4+1=147 million minus 1

Once our eyes are opened, we cannot pretend we don't know what to do. God who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know and holds us responsible to act.

Proverbs 24:12

147 million. The approximate number of orphans in the world today. One.hundred.forty.seven.million....the number is too much to comprehend. too much to wrap our minds around. too much to take. too much to feel responsible for. Isn't it someone else's problem? Isn't it someone else's gift to serve in this kind of ministry? We already have 4 kids and only 3 bedrooms. Where can we possibly put another child? How can we afford another child and will the world think we've gone mad? These are just a small fraction of the thoughts and questions that have been stirring my mind for months and months. A heavy burden I have taken to the Lord day after day.  There are so many incredible things that have transpired during this season and as I reflect I see that the stirrings in my heart didn't start just seven months ago but actually over two decades ago when I secretly prayed that my parents would adopt my baby cousin that we would care for every weekend while his parents went away to work. And then I see the faces of the children in Puerto Vallarta on our honeymoon when we both agreed it was hard to enjoy ourselves with so much poverty all around us. The face of one of those sweet little boys graced our bulletin board back home for months. We lightly joked that we wished we could have brought him home with us. But those were the fleeting thoughts of a young child and a young couple. Our family soon began to grow and any of those seeds that had been planted were long forgotten. Until now. After hours of praying and talking and praying some more our family has decided to take a leap of faith and add to our family through adoption from Ethiopia. Are we scared? You bet! Do we feel equipped? Absolutely not. But this is the best part because we know we can not do this on our own. This can only be done with Him. 

On Tuesday we sent in our application and on Thursday we heard back from our agency. Our amazing case worker who has been so supportive along the way explained that the news was not great but it wasn't bad either. Because we know we will be a fundraising family and we already have a house full of kiddos they'd like to see us have the ball rolling on the fundraising before we officially start the papework trail. We are okay with this. I will admit, last night I really started to question it all again but this is where I cannot lean on my understanding but give my cares to Him and believe that if this is in His design for us then it WILL happen. I know there will be many more times (daily) along this road that I must surrender my worries and my pride and believe in His promises. So....we will very soon be hitting the pavement with our fundraising activities. Maggie has been brainstorming for months and has quite the list going already. As we begin this journey we would covet your prayers and support. And it is our prayer that throughout this season we could be an example to others and that for those who have ever had a tiny tug toward adoption may we shine a positive light on the process.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.

           James 1:27