Tuesday night, after we attended our second class to adopt through CPS, Carla and I just were not feeling a peace about things. We originally felt called to adopt internationally, but when I heard about the cost of it, I leaned toward the local adoption road. Carla, being the good wife that she is, followed my lead and we started the process of local CPS adoption/fostering. I had been feeling a sense of guilt for abandoning the international adoption route that I originally felt God leading us, but since we were still adopting, I felt like that was ok. All the time we were preparing for classes, sitting in classes, and discussing the aspects of local adoption, I was still not having a peace about it. But since it seemed like Carla was so excited and working so hard, I kept my mouth shut. Finally though, I couldn’t keep quiet any more.
On our way home from class Tuesday night, I finally expressed to Carla how I was feeling. Thinking that she might be a little frustrated with me, I was a bit scared! But as soon as I told her that I was still feeling led to go international, she immediately said she felt the same way! So, after wrestling back and forth, we both feel the peace of God with our decision. We both feel like weight has been lifted and that we are finally doing what God has led us to do.
With all of that said, we are now on a journey to bring home our child. Wherever he or she may be in this huge world, we are furiously pursuing to bring our child home, at whatever the cost! We are still in the beginning stages of this adoption, and we have already been looked at like we are crazy. We have had both friends and family think we have lost our marbles! I know that they just don’t understand it yet, but it is still really hard to hear all of the negative comments. For those of you who don’t understand why Carla and I are adopting a hopeless child in need of a mommy and daddy, this is why…
Christ furiously pursued me and saved me when I was hopeless. When there was nothing I could do to save myself, Christ loved me enough to come and give me that hope and life. He loved me even when I was an enemy of God! He saved me even when I was saturated in self righteousness and sin! He adopted me into his family and made me His own! Why would Christ do that for me?! Because He loves me! Even though He doesn’t NEED me, He loved me enough to adopt me! This is the reason I am adopting! Even though my life is already crazy, busy, complicated, and NOT perfect, I want to share the love that Christ showed to me. I want to give a hopeless child hope! I want to pour the gospel into a child that may otherwise never hear it! I want to help give a child with no identity an identity! I want to be a daddy to a child who has no daddy! I want to LIVE OUT THE GOSPEL!!
This journey is not going to be easy! We will need lots of patience and grace from God. We are really going to have to trust in God’s sovereignty! We will have many hurdles to overcome before we can bring our child home! We have barely started the process and we have already been faced with the first hurdle. Just to begin this process, we will have to send in nearly $7,000! For a family whose bank account isn't necessarily flourishing immensely, this is a good sized hurdle! But we know that if this is truly God’s plan for our family, then He will provide. So if you are reading this, please pray for us as we go through this journey! Jesus is good and is by our side through thick and thin! I pray that He will be glorified in everything we do during this process!
- Matt
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Lifesong!
Faith. Family. Home.In caring for orphans, our hope is to instil faith, family and a sense of home deep into the hearts of every child we are blessed to serve. Please enjoy this month's Mission Moment highlighting the fruit of God's work through us.
Baptism has always been a powerful symbol of Christianity. This symbol is especially notable in this culture because through this outward testimony of faith, children are publicly turning away from false gods to rely only on Jesus! Witness the baptism of the girls from one of our homes below. Learn more about Lifesong India >>
Please continue to pray for safety and wisdom as construction continues. Learn more about Lifesong Guatemala: Village of Hope >>
Planting Spiritual Seeds in Liberia -- Our aim is to help children develop a personal relationship with the Lord and to keep that relationship growing. Read Full Story
Mehesh, A Life Changed -- "I don't want to think about what my life would be like if I didn't have the opportunity to live at that home (Chitty Memorial Home in Lifesong India)..." Read full story
Baptized in the Name of the ONE True God...
In a country where the worship of many gods is commonplace, lives of children are being changed and transformed by the working of Jesus Christ, the ONE true God. Lifesong India provides homes for almost 600 children who are all being exposed to the gospel of our loving, merciful and kind Father God."Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts 2:38
Building Children's Home in Guatemala
It's exciting to see the progress of our new orphan care initiative in Guatemala. Construction has started on the family homes that will one day invite orphans with special needs into their doors to give faith, family and a future to children in need. Thanks to many of you for your support in this exciting new project!
Read more about Faith, Family & Home...
Orphans in Ukraine Find Forever Families -- Through Adoption with Borders, like-minded families and churches in the USA connect with Christian families in Ukraine who are seeking to adopt. Read Full StoryPlanting Spiritual Seeds in Liberia -- Our aim is to help children develop a personal relationship with the Lord and to keep that relationship growing. Read Full Story
Mehesh, A Life Changed -- "I don't want to think about what my life would be like if I didn't have the opportunity to live at that home (Chitty Memorial Home in Lifesong India)..." Read full story
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Orientation
In order for us to be a certified adoptive family, there is a myriad of classes that the Amazing Mister and I have to take. While they seem a bit tedious, I know it is the best interest of our agency that we know how to adequately love and care for our child that will be placed in our home.
I was a tad nervous about the class. Going in, I was afraid I might leave feeling frightened to adopt or discouraged. However, quite the opposite occurred. (Seriously, who wants to buy our family an awesome little compound to house about 20 kids?)
We left our 3 young'uns in the loving care of an amazing friend, who, not only came over to watch them ALL evening after a hard day at work. But, also brought them their favorite fast food dinner, bathed them, and tucked them into bed for the night. I know. You want friends like mine! They. Are. AWESOME!
My excitement and anticipation grew as we neared the facility where the meeting would be held. You see, I kind of am counting this like those birthing classes they offer at hospitals to help you prepare to have your baby. (Well, except, I never took any.) I am preparing to care for this precious child who has been through probably so much more than I will ever go through in my life. It's bringing us one step closer to this precious guy who we will call son!
Since the first class was an orientation, we spent most of the time getting to know what our agency is about, statistics, and the history of Foster Care. We briefly discussed requirements, the process leading to adoption, and some things you may encounter when adopting. (Did you know there was a SPCA before there was an organization to look out for the well-being of children?! Did you also know that there are roughly 4000 children in the greater Houston area in the foster care system?) Y'all. I nearly lost it. 4000 children... right here, within maybe a few hours drive in every which direction that need a loving, stable home. 4000 children, who have experienced some pretty traumatic things. 4000 children whose parents literally can not care for them. 4000 children without the stability of a steady rhythm in life.
My heart hurts for these children. My heart hurts for the parents who can't take care of their children. I just want to take all the pain away. I want to remove the hurt; I want to mend all these broken families! But, I can't. I can't fix this. I can't erase the trauma these precious little lives have been through; all the things they've seen, all the horrendous things they may have been subjected to.
I was a tad nervous about the class. Going in, I was afraid I might leave feeling frightened to adopt or discouraged. However, quite the opposite occurred. (Seriously, who wants to buy our family an awesome little compound to house about 20 kids?)
We left our 3 young'uns in the loving care of an amazing friend, who, not only came over to watch them ALL evening after a hard day at work. But, also brought them their favorite fast food dinner, bathed them, and tucked them into bed for the night. I know. You want friends like mine! They. Are. AWESOME!
My excitement and anticipation grew as we neared the facility where the meeting would be held. You see, I kind of am counting this like those birthing classes they offer at hospitals to help you prepare to have your baby. (Well, except, I never took any.) I am preparing to care for this precious child who has been through probably so much more than I will ever go through in my life. It's bringing us one step closer to this precious guy who we will call son!
Since the first class was an orientation, we spent most of the time getting to know what our agency is about, statistics, and the history of Foster Care. We briefly discussed requirements, the process leading to adoption, and some things you may encounter when adopting. (Did you know there was a SPCA before there was an organization to look out for the well-being of children?! Did you also know that there are roughly 4000 children in the greater Houston area in the foster care system?) Y'all. I nearly lost it. 4000 children... right here, within maybe a few hours drive in every which direction that need a loving, stable home. 4000 children, who have experienced some pretty traumatic things. 4000 children whose parents literally can not care for them. 4000 children without the stability of a steady rhythm in life.
My heart hurts for these children. My heart hurts for the parents who can't take care of their children. I just want to take all the pain away. I want to remove the hurt; I want to mend all these broken families! But, I can't. I can't fix this. I can't erase the trauma these precious little lives have been through; all the things they've seen, all the horrendous things they may have been subjected to.
But what I can do, is I can love- for now- 1 of these sweet little things. I can pour my unconditional love out on him. I can spoil him with a comfortable home, loving siblings, all the nutritious food he will ever need, a man to call Daddy, clothes that fit just right, and most of all- show him Jesus. I can do all of these things, because Jesus first loved me. When I had nothing to offer, but my own baggage. When I was 1 of roughly 7,038,044,500 people in this world, Jesus LOVED me. He loved me enough, to come to this Earth over 2000 years ago. Jesus lived a perfect life. Died a wretched death. And He rose again. He loved me, He sought after me, He rescued me from my own orphan-hood and calls me Daughter.
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