AND AGAIN, I WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!!! Chris and I look forward to this night all year. It is a night of worship, community and stories of lives changed forever. I know to take a box of tissue with me because it is intense. Chris looked at me during part of the night and said, "I am going to get under the table and just cry." It is emotional....and this year was even more so because Eliana is home. Last year, we sat at one of the tables watching families share stories of bringing their children into their forever home.....and we were just beginning the process with little Eliana. We didn't even know if the Guatemalan gov't was going to allow us to even complete her adoption. We also were in the midst of grieving the loss of little Xio. This year, we were one of the families.....we were in the back of the Shaohannah's Hope booklet of families that were given a grant. THANK YOU LORD!! There are SO MANY children that need homes.....so many kids that need HOPE!! I am in awe of what this ministry is doing. They are allowing families to adopt that don't have the financial means to complete an adoption. Chris and I will forever be their biggest fans (at least we think so)!!
The night was a little more somber because of little Maria Sue Chapman's death....but her momma Mary Beth shared her heart for her little girl. It was beyond beautiful. The tribute showed how BIG this little girl's five years on earth was....and that God had a powerful story to tell through her life. The ministry is in the process of building "Maria's Big House of Hope" in China for special need orphans. Steven sang in a way I have NEVER seen.....there was such a depth and passion in his voice. Chuck Colson began to share with the crowd about "the fellowhip of the suffering"....how serious Christians will go through serious pain in their life on earth. It is NOT our home. We are not here on this earth to be happy....but to be holy....to be set apart.
Chris and I want to be different. We want to "Show Hope" to every person...we would LOVE to have the opportunity to bring another orphan into our home. We will ALWAYS be involved in this mission. We both needed this night.....it helps to bring perspective. We have struggled for the past month about our debt and how in the world will we pay it off.....when orphans are being left to die all around the world. How selfish we are.....so know that we are about to go for it. We have no idea what God is calling us to....but we are ready and willing.
Check out Shaohannah's Hope at:
Shaohannah's Hope
We love you all so much!! We are so proud of the lives you are walking. It is not an easy journey....but SO WORTH IT!!
Love,
Lindsey
14 comments:
I can only imagine how emotional that had to have been! I am glad you are spreading the word about this wonderful ministry!
And, I am so thankful that they helped you bring your sweet Eliana home!
One of these days I will be at that dinner too....Im dying to go some day. Im so glad that it was such an enjoyable and wonderful night. I am more and more amazed with that ministry the more I hear about it. Thanks for sharing! MISS YOU...I can't seem to bring myself to go to pops..just not the same without you
Thanks for the perspective on this post. Dan and I have been struggling because we are at the final stages of our adoption and find ourselves in a place of finishing with debt. We saw things happening differently financially, and I tend to get frustrated with the possibility of having to finish the adoption with debt. But Dan said the same thing to me the other day. "Misty, God has told us to bring this little guy home. And we will do whatever it takes to get him here!" It's funny how easy it is to get focused on ourselves!
Anyways, I have been following your blog for quite a while and it has been just awesome to follow your journey and see you bring Eliana home! I am thrilled for you guys and very thankful that you shared your process!
I would love to be there one day!! I know I sometimes struggle with the decisions I have to make about debt but I know God will provide and no matter what I'm here with my family while there are still children out there with no family at all!
I feel called to aopt again, but I'm not sure where it will lead us now with Guatemala being closed, but for now God is leading me to these children and offering them a glimpse of hope!!
Only two more weeks until I can wrap my arms around the oprhaned children in Guatemala so please pray I can provide them with even a moment of hope!!
WOW!! I would love to attend this event with you someday...I have always thought this ministry was an amazing one but now that I know more people who have adopted in the last couple of years it holds an even more special place in my heart. Thank you for sharing your heart...even though more times than not you make me cry. I love you guys!!! God is beginning a new chapter in your life and I can't wait to see where He takes you.
I love that ministry too, I always read their enewsletter. I too struggle with debt, the second adoption will take a long time to pay off. But my two year old angel is worth every penny I pay and every corner we have to cut just so we can be a family. God WILL provide. I have His presence, His promises and His provision. I KNOW that you and Chris have all of that too.
Thanks for sharing your testimonies, and your heart with all of us.
Lindsey, My mom bought Stella's hat at a merchandise mart in chicago........sample sale. Sorry. But have you checked ETSY ? Courtney
I have been blog stalking you for awhile now, and I love reading! I haven't commented though because my blog is private and you wouldn't be able to see it, so I will leave my email address just in case. :) I always knew we would adopt, but this past July, God called us to do something, that at first was very hard to swallow. He called us to not have birth children, and to only adopt. Now I am so thrilled to be chosen to do this. We will begin our process in the beginning of 09. I would love any advice you have, and I would like more info on SCC (I will go again to the website, but it is nice to hear about the grant from someone who has recieved it). Also, I am in the process of getting a children's book on adoption published, and when it is done I will let you know... I know Eliana will love to have it in her library! :) In Christ, Tricia Keierleber triciakeierleber@yahoo.com
I love your heart!!! So how can you get Brent and I tickets next year so we can experience this as well as catching up with you?!?!
Miss you,
Deanna
I would have loved to be at this event. We have been blessed by Shaohannah's Hope. I hear what you say ....
it was wonderful
hope to meet up and chat someday:)
Agreed, disheartening to be willing to adopt and carry the debt. Everyone keeps asking us how many children we hope to have. I say I would be sad if we didn't have at least four children. I get the odd look. Then I look at the $$ and have no idea how this could work. I get sad knowing there are more than enough orphans to fill our home, just not enough resources.
We too are big SH fans and pray that their mission spreads adoption further than we can imagine.
thanks for sharing your heart. i needed to read this..i can't relate to the adoption but can relate to the debt part in relation to just having a brand new baby. i want to be home with her right now but can't so we can pay off our debt. now i realize it it worth for my precious little girl. it is hard too b/c i always wanted to adopt and i wonder if we will ever be able to get to that point as well.
thanks for sharing. your little girl is so sweet!
That sounds amazing. We were just at a similar event this past weekend with the ministry Lifesong For Orphans!
I too feel like doing more! What an exciting journey of life we are on! Praise God!
Your post really touched me today! When you said, "We are not here on this earth to be happy....but to be holy....to be set apart." I had a wake up call! I had a "woe is me" day and I needed that reminder!
I am sure it was an emotional night for you! I bet it was AMAZING!!
Thanks for always being real! You inspire me!!
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