Stepping Out

"Being emotional about something will cause us to cry, but being compassionate will actually cause us to cross the street." -Perry Noble

This quote perfectly describes what's been going on in our house for the past 2 years. The difference between 2 years ago and today... we're putting our shoes on. We're adopting from Africa.

About 2 years ago, we felt that God had been laying on our hearts the issue of adoption. We attended a meeting at Bethany Christian Services here in Knoxville and coming out of that meeting, we felt sure that God was leading us to adopt internationally, specifically China. Since we did not meet the age requirements yet, we decided to pray and wait. About 5 months ago, we felt again like God was speaking to us again about adoption, this time with more of an urgency. So, after much prayer, we went back to Bethany. We looked into domestic, international, special needs, siblings, and foster care. Leaving that meeting, we still felt 100% called to international adoption. After filling out the preliminary application with the Bethany rep, the only country we qualified for to adopt from right now was Ethiopia. So that's what we're doing... adopting siblings from Ethiopia.

Some info about Ethiopia... Third-world country, approximately 4-6 million orphans in Ethiopia alone, HIV and AIDS galore, severe malnourishment. We have to help. How can we not take this opportunity adopt children that God loves and love them ourselves, clothe them, give them medical care, feed them, and teach them about Jesus. Out of obedience. Not obligation.

So we moved on to the next step which is the homestudy. A homestudy is A TON of paperwork about you, your family, your childhood, fingerprints, background checks, medical stuff, your call to adoption, and on and on and on. We've finished all that and turned it in right after Christmas. Then, a representative from the adoption agency took us through an interview process consisting of 4 interviews. She has written everything up and sent it off for the final approval. We're hoping to hear back REALLY soon so we can begin the immigration paperwork. We're not sure what all that includes. We do know that some of the official paperwork can take several weeks and even months to get back. Please pray that the turnaround is quick.

We'll keep you updated as the process continues. Right now, we need your prayers for our family, extended family, and two little ones over in Africa.

"Delight yourself in the LORD;

And He will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD,

Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun."

Psalm 37:4-6