It was March 12, 2010 and we were headed to Bethany's Christian Agency for their introductory meeting. We had been sent an email about a little boy from Hong Kong with DS that needed a forever family. He loved music and we are a musical family, we were going. As I picked my husband up from work he came walking out on the phone with a Social Worker from Bethany. He dropped into the car and started to weep. This particular little one had been assigned a family. As we sat in the car stunned, I thought, "I wonder if this is what a miscarriage feels like." We were hurting but God met us there.
The next few minutes we cried out to the Lord asking Him if we should even go to the meeting or maybe we just didn't hear from God correctly. After several pleas, we started the car and moved towards our future. You see, in that brief moment of tears and uncertainty, God did what only He can do, He pointed us in the direction He wanted us to move in. We realized in a breath's time that God was stirring our hearts to adopt again.
(Back Story) Our boy Eliot is the youngest of 6 brothers, 4 in Guatemala and 1 in Lancaster County, PA. Within a year of bringing Eliot home we realized, but stuffed away, Eliot was meant to be big brother, not the only child he was in our family. Yes he had 2 big sisters, but soon they would be off to college or getting married or the mission field, and even though they were great play pals and siblings, they were 15 years different in age and interest.
Our conversation on the way was loaded with what ifs. When we arrived we were exhausted yet exhilirated. What was God going to do? What good thing did He have in store for us? We listened carefully throughout the meeting. They could've been saying the Pledge of Allegiance for all we knew, because the voice that was sounding the loudest in our ears was God's. He was calling us to adopt and not just any child, He was filling our hearts with faith to adopt a special needs child.
(Back Story 2) When we went through the process with Eliot we, at that time, wanted a "normal" child. We sited our ages and a desire for a male Inglin to carry on the name. We had no experience with Special needs children and felt terribly ill-equipped. God was about to show us that in our weakness, He would show Himself strong.
Signed all the necessary paperwork but fear was doing a work in my heart. One night God woke me. I found a quiet spot so that I wouldn't be interrupted and I waited for Him to speak. My Father's voice is one of the most beloved I can hear. When I hear it, my body relaxes and peace floods my soul. God gave me the answer that would fuel courage and faith in my heart.
(What He Showed Me) In my mind I saw an orphanage. There were many beautiful children all lined up who could do all sorts of things. There was a line of potential parents waving and oohing and ahhing over the children. But off to the side sat a disgrace of a being. She was filthy and her odor permeated the place and the orphanage workers shoved her in the corner, in the dark so that she would not ruin the chances of the other children. A Kingly man entered the building, everyone parted the way for Him for His presence was imposing. All the children put on their best efforts to gain the man's attention, but His gaze was set on just one child! The little one in the corner. The workers argued with the man and tried to restrain Him from getting to her, but He firmly moved them out of the way. He held out his nail scarred hand to the little girl, she was too weak to grasp it. As agony washed over her, the Prince said, "Do not weep little one, the Kingdom of Heaven has come for you this day", Jesus swept up that despised one and saved her, gave her a new name and a new home! I was adopted on the spot with all my special needs. He didn't see them, He just saw His child. God said to me, " my child go and do the same to my special ones." I got my answer. I have never looked back.
I had an improper few of myself and my own adoption and what the real reason for my adoption was. There was nothing beautiful or commendable in me to recommend me to such a God. I was dead in my transgressions and Jesus rescued me from the world just like, by God's grace, we are going to do for our little one that we will call Peter. We don't have to do this! We don't want any medals! WE GET TO DO THIS! To the praise and the glory of God!
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