Adoption Benefit Dinner (aka The Family of God)

A little boy lives on the other side of the world. In an orphanage with lots of other children, but not with family.  He longs for family. That's God's design.  We feel privileged to get to be his family and we long to be together like family should be.  This will be a learning experience for M, to learn what parents and siblings are and what it means to be family.  What we know because it's what we've always had, he will have to learn.

We got to experience the beauty of family Friday evening.  God's family coming together to support us in bringing M home.  You all haven't met M yet either, but he has your hearts too because he is God's child.  It is so humbling and beautiful to get to be part of this. We felt your love and God's love.  Beautiful!

So many of you chipped in to make this an amazing evening. 

Some of it we could see: the beautiful decor, the photography, your presence

Some of it we could taste: the delectable fall feast of chili, cornbread, veggies & dip, apples & dip, pumpkin desserts, cookies and kettle corn

Some was behind the scenes: all the planning and prep-work, the set-up, the kitchen work and the clean up

And you generously gave almost $4,000!  We are praising God for His goodness in this!  He has provided in so many ways, each time bringing glory to Him!

Just thinking about how when we love, we show Who God Is.  And this is what those who aren't in God's family are missing.  And it's what they long for...God's Love... although maybe they can't identify it because they haven't yet experience it.  Also thinking about God's Love pouring out of you because He is alive in you. Gives new meaning to growing family God's Way!

And thinking about how sometimes when we say "yes" to God, it seems huge.  Other times what we say "yes" to seems like no big deal and everyone else's "yeses" seem bigger and better and we forget that it doesn't really matter, as long as we're saying "yes" to God, to what He is asking of us.

And sometimes we are able to see our own insufficiency and we realize that the only way this is going to happen is by God's grace and power.  We serve the mighty God!

Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. I Thessalonians 5:24 NASB

We covet your prayers

• that God would smooth the way before us in this adoption process
• that God would be glorified throughout
• that God would prepare each of us for all the changes and adjustments that are coming
• that God would bring M home soon
• God's way and His best in all of this
• joining us in praising God for all He has done and is doing and will do

To catch up a little...

• We received M's Child Study Report and Medical Report in August.  This included a new picture.  Each picture and piece of information is precious!
• Because this adoption has taken as long as it has, we had to update the financial part of our dossier.  The updates will not look as good to the government adoption department.  We've prepared some extra paperwork for this, if needed.  Please pray that this will not cause any delays.