Two years ago I laid eyes on four little faces, my heart leaped forward as if to grab them and pull them into a safe place.
Soon after that unforgettable moment I was given a voice, a voice that could only come from the tender heart of God. Everywhere I could I shared the program that would lead to these children, a hosting program, it took guts, courage and something fierce. Up until that first moment I stood to speak and share I had only experienced extreme nervousness when speaking in front of crowds, not only had I fainted once, but occasionally I would also have diarrhea and vomit and I cried almost every time! That first moment I shared the hosting program I felt faint but each time I stood I became stronger and each time my voice became louder and more determined!
Hosting is a program that allows a family to bring in an orphaned child from Ukraine for 6 to 8 weeks over the winter and summer holidays. Some organizations have these programs for other countries as well, such as China and Latvia, or even Guatemala. The amazing news for these children coming into your home and traveling days to reach you is 80% of them find their forever families while visiting. It could be you or it could be a friend, family or stranger but many of them soon after hosting come home forever because of the hospitality that you showed them while they were in your home. I thought for sure that God would find them a home, a family, if I shared. Honestly it felt like obedience, God would press it on my heart and the moment I said yes to sharing He opened all the doors each time. It was painful, my legs felt like they were weak and shaking and my heart would be pounding and that same heart didn’t want to share them, I didn’t want them to be in someone else’s family! I stood up there in front of friends and family sharing the opportunity of hosting in hopes that someone anyone would host THEM adopt THEM, my heart’s children. I was desperate for someone to take them, it felt like I was advocating for my very own. I would often times leave those places feeling despair that no one would come. All the while knowing that I loved them like my own, I continued to share! God was at work, He used that year of advocating for His purpose, even if I never see the fruit of my anxiety and insecurities, God sees and He was able to use my weakness for His Glory!
Today after almost two years of praying for these four WE have a travel date to make them our own. In less than a month I will be making my way across the world to make them OUR forever family! It baffles and mystifies but God is in every corner and has opened up every door, window and gate to bring them home. He is so good! He prepared the way, He will not leave them in that place, and He will not let their future disappear and their hearts be hardened. He will heal, redeem and transform! I am filled with honor and blessings of tears of joy, knowing that God will break my heart for them over and over again to fulfill His purpose. This will be our second adoption within almost a year’s time. This very time last year we were adopting their closest friends, two boys from a group of about 14 children including the four we will be traveling for within a month. Shortly after returning home in the midst of heartache and hardship, parenting our newly adopted arrivals and struggling through the process of healing we said, “yes” to God’s pressing, His demand to go back to Ukraine for the other four.
You too can host a child from Ukraine over the Winter or Summer! Please contact any of the organizations below for details on a photo listing.
