A Quick Note

The light is appearing at the end of our adoption tunnel. We are in the very last stages before we can travel to bring home Joy Noelle. We are excited and ready to begin this new phase of God's plan. I am writing less often now because there is very little to say that I have not said already. My plan is to keep the blog going until after her adoption has been finalized, about 6 months from her arrival in the US. At that point I can post picture. Until then I hope that you will check in on occasion. For now we wait to have our fingerprints updated...because it's obvious to everyone that our fingerprints change every few months. We are also waiting for her visa approval. At that time we will be cleared to travel. Thanks for your continued prayers and support.

A Letter to My Daughter

Dear Joy Noelle,

I like being able to write my blog to you by name now. It was such a great surprise to receive pictures of you openeing the box we sent you. The smile on your face makes all the waiting worth it. We can't wait to meet you for the first time. Your room is ready and you have a closet full of new clothes.

Today will beign the last stages of your adoption. Yesterday we recieved an email that your birth certificate is here. It should make it to us today. So tomorrow morning we will apply for your Visa, the last step before we can travel to get you.

We are so excited to have you as a part of our family. Our Christian heritage will become part of your story. You will be loved and taught to love others no matter what they look like. Jesus cared for people from all walks of life and from many cultures. We will do our best to keep you connected to your native culture, but we also want you to be a part of ours.

In the days ahead you will have many, many firsts. Your first day of school in America, meeting your family, and our church family, as well as so many foods that will be new to you. I hope you will aclimate well.

Mom and I know that you will be scared. Natalie and Micah will be traveling with us to make it more easy on you. Once you are here, we will do everything we can to help you become whatever God wants for your life. I'm already praying for His divine will and call to be placed on your little heart and mind.

We love you so much already. I can't wait ot hold you soon.

Love,
Daddy

Guess What?

Guess what? We are working on more paperwork and we are waiting more. Isn't life grand. Now that we know our little girl is coming, it would be nice if the paperwork would move on already. But this, as most other aspects of the adoption process, moves at its own pace. We have all the forms filled out and ready to go. All we need is a copy of her birth certificate so we can make formal application for her visa. Our prayer is that we will be able to travel by the first of September. Please pray with us that all our other paperwork will not expire as we wait. This, of course, will add more time. 26 months and counting :/

In the mean time, fundraisng has gone well. We are only $600 short of our $6,100 goal. We so appreciate all who have donated to make this dream a reality. I hope each of you will have an opportunity to meet our little girl when she gets here.

Darren

God will provide as we obey.

Today there is urgency in my heart. I met with a missionary last week. He has dedicated his life to the children of Cambodia. A few weeks ago he received an email notifying him that they will be loosing 90% of the funding for his orphanage. There are 62 beautiful children in this home. Here they are feed, educated, loved, and nurtured in the things of God. While it is true that my wife and I need $3,000 to complete our adoption expenses, I believe that as we are obedient to help raise these urgent funds, God will be faithful to provide for us.

The orphanage must bring in $100 per month per child. What we are seeking to do is find 100 people, churches, or businesses that are willing to donate $500 per year, each year, for the next four years. These funds will ensure the orphanages stability for four more years. If you would like to help us with this project, please fill out the attached pledge form and return it with your donation. This is an urgent need. The funding source will run out in the next few weeks.

Help us save this orphanage.

Darren

100% of your donation is tax deductible and will be sent to Cambodia through our Orphan Care ministry, Mission 1:27.

Surprised by Joy

As I sit in my office today, the words to that old Etta James song rings through my head, "At last". Monday afternoon, while waiting in line to pick up the kids, my cell phone rang. It was the call that we have waited for......for 25 months (here I'm yelling). We are officially approved to adopt our little girl. At this time we are not allowed to post her full name or picture, so I will just call here Joy....which is one of her names.

As my head spins around the final paperwork and the final payment of $6,100 due by the end of this week (ouch), I am reminded of a book by C.S. Lewis, "Surprised by Joy". In his case, Joy was both the emotion and the name of his wife. The theme of this book is finding Joy in this life. Lewis recounts the ups and downs of mortality and our never ending search for happiness.

Though we have time of great emotion, true Joy is only found in Christ. It is because of the grace and direction of Christ that we are adopting. It is an honor to be used by Him in this way. To imagine that the God of the universe would entrust us with such responsibility is indeed humbling. Joy is now and forever will be part of the Lewis clan. Her life will be dedicated to Christ. Through the journey, I have no doubt we will continually be "Surprised by Joy".

We can't wait to meet you!

Love,
Daddy

"The hardness of God is kinder than the softness of men, and His compulsion is our liberation."
                                                     C. S. Lewis, "Surprised by Joy"

BLAH BLAH BLAH

It has been a while since I have been able to write. Spring break, ministers meetings, and the busyness of life. I wish I could write today about our approval, but I can't. I wish I could tell you that our little girl is on her way to us, but I can't. I wish I could tell you how I'm not frustrated by all this, but I can't.
I know all the sayings we use, "All in God's time", "You don't want to rush it", "His time is better than ours"...blah blah blah. I know all these things are true but platitudes don't help. Really there is only one thing that does, WORSHIP.

When I'm down and frustrated worship lifts me back to reality in Christ. Those things that I set aside temporarily are brought back into their rightful place. I know God is in control but sometime I want to forget...so I can have a little pity party over in a corner all by myself. While there, I despise happy people. I'm sure none of you experience this. After a time of self doubt and frustration I pull myself up and make myself focus on what really matter in this life...Jesus.

Once I am lost in His grace and mercy, He reminds me that He is in control. Worship causes me to sense the arms of Christ wrapping around me, loving me, calming me. Yes, this process is really annoying me. In the end it's just that, only a process. When the process has come to a completion and our beautiful little girl is in our arms, somehow I bet that the wait will no longer seem long but worth every minute.

We do thank all of you for your continued prayers and for the support that you continue to give us.

Darren

Something Bigger

God has placed within human nature the desire to accomplish something greater than ourselves. Most would not think twice about switching jobs if the new opportunity would fulfill them more...even if the money was less. Money does not equal happiness. It is a fact of life we all desire to give back, to change a life, to make a difference. Those who do not have this desire are viewed by society as selfish. Still as much as we think we would do the right thing, when God brings opportunity we find many reasons to say "no". You might say we find baggage to hide behind. "I don't like change." "I think I'm more suited for ___." "But I've been here forever." "I'm really in over my head."

There was a famous king who dealt with this problem as well.

1 Samuel 10:20-23 "So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel before the Lord, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot. 21 Then he brought each family of the tribe of Benjamin before the Lord, and the family of the Matrites was chosen. And finally Saul son of Kish was chosen from among them. But when they looked for him, he had disappeared! 22 So they asked the Lord, “Where is he?” And the Lord replied, “He is hiding among the baggage.” 23 So they found him and brought him out, and he stood head and shoulders above anyone else."

We can all identify with Saul. He was not ready to become king. Israel had never had a king before. How was he to know what to do? The point is when God calls us to do something beyond our scope of reason, He intends for us to do it. Sounds obvious right? But it isn't. We often forget who God is and what He is capable of. Verse 24 says, "Then Samuel said to all the people, “This is the man the Lord has chosen as your king. No one in all Israel is like him! “And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!" When God directs you, follow.

Don't look at your inabilities, rather, look at God's ability. He is bigger and stronger. He has the power to change you into what He wants you to be. It is not rocket science but we tend to forget.
Two years ago, God called us to start the process of adoption. Some days we wonder if He will ever finish it. In our humanity we ask if He knows what He is doing. Our faith tells us that He does. We know that He does all things well in His timing and in His way.

"So today, I submit myself again to Your will. I ask you to take the baggage of self-doubt, worry, confusion, and money out of my way. Don't allow me to hide behind it. Instead push me to step into the divine purpose you have for my life. Amen"