An Orphan's Prayer

Is the Lord calling YOU to adopt? What are you waiting for? Don't put it off any longer. Now's the time to respond!
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I am waiting...somewhere far...far away on the other side of the world.

I may not know who you are or what you look like, but somewhere deep in my heart I know you are out there, that one day you will come and find me.

It's a long journey, and it takes a lot of time...I wish it could be easier.
But I know the ones that come for me will not count the cost.
They will only see the joy in finding me.

For now I abide in the fields of the fatherless. Day by day wondering why I was born here and not somewhere else? Asking why my life couldn't have been different?

It is so lonely.

Even though I am surrounded by hundreds of other children, I know that something is missing...I know in my heart I need a place to call home. My arms long to be wrapped in a father's embrace...I long to be saved by a mother's love...

Gazing out the orphans window, I offer a prayer of hope, "Oh God please help them come quickly."

Even as I lay in the darkness each night somehow I feel assured, that no matter how lost I appear, I am not alone. Holy hands guard my steps; sacred fingers wipe my tears, touching my lonely heart. The one who made me, the God that knew me before I was born, hears me every time I call. He whispers His promises in my ear. I listen with hope to His voice.

But what I worry about most is that no one wants to look for me. The fields are vast and there are so many scattered all over the earth. I wonder how one little child, so lost, can be found?

Yet He calms my heart and assures me He will find you. That He will make sure that you hear His voice clearly. He has promised me that he will make a way through the fields, that He will personally cut a path, and lead you right to my orphanage door.

My prayer is....When He speaks...Please don't forget to listen...When He calls don't be too afraid to go. For I am waiting...somewhere, far...far away on the other side of the world to come home.

~Anonymous

Thirty One Party Results

Drum roll, please...

The results are in! Seventy-one people placed an order with Thirty One, spending nearly $4,000 in retail sales. As a result, we will receive around $850 for our adoption. Wow! What a blessing! Thank you to everyone who ordered something in support of our adoption! We are truly grateful for you. And a big thank you to Margaret, the Thirty One Consultant, who was obedient to the Lord's calling and willingly gave up the profits from the party to help pay the ransom to bring our daughter home. This sweet friend spent numerous hours praying for our party, answering question after question, taking a ton of orders, and keying them all in.  

It's been amazing to see the Lord at work throughout this adoption journey. The Thirty One party is just one tangible reminder of His faithfulness. To many, the Thirty One party just seemed like another fundraiser. But it was so much more than that. Many still do not know how the party came about, so I'll share the story with you. On Thursday, June 3, I was running errands one morning, and as Caleb napped in the backseat, I just spent some time praying over our adoption and specifically that the Lord would provide financially for our needs. When I went to check my Facebook messages a little later, there was a message waiting for me sent at 10:32 a.m. the same Thursday morning that I spent time praying over our adoption. It was from Margaret, an acquaintance from Bible study and church. She shared that she wanted to do a Thirty-One party to help fund our adoption, writing that the Lord specifically told her to do this party to help us bring our daughter home. Is that not incredible?! I'm just blown away by God's goodness!!!  

Hand in Hand Matching Grant!

We received notification from Hand in Hand Adoption that we were awarded a matching grant up to $8,000. Hand in Hand will match dollar for dollar up to $4,000...so if we raise $4,000, they will match it! Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!

We are beyond excited about this grant and its timing! As many of you know, we are in the waiting phase of our adoption process and could receive THE CALL any time. When that happens, within just a few weeks, we will need to pay the first installment of our international fees plus pay for our travel arrangements. To date we've paid out over $15,000 with approximately $35,000 still remaining. This grant ($8,000) will make a HUGE dent in the amount needed to bring our daughter home!

If you would like to participate in this matching grant, please let us know. We will send you a letter describing how the grant works. Oh, and your contribution is tax-deductible, too.

We still have an application out for the Lifesong Adoption Grant, and we should hear back on that grant within the next 2-3 weeks. Please pray that, if it's the Lord's will, we will receive a grant from them as well.

An update soon...

I will post an update soon about the results of our Thirty-One Party. Thank you to everyone who came out in support of our adoption! We are simply amazed at God's goodness!

We've Been Approved!

Two posts in one day!

I got a sweet little surprise today when I went out to the mailbox to find our USCIS approval letter waiting for us! We've been approved to adopt our little girl! Hooray!!!

I wish y'all could see me right now...I'm so giddy! I can hardly concentrate on getting my "to do" list completed. This is really happening, and we're getting so close to bringing our little girl home! Our little girl. We are so ready for her to be a part of our family!

So...now...we wait on THE CALL with information on our referral. Please, please, please keep praying! Pray that the Lord will continue to protect our daughter until we can get to Moldova. Pray that, if it's His will, we will receive our referral in record time and that we will bring her home just as quickly. Pray for His continued provision for our family.

Lord, thank you for Your goodness to us! You never cease to amaze us! Thank you for moving things along so quickly in this process! Lord, we ask that You would see our adoption through to completion SOON and bring our little girl home. Please help us trust You and Your timing.

How God Provides...

Yesterday at church we we received an anonymous gift. Written on the envelope itself was Matthew 25:35-40, which says,

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'  "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'  "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Inside the envelope was $100 for our adoption fund. Wow. What an unexpected blessing! 

To our anonymous giver, we don't know who you are or if you even read our blog, but we want to thank you for your generosity and for sacrificing your money to help us pay the ransom to bring our daughter home. Words are not enough to say thank you. 

Thirty One Party/Adoption Benefit

You are invited to a Thirty One Open House Party!  Thirty One offers unique items such as personalized totes, purses, kids’ stuff, home goods, etc.  And for the month of August, embroidery is only $1!  By purchasing a product, you will also help bring our daughter home!  100% of the proceeds will go toward our adoption. When:   Sunday, August 8 from 2-5 p.m.                 & Monday, August 9 from 6-9 p.m. Where:    Our House - Lenoir City It is an open house style party so that you can come and go as you need. There is no presentation or anything like that...just come and shop! Feel free to bring your kids, too.  Invite others to come - your mom, mother-in-law, daughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, aunts, friends, co-workers and anyone else who might be interested! If you or others are unable to come on the 8th or 9th, you can also shop online (be sure to go under My Events and click on my name so that we get credit for it). Please note that your order will be placed on August 9th with the rest of the group.  Please come out and buy gifts for Christmas, birthday, graduation, or just because. Thanks for supporting us and helping us bring our daughter home! :)