It's unfathomable to think I've been absent from the blogosphere for just short of six (6) months. I guess I'm a bit ashamed that I take such little delight in chronicling a move of God in the life of my family. Thank God for his grace. You'll have to forgive me but I can't allocate a great deal of to time beating myself up, there is news on the African front.
As referenced multiple times the adoption process is unlike any other. It operates on it's own schedule, answers only to itself, and delights in frustrating those closest to it. For many this is a cause for frustration. For us this is the beauty within the beast. In the midst of the doubt, the confusion, and the uncertainty the power of God is clearly revealed in audacious fashion. Let me explain.
As many are aware, late last year Julie and I chose to adopt a baby boy from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Full of excitement and zeal we forged ahead filing paperwork, generating funds, and indoctrinating ourselves in the rich history of the DRC and it's people. We were invested. We were optimistic. We were mistaken. In early April we received an email from our now former adoption agency informing Julie and I that Congolese law states that any adoptive parent wishing to adopt must have been married for at least five (5) years prior to adopting. I won't lie, it hurt. We raised this question upon coming to the decision to adopt from the DRC and were assured it was not binding. It was. See, the thing about adoption is you can't simply throw darts at a map in hopes of selecting a country. Each country is uniquely diverse in regard to the stipulations set forth for adoptive parents. There are age requirements, marriage conditions, and many countries are closed. All that said it left Julie and I with limited options. Not being discouraged we forged ahead. Via prayer and the best investigative research we could muster God lead us to the beautiful West African nation of Ghana. We were in love all over again. Ghana had no marriage requirements, the children were strikingly gorgeous, and the time frame to adopt was manageable (12 - 18 months). Additionally God blessed us with a new agency based in Washington state that has been nothing short of tremendous to work with. Month after month we submitted document after document, made payment after payment, offered up prayer after prayer. Then the call came. We were first on the list for a baby boy from Ghana age 0-3. We were stoked. There was only one small side note; because of the relatively stable infrastructure within Ghana and a strong domestic adoption program in very rare occurrences were children age 0-3 placed in homes. The long and short of it, WAIT. It could be six (6) months or two (2) years, no way to tell. The unknown can frustrate. All this preparation to simply wait with no real guarantee of bringing home a son.
This is where it gets fun. A few weeks ago we received an email from our adoption agency informing us of a new 'pilot program' not yet open and in great need of parents willing to take a chance. You guessed it, we proudly introduce you to country number three, Uganda. At this point it feels like an episode of the Wheel of Fortune gone wrong. Except in this instance I'm playing the role of Pat Sajak and not dealing in exotic vacations but potential adoptive countries. So there you have it. In love again.
God does work in mysterious ways. Throughout this process Julie and I have changed course many times, but never once have we questioned the one who holds the compass. In life there is constant uncertainty. Reason for panic. Fear of the future. I hope our adoption journey can bless you and reaffirm in your heart and soul that God is always in control. Each door that opens or closes is by his hand. Trust in his guidance and lean not on your own understanding. Pray audaciously and never be afraid to ask God for the impossible. Speaking of the impossible.
When we agreed to pioneer the Uganda program earlier this month, we were aware that our adoption coordinator would be traveling there this past week, returning today. She visited a number of orphanages and attempting to finalize the adoption program in Uganda and make it official so other families could begin the journey. On her return flight today she emailed Julie and I with news we never anticipated. News that she may have found our son. News we've been so anxiously awaiting. I can't wait to share with you details. At this point we know that he is a 1 year old and his given name is 'Alpha' which means first in his native land. He is currently being screened for major health risks and baring any major setbacks we could have a picture in the very near future. We will continue to keep you posted and you can expect weekly posts as the journey moves forward. Trust God, he always provides. More on Malachi Alpha tomorrow.
The journey continues.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Julie and I knew from day one our adoption process was not going to operate on our desired schedule. Sometimes the process really drags. Currently we are in the beginning stages of our home study and awaiting documentation to be processed, we are dragging. We remain excited and dedicated and enjoy this time as God refines our patience, always reminding us that all things work together to bring HIM glory!
I apologize for the blog being so quiet, but at this time there is not a whole lot to write home about. We wait in excitment as new information is sure to come.
Here is a recent article in the New York Times related to Congo.
Forgive me if you've never heard of the musician Curtis Stigers. Few have. I vividly remember one particular Christmas morning, courtesy of a mother and father troubled by their son's interest in rap music (note the apostrophe and its location), a tape nestled beneath the tree. As I pulled the cassette from beneath the towering balsam fir to locate the artist I immediately heard laughter from my twin and youngest brother.
"Sweet Mullet". "Is that Michael Bolton on crack?" The jeers were limitless and warranted. (see image below)
But needless to say I got the last laugh. The dude could actually sing and dropped a few hits in his day. One in particular I'm reminded of was a song entitled "Sleeping with the Lights On". It was a classic, but you'll have to take my word for it to stay respected in the eyes of your peers.
I was pondering the song title tonight and realized that we as grown men and women often adopt this philosophy in our daily living. As a child it was acceptable. But an adult? We are so afraid of fear and uncertainty (monsters under the bed) that we choose to sleep with the lights on (disrupting the designed setting for perfect rest). A self imposed obstacle based on a perceived threat that only exists in our minds.
Julie and I know the feeling. When God informed us our time to adopt was NOW, we flipped the light switch. We discovered many reasons why waiting was the sensible and responsible thing to do. The financial aspect was far and away the largest commitment and we knew securing $30,000 dollars in a matter of six (6) months was nearly impossible. However, at this moment in our lives we knew God was not interested in our opinion. He reaffirmed to us that ignoring his plan would stifle the blessings he had in store for our family. So we turned off the lights and braved the uncertainty that was sure to follow.
God has been nothing short of miraculous over the last two (2) months. Our adoption process had slowed recently due to lack of funds but his provision has given us rest. In two separate cases he provided TO THE PENNY, the exact amount of money needed to move forward in separate endeavors (home study & agency fees). I want to share his unbelievable faithfulness, as just tonight we were blessed beyond measure. Julie and I hosted our weekly Elevation Church community group; at its conclusion in typical fashion we began cleaning the kitchen. Oddly out of place, Julie stumbled upon a white envelope with "Justin, Julie, & Malachi" typed on the front. There were no names, no handwriting, no signs to point to any one individual from the group. Inside a very "considerable" cash donation. It might as well have fallen from the sky; it was just what was needed to move forward with our next step.
Contemplating God's provision and his power to provide for his children I can't help but smile. In his word, conveniently in Malachi 3:10 he promises to "open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it". This is a Tsunami. I urge you to test God in this. If you hear God's call, ACT. He will dissolve the fear and the uncertainty, he will fill you with confidence and power, and he will equip you to move mountains. Kill the lights my friends, let the darkness / uncertainty of the future give you a perfect rest as God guides you through it. He is faithful and his love endures forever. Julie and I are living proof.
Turn off the lights and sleep well tonight.
The journey continues.
Isaiah 40: 3-5 A voice of one calling : "In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken."
One truth of the adoption process, it ebbs and flows. Right now there is considerable ebbin' and little flowin'. But that is soon to change. In recent weeks, we've been busy raising money and filling out paperwork. No big suprise here but God has been miraculous at the least. We've reached every goal up to this point.
Julie has began what I like to call her "nesting" stage. She frequently wanders the neighborhood returning home with twigs, leaves, & native grasses. (i.e. - gathering supplies for Malachi's room - see photo)
We owe everyone a couple of new posts and promise those by weeks end.
One of the greatest benefits up to this point, outside of the outpouring of love and support from friends and family, has been educating ourselves on the Democratic Republic of Congo and it's people. Many have expressed interest in the continuing issues that plague this nation. The video posted below will help connect the dots in regard to rebel groups and how they exploit natural resources and the people of Congo to build up weapons caches that perpetuate the cycle of violence and control in the DRC. I will adamantly state, that I do not agree with the assumption in this video that Americas insatiable appetite for technology and electronics has anything to do with furthering this conflict. The responsibility falls on the Congolese government and international peace keeping organizations to make sure the proper supply chains for precious mineral distribution are secure and free-flowing. When these channels are disrupted by militant / rebel groups, as they currently are, we must continue to develop a checks and balances system (see Conflict Minerals Trade Act) that keep the mineral wealth from ending up in the hands of those who fund the violence. We have a responsibility to do our part, but anyone who thinks America is a direct source of the problem is clearly mislead.
Currently Julie and I are doing our best to raise dollars to move our adoption process forward. The first step is completing a "home study". The home study costs approximately $1,700 to administer and it serves three purposes: to educate and prepare the adoptive family for adoption, to gather information about the prospective parents that will help a social worker / adoption agency match the family with a child whose needs they can meet, and to evaluate the fitness of the adoptive family.
As we begin the home study we hope to be a source of information for those that are soon to adopt a child of their own. The blog should become much more active in the weeks to come. We thank God for his provision and opening new doors as we continue this process.
