I'm a little late posting this to the blog, but last week we announced to family and friends that we are answering God's call to adopt from Latin America! It's an exciting time, even if we're just in the very beginning stages of the process.
Late last month the Lord instructed me to go on a mission trip to Latin America this coming summer with my best friend, her husband, and a small group from the church they pastor down in Louisiana. When I heard the voice of the Lord tell me to plan for this trip, adoption was not on my radar. At all. Robby and I were not looking to expand the family in any way (biologically or by adopting) anytime soon. The twins are still babies and we have four other children- life is very full! However, it wasn't long before the thought entered my mind; albeit way, way in the back of it. The more I focused on raising funds and planning for the trip, I found that this mere "thought" of adoption began to sort of nip at my heels everywhere I went. I didn't bring it up in conversation to Robby because I was uncertain about it, but on the evening of March 8th I was in the midst of some alone time with God when I heard Him clearly speak. He told me to turn to Matthew 2:18 in my Bible. I didn't know this verse and on my way to search for it, my eyes caught sight of the following:
“A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted,
Because they are no more.”
Upon reading it, I thought to myself, "Man, if God gave me that verse, I'd know He was telling me to adopt". When I flipped the page to continue on to Matthew 2:18, I quickly realized that the verse I had just read was, in fact, Matthew 2:18. All at once it hit me- God was telling me to adopt from Latin America. I knew it deep down inside my spirit and I couldn't deny it any longer.
A little later that night, I was in tears as I shared this revelation with Robby. However, he was not convinced. The following day we were text messaging back and forth while he was at work. He told me point blank that he didn't feel that starting the adoption process currently was "the right timing". He also said that he has never felt a calling to this particular country, adoption or otherwise. This was quite upsetting for me as I wrestled with whether or not I had heard from God correctly. I cried, I prayed, and I made sarcastic remarks about being a "nut job". Regardless of my emotions, the truth sat on the inside of me like a solid rock. When my day came to a close, I knew that I knew that this was God. Robby decided that he would take the following day to fast and pray for an answer from the Lord. I came to the conclusion that I, too, would fast and pray that he would receive certain direction from the Holy Spirit, whatever that might be.
Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted,
Because they are no more.”
Upon reading it, I thought to myself, "Man, if God gave me that verse, I'd know He was telling me to adopt". When I flipped the page to continue on to Matthew 2:18, I quickly realized that the verse I had just read was, in fact, Matthew 2:18. All at once it hit me- God was telling me to adopt from Latin America. I knew it deep down inside my spirit and I couldn't deny it any longer.
A little later that night, I was in tears as I shared this revelation with Robby. However, he was not convinced. The following day we were text messaging back and forth while he was at work. He told me point blank that he didn't feel that starting the adoption process currently was "the right timing". He also said that he has never felt a calling to this particular country, adoption or otherwise. This was quite upsetting for me as I wrestled with whether or not I had heard from God correctly. I cried, I prayed, and I made sarcastic remarks about being a "nut job". Regardless of my emotions, the truth sat on the inside of me like a solid rock. When my day came to a close, I knew that I knew that this was God. Robby decided that he would take the following day to fast and pray for an answer from the Lord. I came to the conclusion that I, too, would fast and pray that he would receive certain direction from the Holy Spirit, whatever that might be.
The next day seemed excruciatingly long and I was anxious to hear what Robby would say that evening when he returned home from work. I didn't have high hopes, to be honest with you. After he was home and I'd brewed some coffee for us, we made our way to the dining room table together to talk it out. But before he'd even taken his seat, he looked at me and said, "Well, God gave me a dream last night..." He went on to explain a very detailed vision that in no uncertain terms he felt was the Lord instructing him to pursue a child from Latin America. By the time he was finished, my jaw was practically on the floor from shock! I could recall only a couple of times in the past 12 years that we've been married that Robby has expressed feeling that God had spoken to him via a dream. I mean, the guy hardly dreams at all, for that matter! It was especially meaningful to he and I both somehow. And as it turns out, I wasn't crazy after all.
Since that time we have applied with an adoption agency and have been welcomed into the Latin American program with them. We have completed one conference call with our agency, have printed our entire 133 page manual, and have begun filling out the paperwork. Oh boy is there plenty of that to be done!
Since that time we have applied with an adoption agency and have been welcomed into the Latin American program with them. We have completed one conference call with our agency, have printed our entire 133 page manual, and have begun filling out the paperwork. Oh boy is there plenty of that to be done!
On a separate note, something that not many people know about our adoption is that it is "special needs" across the board. We went into this process knowing and being fully aware that our agency only places waiting, special needs children from Latin America into families. The children are divided into three categories:
1) Children aged 9 and up are considered "special needs" because they're older and are much less likely than younger children to be adopted
2) Children aged 8 and below are some type of medical "special needs", ranging from moderate to severe, and those needs typically cannot be corrected with medical intervention
3) Sibling groups are considered "special needs" because the children must be adopted together
In addition to the above information, it is also a little-known fact that there are no infants available for adoption. The youngest available age is approximately 2 years old, however even that young of a child becoming available is somewhat rare. Having said that, we are open to whatever we feel God is leading us to do, whether that be a sibling group, an older child, or a single child with severe or moderate special needs. Our intention is to obey the calling of God on our lives and we will do whatever it takes to make sure we are pleasing to Him. We will welcome this child or children into our family with open arms while keeping our trust in the One who ultimately created them.
Right now we are at a standstill in the approximately 2 year process. We have a $3,231.25 payment to the agency due now and we're doing everything we can to put together that money and get it to them immediately. We know that God has called us to this and where He calls, He provides. We trust Him.
Right now we are at a standstill in the approximately 2 year process. We have a $3,231.25 payment to the agency due now and we're doing everything we can to put together that money and get it to them immediately. We know that God has called us to this and where He calls, He provides. We trust Him.
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