God, really could you please hurry it up a little?

Sometimes in life we as Earthly humans tend to rush God and his plan for our life. Yes I am very guilty of doing this. Although through the past several months I think God is definitely teaching Rich and I that patience pays off. It also comes with maturity and wisdom, not that I'm saying we are immature and not wise  HAHA. But maturity and wisdom in our spiritual walk with God. We wouldn't trade this waiting period, spiritual strengthening, maturity and molding for anything. It's in this time with him that we have grown SO much spiritually. What we once felt as though our Christianity was on semi auto pilot we are now letting God lead and take control. It's a sweet sweet thing to be in the presence of God and know exactly what he has for you but not quite sure of how his plans will unfold....... It's exciting to think of all that he has for our future


So while we wait for God's plans to unfold I have to be reminded by my patient husband quite often, we can't rush GOD! I love how God knows that I would be the rushy one and Rich would be the patient one. Living proof that God does attract opposites! Hehe So while we PATIENTLY wait this is the journey he brings us on we are open to all that God has for us!

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

Raw emotions!

We are currently in a study at our church about getting in God's secret place and learning to listen to him. We are also participating in a 50 day fast and it's amazing to see him working in so many families lives! I wanted to share a little bit of what God has been speaking to me through this time and I'm going to be very real and honest with this post.

Our pastor has been speaking out of Matthew, specifically about going through the broad gate or the narrow gate and the 5 acts of transformation. Which is so many forms has multiple meanings in our life right now not just about following what God's called us to do but giving up our ENTIRE life to do it and going through that narrow gate. Our pastor has been speaking about in life we as Christians have to go through what's considered the "FIRE" in our relationship with Christ to really understand everything he is preparing us for. I feel as though we are in the FIRE right now. Now don't get me wrong, yes this Fire will bring pain BUT it will ultimately bring healing and cleansing that way God can refine us like silver and Gold and prepare us for the ministry he has for our family.

This "Fire" has probably been one of the most painful but most rewarding times in our families life. It's so awesome to watch God shaping our future in his timing not ours. I say all this with a deep breath because for so long I think Rich and I were trying to control what we wanted in our family. 2 kids, a new home, new cars, a great job, etc....... But now our focused has changed 360 now that we know exactly what God has spoken to us about our future and everything that he has planned for us. 

For those of you who don't know "Our Story" not our adoption story but our story of where we feel God is leading us, this is a brief version of it. In Sept 2010 when Rich traveled to SL God clearly gave him a vision of our family serving in SL as Full Time missionaries some day and honestly up until now we really had no clue what that even looked like or where we would ever begin. I immediately thought when he came home, okay God we will sell everything we have RIGHT NOW and GO! But here we still sit 2 years later and I often ask God why???? Why are we not in SL serving the people we love so much? Why are we not being your hands and feet of what you have called us to do?? So to make a long story short, God is taking us through the fire right now, he is preparing our family for all that he has for us. He is making us stronger Christians, we are learning how to serve him with everything we have and when I say Everything I mean EVERYTHING! We are currently in what I would like to call "ministry prep"! Even though this journey might not look like anything I ever had planned we know are right where God wants us for right now. We have a Peace that can only come from him. YES we still feel someday soon we will be serving in SL but for now he has us here in Nixa, MO serving the people where we currently are and helping see those here come to know him. There is a reason God puts us through the fire of "Life" to make us stronger for those things we can not see on our own yet! 

So while we sit and wait for God to complete this refining stage in our lives I am learning to sit and be still. He keeps reminding me of the the verse "Be still and know that I am God". Which anyone who knows me, this is a very hard thing for me. Probably the hardest thing God will ever teach me. I am also learning that those people you think will support your vision God gave you will not ultimately be your "Support" it will be people you never envisioned stepping up beside you. I honestly can fully understand the story of Noah and the ark. As we prepare for all that God has for our family there are friends and family that do not in any way shape or form support us and at first I thought Wow how can some of the closest people in our lives not support what we know 100% that God has called us to do and then I came across the story of Noah and now I understand. I understand why we think even the "Christian of all Christians" don't understand! So with this too is another lesson as we go through the Fire of his refining process. God called Noah and he listened no matter what anyone told him to do. Sometimes in  "This World" that is a very hard lesson to understand.

I'll end this massive post :) with a scripture God gave me this week confirming what he has for our family: Isaiah 43:10 You are my witnesses, says the Lord and My servant whom I have chosen!!! 

Phew it's been a while!

Well sorry it's been such a long time since we've posted on here. So much has happened over the last year I'm not sure where to even start. For now, here is the short version: our family is doing well. We have added a foreign exchange student from Korea to our family until June 2012, she is a joy to have in our home. We are still waiting for the adoption ban to lift in Sierra Leone before we can proceed with our adoptions so until then we sit, wait and plan to travel to see them this year. Rich took a new position as Fullfillment Director at Convoy of Hope and I am still a stay at home mommy.

We recently started attending a new church and LOVE it!! Sometimes in life God gives us changes in life that we don't understand at the moment, but this change has been amazing for our family. We are serving alongside him and loving on people like crazy!

Hope everyone is well, there will be more updates later this weekend! I'd like to share what God is doing in our lives but will save that for another day!

God Bless!

Hmmmmm...... (just some thoughts)

Well I know it's been a couple weeks since I posted last, things have been a little busy lately. As tomorrow approaches which is Easter Sunday, I am humbled that the fact 2011 years ago Christ gave his live for us and ROSE from the dead. Honestly, I didn't deserve it. I am a sinner just like everyone else in this world. As I was teaching the kids the story of Easter and asked them why we celebrate, Emma shouts proudly "He died on the cross and rose for my sins" It was such a sweet moment to know that we are training up Children to serve him and honor him and most importantly follow him.

I look back at my short 26 years in this life and think about Christ and all he has done in our life. He has saved me, redeemed me, forgave me of sin, washed me clean, made me whole and I am truely grateful and undeserving of this Love.

Thank you Jesus for loving us so much that you gave it all for us!!

We made it to Sierra Leone~

(Sorry if this post has gramatical errors, but it's 2 am :)
We arrived late Friday night, we traveled by land, plane and boat to make it. We have so many funny stories just in the 24 hour period of travel. God blessed us with amazing flights, layovers, and just the trip in general has went great! We had specifically been praying to be bumbed up a seating class on our long 11 hr flight (God cares about our comfort LOL) because Jodi's hubby being so tall needs his leg room and it would be a great plus for us all to just be able to stretch out and get rest on this long journey. Well God not only answered that prayer he provided the front row seats of that section where we were all able to stretch our legs out completely and get great rest on the way here. Praise the Lord, I think I slept almost 6 of those 11 hours :) (That made this anxious momma one happy camper)

We arrived in Ghana (Erica is was great, will tell you all about it when we get home), and were united on our plane with about 15 chinese men dressed in suits with ties, and these pink neon hats. It was quite the comedy hour on our flight LOL

We got to the center today and was welcomed with a welcome ceremony performed by the kids and the staff. We are so blessed to be a part of an amazing organization, it blows me away everytime we come. From the staff at the airport to help us thru to the cleaning staff. They all are so happy and welcoming of us "White People"

Kevin noticed me right away and smiled really big and actually reached out his arms for me to hold him. He is only 2 and skypes with us once a week but it's been a year since I have actually held him and he REMEMBERS me :) He is jibber jabbering away all the time now.

William, oh our precious boy! We have prayed HARD for this day and I couldn't be happier, there is still work but we have definately made progress in the right direction. He was smiling ear to ear and had tears running down his face. He grabbed me and wouldn't let go, well of course that was until he saw uncle Reich LOL then he wouldn't let go of him. They both have been by our side all day and is pure joy to have our boys with us.

Tomorrow is church and I will try to update everyone tomorrow night!!

~Less than 48 hours and prayers needed~

In less than 48 hours we will be on a plane to see our 2 precious boys, here are some prayer requests we would love for you to join us in prayer for:

1) Travel safety (honestly the devil has really been working overtime in this momma with the fear of flying AND Rich and I flying together so far so,.....)
2) Please pray for peace about the traveling and for our safety, my kids are my world and both of us traveling together is so much harder emotionally than I thought it would be.
3) For our children while they are in different states and with Grandparents. That God would give them strength and a sense of peace about us being gone for 10 days
4) For our flights to not be delayed and arrive on time, we don't have but 2-3 hour layovers so there is no room for delays in our schedules
5) That the Parents and children in the children's hospital would be open to receiving God's word as we come in and provide our care packages, bibles and offer prayer for them
6) For our connection and bond with William and Kevin to grow stronger, William has lost so many people in his life and finds it hard to not put a wall up for people he loves afraid of losing them.

Again, we just want to say Thank you so much for your prayers, love and support as we embark on this adoption/Missions journey together!

God Bless,
Rich and Tiffany Johnson

Below is a song that God laid on my heart today, please enjoy!

Sidewalk Prophets - The Words I Would Say