Monday, February 21, 2011

A Long Time Coming

When my baby brother (six years younger than me) was in college, he went on a spring break mission trip to Honduras. He never talked about it to me in detail, but it changed him. Both he and his girlfriend came back with a heart for children in impoverished nations. God gave them a signpost.

They were just kids themselves, not out of college, but they already had a clear view where their lives were going. They were following God's signpost. Toward international adoption.

Fast forward about decade. They have two great sons already. Their life is busy. But their life is not yet complete. They are missing a daughter they have never met. In fact, she hasn't even been born yet. Her birth mom isn't even pregnant. They thought she was coming from Haiti, but an adoption policy change made them ineligible after the mountain of paperwork was done. Over a full year from the time they started. After all the t's had been crossed and the i's dotted Haiti said "NO". What a harsh word.

But baby brother and sister-in-law were not to be deterred, just re-directed. Ethiopia it is. And Ethiopia will give them a happy ending. It's been a year and a half since Haiti said "no", but now they are so very, very close. She is a little small, but so happy. She better get used to smiling and waving at the camera. Aunt Kendra has a camera, and she knows how to use it! :)



Right now they are on the plane for the first of two trips. This trip makes it official, next trip she can come home. Even as I write and pray, they are in motion. If you ask them about their motivation to adopt their reasoning will be something along the lines of, "How could we NOT?"

They are changing the world.

With her one little life.

Because they have been blessed beyond measure and they know it.

If you think you haven't been blessed beyond measure, think again. When you see the signpost God sets before you, follow it. When you are called, answer. When you are questioned by those who do not understand, answer as my brother would:

"How could we NOT?"

1 comment:

  1. what a lovely story about your brother. Linda Gerig a friend of you moms

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