Adoption

Do small things, with great love. - Mother Teresa


Proverbs 24:12 "Once our eyes are opened we cannot pretend we do not know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls knows we know and holds us responsible to act."

John 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

The call to adopt, to father the fatherless, to take risk for the cause of Christ and to love the least of these has been placed heavy on Justin and I's hearts. We were on a date night in November 2012, sitting at Starbucks awaiting our movie to start. Justin has recently been reading some books and had some things he wanted to talk about with me. Earlier in the week he had said "Were going to adopt, ok?" I laughed. =/ We got distracted however and began to discuss how much we would like a newer/bigger car. We figured with a lot of cutting back and saving we could probably save some money this year in order to put a big down payment on a minivan (my dream!!!)
I casually said "that's like half an adoption."
We then said nothing and communicated with only our eyes (as all married people can) and we both knew. We were not getting a car. We were going to adopt. The more we began to dream out loud the more God has encouraged our hearts. We have always supported the idea of adoption and yet never thought it was for us... we don't feel that way anymore. We now know there is a child out there waiting on us to come get them. We feel as though we would be disobedient to pursue anything else right now. 

 

   Matthew 18:5
"And anyone who welcomes a little child like 
this on my behalf is welcoming me.”

After many late nights of research and conversations with those with wisdom in these areas. We have felt a tug towards Ethiopia.  We cannot stop smiling, planning, dreaming and praying. Thinking of opening our hearts and home to another child is going to be such a joy. An unknown journey, but a joyous one. Anything outside of our ability and comfort level that God ask us to do, always ends up more amazing than anything we could ever imagine. We have made the call to an couple different agencies and now praying about which is the right one for us to pursue. I told Justin tonight that my walk with Christ has been comfy. I have never even had to be uncomfortable or risk anything to live out my faith. Adoption will end that.

What can you do? 

Pray.

Pray for God's hand to cover every inch of this process and that we will listen for Him.

Pray for our sweet child who is somewhere right now waiting. Whether in a mommy's tummy,  maybe on the street, or an orphanage. Just please pray for our child.
Pray that we are able to hold them in our arms and share with them the love of Jesus sooner rather than later.

John 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

Why Ethiopia?

    • One in ten children die before their first birthday.

    • One in six children die before their fifth birthday.

    • 60 percent of children in Ethiopia are stunted because of malnutrition.

    • 1.5 million people in Ethiopia are infected with HIV (sixth highest country in the world).

    • 720,000 children have been orphaned by AIDS alone, and there are 5 million orphans.

    • 100,000 orphaned children live on the streets of Addis Ababa.

    • 50% of the children in Ethiopia will never attend school. 88% will never attend secondary school.

    • Ethiopia’s doctor to children ratio is 1 to 24,000.

Matthew 25:45 "Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’

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Email me if interested in knowing our adoption timeline. =)
justin.candace@gmail.com