8/1/18

I once heard a comedian say that any time we "ugly cry" about something, we tend to fixate on a phrase and do a cathartic chant to ourselves (e.g. "Why? Why? Why?") until we are done sobbing.  He suggested that there was one phrase that we could put on repeat for any situation that drove us to tears: "I did my best." I think he's right. It's surprisingly universal.

We’ve finally hit some speed bumps on our trip to China, and it has been frustrating. But you know what? I did my best. I feel good about our timeline because I know that God is totally in control of the frustrating little hold-ups.  I just re-read my previous updates and became re-acquainted with this last year’s rollercoaster. I keep thinking I’m a couple months from the finish line, but the line keeps moving. If I didn’t really believe that God has a date picked out for us to meet our son, I think I’d be angry at my setbacks.  Knowing there is a bigger picture keeps me sane. As long as I know that I’ve done my best to get things done as quickly and prudently as possible, I can be at peace. That doesn’t mean I didn’t vent to a few of you about how these stupid paperwork glitches have cost us at least a month and a couple hundred dollars.  But losing hope because I’ve lost control is different than being annoyed. God is teaching me to be patient and to be okay with timelines that seem to be inefficient to me. I can think of so many reasons why God should let us go to China this month, but I have to believe that He is better and bigger and smarter than me.

Romans 5:3-5 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to be patient.  And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady. Then, when that happens, we are able to hold our heads high no matter what happens and know that all is well, for we know how dearly God loves us, and we feel this warm love everywhere within us because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Gosh, I love those verses right now! I want nothing more than to be able to tell you all when we will be leaving for China, but I can’t see that yet.  Please keep praying for us to be patient and to have faith and hope.

In the meantime, we’re doing one more event to help us get to China.  In a previous post I had shared something God was teaching us,

“Jesus chose to know what it felt like to be looked down on in a society that did not value orphans, fatherless adoptees, the poor, or widows.  It’s very likely that Jesus grew up in exactly that social bracket. But he chose it. It’s amazing what he did to show humility and empathy and love for us.  No matter what we are going through, God hears our pain, and it’s always nice to talk to someone who empathizes with us.”

While learning about God’s relationship with the “poor and powerless,” we found this amazing fundraiser that raises funds for both orphans and widows (James 1:27 “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress...”).  It’s called Both Hands Ministries (One for the Orphan, One for the Widow.  Click here for the website and more info).  Just like a jog-a-thon, we’ll be getting sponsors, but instead of getting support for running in a circle, we will be fixing up a widow’s home September 22.  One hundred percent of the proceeds will go toward our widow’s home and toward our adoption. The widow we are partnering with is an amazing woman.  Her best friend left her life in 2011, but she was caring for his declining health for 18 years before that. Please consider donating to give her the home repairs she needs and deserves! She has so much faith that God is going to do good things in her life, and I can’t wait to update you about this project when we are done. You can donate to our fundraiser page by clicking here.  (I have heard that our current website isn’t consistent in allowing you to donate to the adoption, so if you want to donate to the Both Hands page instead, that will work for us just as well.)