Not our Plan-But yours O'Lord!

We just finished up another day of training. Adrian and I have heard the call to care for the children of Tennessee, the ones that need temporary homes. We did not know there was such a need. Our eyes were opened at a conference in Nashville this past fall. We went to T4A---"Together for Adoption". We had our schedules all set but then out of the blue, Adrian stands up as our class was beginning and says "I am going to this other class over here" and he walked out. So I did the same, except I "accidentally" ended up in the "how to get involved with foster care" class. I am sure that wasn't the name of it but you get the idea. When that session was over, I was enraged, heartbroken, and did I mention enraged? I'll get back to that in a minute. For the next session, I was supposed to meet back up with my husband but lost him in the crowd. So he then "accidentally" went to the "wrong" class---Yeah, you guessed it, the foster care one. (How could so many children need homes--Where is the church? equals me-enraged) But then again I am the church...What was I doing?---adopting, but I "could" do more.
Okay so you already see where this is going right? Well, not quite yet. I simply was NOT open to doing foster care but I now felt like it was my goal in life to motivate others to care for the estimated 115,000 adoptable children "in the system", not counting the ones in foster care that weren't adoptable. Afterall, we are in the process of adopting two children. That's enough, right?
The conference was over and we were headed to a restaurant to meet our Liberian exchange student for the first time when Adrian says to me "so what do you think about foster care?" At the same time my logical mind kicked in with NO-WAY, my spirit was screaming---Yes, what you do for these children you do for me (Jesus). It really doesn't have to be complicated now does it? We didn't have much time to talk so I didn't want to delve into this conversation/controversy right then---ahhhh, we got lost. We had been given more time to talk. I avoided the question like the plague!
But after a wonderful dinner we had a three hour ride home together, alone in the car. The conversation that followed shocked me! My husband, the "used to be" anti-adoption guy was asking if I would consider foster care! Uh NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But God was at work and the Holy Spirit was breaking that heart of ice inside of me. In November we had the awesome incredible privilege of helping to put on an orphan care/adoption seminar at our church. We had worked to schedule several break-out sessions. One of the sessions was on foster care. My husband had talked to a case worker named Scott from ChildHelp. What he had to say about serving the Lord through fostering convicted me beyond belief. That was it! I was sunk.
My husband convinced me that we should sign up for the required classes to foster so we could help educate others and help guide them through the process. Then the movie "The Blind Side" came out, the Lord was pulling out all the stops now. Hollywood. Really?

Yes, it's true. Adrian and I graduated from the required PATH classes last Tuesday, March 9th. PATH stands for Parents As Tender Healers. It is a 30-hour course to teach people how to foster children. Along with that, we went to a first aid training Thursday evening, we spent all day today learning cultural diversity and will spend the majority of tomorrow at a Level II training. Tuesday we will head back to Seymour for a medicine administration class and then Thursday for CPR class.
In the past three or so months we have had a home inspection, multiple interviews, homework, tests, appointments for finger printing, vet appointments to get the animals ready for more children---:) Etc.
Phew! Are you exhausted yet?
We get many weird looks and some strange comments. A lot of people just ask why? Why are you doing this? I simply say because I have to. The Bible does not suggest taking caring of orphans/the fatherless. It commands it. Once our eyes were opened to the need, we couldn't simply walk away and do nothing. So maybe you aren't called to adopt or even to foster. You are called though--to care. You can help us help these children. Please pray for us and the children coming into our home. And if you are inclined we need wooden bunk beds that can separate into twin beds if necessary and twin mattresses. We know the Lord will provide. I also know scripture says in Acts that "there was not a need among them..." So if you are reading this please help us by praying, and give if you can.
My husband gave me a scripture the other day, actually I was listening in on his time with our son in the morning when they get together and read scripture and pray. The scripture was "Do not be slothful in ZEAL" That's it! I am Zealous for the Lord. I love that He loves me and that He called us to such a time as this. So while you think about hospitality, think about ways you can serve the children in your community and around the world. You may not think you can make a difference---Oh, but YOU CAN!
The Harvest is Ripe! The workers are Few! Oh let it never be said we had the chance to serve the Lord and turned and walked away.
To watch a video on the agency we chose to work with click here:

To read more about Child Help click here:http://www.childhelp.org/regional/tennessee
Nancy Reagan referred to a part of this crisis as "America's best kept secret" Now that you KNOW there is a crisis and these children and teens need you, what will you do? You know the secret not get out there and tell someone.
If you want to you can go here: http://justthreemore.blogspot.com/ to read more about the journey the Lord is taking us on with adoption.