Isaiah 6:8
Following the LORD with reckless abandon truly is such an amazing adventure. Committing to bringing sweet Hasya home was such a joy. God deciding that it was time to grow our family through the blessing of adoption once again was embraced with much excitement and anticipation in our family. I cannot even begin to tell you how much we already adore that little girl whom we have not even met yet.
But there’s more. God was not done with us. Little did we know that He would begin to stir our hearts for something which didn’t quite make sense in the beginning. The only thing we knew was that no matter where the Lord was leading us, our answer would be yes and Amen–no matter what!
We put our yes on the table.
“Whatever, God!” is what we always tell the Lord. We only want His perfect will for our lives.
It goes without saying that our hearts have totally been broken for the orphans who call Pleven (Hasya’s orphanage) their home. You cannot see the pictures and read the stories that are being shared by other parents who have adopted from that place and not have your heart be challenged. When that still, small voice started beckoning us once again, we wondered what it all meant.
Pleven?
We prayed.
We waited.
We knew the Father would absolutely show us the way. He always does.
With all the recent media attention Pleven has been getting (which is a GOOD thing), we began to watch God’s redemptive plan for the children in that orphanage begin to unfold. Children who are available for adoption are finding families. God has been doing something awesome through His people. Funds continue to be raised and sent for medical supplies and additional staff for this orphanage. Though there is still so much to be done, the army of God has been mobilized to get involved and mountains definitely are moving! Hallelujah!
One night I sat at my computer looking through lists of waiting children in Bulgaria–praying that ALL would be chosen. I began to ache for the children I have seen for months and months…waiting, waiting, waiting. A desperate sadness overcame me. I felt devastated for the children who are going unnoticed–the ones who languish in similar heinous places and know nothing but a miserable life inside the confines of a crib.
God began to stir my heart. I knew then that He was going to lead us differently to what we originally thought.
The next day my friend Shelley sent me a picture. I knew the child. He was one whom I had seen wait for ages to be noticed, to be claimed as someone’s precious son. Shelley told me that he had been available for adoption for a very, very long time, but sadly, had never been chosen. His file had been returned to Bulgaria.
But God! By the grace of a loving and merciful God this little lovie had been given a second chance at being FOUND! His file was back and he was once again available.
I read the words “adult mental institution” with a lump in my throat. He had already been transferred from a baby house to a mental asylum. If you have followed my blog for a while, you too know what that means!
Oh, God in heaven!
I found out that he is in a very, very rough place. It’s a dark place where children suffer at the hands of people and the unthinkable conditions they are forced to live in. It’s a place where children scrounge for food off the filthy floor and develop a survival of the fittest mentality. We realized the urgency of this sweet boy being rescued.
Anthony and I prayed and sought the Father with all of our hearts.
A few days later a text came from my husband.
“Honey, we cannot leave him there!”
No, absolutely we cannot!
What an absolute joy and delight it is for us to introduce you all to our new son….our very first adopted son. “Drew” (still to be named) is eight years old. He’s a teeny little guy, weighing in at 27 pounds. We are beyond thrilled that the LORD has chosen to bless our family with one more treasure with perfect designer genes. “Drew” has Down syndrome. He is extremely delayed in all areas of his life and is still unable to walk. Drew spends his days in the confines of a crib.
But all that is about to change.
We have two pictures. Both are very old. We have no idea what he looks like now. But that’s okay.
And so we will travel to two different orphanages to adopt our children. We know that this little boy has been hand-picked by the Almighty Father for our family. What a JOY he will be!
Hang in there, precious son. You are NOT forsaken. God loves you and He has made a way for you to be rescued! You have finally been chosen!
How blessed we feel. Nine sharp arrows in our quiver!
What did we ever do to deserve this life that the Father has chosen for us?
With a heart overflowing with thankfulness today. He is mighty to save the orphan!
