A Glimmer

I've spent a lot of time praying over the last couple of days.  Wednesday night I was able to attend the Presidential Pro Life Forum put on by Personhood USA and then came home to spend the night throwing up alongside Jules.  Whenever I'm down, I figure the Lord wants me to pray.  A lot.  So I got on the spirtual battlefield while Clay held down the homefront and let me be sick in bed.

We recieved a "maybe" from the final adoption agency on Wednesday afternoon.  They are doing everything they can to investigate our case and make decisions as to the probability of the Russians accepting it and the situation being a good fit for all involved.  Meanwhile, we are waiting and praying for those little guys and for the Lord's angels to pave a way over to them to get them home.

We were told that if we don't adopt these guys, it's most likely that they will remain instituionalised until they age out.  The statistics we've seen on children who age out in Russia are beyond dismal.  They will pretty much all end in suicide, homelessness, prostitution, and joblessness.  The enemy does not want these boys placed in a covenant home where the gospel will be lived out and shared with them daily.

People will say, "What a good thing you're doing, trying to adopt these kids."  We don't think it's good, we feel that it is our responsibility.  God has placed these boys on our hearts as if they were our own, and we feel that it would be criminal not to do everything we can to bring them home.  We don't think we're doing something good or saving anyone.  We're just doing what any Christian parent would do for their child in distress.  It is our duty.

What about the other kids?  What if these boys never attach?  What about their emotional problems?  What if they ruin your life?  These are all good questions, but we have faith that when we are following God's call that He will work out everything for good.  It doesn't mean life will be easy.  We fully expect these children to have special emotional needs, as well as the children already living in our own home.

We are not naive of the dangers or the bumpy path ahead.  But, we do believe that when we are trying our best to listen to God's voice and obediently walk in His ways, that He will carry us through every bump and that we will be safe in His will.  Bad things happen to "good" people.  There's a reason for that:

 "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."  Romans 5:3-5

Nobody needs to look for or sign up for suffering.  It is everywhere and inevitable.  It is the response to suffering that makes all the difference and determines whether you will grow in perseverance, character and hope or not.

Continue in prayer with us.  We appreciate your support.  A leading scientist at CDC is headed to Russia on January 31st, and will make a case for the expedition of these boys adoption due to medical needs, on our behalf.  We hope to be approved by then.