So, last Monday, we thought we had a month to raise $20,000 to bring our kiddo home.

Then, by Wednesday, we heard that it was two weeks. We took a deep breath.

On Thursday, we found out that, no, we had it wrong again. It was ONE week. We couldn’t decide whether to panic or just laugh out loud at the absurdity of it.

As Christians, Tim and I are constantly challenged by Jesus’ teaching about worry. The teaching is pretty simple: “Do not worry.” Jesus asks us, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” In our culture, not worrying is seen as almost irresponsible, even though any real reflection will force us to admit that worry accomplishes nothing. No extra hours added to our lives. No changed circumstances. So Tim and I made a choice. Though it’s much easier said than done, we decided that we would view this as an adventure rather than a freak-out-moment. And yes, we laughed at the absurdity of it. 

One week later (accounting for a few checks still on the way), we have arrived at our goal! Not in a month, not in two weeks….in ONE week. Generosity poured in from every corner of our our lives, every stage of our history, and in some cases, from people we’ve never met. Elementary school friends, junior high friends, high school and college and grad school friends, met-them-along-the way-friends. Brothers and sisters and parents. Aunts and uncles and cousins and God-parents and might-as-well-be-relatives. Realtors and professors and summer camp kids (now adults) from 17 years ago. I mean, come on now. Shake your head with us. Laugh a bit, both at the absurdity and the beauty. 

I’ve teared up more times than I can count this week. There is no way for us to adequately say thank you for your generosity. All I can say is that I cannot wait to tell Daniel someday about the village of people that helped bring him home. We still have a long road ahead (the timeline to get to him is unknown), but we are headed into it newly encouraged. Thank you, thank you, thank you!