Some of you have asked me to post my little soliloquy that I spoke in church. We needed to stick to ten minutes, so we had to be brief.
So, here it is. Thank you for your prayers!!!
“As many of you know, we are adopting two young girls from China. We’d like to share briefly how God brought us to this point, and then share a little about our girls. I will begin with the beginning, about how God called us to adopt, and then Mark will tell you more about China and the girls.
I always knew there were orphans in the world. I knew they were there like I know the dinosaurs lived or that there is global poverty. But until a few years ago, I really did not comprehend our part in the world orphan crisis.
We have a big family. Early in our marriage, Mark and I decided we would allow God to determine what our family looked like. There were times that was scary for us, and there were many who criticized us for that choice, but we never bought into the modern day, secular world view that promotes the idea that there is lack and not enough to go around. We knew that God was a big God, and that He knew far better how to grow our family than we did.
Our children came so fast that we never really spent much time considering adoption. But when our youngest daughter Olivia, was about three months old, God began to break our hearts with the fatherless.
We became aware of many children who are waiting for families to love them. Seeing the need was easy, but coming to accept that at 46 and with nine children, we were called to step out in faith to meet those needs was huge.
At first, all we could see were our weaknesses. And let me tell you, we have many. But we came to see, as I have written before, “If our lives only take us to a place where we can manage everything in our own strength, then how have we walked by faith? If we will not allow our minds to explore possibilities we have absolutely no clue how we would ever accomplish, then we are reducing God to a limited God who can only work within the blighted scope of His finite creation. It is our own lack of faith that limits God’s miraculous work in our lives, not God’s lack of ability to take us beyond ourselves. And it is Society’s lack of faith that causes it to fear growing a family beyond its comprehension.”
So, we searched the scriptures, and found verse after verse that indicated that God’s heart is for the orphan.
I’ll share a few of the verses here.
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. ~James 1:27
Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow. ~Isaiah 1:17
And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. ~Matthew 18:5
There are many more. God is referred to as a Father to the fatherless frequently through out the Bible, a defender of the needy, and of “the least of these.”
In the end, we came to realize that we are all called to care for the orphans in some way. Some are called to adopt. Some are called to fund adoptions. Some are called to give financially for their care, but we are called.
As we became a part of the Christian adoption community, we began to see God move huge mountains on behalf of the orphan. We watched story after story of how God resolved impossible situations on their behalf.
We could share many accounts of Christian families who are traveling all over the world to meet the needs of the least of these, but there isn’t time today.
What I do want to say is that children are grieving the lack of parents in their lives. There are children who desperately need surgeries that only can be performed in the United States. They need medical care. Many are sick and cold and alone, and dying without the love of a mother and father, and without ever knowing the Savior.
We live in the wealthiest country in the world. We are among the wealthiest people. And yet we think we have nothing to give. We take care of our own, and we give a little and believe we are walking with JESUS. We spend our resources amusing and indulging our own children who are among the world’s most privileged, and close our eyes to the lonely and hurting children who want only to belong and to know love.
Jesus poured out His life for us, and we are called to nothing less. If our children were on the other side of the world, alone and starving, NOTHING would stop us from going to them.
God’s children are alone and needy and dying.
We are His hands and feet.
We must go and get them whatever the cost. ”
Mark then shared about the girls and a little about China. We played the video of Evangeline that was made by an advocate for orphans.
Again, thank you all for your encouragement.
We share such a similar story. 🙂
I was 45 . . . we had 10 bio. children (plus 1 in heaven) . . . when the Lord told us we were going to bring home 3 children from Ghana.
“Who me?!?!” we asked the Lord. “Yes, you.”
We had no idea how the Lord was going to fund our adoption (because we certainly didn’t have the resources). Two weeks after committing to bring home 3 siblings from Ghana . . . we met a couple who gave us $15,000 towards the adoption. It was only the power and blessing from the Lord.
Laurel
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Laurel, thank you for your comment. We do share a similar story! I have read about your adoptions and your children. Praying for all of you!
We, too, are relying heavily on the Lord to fund this. Your story is encouraging to us!
God bless you!
Glad to hear things are still moving along. Wonderful post. We have a box of yummy stuff leaving here for your girls this week. My daugter wrote them a letter of encouragement and enclosed her information if they want to talk. She is so excited for them. It’s in Mandarin so they can ready it.
Julia, thank you so much!!!
That is so wonderful! I just can not wait to bring them home!!!!
Our family is also following along with you on your journey. Emily is so excited that her friend is getting a family !
This was beautiful! Continuing to think and pray for y’all and your journey to your girls!
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