The Journey Begins

Hi, everyone! This is my first attempt at blogging. Please be kind in your comments.

I just wanted to start with how this journey began. About a year ago God laid on my heart that he wanted me to adopt a child, and not just any child, a child from Africa. I tried to ignore the calling, but I just kept getting signs and messages from the Lord. I was still confused, so I went to speak to my pastor. Brother Delmus is a great listener and advisor. I told him that I thought God was asking me to do something, but I didn't know if it was really God or if I was loosing my mind(biological clock induced psychosis). He told me if it was something God wanted me to do I should continue to research and move forward with the adoption process. If doors were open and not closed, it is what God wanted me to do. He never did say if he thought I was crazy or not. :0)

I continued to Internet research and came across the Acres of Hope website. I must have looked at the website 100 times before I got up the nerve to send an email. I was still worried about money, being a single parent, all of the things that put doubts in your mind. I still wasn't trusting God. I still wanted to be in control.

In February, I sent an e-mail to AOH to volunteer to do teacher training. I was thinking to myself, 'I don't have the money to adopt, but I can do something. I can teach or help train teachers.' I didn't get a response immediately, but I continued to visit the AOH website and pray.

During this time our county Baptist Association had its Spring meeting, in late March, and the speaker was Sam Cathey. His message truly spoke to my heart and I applied it to my adoption process. He challenged us to have revival in our lives and in our churches. His message came from I Kings 18:30 and he gave us 4 points to see revival. 1) Rebuild the Alter of the Lord--in other words get on our knees and pray. Leave the sacrafice of your thanks, praise and prayers at the alter of the church. The alter is not just for people going through trying times. It is for everyone. 2) Give generously to the Lord--give above tithes. It was the Lord's to begin with, if you give back God will bless you. 3) Give up your prize possession to the Lord. If you have something that is coming between you and God you have to give it up. 4) Create a situation of God's choosing that only He can solve.

Well that last point kind of hit me in the face, so I started looking at the other points more closely. The next Sunday I went to the alter to pray. I asked God to show me the path to take, to please give me a sign that this is what he wanted me to do. The next week Donna emailed me back. She explained that Patty was in Liberia and would be for 2 more weeks and she could answer my questions then. I have also been giving more of my money and time to God and he has blessed me in many ways. I am still working on #3, I can't decide if my prized possessions are my shoes or my books. It's going to hurt to give them up anyway. If you wear a size 6-7 and like to read, I'm having a huge yard sale in November.:0)

I talked to Patty on the phone a couple of weeks later, in April. We discussed me helping with teacher training and my background. She must have noticed my accent and asked me where I was from. I told her Jasper, AL. She said her husband was from a town about an hour away and they would be coming for a visit in a few weeks. I invited them to come to our church to speak. Patty was able to tell everyone her story and the mission of Acres of Hope. Harold was able to relive a little of his childhood and have a good old Baptist dinner after church. We also had our service in a barn that day. That is where our church started 5 years ago.

I was not able to travel to Liberia this summer, but I do hope to be traveling soon--to pick up my child and help teach while I am there.

I have finally decided to let God answer the questions that have held me back from beginning the application process. I mailed my application on Tuesday, October 2nd and have officiall begun my adoption journey.

I hope you have enjoyed the story so far.

Thanks and God Bless