Please forgive us for not updating this blog more regularly!
I reread the blog entries over the past few days and have cried tears of joy as I look at how God has moved so mightily in Vedat’s life. We continue to see God’s hand in this time that Vedat is with us, and are grateful for the privilege of ministering to him.
Vedat’s body continues to show signs of healing and recovery even though he is a year post surgery. Each week, he is able to walk better! When he is in our home, he walks unaided, at school, he uses a crutch. We have sent his wheelchair back to Shriners. That was a powerful moment for all of us. Physically he is not the same boy who came to us to live last July. He is almost totally independent with his personal care and wants to learn to be responsible for his own needs. When we reflect on where he has been and the things he experienced these first 14 years of his life, we are humbled by his ability to face each day with such a positive attitude. He has not been given over to bitterness and resentment, but seems to look forward to each new day.Vedat is getting ready to complete the 6th grade at our neighborhood middle school and has done so well. He has a number of classes with an English as a second language teacher and has made huge progress in speaking and understanding English. He is reading every night before bed, he loves books! It has been a good year for him educationally. To think that this is probably his first full year of school is indescribable! He has surpassed everyone’s expectations.
Vedat seems to be growing spiritually. He thanks God for all the healing that has happened in his body, continues to learn about the Bible through Sunday School, church services and real life experiences here in our home. As the language barrier becomes less of an issue, we see his understanding of spiritual things growing. We know God is pursuing him and drawing Vedat to Himself.
Vedat’s time with our family has been life changing for us. God has used this time to work in our lives just as He has worked in Vedat’s. He has taught us to love unconditionally in a way that we did not understand before. He continues to teach us about spiritual warfare and the battle that rages all around us. Every day we are reminded of how inadequate we are to minister to Vedat, and as a result, we depend on, and rely on, God’s wisdom and grace more fully. We thank God for this opportunity to be part of this huge plan that He has for Vedat.
We ask that you would join us in praying for the following issues:
Full healing of Vedat’s body, that he would recover all body functions that he had prior to surgery.
Spiritual growth for Vedat
A breaking of the spiritual bondage that has gripped Vedat’s people for generations.
Clear direction as to God’s plan for Vedat’s future.
For our marriage, that God would help us to be like-minded in the decisions that need to be made for Vedat’s future.
