Wondering why?

James 1:27

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: To look after orphans and widows in their distress and keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

Dear friends and family,

About 18 months ago God started whispering to my heart about considering adoption when our Student Ministries Pastor and his wife (Todd & Summer Roughton) were at the beginning of their own adoption. At the time my body was a mess of unchecked Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, and chronic back & neck pain; not the best scenario to introduce a little one into.

I started praying about it and, during yet another experience in hearing God’s desire for us to adopt through a speaker at a Homeschooling Conference, I asked Rich to start praying about it too. The subject of adoption kept coming up through any avenue God saw fit to use; movies, books, bible studies, and of course, scripture. It was undeniable and unavoidable; Jesus had a plan for our family. We’ve taught our boys that it doesn’t matter how much you study the bible; you have to live it. In short, they were on board long before we were.

God has moved mountains in our world to accommodate obedience. He’s addressed nearly all of my physical issues, including the latest surgery on my back that should resolve most of my daily pain! The fitting response to getting a second chance at a normal life is to extend that blessing to a little one who’s chance at basic survival is disturbingly low. (Internationally, 80% of special needs children who age-out and are then institutionalized, die within the 1^st year.) Then finally, God softened and spoke to Rich’s heart on the subject; although in his defense he is already pretty dang tender!

So where do we start? There’s so much need. I looked at so many websites and read so many biographies of waiting children and what captured my heart was a 3 year old Down’s syndrome little boy named Drake (Patrikas in Lithuanian) and he lives in Lithuania. He was the only one out of all those kids that had stated in his bio, “He’s 3 years old and nobody visits him. No one is interested in him.” My heart broke. The Holy Spirit whispered, “Yes.” and that’s all it took. We’re praying he is still available and even if he’s not, I was blessed and burdened with a glimpse of how Jesus feels about these forgotten special little ones and we will continue in our search for the son we haven’t met yet.

With all that said, the fact is adoption is expensive, annoyingly so, however it shouldn’t be a hindrance in our obedience. We’ll be able to put a large amount towards the balance with our tax return in mid- February and selling things we’ll be making like bracelets & knitted fingerless mittens, but even with that we’ll still need help. Thankfully there is a sum of money that’s been donated toward Drake’s adoption through a website called Reece’s Rainbow, but there’s still a large amount needed. We’re asking that you pray about donating towards bringing home the little one God has waiting for us. This will, no doubt, prove to be the hardest and most amazing experience of our family’s life. No matter what you decide, we ask that you join us in continual prayer.

All for Him,

Meg, Rich, & the Boys: Jake, Jadin, Emmett, Teigan, Dax, & little Drake…

The sooner we get this money (& paper work) in the sooner he comes home to his forever family, it could even be as soon as February if we can raise the money fast!

Thank you!