished much. They are to be congratulated. When we began this transition no one really knew how long it would take to make the necessary changes. We believed. God delivered. Through much prayer and with wise counsel the changes are being effected.

By the time of the Spring Ministers’ Meeting, March 10, 11, and 12 at Community Park Church in Bryant, we will have a new Board in place. This Board will replace the Transition Team. The Board will be the link between the Assembly and the work of the state. They will be responsible for overseeing all operations of the state ministry and business. Powerful, yet humble…leaders of all and therefore servants of all.

Bylaws are being developed and should also be presented at the General Assembly Meeting on March 12, 2011. They will be presented to the churches for their consideration. Ratification of the new bylaws will occur at the Church of God in Arkansas Homecoming Campmeeting this summer.

The transition time is coming to an end. HALLELUJAH!!! Soon, very soon now, we will have state level leadership that will focus all of their energies on revitalizing churches, developing a culture of leadership development, and developing great expectations of expanding God’s Kingdom here in Arkansas. We will see God work again in our local
churches. We will see lives eternally changed and communities transformed. “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof,” (Psalm 24.1). God is taking back what is rightfully His. We will see this fulfilled with our eyes and it will be known by our children, and our children’s children. The Lord promised in Psalm 2.8, “Ask and I will give the nations to you…” God we are asking for the nations…begin right here in our hearts, our churches and towns, and in our state.

Now Brothers and Sister the real work begins.
To God Be The Glory! Amen!
David Owens, Chair

January 2011 Pastor's Report Evergreen Church

2011-01-13T14:11:00.001-06:00

The Lord continues to bless Evergreen Church. As many of you know, God
called me and my family to end our time as Pastor here. We struggled with the call away because we love this church and the Church of God in Arkansas. However, we know that God has a plan to love us and grow us up into the image of the Son. His will is perfect and the way we must go. So we initiated a search for a new pastor. About the same time I received my call, a pastor in Louisiana received a call to begin looking for a new church. God led us together. Our candidate and
his family came to visit in January. We loved them. God has placed in our candidate’s heart the same calling He has given Evergreen Church. It was a perfect match. The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to recommend the candidate to the church. The church will vote on our new pastor January 23rd. God is tying up one loose end. The church will have a pastor that can lead the people where He wants us to go. Praise God.
My family’s path is uncertain at this point. Our desire is to stay in Arkansas, serving God. But the path is currently unknown to us. We continue to seek God and His will for our family. God has never let us down and will sustain us until He comes again for us.

Appreciation & Request

2010-09-14T08:47:00.002-05:00

I appreciate the kind comments (on facebook). It is encouraging to us that you care about us and the adventure God is taking us on. Thanks.
I would ask that you pray for Evergreen Church. These are some of the greatest people on earth. They have been like very close family. While Karin and I have had time to pray and figure out what God would have us do, this is all brand new to the church. It is kind of a shock when a family member says they have to go.

Please pray for Evergreen Church:

*That God would comfort the church
*That God would quickly bring His prepared leader
*That God would be glorified in this transition
*That fruitfulness would result

To God Be The Glory,
David

Evergreen Resignation

2010-09-13T07:22:00.000-05:00

There will not be peace in my heart until I do what Christ is asking me to do. I am resigning the position of Pastor of Evergreen Church. I have held on to the position for several reasons. The main reason was because I care very deeply about the people in this church. God made me realize that He knows better than I how to love you and lead you.
I am resigning for the following reasons:

* I am convinced my purpose in this church is complete.
* I believe I will be holding the church back from all God has for it if I stay.
* I am convinced God is telling me now is the time for this change.

I believe God’s purpose for me here was to restore, unify, and refocus the church on the mission field that surrounds it. Those tasks are complete. The upcoming tasks of leading the church into the mission field will be the responsibility of the new leader. I am unequipped to lead any further. If I stay I would hinder God’s plan for this church. He has your next pastor lined up and prepared for the tasks ahead. As sure as I was that God brought us together, I am just as sure our paths now diverge. However, I am filled with hope for Evergreen Church because God will make the way forward. God has someone to better lead this church for the times ahead. I am wholly committed to God’s plan for this church.
I do not know what is ahead for me and my family. We have no immediate plans to leave the area. Whatever God has for me in the future has not yet been revealed to me. We must put our trust in God who will make a way for us all in the coming days.
May God continue to bless Evergreen Church.
With love and hope for the future,

David Owens

20

2010-05-15T06:42:00.003-05:00

Today it has been twenty years since I was burned in an apartment fire; my life irrevocable changed in the blink of an eye. I experienced the kind of loss that devastates, that kills hope. I have lived with the consequences of that fire for twenty years, half of my life. Some results were very bad and some very, very great. God has restored my life and I love it. I have a beautiful wife and three great kids. I am filled with hope and expectation that the best is yet to come. And my hope is never disappointed but grows with each new day.

God, You have been so good to me. I praise You on this day for Your sustaining grace and for Your overwhelming love that pursues...captures...and never lets go. May my lips praise You forever. Thank You. Amen.

I have learned a few things in my life that my prove useful for you. One I want to share with you now:
When you fall into a dark place in your life, the highest you will need to climb to escape...is up to your knees. God is your escape...your rescuer...your savior. May you find Him in your moment of need. He is your only hope.

Be blessed and filled with hope. God is with you.

A Sad Story Concerning Future Adoptions

2010-04-14T09:14:00.001-05:00

We are one of the last adoptions in this court for an undetermined amount of time. That woman who returned her child has caused an international disruption in adoptions. I know there are several families that will now have to wait until this drama plays out. The waiting will cause a lot of the hard work these families have already completed to be redone, some with great expense. As usual, it is the orphans which will suffer the most bcause of the wreckless actions of one person.

Adoption Complete!

2010-04-14T09:05:00.001-05:00

Today, April 14, 2010 at noon in Penza, Russia, Jake was officially named our son. There are a lot of details and paperwork yet but the court has decided in our favor. Every Russian official decided in our favor at every turn...the socialworker...the doctors...the psychologist...the orphanage director...the court prosecutor...and most importantly the judge. God has blessed every step. We are humbled to see God work in such a mighty way. Jake is now our son and we are his parents. AMEN!

Quote: Thomas Merton

2010-04-01T10:23:00.002-05:00

A life is either all spiritual or not spiritual at all. No man can serve two masters. Your life is shaped by the end you live for. You are made in the image of what you desire.

- Thomas Merton -

Countdown has begun...

2010-04-01T09:43:00.004-05:00

Well, in is just a few short hours we embark on the latest adventure. 22 hours and 21 minutes to be exact. Little did we know that following God into the woods of Southwest Arkansas in 2005 meant we would be following Him into Russia in 2010. While it is just a temporary journey, we are praying that God would use us for His glory on this side trail. What that looks like from this end of the trail I cannot tell but we will soon see what awaits us around that bend ahead.
We go on this journey because we want to see where it leads...where God is already working...and how we can join Him...or simply to praise Him...anywhere, just to be with Him. We chose this path, following Jesus wherever He leads, because it is THE grandest adventure of a lifetime...of an eternity. Sure God takes us where He goes...through the valley of the shadow of death...into the barren places...into the dry places...into the green pastures by the still waters...even into the snowy hills of Russia. But wherever we go we are assured that the King of Kings and Lord of Lords goes with us. And that is exactly where we want to be, right with Him, now and forever more.
I pray you can say the same. I pray you can find the peace that comes with the Prince of Peace. I pray you can say, as we can...It Is Well With My Soul! To God be the Glory!
And we are off...

First Trash Night of the Season

2010-03-30T20:07:00.005-05:00

We have a strange but fun family tradition: Trash Night. Every Tuesday evening during Spring and Summer we gather up our trash and take it out to the bin. Then everyone piles in the back of the truck and we deliver the trash to the street. It is a little over a half mile round trip. Everyone always enjoys it. The dog usually comes along. Now you may laugh but we have had guests get really excited about Trash Night. It is an event!

Tonight was the first time this year that it was warm enough for Trash Night.
Jake also helped for the first time pull the bin to the road. You cannot see them but he is wearing his work gloves. He was a big helper.

Visas Arrived!

2010-03-30T20:05:00.001-05:00

The visas did arrive and they look great. Now on to the packing...

Visas!

2010-03-30T08:51:00.004-05:00

Our visas for Russia have been approved and are winging their way back to us. They should be here today! This is one of the very last things we need before we leave this Friday. Please be in prayer for us as we go to Russia to finalize the adoption of our son. Also, please pray that God will give us our daughter. Even though she has been placed in a home in Russia by the house mother, I am going to ask the judge to give her to us. It is in God's hands now. There is nothing I or anyone else can do to ensure that our daughter gets to come home with us. God alone can save her now. How appropriate for Easter and Holy Week that God alone can save. Hosanna!

Visa Paperwork Sent Off

2010-03-05T10:53:00.002-06:00

Today I sent in the paperwork for our Russian Visas! One step closer.

Court Date Set...We are going to Russia

2010-03-01T09:08:00.002-06:00

The court date that will finalize our adoption of Jake has been set. It will be on Wednesday April 14, 2010 in Penza, Russia. This is great news. There is a little bit of paperwork that we need to finish. But we are ready.

We will travel to Russia the day after Easter and come home April 23.

Now all I have to do is convince Karin and the girls to pack light. This is possibly the hardest thing about the whole adoption. I am only slightly exaggerating when I say they like to pack four sets of clothes per day. Challenging! I know they are going to get tired of carrying all their clothes. And I am going to be the one who ends up carrying four pieces of luggage through airports, planes, cabs, and trains. Not to mention through the streets of Moscow and Penza!

Please keep us in your prayers during this time.

Jake is doing great but hurting

2010-03-01T07:57:00.003-06:00

It has been about seven weeks since Jake had surgery. He has persevered through four weeks of laying in bed with his feet elevated, two weeks of rolling around in his wheelchair, and one week in a compression sock. He has not complained but made the best of each situation. What a tough little kids he is. He has even started taking his very first steps on his foot (with a lot of help from Mommy and Daddy).

Now the healing continues. That means his skin is growing; attaching new nerves. On the low end of the scale this causes itching. On the high end, throbbing pain. The compression sock is making it harder for him to sleep without pain. He spent last night hurting and crying. That means he must be in a lot of pain because he never cries for pain.

Please pray that he makes it through this painful period quickly. It would help him as well as Karin and I. It is very hard to look at your child and know there is nothing you can do to make him or her feel better. I am afraid Karin took the brunt of it.

UPDATE: Jake's Surgery

2010-01-05T12:56:00.003-06:00

Jake had a surgery scheduled for last November. He got sick and the surgery was postponed. Since he is in the US on a medical visa, he needs to have his surgery BEFORE we can go to Russia to finalize the adoption. Since his surgery was postponed so was the adoption.

There was a long delay. We waited...and waited...and waited. The holidays postponed all medical procedures.

Jake's visa expires in May. Since his recovery will take from 4 to 6 weeks, we needed to have something done very soon. Well the wait is over. Jake is scheduled for surgery January 13th. We are going to the Dallas Ronald McDonald House on Monday January 11th. He will be checked in Tuesday morning.

Please pray:

Jake will remain well for this last week
The surgery will be a success
A quick recovery
For Ella to be able to come home soon (nothing new to report)

Thank you

Please consider donating to the Scottish Rite Hospital

Please Pray! Adoption of Ella in Jeopardy

2009-11-05T19:19:00.003-06:00

I will fully explain at a later date but for now, please pray that God will bring Ella home to us. Our adoption of Ella is in serious jeopardy. The situation appears hopeless to us but our God can do anything. Only God can intervene now. Thank you.
+david

Jake's Update

2009-10-31T08:55:00.004-05:00

Jake is finally scheduled for his surgery. On November 20th, he will have his surgery at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas. We have been waiting on this for some time, since June. There were a lot of hoops to jump through to get him into the program. In the end, we are sure this is where he needs to be. The Scottish Rite Hospital will cover all of his surgical needs as well as other medical issues until he is 18 years old. As Jake has several medical needs this will enable the best care possible for him.

Adoption Update:
As many of you know, We are adopting Jake and Ella. They are both special needs children from Russia. We feel God directing every step of this process. We are very grateful to have this opportunity to add two very precious children to our family. Both Jake and Ella have been collected into ONE adoption. That means less costs and only one trip over to Russia to finalize the adoption. However, since Jake is here on a medical visa, he must have his surgery and recuperation BEFORE we can go finalize the adoption. This has meant that Ella has had to wait and wait for us to come get her. She has know about us since the middle of June. My prayer is that she not loose hope.

Things are finally rolling along so it looks like we may be able to go over and finalize the adoption in early 2010. My hope was to have Ella home by Christmas. That will only be possible now as a gift from God. We cannot wait to have them both home with us.

Abbie @ Camp

2009-08-25T09:09:00.004-05:00

Abbie wanted to go to camp (like her big sister). So we arranged for her to go to "Grandparent Camp." She stayed part of the week with Pappy and Granny Edde (pictured here) and the remainder of the week spent with her Grandma and Grandpa Owens. She had a lot of fun going to the zoo and playing with her cousins. She cried when the week was over. She wanted to stay a little longer at Grandparent Camp.

Ashleigh @ Camp

2009-08-25T08:59:00.005-05:00

Ashleigh went to camp this July. She loved it. Here she is at the entrance. She went to Brookhill Camp outside of Hot Springs. She got very sick during the camp. However, she kept most of her discomfort to herself and stayed the whole week, most of which she had a very high temperature. It took her about a month the get over it all. She got the flu at camp and later got a slight case of pnemonia. But she is fine now and has great memories of her time at camp.

Ashleigh on her bunk.

Ashleigh and her counselors. These ladies were very good. They did a great job with all the girls.

Ashleigh and a friend at camp.

Preparing for Surgery

2009-08-04T06:48:00.004-05:00

We are making plans to have Jake's foot surgery. It is going to be performed by two groups of doctors. One group from the LEAP Foundation and another group from the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital. They each have certain specialties that may be necessary to successfully treat Jake's feet. The LEAP Foundation is a missionary doctor group treating mostly facial deformities. They are the primary doctors operating on his foot. Jake came over early on a medical visa for this very purpose. We are a little anxious. This will be our first child to have major surgery. He is a tough little guy but when he cries, he cries great big crocodile tears. It makes you want to grab him up in your arms and hug him and protect him. Please pray that the operation is successful and he has very little pain. Also, pray that he recovers quickly. We still have a little girl we are ready to meet in Russia. After Jake has recovered we will be heading to Russia to finalize the adoption of our two newest children.

You Better Have Some Beans

2009-07-14T10:30:00.002-05:00

Jake Boone
"Hey you fellas, how about some beans? Ya want some beans? Goin' through some mighty rough country tomorrow - you better have some beans!" quote from Treasure of the Sierra Madras

1...2...3...SPLASH!

2009-07-14T10:26:00.001-05:00

Swimming Fun

2009-07-14T10:23:00.002-05:00

Play-Doh Fun

2009-07-14T10:18:00.003-05:00

Playground

2009-07-14T10:14:00.001-05:00

Best Buds

2009-07-14T10:07:00.003-05:00

Joe Cool

2009-07-14T10:02:00.002-05:00

First Backhoe

2009-07-14T09:56:00.002-05:00

Jake got a gift from some friends of ours, the Wempes. It is a wired backhoe. He loved it. He was still a bit nervous, too many people around and not sure if he was home. He got over that pretty quick, faster than most the adoption people told us. The backhoe made sounds and played music. He danced to the music (video forthcoming - but don't hold your breath - it may take some time).

First Breakfast

2009-07-14T09:47:00.003-05:00

The video thing is proving more difficult than I thought. They will be coming in the future. But for now, I will post some more photos. This is Jake's first breakfast. He really did not know what to make of the bagel. He scraped off and ate the cream cheese but did not eat the bagel. Abbie is also trying to understand what a boy is, how he behaves, and what good is he. The are best buds now.

New Day

2009-06-30T08:07:00.004-05:00

Jake and Abbie playing. They both like to line up their toys. Jake is about to discover the play kitchen (just out of the photo). The girls are so excited seeing Jake experience things for the first time. BTW, he loves the toys that make noise.
I took a video of his arrival. I will try to post it tomorrow on Youtube and link it here.

Father and Son

2009-06-30T08:01:00.003-05:00

Jake loves seeing pictures of himself on the computer. I only wish I could understand Russian; so I could know what he is saying when he gets so excited. The first night. Papa Bunny and Jake Bunny.

He is Here!!!

2009-06-29T23:20:00.003-05:00

I do believe God knows what He is doing. When it was time for bed, Jake gently took the book and went right to the couch. He loved the story, Guess How Much I Love You. His eyes lit up and he laughed and laughed every time Karin told him that the Big Nutbrown Hare was "Papa Bunny." He pointed at me and said, "Papa Bunny," and laughed. He now knows exactly what book we are talking about when we say Papa Bunny Book. Thanks God. He is a perfect fit.

Updated Family Photo

2009-06-29T23:16:00.002-05:00

Family

Family Album

2009-06-25T09:51:00.002-05:00

We made little family photo albums for Jake and Ella. Alexandra Goode took them to the children with a stuffed dog for each. That way Jake and Ella would know who it is that loves them: Mommy, Daddy, and sisters. This is one of the picture in the albums.

Ella's Room

2009-06-25T09:48:00.002-05:00

Ella's room before. It is upstairs with her sisters. Her bed is located to the right of the little window, next to the closet space.

Ella's room after.

Jake's Room

2009-06-25T09:44:00.003-05:00

Jake's Bedroom Before (tucked in there behind the stairs)

After

Pictures!

2009-06-22T10:49:00.004-05:00

When we sent out the first newsletter, I did not feel that it was the time to include their pictures, but now I feel comfortable including them and sharing their sweet faces with you so you can really see who they are that you are praying for and helping bring home to their forever family, and possibly making it more real for you in your prayer journey.
Enjoy!
In Christ’s love,
David, Karin, Ashleigh, and Abbie Owens

Elvira "Ella" Owens

(Ella is sitting in a wheelchair, but she is not handicapped. She can walk, run, and play. She is in a special needs orphanage and is the only child there who is not in a wheelchair. She is just sitting in it as a chair.)Jacob "Jake"Owens

Adoption Newsletter #2 May-09

2009-06-22T10:29:00.002-05:00

Hello all! First of all, let me humbly apologize for how very tardy we have been in getting the new newsletters out to you. I sat down and began it many times, but I had so much to tell and had such a hard time getting down on paper what was in my heart, that I never completed it. This one may be a little long consequently so please bear with me.

We moved March 3 to our home on our land. All went well and smoothly. That was a huge answer to prayer. We are so thankful for all your prayers on our behalf. We are mostly unpacked and getting settled in. In the last newsletter I was hoping to get the initial office visit for the home study scheduled. It occurred at the end of February. It went well. We also had our home visit portion at the end of April. The agency doing our home study and post-placement visits is Grace Adoptions. Ed Appler and his wife Sharon are fantastic! Their website is www.graceadoptions.com if you would like to check them out. Currently we are waiting for the final report of our home study. We will then be able to finish up the last few documents in our dossier. We are getting close to the end of the beginning of the adoption process. Thanks for your continued prayers for that!

There was some very big news that we were asking for prayer for about Jake. There was a Russian woman interested in foster parenting Jake. This had the potential of being a very bad thing for Jake. If he were put into foster care he would no longer be adoptable (according to Russian laws). Additionally, he would not receive the medical care he will require. Alexandra Goode, the director of International Guardian Angels Adoption Agency who is handling the international part of the adoption, immediately did all the necessary paperwork to request Jake be allowed to come to America on a medical visa. If the medical visa was allowed, Jake could come to America, have medical treatment, and live with us until we took him back to finalize the adoption. If it was denied he might end up in foster care in Russia forever. It was an anxious time. God sustained us through this time by your prayers and our many great friends. We are sorry we did not get out a newsletter with that information so you could be praying along with us. We will do better in the future.

After two months of praying and wondering just exactly how God was going to work it out, it is over. The Russian woman was very persistent. She was demanding they give Jake to her. Those in charge at the orphanage did not feel this was in Jake’s best interest so they kept denying her. Meanwhile, the medical visa approval was taking much longer than usual. Someone Alexandra called the “prosecutor,” who is in charge of adoptions there in some way, was upset that they kept sending Russian children to America for surgeries when he felt they should be able to care for them right there in Russia. He delayed Jake’s medical visa until it could be ascertained if the surgery could be done in Russia. It seemed as if this would never be resolved.

Today, however, is different. Just last night we received word that Jake has been approved for the medical visa. Praise the Lord!! Hallelujah! He is so good! They do not have a date yet, but Jake is coming very soon. It will not be very long now until we meet our son for the first time.
He will have surgery at Shriner’s Hospital in Greenville, SC and then will stay with us here in Arkansas until we go to Russia to finalize and complete the adoption and get Ella. God protected us from persistent attacks on our hopes and dreams. God delivered us. He is so good. Yeah!!

We also found out last night that we can make small photo albums for each of the children and send a small little doll or stuffed animal as well. Alexandra Goode will hand deliver them to Jake and Ella when she goes to pick up Jake. She will be able to tell the children about us, show them our pictures, and tell them we are their mommy and daddy and sissies. We will also put in pictures of our house, their bedrooms, and our dog, Bella.

We are just so excited today we can hardly contain our joy. God is good and He is faithful. During these several months of waiting to know what would happen with Jake and the medical visa and the Russian woman, we always knew absolutely that God was in control, that He was bigger than all of this, and that none of it was a surprise to Him. We also were not worried and had peace about it most of the time. We knew He had told us that Jake is our son and that we needn’t worry about it at all. Thank You, Lord.

Also, since our first newsletter, we have discovered that those wishing to donate to our adoption fund and desiring it to be a tax deduction, can make your contributions directly to International Guardian Angels Adoption with a note that it is for the David & Karin Owens adoption. You can still contribute directly to us or through IGAA. (See both addresses below)

We have many blessings and praises that we are thankful for and would like to share with you:

Several financial contributions. Thank you so much for your generosity. We are so grateful, humbled, and very blessed by your giving to our family. Thank you!
Completion and move to our new home. We are all moved and are trying to settle in. It is wonderful to have our own place again and so much fun to prepare a place for Jake and Ella in it.
Jake and Ella’s rooms ready. We have both of their beds and rooms all made up and ready to go. They look adorable and are ready for sweet, adorable little children to fill them.
A successful home study. We have now completed both parts of our home study and are just waiting on all the final paperwork to be completed.
A successful beginning to the Immigration process. We have gone to Fort Smith to the Immigration office there and begun the process of being approved by the U.S. Government for adoption. We have done our part. Now we must wait for them to finish theirs.

We have several prayer requests that we would like to share and ask you to pray about with us. God does hear our prayers and will answer them. Thank you for your faithful prayers on behalf of our family and our dear little ones.

That everything goes smoothly to complete all Jake’s paperwork for the medical visa and safe travel for George, Alexandra, Jake, and Elena (another child they are bringing to America on medical visa).
For Jake’s surgery and recovery.
For our safe travel to and from Greenville, as well as our time staying there.
For the possibility of a place to stay near the hospital while in Greenville, at a Ronald McDonald House or some other similar facility
For our bonding and attaching with Jake and he with all of us.
For our adoption expenses. Thank you in advance for your help and generosity on behalf of Ella and Jake. Thanks again so much to those who have already given. We appreciate it so much.
For some boy clothes and toys for Jake.
For the communication/language barrier. They only speak Russian, and so far, we only speak English. We hope to learn some words and phrases to be able to communicate at least a few things. Pray they learn the language quickly as children are generally apt to do, as well as they not to get frustrated over it. Pray we are creative in thinking of ways to communicate with each other.

Thanks so much for all your prayers. It means so much to our family.

I will try very hard to get newsletters out much more frequently.  I would like to keep you all updated on how things are going, how God is answering our prayers and working in this journey, as well as any continued or new prayer concerns. Please feel free to send this along to anyone you feel would pray on this adoption journey with us; we encourage you to do that. This is not just a faith-building adventure for us, but also for all of you who are traveling it along with us.

The addresses to send donations to or to contact us directly are as follows:

International Guardian Angels Adoption
1400 Limestone Creek
Keller, TX 76248
Please be sure to put in a note about it being for the David & Karin Owens adoption.

OR

David & Karin Owens
99 Middleton Rd.
Arkadelphia, AR 71923
Send any email correspondence to karinowens@bluebottle.com

Enjoy!
In Christ’s love,
David, Karin, Ashleigh, and Abbie Owens

Recital

2009-06-22T10:26:00.004-05:00

Sorry about the blurry pictures. It was a combination of proximity and low lights levels.

Swimming Lessons

2009-06-22T10:24:00.001-05:00

Curriculum Arrival

2009-06-22T10:21:00.002-05:00

This is a big day at our house. The girls were so excited (Mommy included).

Karin at the Women's Retreat

2009-06-22T10:19:00.001-05:00

This may be one of my favorite picture of Karin. She is so full of joy.

The Girls Room

2009-06-22T10:17:00.003-05:00

Moving In

2009-06-22T10:15:00.003-05:00

Finishing the details

2009-06-22T10:12:00.002-05:00

Grace Adoption Agency

2009-06-22T10:03:00.003-05:00

We are working on the domestic side of the adoption, anything and everything concerning the US and Arkansas, with the Grace Adoption Agency in Conway, Arkansas. It is run by Ed and Sharon Appler. We have been blessed with our associating with Grace. They too are excellent people to work with and we recommend them to you.

The Goodes

2009-06-22T09:58:00.003-05:00

We are very privileged to be able to work with International Guardian Angels Adoption Agency run by George and Alexandra Goode. They are a lovely, caring couple with huge hearts for children. If you are looking to adopt internationally, I would highly recommend them. There are none finer.

Adoption Newsletter #1 Feb-09

2009-06-22T09:52:00.001-05:00

Hello Family and Friends,

Our family has such exciting news to share with you. We are simply bursting with joy and excitement! We are currently in the process of adopting two precious children from Russia. The purpose of these newsletters are fivefold: to keep all of you updated on the status and progress of the adoption process, to let you know how the children are doing, to let you know of any specific prayer requests and needs that we may have, to give us something to have later as a testimony of God’s amazing work, and finally to simply give us something to do during this long waiting period.

First I would like to tell you a little about the children. Ella is four and a half years old; she will be five in May. She is cute and sweet and loves to run, play, and talk. She loves to play with other children and is quite outgoing and intelligent. Ella has some special needs. She was born with part of her bladder on the outside of her body and has had surgery in Moscow to repair it. She may need additional corrective surgeries once she comes home.

Jake is three years old and totally adorable. He also loves to run and play with other children. He is all boy. He also likes to play with cars and trucks. He is very friendly, intelligent, and loves to smile. He also has some special needs. Jake was burned 40% of his body when he was three months old on his abdomen, legs, and feet. All the little toes on his left foot had to be amputated. He will need further reconstructive surgeries as he grows. These two children are not related biologically and are not in the same orphanage, but are in the same region of Russia and only about an hour apart.

You know I recently heard a line in a movie that I think it so funny and so true. It was “If you want to hear God laugh, make plans.” Well, as some of you may know, we originally began this adoption journey in Korea, but God had His own plans. We were happily pursuing that route. Then God, in His gentle manner, made us aware of these two precious Russian children. We learned about Ella from a coworker of David’s at Ouachita Baptist University. As his coworker told him of a little girl in Russia who needed a family, certain details began to line up. For example, the little girl’s name was Ella. Ella’s is Karin’s grandmother’s name and the name we had chosen to name our next daughter. Our excitement grew.

David and I prayed about it and felt clearly and certainly that this was the direction God wanted us to go. That led us to the adoption agency run by an amazing couple in their retirement years who have incredible hearts for orphans. The agency is called International Guardian Angels Adoption, and they have been around for about ten years and have placed around 200 children with their forever families. You can check them out at www.igaa.org.

While trying to find out more information about Ella, a little boy was brought to our attention. His name was Artem. He was burned as an infant. Once we saw his coy smile, we were hooked. As we prayed, God showed us that Artem was in fact another one of our children. We renamed him Jake and began the quest to bring him home as well. Both of these children have places at our table and in our hearts. Ashleigh and Abbie cannot wait for their new sister and brother. God is so good, and we are thankful as well as humbled that He has chosen us to be Ella and Jake’s forever family.

Currently we are collecting all the necessary documents for 1) our home study and 2) our dossier which basically is a mountain of paperwork that goes over to Russia. Hopefully today we will be able to schedule our first initial home study visit. In Arkansas the home study consists of two visits, one in the agency’s office and the second in our home.

That brings me to some more news. We are, hopefully, moving in just a few weeks. We are moving out onto our own 45 acres of land into a metal building which will be our home for the next few years until we are able to build a home there. All these things together make for a lot going on at one time, and we ask you all to pray about all of this with us. These are many changes at once.

Our specific prayer needs at this time are:

The finances to pay for the adoption. Our God is a big God and His timing is absolutely perfect. We absolutely KNOW that since He has called us to this, we can trust that He will provide all that is needed to make it happen. David and I have ever been comfortable asking for money, but for Ella and Jake’s sake, we can do it. Please prayerfully consider contributing to our adoption fund, either in a large way or a small way, and all will be incredible blessings to us and to the children.

A smooth, uneventful process. Please pray with us that there will be no hiccups or holdups and that everything will happen timely, smoothly, and accurately.

Completion and our move to our new home. Our new home completed on schedule and a smooth move, unpacking, and getting settled into our new home

A timely and approved home study

And last, but most definitely not least, for Ella and Jake needs. We pray every day that they have enough to eat, that they are warm enough, that somebody hugs them every day and shows them love and care, and that God somehow in their spirits lets them know that their family is coming to bring them home.

Thank you so much for going on this incredible journey of faith and love with us. We appreciate your prayers. Please pass this along to anyone you feel might pray with us through this journey.

In Christ’s love,
David, Karin, Ashleigh, & Abbie Owens

Any donations may be sent to:
David & Karin Owens
99 Middleton Rd.
Arkadelphia, AR 71923

Unos

2009-06-22T09:46:00.005-05:00

The view of Uno's from our room. The girls were excited to get to make their own pizzas.

Mailbox Finished

2009-06-22T09:43:00.003-05:00

Construction Interior

2009-06-22T09:38:00.004-05:00

Kitchen cabinet rough-in.

Interior wall framing. This particular shot is of the kitchen area.
This shot shows the upstairs bedroom and stairs. Since the upstairs was an alteration of our original plan, the stairs kind of cover the window.

Construction Continues

2009-06-22T09:35:00.004-05:00

Jessie taking down the old trailer.A view from the back yard (from the SE). Incidentally, this is also the view from the playground (to seen in future posts).

Construction

2009-06-22T09:09:00.004-05:00

Here are a few pics of the house construction.

The girls out frontThe original design (two bedroom)Adding the upstairs bedroom.

On you mark...

2009-06-22T09:08:00.000-05:00

Okay, for those who have been waiting a while...here come the updates and photos.

Sorry About the Update Delay

2009-04-01T14:52:00.000-05:00

I am sorry about the update delay. We moved and lost the cord to the camera. When we finally discover it I will overload you with new things. Until then.

Home Church

2009-01-14T15:21:00.006-06:00

This is the last time we all met together before the Pate's left for Alabama. We are four families: the Pate, Campbell, McCauley, and Owens families. The Pate's are leaving Arkadelphia for a job in Alabama. We will miss them. There are several people missing from the photos that were there. I guess I need to do a better job of documenting these things. We are a good bunch.

Dogs

2009-01-14T15:20:00.001-06:00

The dogs are multiplying. Now there are two yellow labs where there was only one.

Inside

2009-01-14T15:14:00.002-06:00

These photos were taken from inside the shop. It is a mess now but soon walls, kitchen, and a bath will be installed. Oh, and the dirt, caked on mud, and mess will be cleaned up. Also, windows and doors. It is finally coming together.

Old Mud & Ruts

2009-01-14T15:09:00.005-06:00

These are pictures of the near backyard.

The pictures do not really portray how deep these ruts where.

Here is the beast. We absolutely could not have built this shop without this piece of equipment. The Sky Trak was necessary even if it left deep gouges in the clay. In future pictures I hope to show how these ruts get filled in and covered with grass.

Roof Goes On

2009-01-14T15:07:00.001-06:00

Stompin' Around the Land

2009-01-14T14:59:00.005-06:00

Ashligh petting a neighbor dog. I told them not to get too friendly because we cannot have the dogs running on our land when we have animals but the girls cannot resist.

Karin

The girls by the bags of insulation.

The girls and I avoided the huge ruts in the yard by walking through the woods.

Siding Goes On

2009-01-14T14:55:00.003-06:00

Christmas 2008

2009-01-14T14:52:00.001-06:00

This is just a holder for our Christmas picture. i don't have it at work so you will have to wait to see it.

Big Equipment - Big Ruts

2009-01-14T14:48:00.003-06:00

We have used the Sky Trak to assemble the structure. it is a big piece of equipment, kind of a four-wheel drive fork lift that can extend some distance. The rain is killing our schedule but when it rains it rain, not much I can do about that.

Over the Threshold

2009-01-14T14:45:00.001-06:00

Me carrying the girls over the mud onto the slab. They ran around and played in their "room."

Rainy

2009-01-14T14:43:00.000-06:00

UPDATE

2009-01-14T14:34:00.003-06:00

When I wrote last, Wednesday December 17, 2008, our shop appeared to be going up just fine. However, there have been some complications. In the building industry there are only three things that can go wrong:

Materials
Weather
Workers

On our job, we have been blessed with some of the best workers in the area. We have a highly skilled, hard working crew. I have no complaints about their effort, skills, or any other matter as it relates to the crew. They are the best. However, as you will see in the next couple of pics, everything else went bad.
The weather turned our usual bit of Fall rain into a persistent downpour, keeping everything soaked including the road. Also, the company that supplied our steel did not cut part of the building right; holes where missing, slots uncut, etc. They also provided us with extra parts. Their engineer verified that they shipped us pieces that do not go on our building.
All of this amounted to a very lengthy, and in construction as the time frame expands so must the budget, build time. Now on to the pictures.

Wednesday December 17, 2008

2008-12-17T12:12:00.006-06:00

Here is Richard up on the Sky Trak trying to figure out what goes where. The steel is going up quickly. These pictures were taken Wednesday December 17, 2008.

Here is a better picture of the other elements going up. You can see the 10x10 door on the right of the structure. Things are taking shape.

Another view of the construction and the ruts.

Going Up

2008-12-17T12:04:00.005-06:00

Monday evening the uprights were installed. These picture were taken Tuesday. The structure is going up quickly. Look at the ruts the Sky Trak made. This off-road forklift can raise about 5,000 pounds and extend it outward some distance. It is heavy. These ruts are between two and a half and three feet deep. They could not get it up on the slab. I had to build a gravel ramp to finally get it up there. You can see the rocks in the final picture.

Wonder

2008-12-17T11:58:00.003-06:00

This is a picture Karin took. You cannot tell but this is on the driveway at our rent house. We raked and burned all the leaves and needles once already. We are going to need to do it again to clean off the drive. However, this is a great picture and I wanted to share it with you. There is an awesome wonder that will overcome you if you only stop to notice the world around you.

Christmas Program

2008-12-17T11:47:00.005-06:00

We had a Christmas program at our church again this year. Our numbers are lower than previous years. However, I was excited by the turn out to see the children. We are blessed to have someone who can play the guitar, Robert Smithpeters. Next to him, also with her back to us, is his daughter Velvet Gonzales. The children learned the Christmas songs AND the sign language to go along with them. It was impressive seeing the little children from the community sing and sign to the King.

Here is my oldest angel Ashleigh singing. Karen is right in front of her.

Abbie was so excited. She wanted to be Mary for so long. When the roles were given she was chosen to be Mary. Here she is holding baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes and ready for the journey.

Here is Ashleigh "going forth."

Abbie singing and signing "peace."

Christmas Tradition: Ornaments

2008-12-17T11:32:00.006-06:00

We have a Christmas tradition started by my family. Every year each person gets to select one ornament for the tree. We carefully document each figure. Here is Abbie's this year, the critics from the Muppet Show called Statler and Waldorf, The Muppets (currently her favorite video).

Ashleigh withe her puppy holding an ornament with 2008 on it. Ashleigh got her ornament from Carlton Cards and I cannot find the name online.

Karin putting her ornament on the tree, two little bears reading the "Night Before Christmas." Oh, What Fun to Read

Here I am putting another one of my planes on the tree. I have consistently purchased a plane for the Hallmark line for my ornament. This year it is the Sky's the Limit #12 - Ercoupe 415-D.

Water Pump

2008-12-17T11:22:00.002-06:00

This water well pump is old. We are told that this pump was installed for a school that was located right were our shop is going. The neighborhood children would fetch water from this well for their families and homes. The pump is workable. It needs a new leather before it will pull any water. This is something I may do in the future.
Here is the pump in relation to the shop. I had to push my shop more eastward to avoid having to remove the well. On this end is my 10x10 shop door. To access the space, I needed it far enough away from the pump to maneuver any equipment I might store inside without hitting the pump. If you click on the picture you can see more details. From left to right: the old trailer power pole, father back the white you can see is a small metal shed in the pasture, the pile of trash that once was a trailer home, and although you cannot see it, a cistern. The school had an old cistern put out back to collect water off the roof. It is in a direct line from the pump handle to the middle of the slab. It is just out of sight.

Power

2008-12-17T11:17:00.002-06:00

Here is our temporary construction meter. Entergy had to come out twice because we did not get the pole setup in time for their first visit. I wanted to document the meter and the reading so I can track usage. This is, by the way, part of my job at Ouachita Baptist University, tracking energy usage.

Concrete Slab

2008-12-17T11:06:00.005-06:00

Here is the concrete slab - finally. It looked like we would never get this thing poured. Because the ground is so soft and the trees are so close, we needed a concrete pump truck. We had the hardest time scheduling both the concrete and the pump truck for the same day. Then, the rains came. This delayed the pour. But finally the rain held off and both trucks could come, Friday December 12, 2008. It is done and setting up nicely.
Here I am explaining how the plumbing was installed and the locations of the fixtures. The plumbing contractor turned my rough blueprint 90 degrees and so the room is laid out differently than I planned. However, the way it is installed will provide more privacy. I like it better than the original plan.

Another view of the slab and the plumbing.

Steel Delivery Complete

2008-12-11T17:10:00.002-06:00

I don't know who was happier; me because we are one step closer or Mike because he could hit the road and pick up another load. I am sure it was me. In any case, the unloading is complete and the real construction can begin...well almost. The recent rains have delayed the pouring of the foundation. A few more days. The excitement is starting to build.

Mike headed down highway 67.

Steel Unloading

2008-12-11T17:04:00.007-06:00

There is something very satisfying about seeing your name on something like this. Maybe it is the fact that we are one step closer to moving out onto our land. I don't know...but I like it.
What follows are some pictures of the truck being unloaded. What took a few seconds for your computer to load and you to scroll down to see took the better part of two hours to complete.

Steel Arrived

2008-12-11T16:53:00.003-06:00

This is Mike. He delivered the steel from Rhino Steel. He is holding our check for the steel in is hands. I told him Karin wanted a picture so act like that check was for him. He was a great guy, very helpful. Incidentally, Rhino is a great company. The support they offer cannot be beat.

Here is the truck fully loaded and parked beside highway 67. Our road was too narrow and too wet for him to get his truck down. This piece of old highway 67 shows some of the heavy rains we had recently. This was a good solution. Jessie, the guy in the brown coveralls, has a 2.5 ton truck with a huge trailer. The plan was to load the trailer and drive that over to the shop site. Here Jessie and Richard, our lead contractor, are planning the unload.

Slab Prep

2008-12-11T16:44:00.005-06:00

The girls cannot wait to get out on the land. Anytime we go out there they run off and explore the place first thing.

Here is a good picture of the pad; prepared and ready for concrete. I decided to insulate the whole slab. That is the reason for the black plastic. It is there to protect the insulation from the weather until the concrete goes in.

Here is a closeup of the components: wood framing, compacted dirt, insulation, steel rebar, plastic, and steel wire.

Shop Plumbing

2008-12-11T16:38:00.004-06:00

Here is a shot of the plumbing. The plumber had the hardest time putting these pipes in the pad. It seemed the pad was so compacted a shovel would not penetrate it. If the concrete contractor had not been there the plumber would have had to drive back into town and buy a pickax.

Here is another angle. The closest part of the picture is the main drain stack. The back part of the pad has the bathroom/utility room. Notice the pile of trash in the background. That is the trailer or what is left of it.

Rock Pile

2008-12-11T16:25:00.002-06:00

This is a pile of medium sized rocks. Our land is forest land. For thousands of years the trees would drop their leaves. The leaves would compost down (a little) and over time turned into sludgy mud. When the land is wet it is a slushy mess. Our road, cut along a logging trail, they loggers would drag the wood out of the woods along this path to the road. Basically, it is a dry creek bed...most of the time. However, when it rain, it floods. The soil and moisture cause terrific headaches for heavier equipment, the kind we use to pour concrete and deliver steel. The kind of equipment this road will need to support in the next week or so. There is a portion of our road that stays wet longer than the rest of the land. We may have a spring near there. The best way to fix it is to fill the area with medium sized rocks, thus this pile. It is a temporary fix to a long term problem.
Here is the portion of wet road with a thick, and expensive layer of medium rock. The rock was doing its job until the rains came. This portion still looks good and is passable, something that was not really possible before we put the rock down. The rest of the road turned into a fast running steam. So the trucks have avoided it. It caused a little problem this morning when the steel arrived.

Dirtwork: Pad

2008-12-11T16:20:00.004-06:00

The shop pad looking good: clean, level, and compacted. The plumber (you will see his work in a few posts) said he had to use a pickax to dig the plumbing trenches. This pad is a great pad. It will never move. We had quality workers.

A New Thanksgiving Tradition

2008-11-29T10:26:00.009-06:00

This year we decided to make a new Thanksgiving tradition. We were to have turkey and all the trimmings with friends on Friday. So we decided to make a Chicago style deep dish pizza for Thanksgiving. It was a whole-family affair. Everyone did a little of everything. We cooked our Deep Woods Deep Dish in a cast iron pan to help crisp the crust. It was fun and we made some lasting memories. In years to come I hope we build on those we made this year.
We had enough crust for 2 pizzas. We made one Chicago-style and one homestyle. Both were great. We will tweak and develop the recipe over the years. But we have a new secret family recipe. We did not get a picture of the finished product. We were so excited and ready to eat we forgot to snap a picture of the finished pies. They were delicious.

Ashleigh working the dough for another of our Thanksgiving traditions: Apple Muffins.

Abbie smiling for the camera. That is my shotgun with my orange vest draped over it in the background. It will explain why I look like I do in a few pictures.

Everyone pitching in to build the pizzas.

My precious girls working together to make family memories.

Groundwork

2008-11-29T10:19:00.003-06:00

No, that is not an outhouse in the back of the photo. It is an old shed that will be coming down very soon. This is just a picture in the series about the building of the shop. A little dirtwork. More soon as things are rapidly changing.

Trailer: After

2008-11-28T12:04:00.003-06:00

Trailer: Before

2008-11-28T12:02:00.004-06:00

New Hairdo

2008-11-28T11:59:00.003-06:00

I think it looks great. Better still Karin loves it.

Finished Mailbox

2008-09-29T09:37:00.004-05:00

The installed mailbox and proud workers.

Mailbox Americana

The humble yet proud family mailbox. We chose a simple mailbox. It will serve us for a time. We plan on putting a larger more secure mailbox up after the construction of our home. In the mean time, while we live in the shop, this box will do. We put it up as an act of faith. A statement of belief that God will indeed allow us to move onto the land. If you look close you can see the blue water line location.

Installing the Mailbox 6

2008-09-29T09:33:00.001-05:00

Abbie installing her finishing screw.

Ashleigh finishing installing the box. My face is very red and swollen a little because I stopped to pick up my deer stand and got eaten by thousands out mosquitoes.

Installing the Mailbox 5

2008-09-29T09:31:00.004-05:00

Installing the box base. The mailbox will be screwed into this board from the sides.

Finishing the post attachment to the stabilizing base.

Installing the Mailbox 4

2008-09-29T09:29:00.002-05:00

Cutting the post down to size.

Abbie helping me finish cutting the post.

Installing the Mailbox 3

2008-09-29T09:26:00.003-05:00

Installing the post into the stabilizing base.

Abbie helping me measure the height of the mailbox.

Installing the Mailbox 2

2008-09-29T09:23:00.005-05:00

Driving the stabilizer while Ashleigh looks on.

Driven.

Installing the Mailbox

2008-09-29T09:19:00.002-05:00

Cutting the 2x4s to create a striking location to drive the mailbox stabilizing bar into the ground.

Preparing to drive the stabilizer into the ground.

Locating the Mailbox

2008-09-29T09:14:00.003-05:00

This is the utility marking of the water line. It is easier to read in the picture than it was out there in the sun on Sunday. It reads 2" (inch) PVC.

This is a picture showing the location of the water line compared to our preferred mailbox location.

Measuring the Road

2008-09-29T09:11:00.004-05:00

Measuring the length of the road from Middleton to Duke. We are going to have to rough gravel the road for the construction and delivery trucks. Later we will put finish gravel down.

Marking Location 3

2008-09-29T09:08:00.002-05:00

Marking the location of the gates on Duke Road.

Marking Location 2

2008-09-29T09:02:00.001-05:00

The girls watching and waiting. They wanted to walk the road. Soon that is exactly what they did.

Marking the location of the gates on Middleton.