We wanted to give a heads up to those of you who may see us over the next month...we will have five kids in tow. I thought about a quick text but there is really no concise way to announce our exciting news plus explain a few things you are sure to be curious about. Also, we may or may not have enough brain power to coherently discuss hosting when we see you because... we will have five small children with us...lol.
There are several agencies/organizations that coordinate summer and winter hosting programs for orphans. Here is a link to the FAQ page from Project 143:
http://www.projectonefortythree.org/about/faq/
We are hosting through a smaller adoption agency that doesn't have an FAQ page, but this one from P143 answers some common questions about hosting.
The main goals of hosting are to demonstrate the love of Christ to orphans and increase their chances of being adopted. As stated in the faq above, orphans who have special needs and are not babies (orphans over the age of two are considered "older") basically have almost no chance of being adopted. But the percentage of children who are adopted after hosting is MUCH higher!
It is not our intention to adopt our host daughter at this time, but we will of course be prayerfully seeking the Lord's direction throughout this process of advocating for her to be adopted - whoever her family may be.
I love the passage in Corinthians about the parts of the body of Christ. We long to "know our role" in the kingdom and fulfill our role in service to our Savior. In the adoption community, there is a saying that is often quoted:
"Pray/Advocate/Donate/Adopt...Do Something."
I love how God calls His children to different areas of service for Him. He has called us to serve orphans and 'tis the season for hosting for us.
Please pray for our sweet girl's heart as she bravely crosses an ocean into an unknown and pray that the Holy Spirit would lead and guide us to be able to serve and love her with His powerful anointing during her visit. We appreciate your prayers and support as always!
Matthew 25:
31 “But when the Son of Man[d] comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations[e] will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,[f] you were doing it to me!’
