Since Sasha didn't come for Christmas and there really haven't been any updates, there hasn't been anything to write about. Until Now.
Wednesday, we hosted one of the Ukraine Chaperones for the day and it was a blast! His name is Alecks and we had a great time showing him around. Coby and I took him to the NC History Museum. Our plan was to take him to the Science Museum but when I pointed out the History Museum, he made it clear that he wanted to go there instead! He definitely knows what he wants. While we were in there, Coby had a great time pointing out all of the items and telling Alecks what the name in English is and had him repeat it. Then, he would tell us the name in Russian and we would repeat it. When he understood what we were saying, he would say, "I'm understanding". LOL I think that is the most fun Coby has had in a long time!
Then, we took him to the Original Krispy Kreme Shop. We showed him where they made the doughnuts (Ponchiki in Russian) and he watched. Then, he enjoyed an original glazed doughnut. And he said, "Ponchiki good. Very good!" and gave a thumbs up!
Then, we came home and had supper. I made roast with carrots, potatoes and gravy. He asked if we had bread, so we broke out the bread and had bread with our meal. He made up his plate and then I handed him the gravy. He said, "Soup?" I said, "No" and translated gravy for him. He said, "I'm understanding" and then picked up the gravy bowl and sipped it. Haha! Then, he took his plate and the gravy bowl and sat down, putting the gravy next to his plate. After I made up my plate, I walked over to the gravy and poured it over my meat and potatoes. He looked at me and said, "Ohhhhh...soooo sorry! Soooo sorry!!" while hitting himself on the head. He felt so bad because he thought that was his soup and that is why he sipped it. It was hilarious!! We just laughed and laughed.
After supper, we went to Meadow Lights out in Benson. It was about an hour drive there, and since we really weren't sure how to communicate the long drive to him, I am sure he was wondering where in the world we were going! We rode the train and looked at the lights. He really enjoyed that! He took so many pictures! A few times, he tried to lean back to get a better picture and I thought for sure he was going to fall out of the train!
After that, we went to the old time candy store and had some candy. I typed in Google Translate, "pick something out. I buy". He said, "Oh, thank you." But then he pointed to me and said, "I buy you!" I said, "No, no...I buy for you!" He finally agreed. But later I found out that he doesn't like American Candy. No wonder he said he would buy for me! Haha!
Anyhow....that was the end of our day and I took him back to his host family. We had a great day but I have to admit that emotionally....it was a very, very hard day!! The entire day, I kept thinking to myself, "I should be taking Sasha to the history museum" and "I should be translating to Sasha what a military weapon is" and "I should be buying American candy for Sasha". ~Sigh~ Although it was a wonderful experience and I wouldn't trade it for anything........well, except maybe for Sasha. :)
Friday, December 24, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
This has never happened to me
There are things that happen to people on a consistent basis and I sometimes get jealous that it doesn't happen to me. I have never been a reader...as a matter of fact, I can honestly say that I can't remember just sitting down and reading a book as an adult. However, in February when the movie Dear John came out, I loved the movie so much, I actually read the book. Loved the book even more! So, I started reading Nicholas Sparks' Books. I read a total of 7 books within about 4 weeks. But I wasn't liking the recurring theme of sin in his books....sex before marriage. Someone introduced me to Karen Kingsbury. Since I picked up my first book of hers in March, I have read 28 of her books and am now on my 29th right now. The thing that happens recurringly (is that even a word?) in her books is that her characters have The Lord speak to them audibly and more often than not, it is scripture being spoken to them. How refreshing, compared to the recurring sin in Sparks' books. However, it leaves me a little jealous because I wish that happened to me.
Well, it happened to me this morning. Last night, on the way to a Christmas Party, Danny kept telling me that he didn't like what I wrote in my blog. He said this because he doesn't feel this is over yet. He is not giving up on God. Now, I am most definitely NOT giving up on God; however, I feel that the door has been closed. That doesn't mean that God can't open that door back up, nor does it mean that another door doesn't open. However, he feels very strongly that this battle isn't over.
This morning, I woke up to read this devotional. I was still in bed and afterwards, I just prayed that The Lord reveal to me what I am supposed to do. Immediately, the following scripture came into my mind.
I could hear the scripture audibly. It was my own thoughts in my head in which I heard it but nevertheless, I heard it. So, I am going to trust that this battle isn't over yet. Just like the devotional states, "Perseverance is more than endurance. It is endurance combined with absolute assurance and certainty that what we are looking for is going to happen." I don't know how that will look but I do know that we can't give up and we have to believe with absolute assurance that what we are looking for is going to happen. Our ways are not The Lord's ways, so we are looking at it from an earthly perspective. However, I have no doubt that it is going to happen. The question that remains is how.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8
Well, it happened to me this morning. Last night, on the way to a Christmas Party, Danny kept telling me that he didn't like what I wrote in my blog. He said this because he doesn't feel this is over yet. He is not giving up on God. Now, I am most definitely NOT giving up on God; however, I feel that the door has been closed. That doesn't mean that God can't open that door back up, nor does it mean that another door doesn't open. However, he feels very strongly that this battle isn't over.
This morning, I woke up to read this devotional. I was still in bed and afterwards, I just prayed that The Lord reveal to me what I am supposed to do. Immediately, the following scripture came into my mind.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
I could hear the scripture audibly. It was my own thoughts in my head in which I heard it but nevertheless, I heard it. So, I am going to trust that this battle isn't over yet. Just like the devotional states, "Perseverance is more than endurance. It is endurance combined with absolute assurance and certainty that what we are looking for is going to happen." I don't know how that will look but I do know that we can't give up and we have to believe with absolute assurance that what we are looking for is going to happen. Our ways are not The Lord's ways, so we are looking at it from an earthly perspective. However, I have no doubt that it is going to happen. The question that remains is how.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8
Saturday, December 11, 2010
...and He takes away
Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. Job 1:21
We received an email this afternoon making it official that the Children in Russia will not becoming to America. Here is an excerpt from the email I received:
The “governor of Russia” (Personally, I do not understand who exactly this is) has made a statement that orphan children are not to depart the country of Russia without permission under the new law, to ANY other country at this time. There is one big problem with this statement: The law did not give any directive or means for what the NEW law does for hosting programs. It simply states that hosting programs will be regulated. Therefore, those who generally give the written and final permission for the orphans to travel outside of Russia are in great fear. They have been told if they issue permission and it is deemed to be against the new law they will pay...in both loss of their job and potential criminal prosecution!
So, thank you for your prayers. God answered our prayers and the answer apparently was "no". Please continue to pray for those children. Also, please pray for us as we try to determine what God wants us to do. I have had many people ask the question, "Are you still going to pursue adopting Sasha?" Well, we are seeking the Lord for that answer. If that region is so difficult and the Lord is closing the doors, then I hate to try and pursue something only to find out $40,000 later that the answer was "no". I do believe that The Lord has laid in on our hearts to adopt and I believe that the Lord used Sasha to soften Danny's heart towards adoption. The question now remains when and who? When does The Lord want us to adopt and who does the Lord want us to adopt. Please pray that His Will be made clear to us.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Even If you've never read my blog....please read this!!!
Danny and I just got off of a one hour prayer session with New Horizons. That was probably the most powerful thing I have ever been a part of. There were over 130 people on the phone praying out to our Father. At one time, we all prayed The Lord's Prayer and let me tell you, that brought tears to my eyes.
New Horizons is the non-profit organization that we are hosting Sasha through. The organization is being attacked from all angles and a calling to your knees is needed right now. Please, I am begging you right now....if you can get on your knees, get on your knees. And if you do, please post it here. Prayer works and we need to lift these children up to the Almighty One.
It will be encouraging for Danny and I, for those praying and hopefully for those that are going to read this blog to know that people are praying for hundreds of fatherless children on the other side of the world. But the only way they will know is if you share. Just take a moment and post a comment on the blog that you are praying...on your knees, bowed down before The Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End.
A quick synopsis of what has been happening and then some things for you to pray for:
We have to believe that The Lord will hear our prayer. We are not asking you to get on your knees for any other reason than for these children because they belong to The Lord. Everything we do regarding hosting Sasha is to glorify God and to show Sasha the love of Jesus Christ.
I am not one to beg people to pray but this is for the innocent, God's most prized of all.
New Horizons is the non-profit organization that we are hosting Sasha through. The organization is being attacked from all angles and a calling to your knees is needed right now. Please, I am begging you right now....if you can get on your knees, get on your knees. And if you do, please post it here. Prayer works and we need to lift these children up to the Almighty One.
It will be encouraging for Danny and I, for those praying and hopefully for those that are going to read this blog to know that people are praying for hundreds of fatherless children on the other side of the world. But the only way they will know is if you share. Just take a moment and post a comment on the blog that you are praying...on your knees, bowed down before The Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End.
A quick synopsis of what has been happening and then some things for you to pray for:
- There are children coming for 5 weeks from the countries of Latvia, Russia and Ukraine.
- The children of Latvia were possibly not able to come due to the longest airstrike in the history of FinnAir. It started on November 30 and finally ended yesterday afternoon. The first day of full scheduled flights begins on Monday, the day the children are scheduled to fly out.
- Some of the children of Ukraine were possibly not able to come due to them not being to get their passports processed in enough time. However, today, every child got their passports and will be coming on Monday.
- Many, many orphans in Russia are threatened with not being able to come. The children in Orphanages in Borovichi, Sol'tsy and Orphanage #35 have been told they will not come. The Head Prosecutor in Russia has halted all of those children from coming. As of right now, they are still not allowing those children to come. Sasha lives in an orphanage in Sol'tsy.
- Please pray for a hedge of protection to be surrounding the children that will be traveling from those countries to America.
- Please pray for a hedge of protection to be surrounding the children that will not be able to come. Pray that the Lord give them peace so that they don't feel unwanted or unloved because they are now not coming to America.
- Please pray for New Horizons for Children and all of the staff. They are being attacked, so please pray that the Lord show himself mightily through this Organization.
- Please pray and plead with the Lord to allow these children from Orphanages in Borovichi, Sol'tsy and Orphanage #35 to come to America. Some of these Orphanages are in remote areas of Russia with the very, very basic necessities of life. Some of them do not even have hot running water. The Orphanage that Sasha lives in is one of those.
Matthew 18:18-20 Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there.
We have to believe that The Lord will hear our prayer. We are not asking you to get on your knees for any other reason than for these children because they belong to The Lord. Everything we do regarding hosting Sasha is to glorify God and to show Sasha the love of Jesus Christ.
I am not one to beg people to pray but this is for the innocent, God's most prized of all.
Thursday, December 09, 2010
Urgent Prayer Request
We just received notification today that New Horizon's coordinator in Russia is going to fight for these children to come. All of the host families (and their children) are to write letters to the Russian Government and plead with them why it is important for these children to come. It is too late for the children to come on Monday; however, if they are able to come, then we may still get a few weeks with him.
We also found out that Sasha KNOWS that he was supposed to come to America and now knows that he will not. I am sure that little boy is heart broken, as well.
The most important thing right now is PRAYER.
Two things to pray specifically for:
We also found out that Sasha KNOWS that he was supposed to come to America and now knows that he will not. I am sure that little boy is heart broken, as well.
The most important thing right now is PRAYER.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
Two things to pray specifically for:
- That the Russian Government allows these children to come.
- That the airlines allow the children's tickets to be changed with no recourse
"I don't trust God"
Last night before dinner, we sat down and shared the news with Coby. At first, I thought he was going to take it well and I was very surprised. Danny told him that we needed to talk to him and started out by telling him that sometimes when God answers prayer, the answer is "no". Coby responded and said, "We aren't getting Sasha, are we?" Danny said, "No buddy, we aren't". Then Coby just kinda shrugged his shoulders, as if to say, "that's ok" and followed with "But we are still getting him for 5 weeks, right?" When Danny told him that we were not even getting him for 5 weeks, a light bulb went off in Coby and he just about freaked out.
He cried and wanted to run up to his bedroom and just scream (his way of coping with things....we are still working on this with him). We had him stay downstairs so that we could talk it out and pray about it. He said that he did not want to pray about it. As a matter of fact, he did not want to ever pray again. He was angry with God and could never trust God again.
Wow!!! Talk about feeling your heartbreak. He decided in a matter of 2 minutes that God wasn't worth trusting. If God took his brother away from him, then what kind of God can he be? This is coming from my son: the prayer warrior, the one with faith that could move mountains, the one who wanted a "Jesus" Birthday party so he could share the gospel with his friends that might not know the Lord. If anyone has really gotten to know Coby, you know that he is very mature in his faith for a 9 year old. He preaches the gospel to a little boy that lives across the street because his parents are atheists. He wants to make sure this little boy has a chance to choose God. So, he reads his Bible to him, invites him to many church events and talks about God as much as he can. As a matter of fact, I told him one day that maybe we should lay low and not talk about God for a while (because his mom was starting to be a little concerned) and Coby's response was "No Way!! I can't do it, Mom!!" And the look on his face was as if I had just asked him to commit some huge sin. I said, "Even if that means that you can't be friends with that little boy anymore if you keep talking to him about God?" And he said, "Yes, even if it means that I can't be friends with him! I will not stop talking to him about God!" Coby is a very tender hearted little boy and wants nothing more than to see everyone come to know Christ. So, to hear him say that he can't trust God anymore and refuse to pray completely broke my heart!!!
We explained to Coby that God is still in control and we feel that the Lord is still working. We shared the story of Job with Coby and explained that God allowed Satan to take things from Job because God knew Job would still be faithful. And we must remain faithful. It sure is easy to trust God when things are going our way but it's how we react when things aren't going our way that is a true test of our faith. I also explained that through this entire process, God softened Daddy's heart for adoption. I told him that Daddy always spoke with his mouth that he would be up for adoption but that in his heart, he knew that he really wasn't. He had always said, "How can I love another child as much as I love Coby, especially not my own?" And then he fell in love with Sasha before he even met him and said, "Now I know how". Explaining that to Coby was tough because I wasn't sure he would really understand. But after talking to him for hours, praying for him and sharing our hearts with him, he finally understood that God isn't against him. God has another plan.
So, even if God is telling us, "Yes....but not Sasha", we still feel that the Lord is leading us to adopt. We are open to whatever the Lord has to show us. Please continue to pray for us as we continue on this journey.
He cried and wanted to run up to his bedroom and just scream (his way of coping with things....we are still working on this with him). We had him stay downstairs so that we could talk it out and pray about it. He said that he did not want to pray about it. As a matter of fact, he did not want to ever pray again. He was angry with God and could never trust God again.
Wow!!! Talk about feeling your heartbreak. He decided in a matter of 2 minutes that God wasn't worth trusting. If God took his brother away from him, then what kind of God can he be? This is coming from my son: the prayer warrior, the one with faith that could move mountains, the one who wanted a "Jesus" Birthday party so he could share the gospel with his friends that might not know the Lord. If anyone has really gotten to know Coby, you know that he is very mature in his faith for a 9 year old. He preaches the gospel to a little boy that lives across the street because his parents are atheists. He wants to make sure this little boy has a chance to choose God. So, he reads his Bible to him, invites him to many church events and talks about God as much as he can. As a matter of fact, I told him one day that maybe we should lay low and not talk about God for a while (because his mom was starting to be a little concerned) and Coby's response was "No Way!! I can't do it, Mom!!" And the look on his face was as if I had just asked him to commit some huge sin. I said, "Even if that means that you can't be friends with that little boy anymore if you keep talking to him about God?" And he said, "Yes, even if it means that I can't be friends with him! I will not stop talking to him about God!" Coby is a very tender hearted little boy and wants nothing more than to see everyone come to know Christ. So, to hear him say that he can't trust God anymore and refuse to pray completely broke my heart!!!
We explained to Coby that God is still in control and we feel that the Lord is still working. We shared the story of Job with Coby and explained that God allowed Satan to take things from Job because God knew Job would still be faithful. And we must remain faithful. It sure is easy to trust God when things are going our way but it's how we react when things aren't going our way that is a true test of our faith. I also explained that through this entire process, God softened Daddy's heart for adoption. I told him that Daddy always spoke with his mouth that he would be up for adoption but that in his heart, he knew that he really wasn't. He had always said, "How can I love another child as much as I love Coby, especially not my own?" And then he fell in love with Sasha before he even met him and said, "Now I know how". Explaining that to Coby was tough because I wasn't sure he would really understand. But after talking to him for hours, praying for him and sharing our hearts with him, he finally understood that God isn't against him. God has another plan.
So, even if God is telling us, "Yes....but not Sasha", we still feel that the Lord is leading us to adopt. We are open to whatever the Lord has to show us. Please continue to pray for us as we continue on this journey.
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
From a broken heart...
Today was a very hard day. My heart is broken right now and I can't put into words the loss I am feeling. I have pretty much lost a child. Let me start from the beginning of my day.
I had been trying to contact the girl who was going to help tutor Sasha and had no luck. Finally this morning, the mom of the family she was staying with called me and told me she went back to Germany today. Wow! That was a huge blessing for us to have someone to help tutor him and someone we could call in case we were struggling with something he is trying to tell us....just call Dina, put Sasha on the phone & she'll translate. Now that is not going to happen since she is back in Germany. That was hard to take but not as hard as the second call I had to take 2 hours later. New Horizons called and told me that Sasha would not be coming. He and 12 other children from his orphanage did not show up to get their Visas. When New Horizons called the orphanage to find out what happened, the orphanage told them the children are not coming. No reason, they are just refusing to send them.
Wow! I can only say that receiving that news was like if you'd have told me something happened to Coby. However, I have to rest on the fact that God loves this child more than we do.
And he is in control.
I have to rest in that fact because I know with every fiber of being within me that God didn't open door after door to turn around and slam them all shut...permanently. He is very clear in His word that we are to take care of the orphans....be a father to the fatherless. Show them the love of Christ. And that's what we intend to do. We just don't know how or when but we will not be defeated.
My heart just breaks for a little boy on the other side of the world who won't have a family to love on him this Christmas. My heart also breaks for a nine year old little boy who wanted Sasha to come more than me and Danny combined. I pray that we can remain strong for him and I pray that he realizes that God is in control, even when things don't go our way. His ways are not our ways. Please pray for us as we share the news with Coby and as we have an empty place in our hearts this Christmas for Sasha. We love that little boy and haven't even met him yet.
I had been trying to contact the girl who was going to help tutor Sasha and had no luck. Finally this morning, the mom of the family she was staying with called me and told me she went back to Germany today. Wow! That was a huge blessing for us to have someone to help tutor him and someone we could call in case we were struggling with something he is trying to tell us....just call Dina, put Sasha on the phone & she'll translate. Now that is not going to happen since she is back in Germany. That was hard to take but not as hard as the second call I had to take 2 hours later. New Horizons called and told me that Sasha would not be coming. He and 12 other children from his orphanage did not show up to get their Visas. When New Horizons called the orphanage to find out what happened, the orphanage told them the children are not coming. No reason, they are just refusing to send them.
Wow! I can only say that receiving that news was like if you'd have told me something happened to Coby. However, I have to rest on the fact that God loves this child more than we do.
And he is in control.
Matthew 6:26. Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap It store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
I have to rest in that fact because I know with every fiber of being within me that God didn't open door after door to turn around and slam them all shut...permanently. He is very clear in His word that we are to take care of the orphans....be a father to the fatherless. Show them the love of Christ. And that's what we intend to do. We just don't know how or when but we will not be defeated.
My heart just breaks for a little boy on the other side of the world who won't have a family to love on him this Christmas. My heart also breaks for a nine year old little boy who wanted Sasha to come more than me and Danny combined. I pray that we can remain strong for him and I pray that he realizes that God is in control, even when things don't go our way. His ways are not our ways. Please pray for us as we share the news with Coby and as we have an empty place in our hearts this Christmas for Sasha. We love that little boy and haven't even met him yet.
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Defend the Poor and the Fatherless...
My friend Thea sent this video to me and wow - it sure does speak right to my heart. It makes me realize all the more why The Lord has placed such a strong burden on my heart for Sasha. And why The Lord is opening the doors for us....wide open! Click here to watch the video. It is worth all 7 minutes of your time. Then, those that are wondering why in the world we are doing what we are doing when we clearly can not afford it may get a small glimpse into why.
That is exactly what we are to do. Because when we help the poor, we are helping Jesus. When we clothe the poor, we are clothing Jesus. When we feed the poor, we feed Jesus. He clearly stated:
It can't get anymore powerful than that. Can I get an Amen?
Psalm 82:3 Defend the Poor and the Fatherless
That is exactly what we are to do. Because when we help the poor, we are helping Jesus. When we clothe the poor, we are clothing Jesus. When we feed the poor, we feed Jesus. He clearly stated:
In as much as you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto Me. Matthew 25:40
It can't get anymore powerful than that. Can I get an Amen?
Monday, December 06, 2010
Sasha Arrives One Week from Today!!
Sasha's plane arrives at Charlotte International Airport at 7:33pm on Monday, December 13th!!! We are so very excited, it seems like just yesterday when I was at our women's retreat talking to Nicole about the Hosting Program and here it is 6 weeks later and we will have a little boy arrive in just one week.
My biggest prayer right now is not that we can communicate with him, not that we will have enough clothes for him, not that we will find fun things to do while he is here, not that he sleeps well, not that he enjoys the foods that I make, etc, etc. My biggest prayer is that he allows us to love him!!! Of course, all those other things will be nice but in the great scheme of things, the most important thing, above all other is love. So, I just hope that he can allow us to love him.
1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: Faith, Hope and Love. But the greatest of these is love.
Of course, that is a Bible verse that everyone knows but when you look at what that truly means, it is breathtaking, especially if you read the entire chapter! "Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" (v. 7). So, encompassed in all that love is protection, trust, hope and perseverance! Oh and this one is amazing, too: "If I give all I possess to the poor....but do not have love, I gain nothing" (v. 3). Wow....in other words everything we do is in vain, if we don't have love. Yikes! There are many more examples such as that within chapter 13. The point I am trying to make is that what this tells me is that we just need to make sure we love Sasha. In return, I hope that he can allow us to love him. I keep saying that because there is a chance that he won't allow us to love him. He could be withdrawn, scared or even worse, have Reactive Attachment Disorder. So, please pray for us and pray for Sasha....a little orphan boy who will have a family loving on him for 5 weeks and possibly more, if that is the Lord's Will.
My biggest prayer right now is not that we can communicate with him, not that we will have enough clothes for him, not that we will find fun things to do while he is here, not that he sleeps well, not that he enjoys the foods that I make, etc, etc. My biggest prayer is that he allows us to love him!!! Of course, all those other things will be nice but in the great scheme of things, the most important thing, above all other is love. So, I just hope that he can allow us to love him.
1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: Faith, Hope and Love. But the greatest of these is love.
Of course, that is a Bible verse that everyone knows but when you look at what that truly means, it is breathtaking, especially if you read the entire chapter! "Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" (v. 7). So, encompassed in all that love is protection, trust, hope and perseverance! Oh and this one is amazing, too: "If I give all I possess to the poor....but do not have love, I gain nothing" (v. 3). Wow....in other words everything we do is in vain, if we don't have love. Yikes! There are many more examples such as that within chapter 13. The point I am trying to make is that what this tells me is that we just need to make sure we love Sasha. In return, I hope that he can allow us to love him. I keep saying that because there is a chance that he won't allow us to love him. He could be withdrawn, scared or even worse, have Reactive Attachment Disorder. So, please pray for us and pray for Sasha....a little orphan boy who will have a family loving on him for 5 weeks and possibly more, if that is the Lord's Will.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Our First Fundraiser - Christmas Cards for Sasha
We are going to be starting the adoption process and by simply sending in the application to the adoption agency, there are expenses. So, we are going to be having some fundraisers to try and raise the money because The Lord knows that we ......do not have $40,000 just laying around!
Our first fundraiser is this....I will send out all of your Christmas Cards for you. I am asking for a 'minimum donation' of $1.50 per card and that covers the cost of the card and the stamp. I will personalize the inside of the card with whatever message you want and send whatever type of card you want me to send. Please feel free to share this with your friends....I will be happy to do this for anyone!!!
If you are interested in saving time and helping us out at the same time, here is how. Just email me a list of names and addresses where you want the cards to be sent, the message you want written inside the card, how you want the card signed and the type of card you want sent (Holiday card, Christmas card, Religious, etc.). Have me send as many or as few as you need. I would be sending the same card to everyone on your list with the same message inside each card. I will also email you a proof before I send them out. These are high quality, glossy cards, too!
Anyone can help us out! You don't have to live local for this fundraiser because everything is done via the internet. You can even donate online via paypal! You email me the information for your cards and I will create all of your cards and email you a proof before I send. Everything is done online!
Here is a picture of an example of what one of the outside of the cards looks like. Not the best picture but the card is beautiful!
Here is an example of what the inside looks like....I just personalized this myself and used a "handwriting" font because then it looks like I wrote it out myself. I can write anything you want on the inside and use one of about 10 different fonts. Again, very high quality.
The cards will be addressed for you and your return address will be on the envelope, as well.
Thanks for your support! And as always, thank you for your continued prayers!
Our first fundraiser is this....I will send out all of your Christmas Cards for you. I am asking for a 'minimum donation' of $1.50 per card and that covers the cost of the card and the stamp. I will personalize the inside of the card with whatever message you want and send whatever type of card you want me to send. Please feel free to share this with your friends....I will be happy to do this for anyone!!!
If you are interested in saving time and helping us out at the same time, here is how. Just email me a list of names and addresses where you want the cards to be sent, the message you want written inside the card, how you want the card signed and the type of card you want sent (Holiday card, Christmas card, Religious, etc.). Have me send as many or as few as you need. I would be sending the same card to everyone on your list with the same message inside each card. I will also email you a proof before I send them out. These are high quality, glossy cards, too!
Anyone can help us out! You don't have to live local for this fundraiser because everything is done via the internet. You can even donate online via paypal! You email me the information for your cards and I will create all of your cards and email you a proof before I send. Everything is done online!
Here is a picture of an example of what one of the outside of the cards looks like. Not the best picture but the card is beautiful!
Here is an example of what the inside looks like....I just personalized this myself and used a "handwriting" font because then it looks like I wrote it out myself. I can write anything you want on the inside and use one of about 10 different fonts. Again, very high quality.
The cards will be addressed for you and your return address will be on the envelope, as well.
Thanks for your support! And as always, thank you for your continued prayers!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Two weeks and Two days
Sasha will be here in two weeks and two days! That comes to a total of 14 days. I would count down to the hour and minute, except that I don't know when his plane will be arriving. We are so ready for him! When Sasha arrives, he will arrive with the clothes on his back, so we are needing to send him back with a suitcase full of clothes and shoes. So far, we already have a winter coat for him (thanks Nikki Esquivel!) and a few bags of boys clothes (thanks Catherine Tutor and Karen Barlow!) We are not sure what size he is so we are trying to get clothing in all sizes from 7-12 so that we can make sure we have something for him to wear and take back with him. If you would like to help, please let me know. Whatever Sasha doesn't take back, I will be happy to return.
As far as proceeding with adoption, we are getting ready to fill out "part 1" of the application and send it in. This will determine if we "qualify". Technically, on three different levels, we are disqualified. However, we are working through those and hope that it will not hinder the process at all. The Lord knows that anything that we can offer him is better than anything he is getting now. And considering we are a part of the body of Christ, we will never be without.
Please continue to pray for us and for this little boy on the other side of the world. I pray that he is open to our family, that he allows us to love him and that he wants to be a part of our family. But I also pray that if that is not the Lord's Will, then He will find a family for Sasha.
December 13th can't get here quick enough. I am excited but I am just waiting patiently and asking the Lord to teach me what he wants to teach me while I wait.
As far as proceeding with adoption, we are getting ready to fill out "part 1" of the application and send it in. This will determine if we "qualify". Technically, on three different levels, we are disqualified. However, we are working through those and hope that it will not hinder the process at all. The Lord knows that anything that we can offer him is better than anything he is getting now. And considering we are a part of the body of Christ, we will never be without.
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Please continue to pray for us and for this little boy on the other side of the world. I pray that he is open to our family, that he allows us to love him and that he wants to be a part of our family. But I also pray that if that is not the Lord's Will, then He will find a family for Sasha.
December 13th can't get here quick enough. I am excited but I am just waiting patiently and asking the Lord to teach me what he wants to teach me while I wait.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Another reason to bring Sasha home...
Danny and I were headed to Charlotte on Saturday for an all day training. The training was to teach us more about the hosting program (like the 41 page training manual wasn't enough...lol) and hear from families who previously hosted. It was actually a great training.
Anyhow, we decided to make a "date" out of it and on the way, we stopped in Burlington for breakfast at Mimi's Cafe. We had a bogo coupon! I love my coupons! So, we sit down for breakfast and our waitress brings us a newspaper to enjoy while we are waiting for our breakfast. One of the first articles that catches my eye is this one:
Two very ridiculous comments were made in this article. The first is when the leader of this group says, "Sometimes you need to show your breasts for ideological reasons". Wow...really? I am just amazed that showing your breasts really has anything to do with politics. But then again, we don't live in Europe where women are objectified on a daily basis in all of their media. The second comment that I found absolutely ridiculous is when the article states that the group campaigns against prostitution and discrimination of women. Hmmmm.....campaigning against prostitution by showing your breasts?!?! Is it just me or does anyone else find this ridiculous? I know I keep using the word ridiculous but I'm trying to keep it clean!! I am not saying what I actually feel. But I do know that reading this article made me sick to my stomach. I had righteous anger when I read this article and I don't feel bad for it at all!!
Sasha is living in a country where women are objectified on a daily basis in their media and that is to be viewed as "normal", human trafficking is rampant and children are kicked out of orphanages at the tender age of 16 to fend for themselves. Most of those children turn to prostitution or crime in order to survive. So, ya know what? We are going to fight for this little boy.
I just downloaded the adoption application and there are 3 things that "disqualify" us to adopt!! THREE!! But you know what? I don't care. I'll say it again in case you didn't catch that...I DON'T CARE!!! The ONLY thing that is going to stop us from getting Sasha is the Almighty One Himself!!! I said it once, I'll say it again and I may just say it 100 more times before Sasha comes home for good:
For nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37
Anyhow, we decided to make a "date" out of it and on the way, we stopped in Burlington for breakfast at Mimi's Cafe. We had a bogo coupon! I love my coupons! So, we sit down for breakfast and our waitress brings us a newspaper to enjoy while we are waiting for our breakfast. One of the first articles that catches my eye is this one:
Two very ridiculous comments were made in this article. The first is when the leader of this group says, "Sometimes you need to show your breasts for ideological reasons". Wow...really? I am just amazed that showing your breasts really has anything to do with politics. But then again, we don't live in Europe where women are objectified on a daily basis in all of their media. The second comment that I found absolutely ridiculous is when the article states that the group campaigns against prostitution and discrimination of women. Hmmmm.....campaigning against prostitution by showing your breasts?!?! Is it just me or does anyone else find this ridiculous? I know I keep using the word ridiculous but I'm trying to keep it clean!! I am not saying what I actually feel. But I do know that reading this article made me sick to my stomach. I had righteous anger when I read this article and I don't feel bad for it at all!!
Sasha is living in a country where women are objectified on a daily basis in their media and that is to be viewed as "normal", human trafficking is rampant and children are kicked out of orphanages at the tender age of 16 to fend for themselves. Most of those children turn to prostitution or crime in order to survive. So, ya know what? We are going to fight for this little boy.
I just downloaded the adoption application and there are 3 things that "disqualify" us to adopt!! THREE!! But you know what? I don't care. I'll say it again in case you didn't catch that...I DON'T CARE!!! The ONLY thing that is going to stop us from getting Sasha is the Almighty One Himself!!! I said it once, I'll say it again and I may just say it 100 more times before Sasha comes home for good:
For nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37
The Lord is at Work
The other day, I was at school picking up Coby and my friend Dawn was there. I was talking to her about Sasha and she mentioned that there is a family at Cary Christian School that has a Foreign Exchange Student from Germany. She is originally from Russia, though and speaks fluent Russian...as well as German, English and Latin. Wow! So, I contacted the family to see if they minded if she helped us out a bit maybe with some English tutoring for Sasha. The mom emailed me back and gave me this girl's cell phone #.
Well, I called her on Friday and she has agreed to tutor Sasha every single afternoon for an hour. Plus, she is going to help me show Sasha around the school and tell him about the school...in his own language. Plus, she offered to be available for him by phone any time he wanted to talk to her or if we are having trouble communicating something. We can call her, put Sasha on the phone and she will translate for us. This is amazing for a couple of reasons. For one, it will obviously help us to communicate with Sasha. But most importantly, I think spending an hour a day with someone who speaks his language is really going to help him feel more secure.
In our prayer time, one thing that we have lifted up is our ability to communicate with Sasha. According to his paperwork, he does not speak any English at all, so that has been something that we have prayed about. We figured we would be playing a lot of Charades and Pictionary. Which I am sure we will still be doing but this willingness of someone to help is going to make things so much easier!
So each and every day as we go through the trials of hosting and adoption, we can most definitely see the Lord's hand at work!!
Every single day we are dealing with some aspect of Sasha coming. Between talking to New Horizons, the adoption agency, blogging, praying, talking to friends, asking for help (which is very humbling), attending training and just the many things that we are having to do....we are constantly working on this. It definitely is a very humbling opportunity.
Philippians 2:3-11 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ...
I am, so far from following this verse but this is a verse that I would love to paint on my walls. A reminder to be more like Jesus because he performed the most humbling act by dying on the cross for us when we definitely didn't deserve it. We are "good people", but when we say that, what are we comparing ourselves to? The world or Jesus? I'd much rather be more like Jesus. So, I am working on counting others as more important than myself and I hope that comes across when I am dealing with others. I hope when you see me, you can see Jesus in me.
Well, I called her on Friday and she has agreed to tutor Sasha every single afternoon for an hour. Plus, she is going to help me show Sasha around the school and tell him about the school...in his own language. Plus, she offered to be available for him by phone any time he wanted to talk to her or if we are having trouble communicating something. We can call her, put Sasha on the phone and she will translate for us. This is amazing for a couple of reasons. For one, it will obviously help us to communicate with Sasha. But most importantly, I think spending an hour a day with someone who speaks his language is really going to help him feel more secure.
In our prayer time, one thing that we have lifted up is our ability to communicate with Sasha. According to his paperwork, he does not speak any English at all, so that has been something that we have prayed about. We figured we would be playing a lot of Charades and Pictionary. Which I am sure we will still be doing but this willingness of someone to help is going to make things so much easier!
So each and every day as we go through the trials of hosting and adoption, we can most definitely see the Lord's hand at work!!
Every single day we are dealing with some aspect of Sasha coming. Between talking to New Horizons, the adoption agency, blogging, praying, talking to friends, asking for help (which is very humbling), attending training and just the many things that we are having to do....we are constantly working on this. It definitely is a very humbling opportunity.
Philippians 2:3-11 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ...
I am, so far from following this verse but this is a verse that I would love to paint on my walls. A reminder to be more like Jesus because he performed the most humbling act by dying on the cross for us when we definitely didn't deserve it. We are "good people", but when we say that, what are we comparing ourselves to? The world or Jesus? I'd much rather be more like Jesus. So, I am working on counting others as more important than myself and I hope that comes across when I am dealing with others. I hope when you see me, you can see Jesus in me.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
New Horizon's Training
29 days ago, I first heard about New Horizon's at our church's women's retreat. In these short 29 days we have accomplished a lot.
What we walked away with was even more valuable than anything we learned today, though. We walked away feeling even more confident that God wants Sasha in our home. We feel very strong that that little boy is going to be our son. I had a girlfriend tonight make a comment, "Hopefully they can shed some insight as to the best ways to go about this adoption out of Russia thing." My response to her was, "God is bigger than Russia. While it is a challenge, I'm no going to let that get in our way." As another friend of mine said, "God can move mountains and he can raise the dead. Surely he can help an orphan, even if he is in Russia."
For nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37
That verse doesn't say hardly anything...is says nothing! The Bible is the inerrant word of truth and I can't pick and choose what I am going to believe. Either I believe all of it or none of it. I choose to believe all of it. So, I am going at this like nothing is impossible with God and he is going to move mountains in Russia over the next 6 months to a year!
- We had decided on one child and that door was quickly closed when we found out that his country was not part of the hosting program anymore.
- We actually laid dormant after that, until we received a call from New Horizon's on November 1st. So, I guess we've accomplished a lot in the past 20 days.
- I have contacted six adoption agencies regarding Sasha's "Adopt-ability Status" and regarding proceeding with adoption for him in the country and region in which he lives.
- We have filled out three applications with New Horizons.
- We have read a 41 page training manual.
- We have sent in numerous forms (I have lost count) that we had to acknowledge and sign.
- We have made flyers.
- We have created a blog. This is a huge one for me because I am NOT a blogger! I am not a writer. I just am not.
- We have posted on Facebook.
- And we have attended an all day training (plus 6 hours of driving) to learn more about the hosting program. Yeah, I thought there couldn't be much more after reading a 41 page training manual but there was!
- I am sure there is a lot more we have done but I just can't think of anything right now. My brain is pretty much on the fritz after the long day we had today!
What we walked away with was even more valuable than anything we learned today, though. We walked away feeling even more confident that God wants Sasha in our home. We feel very strong that that little boy is going to be our son. I had a girlfriend tonight make a comment, "Hopefully they can shed some insight as to the best ways to go about this adoption out of Russia thing." My response to her was, "God is bigger than Russia. While it is a challenge, I'm no going to let that get in our way." As another friend of mine said, "God can move mountains and he can raise the dead. Surely he can help an orphan, even if he is in Russia."
For nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37
That verse doesn't say hardly anything...is says nothing! The Bible is the inerrant word of truth and I can't pick and choose what I am going to believe. Either I believe all of it or none of it. I choose to believe all of it. So, I am going at this like nothing is impossible with God and he is going to move mountains in Russia over the next 6 months to a year!
Friday, November 19, 2010
What a crazy law!
So, the Eastern European country that we are seeking to adopt Sasha from has some wacky laws! It is illegal to seek to adopt a child in which you have not met. That is why we are having such a hard time determining if Sasha is even adoptable. However, the great news is that we did find out that there is a child with the same first name, same first initial of the last name and same month and year of his dob in the Federal Databank of adoptable children. We are encouraged because that means chances are, Sasha is adoptable.
Now, once Sasha gets here and we meet him, then we can seek to pursue adoption. Praise the Lord!!
Now, once Sasha gets here and we meet him, then we can seek to pursue adoption. Praise the Lord!!
Why not a child from America?
I can't tell you how many times I have been asked just in the past couple of weeks why we are not pursuing adopting a child from America. People say things like, "We have enough children here in America that need adopting, why do you feel like you have to go to Russia?" Well, I'd love to answer that question so hopefully those who are interested may understand. We are not adopting a child because we can, because without the Lord's help, we can't. We are not adopting a child for any other reason except we feel the Lord placing on our hearts to rescue an orphan from a life that nobody should have to live. In the Lord's eyes, a child is a child no matter where they live. To us, it doesn't matter where we adopt a child from....we are saving a life. Period. If it is the Lord's Will, then the Lord will make a way.
We do not have the means to adopt a child. We are not rich. We are not perfect. We are sinners saved by the Grace of God. With the Lord leading us to adopt a child, that on our own we could not otherwise do, He will get the Glory.
I love it when people ask questions, even such as that, because it tells me that they care. Please continue to pray for us as we embark upon this battle. It is a tough battle and it's not going to be easy but we are going in with full gear!
We do not have the means to adopt a child. We are not rich. We are not perfect. We are sinners saved by the Grace of God. With the Lord leading us to adopt a child, that on our own we could not otherwise do, He will get the Glory.
I love it when people ask questions, even such as that, because it tells me that they care. Please continue to pray for us as we embark upon this battle. It is a tough battle and it's not going to be easy but we are going in with full gear!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Spiritual Warfare
As we move forward with what we feel the Lord is leading us to do, we realize that because we are doing God's work, we are going to be fighting a spiritual battle. Spiritual Warfare is a very real thing and in order to fight it, we must stand strong in the Lord because the battle is His. Every day I must remind myself to put on God's Armor so that we can stand against evil.
I take comfort in knowing that all we have to do is put on the full armor of God to fight a battle that seems so difficult to fight on our own. I am constantly reminded that God will take care of the details, but I must believe. A friend of mine reminded me that we must prepare our fields if we believe the rain will come. She put this on her blog; which is from Facing the Giants.
The older teacher tells the coach something like this: "Two farmers are in need of rain and they each pray to God to send it. Only one farmer goes out to prepare his fields to receive the rain. Which one do you think believes God will send the rain?" Coach answers: "The one who prepared his fields." Teacher: "God will send the rains when He's ready. You need to make sure you're ready to receive it."
We are definitely out preparing our fields because we believe that God will send the rain!
We are so very exciting that through all of the trials, we can see God's hand at work!! We are required to take Sasha to the dentist and to the eye doctor while he is here. My friend, Dr. Tina Goodall, is taking care of his dental needs, so we are very thankful to her! However, I still needed someone to take care of his eye exam (and glasses, if needed). So, I sent a request out to our CCS Group for an optometrist that would be willing to donate his services for Sasha. There were FOUR doctors that were willing to donate their services!! Yes...FOUR!! I was overwhelmed by all of the responses that we received. I even had people email me and just tell me that they read my blog or that they were praying for us. We are very blessed that Dr. Jeff Stikeleather will be taking care of Sasha's eye care needs. Also, due to the overwhelming response, I have two other friends that are hosting orphans and I have their children's eye care needs met, as well.
We are fighting a battle just to determine if Sasha is even adoptable. However, yesterday I finally received a very encouraging email. It was from adoption agency #6 and she wrote: "At this time, we are only able to check the child's status through the federal databank for children. It appears that he is legally available for international adoption according to the information in the databank. (There is a child with the same first names, first initial of the last name and month and year of birth)" That is the closest we have gotten to finding out he is adoptable in the past two weeks!! It's not a guarantee but it's Hope. So, although the world tells us that Russia is too corrupt, that Russia is too expensive, that Russia requires too much paperwork, that the region Sasha lives is too difficult, etc., etc., we are going to continue to prepare our fields for the rain that we are expecting. We are not living by the world's standards but we are living by God's standards. And I do believe that my God is bigger than what the world is telling us is the impossible. According to James, we have not because we ask not. Of course, our motives for asking must line up with His Will but if they do, then we just need to ask.
Thank you for following our blog and please continue to pray for us as we fight this battle that is so worth fighting. This is a life at stake.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:10-12
I take comfort in knowing that all we have to do is put on the full armor of God to fight a battle that seems so difficult to fight on our own. I am constantly reminded that God will take care of the details, but I must believe. A friend of mine reminded me that we must prepare our fields if we believe the rain will come. She put this on her blog; which is from Facing the Giants.
The older teacher tells the coach something like this: "Two farmers are in need of rain and they each pray to God to send it. Only one farmer goes out to prepare his fields to receive the rain. Which one do you think believes God will send the rain?" Coach answers: "The one who prepared his fields." Teacher: "God will send the rains when He's ready. You need to make sure you're ready to receive it."
We are definitely out preparing our fields because we believe that God will send the rain!
We are so very exciting that through all of the trials, we can see God's hand at work!! We are required to take Sasha to the dentist and to the eye doctor while he is here. My friend, Dr. Tina Goodall, is taking care of his dental needs, so we are very thankful to her! However, I still needed someone to take care of his eye exam (and glasses, if needed). So, I sent a request out to our CCS Group for an optometrist that would be willing to donate his services for Sasha. There were FOUR doctors that were willing to donate their services!! Yes...FOUR!! I was overwhelmed by all of the responses that we received. I even had people email me and just tell me that they read my blog or that they were praying for us. We are very blessed that Dr. Jeff Stikeleather will be taking care of Sasha's eye care needs. Also, due to the overwhelming response, I have two other friends that are hosting orphans and I have their children's eye care needs met, as well.
We are fighting a battle just to determine if Sasha is even adoptable. However, yesterday I finally received a very encouraging email. It was from adoption agency #6 and she wrote: "At this time, we are only able to check the child's status through the federal databank for children. It appears that he is legally available for international adoption according to the information in the databank. (There is a child with the same first names, first initial of the last name and month and year of birth)" That is the closest we have gotten to finding out he is adoptable in the past two weeks!! It's not a guarantee but it's Hope. So, although the world tells us that Russia is too corrupt, that Russia is too expensive, that Russia requires too much paperwork, that the region Sasha lives is too difficult, etc., etc., we are going to continue to prepare our fields for the rain that we are expecting. We are not living by the world's standards but we are living by God's standards. And I do believe that my God is bigger than what the world is telling us is the impossible. According to James, we have not because we ask not. Of course, our motives for asking must line up with His Will but if they do, then we just need to ask.
You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:2b-3
Thank you for following our blog and please continue to pray for us as we fight this battle that is so worth fighting. This is a life at stake.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Discouragement after discouragement and we've barely even started!
Wow - the emotional roller coaster that I have been on in the past two weeks is unbelievable! We've barely started this process and we've already encountered obstacle after obstacle! I have to remind myself about James 1:2:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
I have talked to six adoption agencies. Yes, just in the past week, I have spoken to six agencies!! Here's a breakdown of those six agencies (without naming them):
Agency #1: The gentleman I spoke with gave me three different answers to the same question that I asked, depending on how I asked it and when I asked it. He did not seem very trustworthy and I found out he lost his accreditation, so that doesn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling.
Agency #2: This agency does not deal with Russia at all. Why? Because Russia is too difficult to deal with, the costs are outrageous and the government is very difficult to deal with. She compared Russia to Ukraine. Russia requires twice as much paperwork, costs $45-60K whereas Ukraine is $23-25K and you have to make 2-3 trips whereas Ukraine only requires one. Sigh.
Agency #3: This agency deals with Russia but does not deal with the region that Sasha's Orphanage is in. Why? Because that region is way too difficult to deal with. Oh my word...is it just me or is this a very sad, recurring theme here??? The children in Russia are living in Orphanages and have no families, just like the children in other parts of the world.
Agency #4: This agency doesn't know if they deal with the region in which Sasha's Orphanage is located; however, she is checking with their something or another (I can't remember what she called it) and will get back to me. Could be a week or more before she is able to get back to me. Sheesh, I'll just go paint my toenails while I wait! LOL
Agency #5: This agency deals with Russia but also does not deal with the region that Sasha's Orphanage is in. I didn't even bother to ask why at this point.
Agency #6: We finally found an agency that deals with Russia AND deals with the agency in which Sasha's Orphanage is located! Yeah! Right? Wrong!!
We now need to find out if Sasha is even eligible for adoption. The adoption agency doesn't have any way of knowing and referred us back to New Horizon's for Children (where we are hosting Sasha through). However, New Horizon's for Children is not an adoption agency, so they would have no way of knowing and that is why they referred us to an adoption agency. So, the adoption agency stated that the only way they could (or would) find out if Sasha is eligible for adoption is if we become their client. Well, in order to become a client, we have to start paying fees. Paying fees just to find out if he is even adoptable! Yikes!
So, as James says, we must count it all joy when we face trials of many kinds. Not "if" we face trials but "when". To count it all joy, means that we must be joyful in our trials, not necessarily joyful for our trials. I am joyful because I know that the trials we are facing to give this child a family that he doesn't have will only make me stronger. It is drawing me closer to Him and when I draw near to Him, He will draw near to me (James 4:8). It is building my character and developing my perseverance; which will make me mature and complete.
Please pray for us that God's Will be done in this situation. If we are mistaken and this is not the Lord's Will, then we pray he will slam the doors shut. However, we have received countless confirmations that we are on the right path, so we just pray that we won't allow the discouragements to get us down while we are trying to obey the Lord. We don't want to act out of our flesh or allow the world to tell us "no"...the only one we want to hear tell us "no" is the Lord Himself. We pray that we have the heart and wisdom to discern the difference.
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Philippians 4:19
I posted this on my Facebook Page last night: "The Will of God will not take you where the Grace of God will not cover you". Well, I believe that is what is being said in Philippians 4:19:
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
I don't believe that means that we get whatever we want but I do believe that means that when we "Trust in the LORD with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5), our needs become lined up with His. We can fully trust that God will always meet our needs, we just have to remember the difference between our wants and our needs. We also have to remember that what we feel we need may not be the same as what the Lord feels we need.
Today in our Sunday School Class, our teacher was teaching on prayer. He said that when we pray, we shouldn't always look to ask for a specific outcome, the way we want it. We should look to seek God's Will. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in asking God to do something the way we want him to do it, that when he answers our prayers, we don't even realize it because it wasn't what we asked for.
So, with that being said, we would like to ask for you to pray Philippians 4:19 for us. That the Lord will meet all of our needs (regarding the hosting and ultimate adoption of Sasha) according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
We have prayed fervently, asking the Lord to open all of the doors that need to be opened and to close all of the doors that need to be closed. In the past 3 weeks since we started this journey, many, many doors have been opened. We prayed that The Lord would supply our needs and so far, he has abundantly done so. Thank you to those that have followed the Lord's lead on your heart to help up in all of the ways that you have done so....we have been so very blessed! We are on this journey together and are excited for what is yet to come. We realize that it is not going to be easy but as Danny said, we are not planning on taking the easy route. We want God to be glorified in all of this!
Please consider printing this flier out and putting it on your fridge as a reminder to pray for a little boy in an orphanage in Eastern Europe, named Sasha.
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
I don't believe that means that we get whatever we want but I do believe that means that when we "Trust in the LORD with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5), our needs become lined up with His. We can fully trust that God will always meet our needs, we just have to remember the difference between our wants and our needs. We also have to remember that what we feel we need may not be the same as what the Lord feels we need.
Today in our Sunday School Class, our teacher was teaching on prayer. He said that when we pray, we shouldn't always look to ask for a specific outcome, the way we want it. We should look to seek God's Will. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in asking God to do something the way we want him to do it, that when he answers our prayers, we don't even realize it because it wasn't what we asked for.
So, with that being said, we would like to ask for you to pray Philippians 4:19 for us. That the Lord will meet all of our needs (regarding the hosting and ultimate adoption of Sasha) according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
We have prayed fervently, asking the Lord to open all of the doors that need to be opened and to close all of the doors that need to be closed. In the past 3 weeks since we started this journey, many, many doors have been opened. We prayed that The Lord would supply our needs and so far, he has abundantly done so. Thank you to those that have followed the Lord's lead on your heart to help up in all of the ways that you have done so....we have been so very blessed! We are on this journey together and are excited for what is yet to come. We realize that it is not going to be easy but as Danny said, we are not planning on taking the easy route. We want God to be glorified in all of this!
Please consider printing this flier out and putting it on your fridge as a reminder to pray for a little boy in an orphanage in Eastern Europe, named Sasha.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Danny's Response & The Rest of the Story!
I have to admit, I was not one hundred percent sure this is what God had planned for us but I am always willing to seek Him out for His will for our lives and the direction He wants us to go. The night I sat at the computer and looked at the photos of those children, it was not my normal practice to do this. But that night I just felt a push, if you will, to look at the little faces seeking out families. Than all of a sudden...BOOM! I caught myself looking into the eyes of a little boy named Sasha and felt this racing excitement in my heart. Was it God, I asked?
As I sat there reading his profile, the feelings that were racing through my heart was of Hope! This little boy's heart was shared and he had said that he was praying to Jesus for his family. I called April in and told her that this little boy is special and I want to pray about hosting him. As I went into the other room, I continued to pray and asked God that if this is the boy He wants to be part of our family, then move mountains and show me the way. For many days to come, Sasha was on my mind all the time...in the morning, at lunch and at the supper table. I prayed, "Lord hold this boy in your loving arms until he can be here with us".
As my excitement grew, I started making fliers and other info to hand out to everyone we know, because I knew this was going to be a long and trial-filled journey. I kept asking April if she had called any adoption agencies so we can find out if Sasha is able to be adopted or not. One day I came home and she told me that she had spoke with a couple of Eastern European adoption agencies. One of them had told her all this stuff; which I take to be negative info. Things such as: this is the toughest country to adopt from, not to mention the emphasis on how much money it takes. That's when the Lord took hold of my heart and said to me:
"Danny suit up in my armor and take hold of this journey I have for you, it will be tough, tiring, stressful and at times seem to be impossible. But prepare as through this journey I will first of all grow you, bring you and your family closer together and you will bring home your son!"
I looked at April and said "NO!" I do not care what they say...if its tough, expensive or whatever. I will not let this world put mountains in front of me to stop me from doing God's work. We are to move forward...we are not shopping for a new car, I do not care how expensive they say it is; my God can make all things possible! So I told April to hold my hands and lets pray harder that God continues to move in ways that cannot be explained so that He gets all the honor and glory. We prayed together and I vowed before my wife and my God that I will lead my family in our Savior's direction and push forward with His plans for adopting Sasha. We will endure trials when we do His work but He will also follow through with His blessings. As days pass and Sasha continues to be part of my daily prayer life, I can say that we are preparing for the blessings of the Lord.
I ask of you, please pray for the McLaughlin family and Sasha in an Eastern European Orphanage, that the Lord and the Lord only, bring us together this Christmas.
In His Grip,
Danny McLaughlin
As I sat there reading his profile, the feelings that were racing through my heart was of Hope! This little boy's heart was shared and he had said that he was praying to Jesus for his family. I called April in and told her that this little boy is special and I want to pray about hosting him. As I went into the other room, I continued to pray and asked God that if this is the boy He wants to be part of our family, then move mountains and show me the way. For many days to come, Sasha was on my mind all the time...in the morning, at lunch and at the supper table. I prayed, "Lord hold this boy in your loving arms until he can be here with us".
As my excitement grew, I started making fliers and other info to hand out to everyone we know, because I knew this was going to be a long and trial-filled journey. I kept asking April if she had called any adoption agencies so we can find out if Sasha is able to be adopted or not. One day I came home and she told me that she had spoke with a couple of Eastern European adoption agencies. One of them had told her all this stuff; which I take to be negative info. Things such as: this is the toughest country to adopt from, not to mention the emphasis on how much money it takes. That's when the Lord took hold of my heart and said to me:
"Danny suit up in my armor and take hold of this journey I have for you, it will be tough, tiring, stressful and at times seem to be impossible. But prepare as through this journey I will first of all grow you, bring you and your family closer together and you will bring home your son!"
I looked at April and said "NO!" I do not care what they say...if its tough, expensive or whatever. I will not let this world put mountains in front of me to stop me from doing God's work. We are to move forward...we are not shopping for a new car, I do not care how expensive they say it is; my God can make all things possible! So I told April to hold my hands and lets pray harder that God continues to move in ways that cannot be explained so that He gets all the honor and glory. We prayed together and I vowed before my wife and my God that I will lead my family in our Savior's direction and push forward with His plans for adopting Sasha. We will endure trials when we do His work but He will also follow through with His blessings. As days pass and Sasha continues to be part of my daily prayer life, I can say that we are preparing for the blessings of the Lord.
I ask of you, please pray for the McLaughlin family and Sasha in an Eastern European Orphanage, that the Lord and the Lord only, bring us together this Christmas.
In His Grip,
Danny McLaughlin
Bringing Sasha Home - James 1:27
Well, most of you are probably wondering what in the world this is all about. So, I will do my best to explain without writing a book. Please join my blog and follow us on this journey that The Lord is leading us on.
On Friday, October 22nd, I attended a women's retreat at our church. Well gosh, let me back up just a bit. On Oct 3rd, we were at our Sunday School Class at church and I had realized that we had not been getting any emails. So, I wrote our email down with a note to please add us. On Oct 13th, I received an email (via our Sunday School Class) from one of the ladies in our class that could not attend the retreat and wanted to give it away to someone else! Well, I had wanted to go but we decided that it would be better for us to save the money, so I wasn't planning on going. However, God had other plans! I took her up on her offer and got to attend the retreat at not cost to me! Keep in mind that I would have never gotten that email had I not asked to be added to the email list just a week and a half earlier!
That's where it all started. On that Friday, at the retreat, a lady there was explaining that she was hosting a child for the holidays through New Horizon's for Children. There was a book that she printed out with all the children available for hosting. I immediately found a child that caught my eye and my heart...his name is Kirill and he is from Estonia. I called Danny with the thought of hosting him for Christmas and he said, "Let's pray about it". Well, I thought about him throughout much of the weekend and Danny finally said, "Let's do it".
As soon as Monday came around, I called New Horizons for Children and left a message with two different ladies. On Tuesday, I didn't get a call back, so I called one of those ladies again. She informed me that they had to pull Estonia from the Hosting Program, so none of the children from Estonia are available for hosting. Oh, my heart broke! So, Danny had mentioned that if it was the Lord's Will, that we not give up. We really hadn't talked about it too much more that week, though. But I did receive many, many confirmations (did I say many?) in just the past 3 weeks, so I knew with every fiber of being within me that this is something that we needed to do.
Then, on Monday, November 1st, Danny decided to go onto the picture page for New Horizons (on his own accord) and look at the children that were still available for hosting. That's when he stumbled (ok, not sure that he actually stumbled) upon Sasha. He read Sasha's profile and called me into the room and said, "Honey, what about this little boy?" My heart melted that he was even looking at the site! So, I read the profile and thought "sure...why not". But I must admit, that my heart was still a little saddened at the loss of Kirill.
Well, Danny goes into the bedroom to lay down and I got on my computer. I decided to do a cut and paste, side by side that picture of Sasha next to Coby because I thought they definitely could pass as brothers. I emailed that to Danny (Yes, he was just in the other room!) and he emailed me back saying, "Let's do it!". I emailed him back that I would call New Horizon's the next morning and he emailed me back saying, "Let's pray". Yes, we are a couple of dorks emailing when we are almost touching distance from each other! Sixteen minutes after Danny sent me the email about praying, my phone rings. Keep in mind that it is now almost nine o'clock at night. I answered my phone and it was a lady from New Horizons. Also keep in mind that I had already spoken to someone from New Horizons, so there should have been no reason for them to be calling me. And, the lady that was calling was neither of the lady's I had originally left a message for! Coincidence? Surely not...our God is greater than a coincidence! By the end of the call, we had put Sasha on hold for hosting and were working to print out our 22 page application to send in.
Since November 1st, we have contacted a couple of adoption agencies to find out about possibly adopting Sasha. Come to find out, this country is one of the most difficult countries to adopt a child from. It is one of the most expensive (between $45k and $60k...yikes!!!), requires the most paperwork and is the most difficult to deal with. However, when I told Danny that, his response was..............well, maybe I will have him tell his side of the story.
Needless to say, we are bringing Sasha here on December 13th for almost 5 weeks to love on him, give him Hope and show him Jesus Christ! We are going to pursue adopting him and if that is the Lord's Will, then we will welcome him into our home and give him that "forever family" that he so greatly deserves.
James 1:27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and windows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
On Friday, October 22nd, I attended a women's retreat at our church. Well gosh, let me back up just a bit. On Oct 3rd, we were at our Sunday School Class at church and I had realized that we had not been getting any emails. So, I wrote our email down with a note to please add us. On Oct 13th, I received an email (via our Sunday School Class) from one of the ladies in our class that could not attend the retreat and wanted to give it away to someone else! Well, I had wanted to go but we decided that it would be better for us to save the money, so I wasn't planning on going. However, God had other plans! I took her up on her offer and got to attend the retreat at not cost to me! Keep in mind that I would have never gotten that email had I not asked to be added to the email list just a week and a half earlier!
That's where it all started. On that Friday, at the retreat, a lady there was explaining that she was hosting a child for the holidays through New Horizon's for Children. There was a book that she printed out with all the children available for hosting. I immediately found a child that caught my eye and my heart...his name is Kirill and he is from Estonia. I called Danny with the thought of hosting him for Christmas and he said, "Let's pray about it". Well, I thought about him throughout much of the weekend and Danny finally said, "Let's do it".
As soon as Monday came around, I called New Horizons for Children and left a message with two different ladies. On Tuesday, I didn't get a call back, so I called one of those ladies again. She informed me that they had to pull Estonia from the Hosting Program, so none of the children from Estonia are available for hosting. Oh, my heart broke! So, Danny had mentioned that if it was the Lord's Will, that we not give up. We really hadn't talked about it too much more that week, though. But I did receive many, many confirmations (did I say many?) in just the past 3 weeks, so I knew with every fiber of being within me that this is something that we needed to do.
Then, on Monday, November 1st, Danny decided to go onto the picture page for New Horizons (on his own accord) and look at the children that were still available for hosting. That's when he stumbled (ok, not sure that he actually stumbled) upon Sasha. He read Sasha's profile and called me into the room and said, "Honey, what about this little boy?" My heart melted that he was even looking at the site! So, I read the profile and thought "sure...why not". But I must admit, that my heart was still a little saddened at the loss of Kirill.
Well, Danny goes into the bedroom to lay down and I got on my computer. I decided to do a cut and paste, side by side that picture of Sasha next to Coby because I thought they definitely could pass as brothers. I emailed that to Danny (Yes, he was just in the other room!) and he emailed me back saying, "Let's do it!". I emailed him back that I would call New Horizon's the next morning and he emailed me back saying, "Let's pray". Yes, we are a couple of dorks emailing when we are almost touching distance from each other! Sixteen minutes after Danny sent me the email about praying, my phone rings. Keep in mind that it is now almost nine o'clock at night. I answered my phone and it was a lady from New Horizons. Also keep in mind that I had already spoken to someone from New Horizons, so there should have been no reason for them to be calling me. And, the lady that was calling was neither of the lady's I had originally left a message for! Coincidence? Surely not...our God is greater than a coincidence! By the end of the call, we had put Sasha on hold for hosting and were working to print out our 22 page application to send in.
Since November 1st, we have contacted a couple of adoption agencies to find out about possibly adopting Sasha. Come to find out, this country is one of the most difficult countries to adopt a child from. It is one of the most expensive (between $45k and $60k...yikes!!!), requires the most paperwork and is the most difficult to deal with. However, when I told Danny that, his response was..............well, maybe I will have him tell his side of the story.
Needless to say, we are bringing Sasha here on December 13th for almost 5 weeks to love on him, give him Hope and show him Jesus Christ! We are going to pursue adopting him and if that is the Lord's Will, then we will welcome him into our home and give him that "forever family" that he so greatly deserves.
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