The Suprise of a Lifetime

I was not supposed to know about this. 

But on my way out the door to Ethiopia, I found out that 2 women I have never met had secretly stayed up late into the night preparing the suprise of a lifetime for my family:

http://give1save1.com/2012/01/02/new-year-new-family/

A few weeks ago, Beth from give1save1.com invited us to be featured on her website that raises money for adoptive families.  Her website gives families one week on the blog, and every penny donated goes to the feature family. 

God pulled on my heart that there was another family that needed this opportunity more than we did, so I directed her to my dear friend Chrissy, the mother of 7 who is currently adopting a sibling set of 5.  

What did Chrissy do with that opportunity?  She gave it back to me. 
She did this.  She stayed up late painting this beautiful picture of our family by video, and submitting us to give1save1. 

I have never met Chrissy.

I will meet her next week, on the other side of the world, as we stand together in court to claim our children.

Let me tell you something.  If you are considering adoption, and feel like you might not have enough support, enough money, enough time, enough strength...God fills in those gaps. 

He forces you to rely on Him alone.  He uses people you have never met, friends old and new, and He showers His blessings upon those who follow the call.  Paul and I witness this every single day, even on the tough days when you think you won't make it. 

He healed these babies who were starving to death.

He is the strength of our life.

So for those of you who feel called to be a Father to the Fatherless...take the plunge.  

Look at what God is doing!  

I'm going over there to show you what can be done through Christ alone, without any help from us.

And to show you what God can do with a germaphobic, broken, fearful woman who hands it all over to Christ and finally gives in to the great big love of a God who never stops loving us.

To show you that 

 He heals broken hearts and crippled souls in an instant. 

There is no strength, no courage, no resources within our own human souls that make us capable of doing anything close to what we can do when we repent and turn to Him. 

I'll see you on the other side!

Thank you, Jensen Family.