I really shouldn’t have titled this post Good News/Bad News, because “bad” is too harsh and not the correct word to use. But it made for a short snappy title so I went with it. A better word to use may be disheartening. A bit of a setback. But also a good reminder of how we are not in control. God is and He has a divine and perfect plan.
Earlier this month our family celebrated as we sent our completed dossier to our adoption agency. Our home study, collection of numerous original copies of legal documents, letters of recommendation, etc. All notarized and state certified, we made scans and copies for ourselves and then sent them off. This essentially put the ball in their court and marked us getting past the first phase that many refer to as “the paper chase”. YAHOO! PRAISE GOD!!! It feels great to be on to the next phase!
Around this same time we have been hearing rumblings of how Haiti is really cracking down and on the quota that they put in place a couple years ago. The quota only allows our agency to send one dossier a month to Haiti. Right now with what’s already in the pipeline and the number that is ready to be sent over, our dossier would probably be in line to be sent over somewhere between April-November of 2016.
We didn’t choose to adopt because we thought it’d be quick or smooth or easy. No, we knew there were going to be ups and downs and challenges to overcome and the fact remains that nothing is too big for God. Even when we feel like there’s been a setback He is still in control and we are comforted by knowing that. We are asking for your prayers as we continue to pray about this. One thing that seems to be a constant with foreign governments is that there’s constant change. And just as quickly as a rule or law has been changed to make it more difficult to adopt, a new law lifting the quota can come just as fast. Please pray for the orphans who are the ones that are most severely effected by this. They are the ones that continue to grow up without parents, without many of a child’s basic needs being met, waiting for their forever families to be allowed to take them home and love them.
Below is an audio file of a sermon I did back on Nov. 9, 2014. It was our church’s annual Orphan Sunday, where we take up a special contribution for orphans around the world and the kids empty their orphan cans, full of change they’ve been collecting all year, into one big cauldron. It’s a special day and I encourage you to take time to listen to the sermon. Thank you and God bless you!
15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
– Romans 8:15-17 NASB