The Narrow Road to Victory, (from the perspective of Logan Russell)

Hey y'all, Logan here.Wow. April 12, 2017. Time. Flies. The last time I posted on this smutzy old blog is 2009, dang... I now am almost fifteen and definitely not the kid I used to be. So I guess the reason I am finally writing this is for two reasons. Letting all my family and friends on the mainland know I am still alive, and our adoption. Assuming you have read the recent posts that my parents have written (if anyone actually still reads this) you know the general lowdown of the adoption situation. Yes, we are adopting a beautiful girl from Africa and I am counting the days until I get to see her again. So here we go!

Before we get into the emotional stuff I guess I will do a quick Hawaii update for ya'll. Things are going pretty good over here. We just bought a new huge, awesome, party all night house and I LOVE it. It is really my dream house, except for the missing water slide and the zip line...hmm. Anyways, it is definitely a big blessing for us to have this house. We have been helping out YWAMers, guests and foreign exchange students alike by giving them a place to stay, and a lot of room at that. Not to mention we've enjoyed long visits from all the grandparents!

Clay and Oliver, 11 and 9, are definitely not related to me. Between starting a chicken orphanage, having enough energy to put Sonic to shame, playing spy, and often being found with a lighter, razor, or random dangerous items, we just don't have too much in common. Yeah, it's a lot of fun trying to sweep without the broom handle they broke - again. Evie still has a scream like a Tasmanian devil and is constantly trying to keep up with us three. She can't wait to meet "V" and finally have a sister. I am doing good also, having fun being a freshman and wrapped up in homework and getting ready for our trip in 19 days. If not at school, doing homework, or working at the church, I am either sleeping, reading, or flipping around my butterfly knife. Mom is definitely ready to go get her girl right now. She is doing great wrangling all of us on top of packing and finalizing the adoption. Dad is working his butt off to provide for us and the trip, and he is doing awesome. Really, our family is just all in all ready to go.

You are probably wondering what "trip" I am talking about unless you already know. In 19 days we are taking the perilous journey back to Africa to get my sister "V." In April 2015 I met her for the first time. She is crippled on the right side of her body because of a childhood stroke. She also has sickle cell anemia which is a horrible disease that is painful, painful, and also extremely painful. She is obviously an orphan, abandoned when she was 18 months in a park. Once I saw her, there was an immediate connection. I don't know if it was just was me being emotional at that moment, but I knew I would see her again.
In June 2016 we did another mission trip with a team from my church, Living Stones. I was itching to go see "V" and I wanted to do it as fast as possible. We finally went to the orphanage, still sad and dismal looking. I sat down on the doily covered couches in the faded blue waiting room to...wait, ready to watch Dad do a water filter presentation. As I watched my Dad pull up the bucket full of water I glance at the doorway and see her. I ran and hugged her, she truthfully probably did not remember me but I was happy to see her all the same.
Later on in the day, I watch her try her best to draw a picture with her right arm. At that time the nun in charge of the orphanage was thanking us for the gifts we gave her. I was sitting in the corner of the room listening closely. Suddenly I feel the urge to cry. I tried to hold it back as long as I could. About thirty seconds later I hear the voice of God as clear as day saying; "This girl will be your sister and you will raise her up to be a great leader for my cause." Queue the water works. Nobody seemed to notice the tall gangly teenager bawling in the corner until I come up to my Dad and whisper in his ear. "Dad, God is telling me that we have to adopt V." He kinda brushed me off then but that did not make me give up. He then talked about it with me and Mom later and we all had the same agreement. She will be ours. If any of you doubt this word is from God, That happened a year ago. If I remember it vividly word for word but still can't remember the homework my teacher gave me yesterday than that's a lot to say.

Since then it has been amazing and hell on earth at different times. We have been telling friends and family about my vision and starting to pursue it. At the same time the devil has been trying his hardest to bring us down and prevent us from going to get our sister. He makes us worried about time, stirs up conflict between us all and tries to mess up our plans. Has he succeeded? Yes, at times, because of our sinful nature. Will we let that stop us? HECK NO. We will fight that monster to the end and then more. We WILL get V. We WILL love her unconditionally. WE WILL NOT be shaken."For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." 6: 12 We can do it. I know we can. With God on our side, anything is possible.
Even to this second where I am dozing off on the couch I am scared about what is going to happen. Whether we are going to have to stay in Africa "fostering" V for three years or stay the planned three months. Are we going to be safe? What are we going to be eating? All these questions are legit and needed. But, guess what. God called us to Africa. God called us to Orphans. God called us to V. So GOD and God alone will provide and protect at all times.
Thank you all for the physical, emotional, and spiritual help from you all. You are all amazing and I will keep you all posted!

Over and out
-Logan

More pics from last years trip-