Over the past several weeks, we have had a hard time deciding for sure which country to pursue for adoption. We arrived at China Special Needs basically as a process of elimination. We thought we would end up in the Honduras program and still keep feeling a pull that way, but it seems as though God has placed China on our radar for a reason!
We were officially accepted into the China Special Needs program on August 23, but have yet to send in our first round of signed papers and initial $2000 payment. We wanted to make sure this is God's path for us before jumping right into a program and have taken the last month to pray and ask God to specifially show us the country He has for us. During the last month, we have probed further into the Honduras program, investigated the Philipines program, and talked more extensively about special needs.
2 weeks ago, after praying myself to sleep asking God for direction, I awoke with a verse heavy on my heart.
"I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10
I shared this verse with Robbie that day, but it didn't really give me clear direction on a country to pursue. In our humble application of this verse (I know Jesus is speaking of giving eternal life) it seemed to point towards China. I kept thinking of all the precious children who are overlooked because they aren't perfect and my heart was saying, "Yes! I will choose you and give you an abundant life full of unconditional love!". But, I wasn't for certain. And Robbie's concerns about special needs only grew more and more.
Then, just last Monday, a dear friend encouraged me to "wait on the Lord" instead of us trying to decide where we should adopt. This seemed like good advice, but I felt like God was telling us to go now. How long would it take for us to wait and hear His voice? For Him to speak to us and tell us where He has our baby? I spent all of last week praying and asking God to show us, to speak so that we could hear. I wasn't looking for signs in the sky but I was waiting - and listening.
Friday night we decided to get a babysitter so that we could go to Lowe's and grocery shop together! Fun date night! We ended up connecting with the dear friend mentioned above and her husband and going out to eat instead. After dinner, her husband wanted to take us to a local coffee joint and there is where we believe God wanted to speak to us. We were sitting outside drinking our hot chocolates when the owner's kids walked outside and Brian decided to introduce us. Their names were Max and China. I didn't hear it at first. The ah-ha moment happened as we were walking back to the car and I realized that God just told us to go to China to get our baby!
This is still a little wacky seeming to me. I don't normally hear God like I am hearing Him right now. It had me all giddy like a teenage girl on her first date to think that God cared enough about me to speak to me. To us. To direct us when we didn't know where to go. To give us peace to make that decision to finally say "Yes!" to China Special Needs. This excites me! Papers will be signed tonight and be mailed tomorrow!!!!
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