So guess what. Julie and I are parents. Officially.
9:49AM on Monday, November 22 - Christmas came early. We received an email from our adoption coordinator entitled "Jimmy". Upon opening the email and reading the initial text we discovered that we are officially referred a child, his name...Jimmy. A healthy and absolutely beautiful and perfect baby boy. We are smitten to say the least. The saddest part of this post is that we aren't able to share his picture with you due to a desire to protect his privacy until the adoption process is complete. You'll have to take my word for it, he is truly special.
I'm not feeling very creative tonight but trust me when I say that words cannot express the excitement that Julie and I feel. We also take great pride in realizing that very soon his past will be just that, his past. Here is Jimmy's plight as provided to us.
"At the end of August 2010 a toddler boy was found near a public water pump in Uganda. It was determined by police that this was an abandoned child. Efforts to trace this child's family have been futile. He was in turn transferred into the care of an orphanage in Kampala, Uganda and was named Jimmy. Jimmy is estimated to be between 18 months and 2 years old. He appears to be a quiet and shy little boy. He plays contently with his toys. He walks on his own. He has a sweet smile which was able to be coached out of him with some tickling."
I can't help but picture days in the very near future where smiles won't need to be coached and his eyes will shine bright as there will be no more sadness. Never again will he know neglect and no longer will he have reason to shy away. God is so merciful and we are so thankful that this day has come. He has moved in so many miraculous ways already and the story just keeps getting better. Stay tuned for additional information later in the week. Thanksgiving has a whole new meaning in the Simpson household.
Before I retire for the night I want to share with you something a great friend shared with me today that I was unaware of. As you all know Jimmy will be Malachi when he arrives stateside. The name means "God's Messenger" but was blessed to learn today it means so much more!
"In the Bible, Malachi was the last voice of God (prophet) until John the Baptist came almost 400 years later. He speaks with a powerful voice, calling for authentic faith and genuine leadership - integrity for the people of God."
That's my boy! Praise God.
The journey continues.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Press On.
In this instance I'll allow the divine word of God to speak on my behalf.
Philippians 3: 13-16 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view on things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Faith is tricky. By its very nature it is designed to refine and to test. I often wonder if we are willing to accept this fact. In Philippians our call as the people of God is to "forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead". This call is in direct opposition to our humanness. Being human we desire to control our circumstances and experience faith via amicable channels; bypassing fear, anxiety, and pain to receive our reward. I think it's quite the opposite. Faith is messy. Faith requires forgetting what is behind all the while enduring the pain of refinement. I know personally I involve the past in every decision I make. Past successes, past failures, past relationships - they all impact my present and often times my future. This is wrong. The past simply put pacifies. I find myself confiding in past accomplishments, drowning in past failures, all the while missing the beauty of what God is doing presently. To serve Christ and create radical change in our world we have no time to analyze the past. The simplest way to neuter our faith is by using the past as a guide to what God plans to do in our future. Faith is complete abandonment of days gone by and a full embrace of our future with God in complete control. As I mentioned in my last blog, each door opened and closed is by God's hand many times never to be replicated in the same fashion. Therefore there is no need to look to the past for answers to your future, simply believe in the one who sustains you through it all.
I mention this only so that you may be encouraged to know that nothing that comes from God is happenstance. Every move is brilliantly timed and intended to impact. For instance, Julie and I received an email yesterday entitled "Bad News". Simply put Alpha's current home has been denied by their government approval to place children until further notice. To spare details and to keep from saying anything that may cause harm to the process, let's just say fiscally the orphanage did not meet certain demands. If you know Africa you'll understand exactly what i'm getting at. In a matter of days we went from being on the verge of meeting our son (albeit in a picture) to being told the door was closed and Alpha would never become a Simpson. In this moment I understood what it meant to be refined. To have a desire of your heart so close to fruition only for it to dissolve before your eyes. But there is a peace. Although this was not the news Julie and I anticipated we are NOT worried. When we chose to adopt we knew deep in our soul that only God could bring this desire to completion. We chose faith then and we continue to choose faith now. God has ordained a specific child from Uganda to be our son. Who are we to question his methods? We know that he will provide, he always has.
In fact God did not delay in reassuring us as we gained word of a two (2) year old toddler in another orphanage who is in need of a family. Just like that he assured us of his unwavering provision and we continue to march ahead, refusing to let the past distort our future. We continue to wait with the greatest of anticipation to see his face. He is currently awaiting a medical examination and if all comes back okay we will move forward. We ask that you continue to pray for Malachi's safe passage and that God would continue to test and refine our faith.
I pray that God would test your faith as well. When hardship and indecision invade your circumstance, which they most certainly will at one time or another, remind yourself that you are a chosen son / daughter of Christ and you will trust in his provision and continue to forge ahead. The shackles have been removed, you are free to trust in God and love him, knowing that ALL things are in his control and his love for you is unmatched. Bury the past. Keep the faith!
The journey continues.
Philippians 3: 13-16 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view on things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Faith is tricky. By its very nature it is designed to refine and to test. I often wonder if we are willing to accept this fact. In Philippians our call as the people of God is to "forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead". This call is in direct opposition to our humanness. Being human we desire to control our circumstances and experience faith via amicable channels; bypassing fear, anxiety, and pain to receive our reward. I think it's quite the opposite. Faith is messy. Faith requires forgetting what is behind all the while enduring the pain of refinement. I know personally I involve the past in every decision I make. Past successes, past failures, past relationships - they all impact my present and often times my future. This is wrong. The past simply put pacifies. I find myself confiding in past accomplishments, drowning in past failures, all the while missing the beauty of what God is doing presently. To serve Christ and create radical change in our world we have no time to analyze the past. The simplest way to neuter our faith is by using the past as a guide to what God plans to do in our future. Faith is complete abandonment of days gone by and a full embrace of our future with God in complete control. As I mentioned in my last blog, each door opened and closed is by God's hand many times never to be replicated in the same fashion. Therefore there is no need to look to the past for answers to your future, simply believe in the one who sustains you through it all.
I mention this only so that you may be encouraged to know that nothing that comes from God is happenstance. Every move is brilliantly timed and intended to impact. For instance, Julie and I received an email yesterday entitled "Bad News". Simply put Alpha's current home has been denied by their government approval to place children until further notice. To spare details and to keep from saying anything that may cause harm to the process, let's just say fiscally the orphanage did not meet certain demands. If you know Africa you'll understand exactly what i'm getting at. In a matter of days we went from being on the verge of meeting our son (albeit in a picture) to being told the door was closed and Alpha would never become a Simpson. In this moment I understood what it meant to be refined. To have a desire of your heart so close to fruition only for it to dissolve before your eyes. But there is a peace. Although this was not the news Julie and I anticipated we are NOT worried. When we chose to adopt we knew deep in our soul that only God could bring this desire to completion. We chose faith then and we continue to choose faith now. God has ordained a specific child from Uganda to be our son. Who are we to question his methods? We know that he will provide, he always has.
In fact God did not delay in reassuring us as we gained word of a two (2) year old toddler in another orphanage who is in need of a family. Just like that he assured us of his unwavering provision and we continue to march ahead, refusing to let the past distort our future. We continue to wait with the greatest of anticipation to see his face. He is currently awaiting a medical examination and if all comes back okay we will move forward. We ask that you continue to pray for Malachi's safe passage and that God would continue to test and refine our faith.
I pray that God would test your faith as well. When hardship and indecision invade your circumstance, which they most certainly will at one time or another, remind yourself that you are a chosen son / daughter of Christ and you will trust in his provision and continue to forge ahead. The shackles have been removed, you are free to trust in God and love him, knowing that ALL things are in his control and his love for you is unmatched. Bury the past. Keep the faith!
The journey continues.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Roadmap To Radical Faith.
I'm convinced. This journey is a marathon.
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Hurry Up & Wait.
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.
http://nyti.ms/b9BgPA
The journey continues.
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.
http://nyti.ms/b9BgPA
The journey continues.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Sleeping with the Lights On.
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."
"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."
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