God's Provision

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see"

~ Hebrews 11:1

When God shows up on your doorstep you need to give Him the Glory!

When God first spoke to our hearts about adoption we felt that he would provide what was needed, when it was needed and His provision for every single step along the way has been confirmation to us that we are following the heart of God. So, when an unexpected bonus check showed up the week we needed to pay our social worker or when a friend at church asked if he could help and paid our dossier fee, we knew it was because God has a heart for orphans!

Even so, these past few months have been hard because I knew that a very large amount of money was going to be needed in a relatively short period of time. But again, when God spoke to our hearts to tell us that Wei Kang Tong was our Claire, he specifically spoke to Paul the words that we were not to question Him, but we were to petition for this child and trust that he would provide what we needed to bring her home!

A dear friend in Christ had already committed to us that he wanted to pay for our flights, which was an amazing thing! We booked them two weeks ago and then it hit me good! We had gotten the $3000 "NEW" crisp money that was required for our orphanage donation and it was locked safely away but we were 20 days from our departure, and still thousands short! One night I prayed for the Lord to please show me that he would be faithful to this. As if to say, "oh ye of little faith", a small check and a note from dear friends showed up in the mailbox the next day. I tell you, it would not have mattered if that check had been for $1, it meant the world right then! It symbolized for me that we were still following the heart of God! Another one was slipped into our hands at church that weekend but then there was silence. A long week and a half of silence. During this time Paul, went on a backpacking retreat with the men from our church and confessed that he had begun to struggle with trusting that God would see us through to the end of this. But, he came off the mountain, still struggling, but believing that he had confirmation that God wanted us to do nothing but to wait patiently on Him.

Then, a week ago, we were notified that we had 3 business days to provide a bank check to cover the costs of our in-country travel. To make it worse, the fees turned out to be $1000 more than our estimate. The only way we were going to be able to get that money to them on time was to take it from our living expenses. Paul waited until the last day to head to the bank, realizing that he was just going to have to do it. On his way he got a phone call, and another, and still another... some "hike" buddies were offering their support. We were so blessed by their selflessness, but still, it was 5PM and we were $3500 short. One friend had met him at the bank and stayed in the parking lot with him sharing the story of fishes and loaves and placing them into the Lord's hands for the miracle to come. Then he left and Paul went into the bank. Standing at the teller window, wondering where God was, He withdrew the money from our account because, surely there would be a miracle. He was signing the paperwork for the certified check when his friend walked into the bank and told Paul that he must take a call and shoved his cell phone at Paul. A young college girl introduced herself and (short version) offered to cover the $3500 shortfall! The friend had shared our story with his friends and the Father moved in this stranger's heart to provide for us! And there's more! On his way home from the bank, Paul got more calls with pledges to help and there were emails on his laptop when he got home. While he was being told that two more people we've never met wanted to help, I got a call from a family member that was letting me know she was sending a check. One thing that is amazing is that those people didn't know about the other's calls or emails yet they did it on the same day, in the same few hours! In a matter of hours, the Lord moved a mountain from our path so we could get to our sweet girl! I believe that when the money stops coming, we will find that we have exactly what we need to get there and home with Claire!

On that mountain, a friend had counseled Paul that sometimes God parts the sea so you can walk through on dry land, and sometimes He calls us to trust by wading into the river and then, He parts the waters. We lived that yesterday, writing a check that we didn't know where or how it would be covered.

We could do nothing, except trust that God would provide and not until we were at that point did He show up! God has a heart for adoption and our baby girl will come home because of the family and friends and strangers, that allowed God to work in their hearts! We are so blessed by those people! The Lord has provided for Claire and we are blessed to be a part of her story and to have seen His glory!

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11

Hope and a future, Claire. I wonder what He has in store for you, baby girl! I can't wait to find out and I am so thankful that we get to be part of it!

WE LEAVE IN SIX DAYS!