Falling for Africa

"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

"For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing." - Deuteronomy 10:17,18

Adoption has never been something I really saw myself being interested in or wanting to do in the future. I had known many people who had adopted and had great storeis and a wonderful famiy because of it (my own cousin is adopted from Korea), but I always just wanted to have my own babies. Being a mommy is all I have ever wanted to do. But when I married Matt, he talked about one day adopting a little boy. I always said we would just see what the Lord did in our future. God's Word often talks about our job to take care of orphans and those who cannot speak up for themselves. One of the greatest promises in the Bible is that we are accepted as God's children, we are adopted into His family just as we are!! If we should be trying to constantly, moment by moment conform ourselves to the image of Christ, becoming more like him, then shouldn't that include adoption?? Extending the same love, kindess, and acceptance to those who need adopting just as our heavenly Father has done for us??

This summer at Kamp, there were many families who had adopted children from Thailand, China, and Ethiopia. Working in the nursery with many of them, I instantly fell in love. It was so unbelievable to listen to the families stories of how the Lord put it on their hearts to adopt and how they have been falling in love with their child since the moment they were matched with them through their adoption agency. After living with the Alexanders who have adopted Abe and are currently going through the process again, awaiting a little boy, I have developed a heart for adoption and all the waiting children. The Lord never ceases to amaze me in the way He works. He used these great families to change my heart to further obey his commands and grow in His likeness. Matt's desire to adopt was because of his best friend from high school, Chris Scharr who was adopted. Chris had been such a blessing in his life and if Chris' parents hadn't adopted him, Matt would be without a best friend, confidant, and unbelievable brother. How much more would we be without if our Heavenly Father had not adopted us as his own??

I don't know the Lord's future plans, and I do not know what He has instore for our future family. But, I do know that I would love to someday get the privellage to adopt a child. There are so many children out there, in our country and in the world, who are looking for homes. 147 million orphans in the world. It breaks my heart to think of all the children who do not have homes now and are just waiting. Through watching the Alexanders and loving Abe has taught me that the Lord can do so much through a little baby. He can grow and unite an entire family when they are following his call to faithfulness and obedience.

Avery really wanted to learn how to sew, so we made Africa shirts as our first project!

I dedicate this post to Abe... this sweet baby has defied the doctors and is a miracle. Look at his smile, he spends most of his day with a smile on his face and is just so happy. He can make just about anyone feel good about themselves! Abe, you are a blessing from the Lord, a blessing to your family, and it is such a blessing that we get the privellage to spend time with you!

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." - Jeremiah 1:5