I wanted to show you a few pictures of our trip to Amor Del Nino in June of this year. Mitzi and Shane (our dear friends that have started a ministry to the orphans of Guat called Abba's Children) and Chris and I began dreaming about taking a group of people to Amor Del Nino. God completely put the team together. Most of us did not know each other, but by the end of the trip....they felt like family. We were the first "official" team to stay in the mission house (an amazing place for the teams to stay)....and we spent the week serving Steve and Shyrel and playing with the kiddos whenever we got the time. One of the cutest moms ever, Suzanne, came up to me on day two of the trip. She said, "I think I found your baby (in the greatest Southern accent)!" Suzanne had spent the day at casa #1 while I was working on landscaping at casa #2 (kind of funny....I actually jumped on the trampoline with the kids most of the time). So, I walked into casa #1 and Corinne and Suzanne immediately took me to precious Xiomara. WOW! My heart was so full.....so overwhelmed....and so confused. I had studied every child's face on the web-site before leaving for Guatemala....so that I would know them all by name. She was not on there. Come to find out, Xio had been brought to the orphanage the week before. To make a long story short, God continued to grow our love for this little baby. Chris spent the little bit of time he had with her....singing a song he made for her. He said it was the first time in his life he saw a child that he could not stop looking at.
So, the day we left in June was heart-wrenching!! We kissed her and prayed with her....and told Steve and Shyrel that we would be praying about possibly adopting her. Well, that's all it took. We are in love with her!! There are a lot of obstacles ahead of us. #1 She has to be considered legally abandoned. #2 The courts need to give full custody of her to Steve and Shyrel. #3 Somehow, pray that the Lord will provide a way for us to complete this adoption in the midst of the chaos going on in Guat.
We love you all!! Thanks for posting comments.....we love the encouragement!!! It is so fun to hear from people that we have never met before.
Love, Lindsey
P.S. My incredible, beautiful mom (Kay) is the one holding Xio on the last picture!! What an amazing thing to have my mom there to share this with us!!!!! Thank you Lord.
8 comments:
Wow, Wheelers! What an incredibly scary and exciting journey you have embarked on. Caleb and I are honored to join you in prayer and spirit. We serve a faithful God and He WILL give you the desires of your heart-one way or another.
I look forward to the updates-keep them coming. Much love!
Sarah & Caleb Scheafnocker
I LOVE YA'LL!!!! And I know that the Lord has his timing on this. We just need to trust that he's going to open doors that stupid government officials think they can close. They think wrong!! I am headed to Guatemala soon and just put her in my backpack and bring her back for you. Don't worry I've got you covered. LOVE YOU!
Leah
You are entering an exciting journey.
I wish you all the courage, love and peace that your faith will support you in this journey.
We have two children from Guatemala...now ages 13 and 15!!! There were times in our adoption journey that I did not think it would all come to pass...we held the faith,and believed, and loved both of our kids, and the Lord blessed us with two!!!We brought Marcy home at age three months, she is now 15, and Mario came home at age 6 months.
We did not foster, it was not an option at that time. Pray about what to do. Pray and trust that the Lord will bring you all together, and take care of little Xio while you are apart.
I will be reading your blog, and praying for all of you along the way!
Thanks for sharing that part of your story! It's crazy to know what God can do through a child's face in such a short time. Praying praying praying!
you guys already look like such a complete family. I am thrilled to see God at work in all of this. I am praying for you dear friend and your sweet little one too. I know how it feels to fall head over hills with a little person and how you will never be the same!
suz had told me the story, but i loved hearing it in your words .. don't you just love how God opens our hearts to His children and makes them our own... I will pray during this time for you ... an adoption journey is never easy, but always the most blessed life changing experience ...
chris, you may not remember me but we went to high school together. i'm not sure now how i found this blog. it was through a friend of a friend. but i'm so glad i have reconnected. it is AMAZING to see how God is working in your life. i will keep you and your wife in my prayers. my stepmom works in adoption. what a blessing for little Xio to have wonderful people like yourselves fighting for her!! good luck and God bless!
-Jennifer 'Marrs' Keeler
Lindsey,
I will include you and your husband in my prayers. The adoption road is a long and heart-wrenching road (My husband and I are on the road to a domestic adoption ourselves) but I know that it is one that God loves! Keep your head up and your eyes on Him and all will work out!
In Him,
Jennifer (Smith) Ahne
www.myspace.com/sunshineshineon
Post a Comment