By the following Monday, we received an unofficial word that they would make an exception for a family with up to 5 children in the home—ha, ha! That would work just fine for us! One mountain down.
By Tuesday we knew the next mountain we were up against. There were two other families in front of us. In these types of situations, it’s a first come, first served basis. We would need to wait it out. Yet again, it looked impossible, but everything in me knew that this was my daughter so I fasted and prayed throughout the week while we waited.
Another interesting piece as we waited was that whoever was to be her family, needed to be able to travel to visit her in June. We already have a trip planned to EE in June and have visas. Crazy, huh? We knew this was not an accident.
Thursday, May 12, 2010 we woke with the realization that this was the “Gotcha Day” of Daughter of Purpose. Three years ago, on that day, we walked away from the orphanage with her. I knew there was something different about this day. I begged the Lord to honor the significance of this day and to allow us to have another cause of celebration on this day—let this be the day we find out that she really is our daughter. His response to me was that I needed to fast & pray again. I complained a bit, reminding Him of all of the fasting and praying I had already done, but then again yielded to His will.
The kids and I went to the park that day. My friends say I was pretty quiet. I guess it’s because I was single minded that day. I was praying for my daughter.
At 4:11 pm my phone rang and knew this was it. I was either going to receive good news or bad news. I braced myself to hear whether I was right or not. Was this my daughter or not? I really wanted her family to be ours, but yet I ultimately knew that God was in control and He knew what was best for her. All I really wanted was for her to have a family and that through them she would know about Him. Would we be chosen?
Tears streamed down my face as the social worker let me know that she had just gotten confirmation that we were on deck. The families in front of us either had to or chose to step out. Second mountain down.
That meant that what I knew ever since February was true. The precious treasure on the other side of the screen that captured my heart IS my daughter!
After I hung up the phone with the social worker, screams erupted in our home as I told the kids! I’m pretty sure I blew out the ear of my man when I called him at work!
SHE’S OURS! SHE’S OURS! SHE’S OURS! SHE’S OURS!
I could not believe this was happening. I mean I could because
He is a mountain moving God,
but yet at the same time I couldn’t believe it was real.
Now that we’ve committed to be her family, we have a whirlwind of activity to do before we leave in June. We have to have our homestudy slightly modified, every document done, shipped to EE, translated and registered by June 7. Sounds impossible, but with all of the mountains we have seen move recently, I have no doubts that God will empower us to get it done and for the funding to come together. As my new friend, Amy says, “God is cool like that.” I love that! You are right, Amy, God IS cool like that!
We could use your prayer over the next few weeks as we prepare to meet our new 2 ½ year old daughter.
We’ve come too far to doubt that God will meet our need to bring our daughter home. I am so astounded by the privilege He’s given me to tell His story by telling her story. I hope you stick around to listen as the rest of it unfolds. I think it’s gonna be good.
We’ve come too far to doubt that God will meet our need to bring our daughter home. I am so astounded by the privilege He’s given me to tell His story by telling her story. I hope you stick around to listen as the rest of it unfolds. I think it’s gonna be good.
You know what’s crazy? Last night I read Malachi and at the end he talks about that when Jesus comes back…the hearts of the fathers will be turned back towards their children and childrens’ hearts will be turned back towards their fathers. I got a lot of hope out of that and so much hope for Aeniah and Anika. holy moly. I’m so excited to see what God does next!
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I just love reading the story. I’ve heard the play-by-play on the journey but I still love reading all the pieces together as you write. What a wonderful mountain-moving story. Gives me all kinds of hope in our God who cares for the fatherless.