Sunday, December 9, 2007

I Guess it's Time for an Adoption Update


It has been an incredibly wild, heartbreaking and faith building year for me. We started our adoption journey last year about this time. In the 80's when the famine of Ethiopia happened I told myself one day I will do something no matter how small, So when we started the adoption journey, Ethiopia was the only choice for me. Then God changed my course and I ended up in Liberia. I had all my paperwork at an agency, then I found them! Marion a 8 month old girl and Emmanuel a 3 year old boy. I knew they were mine. I gave birth to them in my heart the moment I saw them. So, in a day, I started the paperwork all over again and had it sent to a different orphanage and agency. Before we could bring them home, Marion passed away and Emmanuel was returned to his village. My heart broke. But then God showed me what His will was. I saw two kids, He saw 100's. The orphanage they were at was incredibly poor the babies were with all the other kids. They were exposed to so many germs and they all got sick. Something needed to be done. So with God's help the funds were raised to build a baby home, with a clinic and it is being named Marion's House. God is good. So, I've been waiting for 6 months for a new referral, then I felt God leading me once again. This time to Uganda. I found an amazing organization there that helps so many people. So, I thought okay God, is this where my kids are? Again, NO! But instead through God's help he wanted me to help raise the funds for a project there to help 125+ people have a sustainable water source. I'm almost to my goal, about a thousand dollars left to raise. Again God is good! In the middle of all of this, we felt God leading us to a 12 year old child in the foster care system. So through obedience and faith we did even more paperwork, classes and etc.. We spent six months falling in love with him. He was going to move in at Christmas, but again God saw something else and he was to join a different family. Then a few days ago, I felt him leading me to Ethiopia. So here I am redoing my dossier all over again. Walking in faith. I don't know if my kids are there or not, but I'm listening to His call and following Him all over the place. I feel scared, and excited all at the same time to see what God has planned. I have grown and been stretched more than I thought was possible. Even through all the heartbreak, mountains of paperwork, tears, and fear, I wouldn't change any of it. I have met some amazing people that I feel blessed enough to call friends, I've built friendships that hopefully will last a life time,I started this blogging adventure, my eyes have opened to all the poverty, disease and inhumanity that exists in this world, I learned to look past the needs of my own family and in some small way reach out to help others. I am forever changed. God is Good.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your comment and prayers. I too will be praying for your family. I know all too well what you have been through. We also have been "all over" following after God each step. It is such a hard road. I am excited to see how God leads your family.

Laura Lu said...

*HUGE Adoptive Mama HUGS*...I know EXACTLY what you are talking about!

God keeps showing us that this journey is His...it isn't about us. I can see God is using you for much bigger plans than what you set out to do when you started your adoption journey. Keep pressing on, Keep remaining faithful in each step!

One day Our Lord and Savior will look into your precious face and say, "Well done my good and faithful servant...Well Done!"

Sean and Lisa said...

Thanks for sharing Steffany. I know that isn't easy! I am so blessed by your faithful pursuit after God's heart! Following His path is never easy....but always so worth it in the end. How awesome that you have been a catalyst of HUGE change and blessings in thousands of little lives!! You go girl!! You go God!!

HollyAnn said...

Can't wait to see where this journey takes you and will be praying at the end of this journey, no matter what is in the middle, will be a baby in your arms! Love, HollyAnn

Brandi said...

I just stumbled across your blog and already love it! I love how you are following God and end up joining Him in His work all over the place. We just adopted from Liberia and are in the process of figuring out how exactly God is calling us to be involved there. . .

Love,
Brandi
www.homehopeandfuture.blogspot.com