Wow...this is my first post for I what I pray is an exciting journey into the world of adoption. If you haven't talked to us in some time then let me catch you up...We're adopting! It's something we have felt God encouraging us to do for a long while but didn't know exactly the "what, when, where or how." Over the last couple years God has blessed us with two beautiful little girls and answered the "what"...a BOY! (to equal out the balance of power for poor Dust.)
Thanks to a message we heard several weeks back about Paul's second missionary journey in Acts, God showed us the "when"...NOW! I believe that Sunday morning David Platt said something to the affect of "As Christians we often wait and ask what is God's will for us. We forget that as believers we are filled with the Holy Spirit and should always be WALKING. His spirit will guide and direct our actions." Dustin and I glanced at each other during this message...we knew we had been waiting for too long. It was time to take "the step" walking in faith through our adoption. But then there was the "where?"
We were open to ANYWHERE which in the adoption world is not a good thing because your options are limitless. We tried to adopt domestically in 2008 and even though it didn't work out we learned A LOT about domestic adoption. We decided we would go international this time. It just make sense for our family dynamic. We first thought Russia, then Ethiopia, Congo, then looked at South America. We researched Hungary, Bulgaria, Ukraine...everywhere:) We had spoken with an agency last summer and got information on their services. I did a lot of reserach about this agency and spoke with their office several times. I felt very comfortable with them but we didn't want to commit to an agency before we knew which country we were suppose to adopt from. Shortly after hearing the message "to walk" Dustin decided we should adopt from Serbia. Even though Serbia was never a consideration before, I trusted Dustin's "gut feeling" about this. We began to look up infromation on Serbia. There was nothing! No agency in the US works in Serbia. The state department website recommended we call the Department of Social Work in Serbia to faciliate our own adoption. The only problem...we don't speak Serbian. Just when Serbia appeared to be hopeless, we decided to go with Russia so we could use the agency we really liked. They specialize in Russian adoptions. However, when we went back to their website, the first thing that popped up was "NOW OPEN: SERBIA 2011." And that is how God led us to "our agency" and the Serbia program...He answered the "where."
Now as for the "how?" We are still waiting for God to show us...and we are trusting that as we follow His lead, He will provide a way to make this adoption financially possible. Please pray for our family as we set out on the most "radical" journey we've experienced yet. Our adoption is a complete step of faith...it's uncomfortable, it's unexplainable, it's TOTALLY God. Our priorty is for Him to be glorified with every step!
