I will not leave you as orphans; I will come for you.
John 14:18
Looking back, this all started in September of 2011. My mom was here visiting and we attended a Saturday Church service at NCC.
We had just begun a new series- The A1:8 Movement, ordinary people, empowered by God's spirit, doing what Jesus did, together, wherever they are.
During the service a pamphlet was handed out with all of our churches mission trips for the year, local, domestic, and international. I thumbed through during the service and once more at the end.
When we left church that evening I told my mom, "I think I am going to Africa." When we arrived home I talked to Evan and told him also, "I think I want to go to Africa." His reply, "That's great but we will have to see if we have the money."
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May we continue to grow in our gratitude to the God who saves, and may we radically extend His redeeming love to a world in need.
T.M. Orphanology
Fall 2011 was, as always a wonderful season here in Virginia. We were able to spend quality time with Evan's parents here in DC and we took a trip(their first time) to NYC. I felt fortunate to be able to tell them both in person of my plans for summer 2012 -going to the DRC in Africa to help an orphanage. They had many questions but were excited for me and how the Lord was moving in my life to help change the lives of others.
A theme that really seemed to permeate the fall was Evan and I discussing wanting to start a family. We both adore children and could not wait to have little ones of our own.
In November I had my very fist Congo information meeting. I was faced with conflicting thoughts that day, is Congo the right decision if we want to start a family? But as the meeting began it was evident that my heart for Africa was growing. It was great to learn more detail about the mission and get to know the people involved. The team spirit was contagious.
Coming home from the meeting that day I told Evan everything I had learned. We decided due to the cost of the trip that we would only be able to afford for one of us to go to Africa. Then Evan and I began praying for what God could do through me and this group heading to the Congo.
When it comes to caring for the people on God's heart, indifference is a sin.
Tom Davis, Fields of the Fatherless
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Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:27
December came too fast, as usual. We were busy deciding who to put on our naughty and nice list so we could get our gift buying out of the way.
Early in the month I had my first Congo commitment meeting where I had to complete forms to officially go on the trip, and Evan and I had to place the deposit my fundraising account. Phew. And YAY! I was going to Africa!
I also learned we had established three objectives for the trip:
education: to establish a curriculum where they could learn English
medical care: preventative
play: basically last year they told us, "All work and no play make Jack a dull boy." They want to have some fun.
Now, we just needed to develop a plan to help make them a sustainable orphanage in all of these specific ares. Meaning, we are not just bringing them things but teaching them how to obtain and sustain these tools over time to improve their program.
Christmas was coming way too quickly and we were making our party rounds. While at an event with a bunch of friends from church we ran into the Krugers, Sara and Mike had just adopted an african american baby boy domestically from Maryland. Evan and I talked with them and held their new baby Theodore. We were really touched by their decision to adopt and in brought about many conversations between Evan and I in the coming weeks. We had always thought about adoption so this definitely got our wheels turning. We became so interested that we began to research adoption on our own, Domestic vs, International and Private vs. Agency.
For Christmas we visited my family in Michigan. It was great to finally get to share with them the news of my upcoming trip to Congo and all about the orphanage and how we will be helping them. One question that did surface often was why we could not go on the trip together. But I knew it would be difficult enough to fund my trip alone, we could not afford to send us both.
Sometimes I'd like to ask God why He allows poverty, famine, and injustice in the world when He could do something about it...But I'm afraid God might ask me the same question.
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34% of Christian families consider adoption;
Only 1% actually do it.
There are 163+ million orphans who desperately need a forever family;
If only 7% of Christians adopted there would be no more orphans.
Shortly after the the holidays ended we found ourselves back in Virginia diving head first into learning more about Africa and the Congo for my mission trip. We also continued researching adoption.
Early in the month God arranges(what our pastor Mark Batterson likes to call) a divine appointment. I ran into a lady that practices at my yoga studio I had not seen in months, and I had been thinking about her because I remembered that she mentioned that she worked for an adoption agency. It took me quite some time to go up to her and ask for more information. It's one thing to think about adoption and do your own research, but it seemed like a really big deal to have to say it out loud.
Rebecca informed me of good places to get started and referred us to an adoption attorney that she liked and respected. Best of all she was elated that we were even interested which I found very encouraging. Our conversation ended by her reassuring me, "God already knows your future child."
Mid-January we were shocked by the enormous outpouring from friends and family to support my Congo mission trip. Evan and I began discussing the possibility of us being able to embark on this journey to Africa together. We emailed our team and began praying about it. The next thing we knew, my trip had been fully funded and Evan is coming to the Congo with me!
In the same week we meet with Mark McDermott(adoption attorney), per Rebecca's recommendation. The meeting goes amazingly well and after all of our research at home and what he has to say, domestic adoption looks like our best option. However, we are not sure God has closed the door on international adoption. The most important thing to us is that we make an informed decision.
We give it a couple more weeks of research and are quickly discovering that we meet none of the requirements for international adoption, but something is still holding us back from going all in with domestic adoption.
Adoption has never been plan B; it has always been plan A. It existed before the world existed. Paul wrote, "In love, He predestined us for adoption as sons though Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will.
Ephesians 1:4-5
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February arrives but you wouldn't even know it with the beautiful Virginia weather. We are reading our pastors latest book The Circle Maker. I thought this book was almost life changing for me. We know that adoption is something God had laid on our hearts so I began fasting and praying knowing God would reveal His plan.
We continue reading recommended reading for our trip to Africa and researching adoption. Then I decide for no reason at all to look up Congo adoption. I find one blog, and then another...and slowly but surely a plan unravels before our eyes. I research agencies and decide to contact OWAS. They put me in touch with a lady by the name of Terri right away. She assures me that we meet all of the requirements for a Congolese adoption. I think I was tearing up at this point, then the last words out of Terri's mouth..."God already knows your future child."
We applied for an international adoption from the Democratic Republic of Congo on Feburary 2nd, 2012.
One of the greatest blessings God can give through adoption is the understanding that He desires for His church here on earth to look like the kingdom of heaven. He desires for every nation, tribe and tongue to worship His together as one.
