The NEED...

AHHHHH... do you ever feel like you will explode seeing real NEED building around you? I do.

I do right now.

Several weeks ago, we were ready to move forward with the opportunity to bless 2 little children with a family and home. Two MORE little children besides Anika and Asher and Kelvin and Hawa. There were two siblings who needed a home, and we were ready. We weren't allowed to go forward with it, however, because of the policies of our international agency. They have great reasons for cautioning their families as to multiple adoptions within certain shortened time frames, and we respect that... although we know that God is more than able to equip us for the difficulties if that's what he has planned. We submitted to that authority, knowing that God had given us a clear answer about the situation. We will not do anything to put our adoption of Kelvin and Hawa in jeopardy, and that's what would have happened. The agency would not have wanted to place Kelvin and Hawa in our home if we had adopted other children less than 2 years before they came home. What's sad is that it could be 2 years before they come home...

we just have no idea...

Then the earthquake in Haiti happened. I've been following the blog of a young woman there, serving at an orphanage with orphaned babies. Wow. If you have time.... go back to her post right after the earthquake and read until you get up to date... this is what's REALLY happening. Not the media version. It's real, and devastating, and scary. http://becausehecalled.blogspot.com/

And there are MANY MORE ORPHANS NOW.

So- I'd been thinking in the last several days... what if the US allowed the children to come and be placed into families? What if our international agency made an exception to their policies b/c of the great NEED and the catastrophic events in Haiti? We would take a child in in an instant. The pressure of knowing that NEEDwas there in such a real way was just heavy on my heart.

So, then my local agency called. They told us that Haitian orphans are being granted humanitarian visas to come to the US to be adopted because of this crisis. (APPLAUSE for the US decision-makers in the matter!!!) They are in desperate need of homestudied families.

Would we consider adopting? ... they ask.

Of course we would.

Will we be allowed (by our international agency)?

That's the question.

It's difficult because the people making these choices only know us on paper. I wish they really knew us, and our hearts, marriage, and parenting. If they are emphatic and tell us that we cannot do this and expect them to place Kelvin and Hawa with us when they are allowed to come home, then we will, again, submit to this decision. But, I am praying that this situation could be an exception to the rules. These children need homes, and we are so willing. It is difficult to have your hands tied like this... but I do know that God will use these things to continue his plan for us, no matter the answer we receive.

So, I literally feel I could burst from this NEED... knowing I am willing and able,

but may not be allowed.

And so I am telling myself...

"Do not be anxious anout anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:6-7