How Our Journey Began

February 2007 our daughter Chloe came home from B.S.f. (Bible Study Fellowship) and told Chris and I about her teachers mission trip to Guatamala and about the children that were in an orphanage that had no mommies and daddies. She began to pray for these children and also that our family would adopt one of these children. These prayers lasted for 6 months with out missing once at dinner! Our first reaction was that maybe someday she could go and work as a missionary and help these children, and that she could adopt someday. Little did we know that this was the seed that He would plant in our hearts and He would make it grow! I could write forever on the many ways that God made it clear to us that His will was for us to adopt. He gave us very clear scripture,Mark 9:36, He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." and Matthew 25:34-40 (please look this one up!) On July 20, 2007 Chris and I had a date to GrandHaven and we both talked about Gods' will with adoption and and prayed that He would make it clear that it is His will and that He would open the doors. TWO days later we listened to Pastor Brian Bosscher preach on Ephesians 1:3- that we are adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ as how this is a picture of adoption. In his childrens message, he focused on adoption and at the end asked kids to pray about finding more homes for these orphans. WOW! This is just a few of the ways that God made it so clear to us! We are so thankful for the peace we have that we are in His will and it wasn't a choice we made on our own, but a choice to follow His will for our lives.

So, almost one year later after Chloes prayers began, we attended our first Bethany Information meeting. A month or so later we began our homestudy with our awesome caseworker, Belinda. Then came the dossier, lots and lots of paperwork! On July 25, our dossier arrived in Ethiopia and we can't wait to get our referral of a little child 3mo. to 3 years old.

Well, while we are waiting we are in the planning stages for a Peder Eide benefit concert with 4 other families. We are hoping to raise awareness about the needs of the orphans in the world. We are so excited to have support from Bethany for this event, and many other sponsors to help make this take place! I just have to quick share how Peder Eide happens to be coming! On Aug. 10 2008 we went to worship on the waterfront with Peder Eide in concert (He is Awesome) We were camping at the conference grounds that week, and before we left for the concert, I had said to Chris: wouldn't it be neat if Peder Eide could sing at this benefit? Chris, replies with "God will make it clear if we are supposed to ask him" Well...... halfway into the concert Peder Eide shares that he just came home one week ago with his adopted son from Ethiopia! Of course I looked at Chris and said "there's your clear answer!!" So we did ask and he did respond excitedly and we even got to see his pictures on his laptop of his son and trip to Ethiopia. So here we go again in faith with this benefit concert and He keeps opening the doors! To hear Peder Eide, click on the youtube picture on this blog in the upper right hand side. The benefit concert is on Thurs. November 13 at 7pm at Fellowship church in Hudsonville. Everyone is invited!

We have to say too, it is amazing after entering this adoption process and feeling kind of alone, how many awesome and encouraging people God has put in our paths. Also, the many we have met who have already adopted or that are in the process, it is amazing to see their faith, hear their stories, and see how they have been blessed through it all. They are such an encouragement to us!

God is good. all the time
All the time. God is good

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