God has been so creative and clear for our family growth
and confirmed many times His plan to bring more children into our home. We are
so excited to be in the final stretch of bringing our boys home, and find joy
in reflecting on the journey we’ve traveled thus far.
It was little more than four years ago that God was
shaking things up for our family. The sunken economy was bearing down on us,
yet our hearts were drawn to “giving” more. We found ourselves burdened for the
people of Africa and began considering mission work in the northern regions of
the continent. The church we attended at the time has large missions and prayer
ministries. The possibility of training and preparing was very real, yet we
prayed together asking God for further direction and wisdom. Almost immediately
our children, then ages 7 and 10, included in our family prayers the desire for
more siblings (yes, plural). At first, Paul and I were a bit surprised, as we
hadn’t discussed the idea of more children in a long time, and pretty much
hadn’t ever discussed it with our kiddos. We were open to praying with the kids
knowing that children are a blessing, and that though we hadn’t planned it, God
certainly may have. It didn’t take long for me to realize that God was not only
putting Africa on our hearts. He was talking to us about African orphans! We
continued to pray, and the kids continued to “beg”. On Christmas Day of 2010, I
opened a small gift from Paul. It was a tiny, toy baby carriage. It also
happened to be blue, which now I associate with our little boys! There was a
handwritten note in the carriage. It said, “Let’s adopt!” The kids and I were
thrilled. At that point, I pretty much knew we had children in Africa. And we
all always believed it would be two children.
When God made this calling clear to our family, it was
also very clear that we didn’t have the funds it required. Paul had been
unemployed for nearly a year. He had taken oddball jobs to keep up with the
regular bills, but we ended up having to short sell our home and move in with
family. We just knew that this story for our family wasn’t about having the
money it was about being obedient to God and His plans. We had to say yes. As
soon as we moved into a rental, we prayed and researched about where in Africa
our children were. Ethiopia was God’s answer and we began the application
process. We also began the fundraising and waiting process.
Fast forward two years later when the wait seemed to be
endless. We were #97 on our agency’s wait list. Not very encouraging, yet we
knew God had us there for a reason. He was certainly teaching us how to trust
in Him and His timing. In December of 2012, I was chatting with a good friend
who asked if we would be willing to bring in children from a wait list. I told
her of course we were and that we were already looking at waiting children, but
God hadn’t called us to any of them yet. Then she said she knew of two little
boys who had just been posted on RainbowKids, and she thought of us right away
when she saw them. She asked if she could send me their picture. I remembered
how Sara and I met and how “divine” the entire story was – knowing through it
all that there was a special reason why God brought us into each other’s lives,
and all of a sudden I thought, “If I see these little guys, I have a feeling
they are going to become our sons!” Sure enough, I saw their sweet faces and
knew that Paul and I had a lot of praying to do! Sara knew the agency
coordinator who was working on finding a home for our boys and she was able to
connect me with her. Randi spent time on the phone with me and my unending
questions. She told me as much as she could without breaking confidence and
encouraged Paul and I to keep praying and get back to her with any other
questions we may have. I remember her reaching out and advocating for the boys,
hoping to find a family for them, and I kept thinking – please don’t send my
boys to another family! It was pretty confirming, as was God’s heart. He gave us
His heart for our boys and we knew we had to say yes again.
So, we didn’t have the money for the fees – switching
agencies, foreign fees, new dossier, etc. However, it wasn’t about what we had.
It was about what God had for us and the boys. We stepped out in obedience and
told Randi we would have the funds in two weeks. That was our deadline, and
that is exactly what God was faithful to. In twelve days, we had raised
(including some savings in our account) the thousands of dollars necessary to
secure the referral for the boys. It was such a testimony to God’s sovereignty
and will!
We also had to have our home study changed. Though we
already were approved for older children and special needs, we had to include
HIV in our papers. Our youngest is HIV+ and we were sure he was our son as well
as his older brother. Our four-year-old is crazy busy with the joys of life, at
least as much as can be expected for a child in an orphanage! He has the energy
of a whirling dervish and loves people with a joyful heart! We spoke with the
doctor when in country and she encouraged us that he takes his meds obediently
and his numbers are good. We have been in contact with the only HIV clinic here
in Arizona and have been encouraged that Elijah’s medical needs will be met. The
nurse coordinator has our family on file and she put me at ease when she told
me there are translators at the hospital who will help us all from the very beginning.
He is a strong, healthy little boy who carries with him a virus by no desire of
his own. His biological mother lost her life to AIDS and there is some allusion
to the possibility of their biological father being “ill” as well. We are so
excited to bring him home and nurture and care for him for our lifetimes, knowing
that the stigma in the US, though it is present, is not quite as culturally or
relationally destructive. These are issues we will all have to live with and
pray through. We’re humbled that God has chosen our family to walk this path.
Our six year old has a gentle and peaceful heart with so
much love for his little brother. It’s obvious that he has had to be “older”
than his years, yet he has such a calm peacefulness. He is affectionate and
quick to attach. He loved sitting with us and our Amharic/English translation book.
He would scoot right up next to Paul or myself and ask us to read it to him.
His excitement in knowing we wanted to communicate with him and knowing we
would all learn together was so encouraging. He kissed the little book and
kissed us on the cheeks. It was truly amazing. He is a sweet, calm spirit and
we pray his adjustment to the family will be smooth, as he learns that we will
always be there to take care of him and nurture him.
We are surrounded by an incredible community of love and
support. Our family, church family and others have helped us through huge
garage sales, spaghetti dinners, silent auctions, candle sales, eat-out nights,
and some have even offered personal checks with so much love and generosity. As
a family, our daughter and I have babysat endless hours and encouraged
donations to our adoption in lieu of birthday or Christmas gifts. Our church
created an Adoption Assistance Program when we had the two week deadline to
meet, to encourage individuals who wanted to donate large amounts to go through
this program as it would allow them a tax receipt if they so desired. This is
how our one grant from Arizona Community Foundation came to us. We are now
selling friendship bracelets with Threads of Hope.
I have been discouraged by grant applications as we have
attempted to apply for some with no success, but God has softened my heart to
understand that it’s okay to keep trying…and it’s okay to be turned down. He
has met our needs all the way through this journey, so if it’s meant to be
through a grant, then so be it. We won’t give up trying and we know that our
efforts aren’t in vain. We are humbled by the fact that there are MANY families
applying for the same grants and their needs are just like ours, if not even
deeper. It’s wonderful knowing that there are organizations many which are
supporting and assisting adoptive families so generously! We feel as if we are
part of the community as a whole and that any adoptive family who receives any
financial support is family to us therefore we really do receive as well!
The latest information we have is that we are being
submitted to US Embassy next week – July 29th. Knowing the time crunch in
getting our travel and remaining agency fees funded gives us even more
motivation to ask for assistance in whatever way possible. Historically, it has
been very hard for me to “receive” financially. I come from a pretty “proud”
parentage. Twenty two years in the US Air Force can mold a personality.
However, we know that it is time to get our boys home. If we do not have our
agency fees covered and enough funding for travel, we can’t go pick them up! We
know God has this covered and it may or may not be through a grant, but we also
know it is okay to ask. He’ll take care of the details.
