Back in March the children and I had an amazing opportunity. We were able to spend two days with 8 pretty awesome kids, that happened to be orphans from Ch*na. These sweet children were sponsored by our adoption agency and were attending a two week camp here in the US.
The first day we spent with the camp children we were able to play with each of them, and get to know their unique personalities. I watched as Thomas (despite differences in language) helped a little boy catch crickets to go fishing. Jon and Anna enjoyed playing games and jumping on the fun jump with all of them. Ellie enjoyed painting and playing with all of the children so much as well. However she had a hard time understanding why even though they were from Ch*na like she was, why they had to go back. She couldn't understand why they didn't have their own families. It was a deeply emotional experience watching her interact with children her own age or a little older, that are still fatherless. Clare fell completely in love with one precious little girl, named Lucy. Tiny little Lucy, with a personalty twice as big as her body, grabbed hold of Clare's finger and her heart all at once. She tugged Clare around the entire day....going from game to game. Clare's heart was overflowing.
And my heart was overflowing watch my children serve and minister, play and learn. As the day ended and we packed up to head home, all of our hearts were saddened. The ride home led to some very big discussions that we had grazed upon before, but this time it became deeper. The same little boy that was playing ball with Jon was going to have to go back to his orphanage in just one week. Did he even have a ball of his own waiting for him? The same sweet girl that we watched pick flowers was going to have to go back to her orphanage uncertain of her future. We began to pray. Sure, we have prayed for orphans before, but this time their prayers were for specific, beautiful children, their new friends. Ellie, Clare, and I were able to spend one more day with the camp children. We had a day to play one more time together at the Children's museum.
Of course, the entire day, Clare was Lucy's shadow. I could see the pain in her eyes, the closer the day came to a close. As she gave her one more hug, and we helped her on the bus, Clare could not contain her emotions any longer. I have to tell you, that my Clare, is one strong cookie. She is not typically emotional, or a crier. But this time, she was so heartbroken. She pleaded with me, pleaded with her daddy to adopt Lucy too. She couldn't stand the idea of her being an orphan one minute longer.
Oh sweet baby girl.....I KNOW that feeling oh so well.
It's one thing to think about orphans and fatherless children when you hear about them on the news, or read about their stories online. But when you see their smiles, you hold their precious hands, you hear their laughs, or wipe away their tears....your heart is changed FOREVER!
This is a time when you wrestle with God. How can their be so many....SO MANY children all over the world, that are alone??? Why?? Just as my compassionate daughter felt for the very first time...she questioned, and pleaded, and begged. There were several nights of crying about sweet Lucy, and all of the children we met. We all prayed for them every day that they would find their forever families soon. I have to admit, I did ask our adoption agency about bringing two children home at one time. We were told that considering Jerry's age and medical needs, that it was not possible.
Yet GOD answers prayers! He is always working.....even when you don't think He is even listening.
As the months went on, Clare still asked why we couldn't bring Lucy home too. We continued praying. And my heart would sink every time I would see somebody advocating for her, and see that she was still waiting!! In my heart I knew God was preparing the BEST family for this amazing little firecracker, but I was growing some what impatient.
Well in the beginning of June I answered a facebook post from a fellow adoptive mom regarding medical questions. This very sweet mama and I chatted for awhile over the phone. After a while she began to explain that she and her husband were reviewing a file of a little girl. She began to tell me more about the little girl's file she was holding onto. It didn't take long for me to figure out that she was talking about the very same LUCY we had the joy of meeting in March!!! Oh.....I could not stop talking. I poured out every good and wonderful thing I could think of to tell her about Lucy. I offered to send every single picture we took of her during camp as well. I probably scared the sweet girl! Ha!! My heart was SOOOOO happy. After hanging up with her, I went to my Lord. I begged God to make His will known clearly, that if this wasn't going to be Lucy's family, that she would find them soon. Of course I told Clare when she got home, and she began praying as well.
Several weeks later we learned that Lucy was matched with sweet Aimee, the sweet mama I had the privilege to chat with over the phone. We were all so very happy.
Then just last week Lucy finally met her forever family!!!! She has one amazing mama and baba (daddy). She has a great big brother, and a huge family that is totally in love with her. God is so very good!! We love you Comer family....even though we've only met your baby girl!
It was such a amazing gift to watch God unfold His beautiful plan. As a family, we were able to experience an answered prayer in a totally different way. I'm happy to report that 6 of the camp children have found their forever families!! These two precious boys are still waiting.
Will you join us as we continue our prayers for them? Please lift Lucy and her amazing family in prayer as well.
And of course please continue to prayer for our Jerry. God has answered so many prayers already for our sweet boy. I just cannot wait to watch as our family experiences the beauty of THAT one answered prayer...the prayer to have him home forever.
