Seems like the first line in every blog that I write is the same. It's been a while, but.... So I guess it's been a while. We have been home with John, our seventh and youngest child since March. Its been great, and busy, and fun, and hectic, and, oh well I guess you get the picture. We have been to doctors to see if John needs anything done to his curvy, crooked back. He has multiple problems, but doesn't need surgery at this time. We took our first family vacation as a family of 7. I'm not sure Destin will ever be the same, but we had a blast. As a word of advice, if you see a big family getting out of their 12 passenger van headed to dinner, it is not okay to walk past, back up, and snap a pic with your phone. Avoid the temptation!!! We are just your average multiethnic family of nine in a big 12 passenger van. Nothing to see here. Overall everyone is content. All of the kids get along well together, and absolutely love being in a big family. That don't see life as strange, or weird, or different. To them it is just life, and Lauren and I couldn't be more thankful.
So when I post a blog it seems like there is always some big announcement coming. I will go ahead and say that we have been working on a few things, but no big announcement today. We are often asked if we are finished adopting. "Are you finished?" "Is this the last one?" My answer. I don't know. We seek God's guidance in every decision, and if He sees fit to call us to adopt again we will follow that call. Yes that would be 8 children, but God doesn't call us to something, and not equip us right? Through our adoption process, however, God has definitely shown us the needs of the fatherless. He has also created in us a desire to do what we can to meet the needs that we can. We have been praying for God to reveal how He wants to use our heart's desire, and He has been faithful to answer those prayers.
Through a series of very interesting circumstances that only God could have orchestrated, we have been made aware of a children's home in India that is in need of support. India? What? God I only know about China. Remember, 4 trips, 3 adoptions. God has a way of working that way. We spent a weekend recently with the family that runs the home, and learned of their most pressing needs. They will soon be getting 7 new children, and among other things need new clothing for school, new sponsorshipes, and some new appliances to meet the daily needs of the kids. The vision of the missionary family is amazing. They feel that the children to whom they minister are the next generation of missionaries to the villages of India. They do so much more than meet the daily physical needs. They also work to meet their spiritual needs. After much prayer, Lauren and I feel God leading us to form a new non-profit organization to begin supporting this home, and as things grow, find other children's homes to support. The vision that God has given me is for this organization to be a means for individual churches and individual believers, to carry out God's desire for us to "look after orphans in their distress."
So what next? We have some ideas, but we first are seeking God's plan so that He will be glorified in the work being done. I ask that anyone reading this would join us in prayer. If this is something you think you or your church would be interseted in, contact me. I would love to discuss more of the details with you. I find that every time I discuss the work with someone, a new idea or an excellent word of advice is given. "Iron sharpens iron," right? The future is always exciting when seeking to do the work of our amazing Lord.
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