Tuesday Testimony is a time when we focus on testimonies of some of our grant recipients. May you be blessed by their stories.
On April 6th, 2009 our family completed our first adoption of a beautiful 2 day old baby boy born in Virginia. Beating the odds of his troubled beginnings, he is now a healthy, exuberant little boy, created in his Heavenly Father's beautiful image. However, our adoption journey did not end there. Because of our first adoption we realized the special significance of all children despite their circumstances and their immediate need for a family At the close of 2009, our hearts continued to be stirred to the plight of the orphan. This time we were reminded of the poverty of health and the massive numbers of destitute orphans in Ethiopia. After having just completed our first adoption we knew we would need to apply for financial assistance. Raising $30,000 is a daunting task but we knew what God was asking us to do and we moved forward in obedience to Him. He had already shown us in our first adoption journey that He would be faithful to see us through.
God's truth in scripture has shown us that the only thing on earth that is eternal is the human soul. Luke 12:32-34 says, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Although the road of adoption has not been easy, it has been very rewarding. The biggest reward is that it has driven us to our knees to seek the Lord's will for us, to ask for His provision, His protection and to draw us closer together as a family as we journey together. This old hymn says it so well:
"But I know whom I have believed,
and am persuaded that he is able
to keep that which I've committed
unto him against that day."
by Daniel W. Whittle
We know that funds are tight for everyone in the current economy and this includes charitable organizations. So when we even had an opportunity to interview with Katelyn's Fund we were overjoyed. They ended the interview by each praying genuine, heart felt and informed prayers for us in our adoption journey and for orphans and orphan care ministry.
Well the year 2010 ended with fireworks for our family. On December 31st we got a call from Katelyn's Fund. The whole family was in the living room to hear the good news. I just think that God has timed things so perfectly. We will all remember that morning. We were told that the board of Katelyn's Fund continues (and will continue) to pray for our family. What a huge blessing. I have one more amazing detail I want to add about the timing of this phone call. Last year my wife and I spent New Year's Eve together answering ten questions about what we look forward to in the new year. One of the questions was: "What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?"
We both answered, "supply a significant portion of the funds for another adoption." To hear on the last day of the year that we received a grant from Katelyn's Fund for our adoption is more than we could have imagined. Praise the Lord! Katelyn's Fund has been such an encouragement to our family that as we begin to form an adoption ministry at our church we have chosen to model their encouragement to families who have chosen to "answer the cry of the orphan."
We are currently expecting a referral for a child from Ethiopia summer 2011.
You can follow our journey on our family blog at http://findingtheroadhome.blogspot.com
