Saying ‘Yes’ to the call of Christ…

Saying ‘Yes’ to the call of Christ…

Just 47 days ago, I was losing faith in our adoption journey…

And then…

Just 32 days ago we accepted the referral to become the forever family to Duncan, Faith, and Mark. 

And….

Just 24 days ago (3 1/2 weeks), we learned we were $10,000 short of adoption expenses.

Oh dear…

Our deadline to send the other half of our in country expenses and starting the process of purchasing tickets and lodging is May 18^th.

There is a reason one morning, the same morning prior to hearing from Uganda about our referral on March 26, that I opened my computer and it started to sing “My HOPE is In YOU” randomly on its own. I have been singing that song, praying that song, clinging to the words in that song day by day since March 26. It is the song I will forever associate with this adoption and the journey thereof because my God has been merciful  and patient with me at times in my unbelief. He took the time to show me physically through His body that He indeed is my Hope.

So on April 4^th when we learned that we needed to find $10,000 to complete our financial obligation for the adoption and I was quite certain that the olive tree in my front yard did not hold $100 bills on it, I went into panic mode. I was sick all day long with worry and doubt and just in agony with anxiety. The words of that song drifted out of mind and in it’s place came unbelief. I began to do everything I could to try and fix it, like believers do when they take their eyes off of the Sovereign One of all things. Maybe we could do this? or that?….and nothing seemed to work right on paper. By the time Jason came home, I was a nervous wreck complete with swollen eyes and looking back if I were him I would have turned around and headed right back to work...It was hard night full of struggles within the heart and mind. Thankfully God’s word does not return void and when I was still enough after all had went to bed, God’s word came in a reclaimed my thoughts, my heart, my soul and My HOPE said all would be OK.

I look back on that and want to say…”oh you foolish girl...why do you doubt your God?”  

But…. MY GOD is GOOD. GRACIOUS. KIND. LONGSUFFERING. PATIENT.

And He loves me enough to wait on me to see that love! 

He had me right where HE wanted me. Vulnerable. At the end of myself. Needing to be dependent on something other than my own empty conclusions.

HE was leading me…

He was drawing me…

He was holding out His nail scarred hands and showing me… “YES, I am HE”

So that night, I shared our need. It is not something I really wanted to do in the beginning, not because of pride but because I see all sorts of needs around us. Needs that I wish we could give to and meet. Needs that are just as important. Needs that are worthy of the body of Christ investing in. Needs I did not want to be taking from for ourselves when so many others have needs that need to be met. 

However, we knew that God was telling us to share the need. Not necessarily because of ourselves but for Christ. Share our story. Share their (the kids) story for HIS GLORY and so I did….AND GOD’s ABOUNDING love and provision through HIS people has OVERWHELMED our hearts and provided for this journey each day the past 24 days.

Everyday the past 24 days, someone has given, someone has ordered coffee, someone has ordered jewelry, someone has donated clothes, someone has donated a bed….everyday for 24 days….not one day has gone by without something being given everyday…A.M.A.Z.I.N.G love...oh how can it be?

This past Friday was a HUGE day.  I shared a bit on face book about our day in the immunization clinic, so I will spare all the details here. After leaving the clinic I took the kiddos to the cafe on base to get them their favorite smoothie and to meet a friend who wanted to donate what she had made on a party with her business to support our adoption. Upon arriving, her husband Rich was with her and we were introduced. The kids and I sat down with them to visit for a bit. Then the questions came…. 

Michelle and Rich: “So how much do you think you still need?”

Me: “Well (squirming in my seat and doing math in my head), I think on Tuesday when I updated we needed $3885 still and I have about $1000 in Silpada profits coming in by the end of the month, another $200 from a friend who also did a fundraiser, and some coffee orders. So maybe $2500 is still left??? I just know God is going to take care of it, He has this far!!!”

Them: While sliding a folded check across the table and a sweet smile on their faces… “That’s taken care of.”

Me: Tears of joy, disbelief, love, you name it I felt it in those moments and with words of spoken thanksgiving to them.

People, I am not sure what I did or looked like in those few moments, but I knew right then, right there in that moment that my Saviour had taught me that HIS love pours out through others when they say “YES” to Him.

The LENGTHS that my Saviour will go to show HIS promises to me is unfathomable, unspeakable, and always, always full of His glory.

Michelle began to share that she had taken the fundraising flyer home to her husband and how he was drawn to our story. Rich shared how his father had recently passed away and he knew God was telling him to honor what his father had left for him on such a cause. He ended by saying, “It is all God’s money.” And it is. Michelle and Rich heard the Holy Spirit calling to them to be used as many many others have as well….to give...and they said ‘YES’. 

Their “yes” to Christ, FUNDED the rest of the $10,000 we set as a goal!!!

Saying ‘YES’ to Christ Jesus is the best thing any of us could ever do...each and every day….day in and day out… for the rest of our lives. 

It come in the forms of “Yes, I will go”, “Yes, I will give”, “Yes, I will pray.”

We said ‘YES’ to the going...and the body is saying ‘Yes’ to the giving and the praying.

Many have said ‘yes’ to Christ Jesus through financial gifts of all sizes, coffee orders, and jewelry orders. Many have said ‘yes’ to Christ Jesus through clothing donations and other tangible items. Many are saying ‘yes’ to planning adoption showers and meals when we arrive home. 

All of these equate to many saying ‘yes’ to Christ to be used as HIS HANDS AND HIS FEET to minister to “the least of these”, making for one beautiful story that brings Christ glory in your life and the lives of others. 

..and people, 

1. Stand. In . Awe . Of . An . Awesome. God .

Who loves.

Who provides.

Who edifies.

Who shelters.

Who gives Hope.

Through. Those. That. Say. “Yes, Lord”

So you all may be wondering what is next and if there are other needs?

Over the next 5 weeks (yes five weeks from today we are to start making our way to Uganda), we will be preparing bed rooms, buying beds, bedding, dressers.  We will be gathering clothing and shoes for the children. WE need everything to be in order so that when they come home, they know we have been waiting on them and wanting to be their forever family. We will be reading a lot to prepare us for transition and studying the language as much as possbile. We will be  looking for lodging and plane tickets not just to and in Uganda for 4-5 weeks but also to and in Washington State where we will stay for 3 weeks for the adoption and citizenship to go through US court. We then must travel to the East Coast to say hello to family and friends while getting passports and Italian visas to return to Italy. There will be a lot of cost in travel. The only leg of the trip that we pray that will cost us next to nothing is taking the AMC flight from BWI to Avianno, Italy upon our return.

The travel expenses for lodging and transportation we have set aside is enough to get us to Seattle (based on regular airfare prices due to the summer months), so unless we are blessed with heavily discounted airfare, we could be hitchhiking from that point. If you are reading this, desired to give, and have not had a chance to yet there are needs that could be meet with your gift. I dare not “guess” how much everything will cost with the fluctuation of gas, air tickets, and accommodations but I will say, MY HOPE is in HIM and I know HE will provided through the “yes’s” of His people!!!

With much love, excitement, thanksgiving, and speechless adoration for the body of Christ and our Saviour,

Amanda

Thank you to all these “Yes’s” during this fundraising effort!!! 

Love gifts:

Rivers Family

Arndouse Family

Shambley Family

Jacobson Family

Lounsberry Family

Maddox Family

Robinson Family

Elam Family
Eckstein Family

Price Family

Feinman Family

Price Family

Burkette Family

Hand Family

Pugh Family

Gray Family

Presnell Family

Dunkin Family

Whitaker Family

Sandlin Family

Lori Bond

Pacchiarotti Family

Croswell Family

Diblasi Family

Keeter Family

Everson Family

McDonald Family

Dunn Family
O'Connor Family

Silpada parties:

Emily Del Rio

Megan Walters

Heather Titus

Linda Holbrook

Amanda McPherson

Anita Smith

Brooke Shambley

Renee Dey

Joyce Zick

Trace Paulino

Jewelry( and Coffee Orders ($256 donated):

Nat Paach (coffee and jewelry)

Lori Garcia

Kapka Maune

Elian Prince

Paulette Arnold

Kemberly Espiet

Mary Teel

Hollie Gordon

Elisabeth Spain

Paloma Connelly

Bridget Pelkey

Anita Smith

Mercedes Savage

Joyce Zick

Mary Stafford

Patty Crump

Peggy baker

Brittany Parker

Teresa Moore

Emily Geygan

Annette Shorman

Sharon Hill

Vickie Spain (jewelry and coffee)

Kari Farley

Jennifer Ingalls

Lori Bond

Laura Tran (jewelry and coffee)

Alexandra Goode 

Sarah Dyer

Stephanie Hoggatt

Adeline Luciano

Michael Lacewell

Matthew Up

Casey Matson

Jill Mitchell

Kirstine Mitchell

Linda Fennel

Amy Cywinski

Erica Illiano

Tara McDonough (jewelry and coffee)

Abigail Green

Naomi Leclair

Jenalyn Smith

Allison Jones

Krista iRester

Emily del Rio

Charrissa Browning

Megan Nilsen

Renee Day

Imelda Cardinale

Vanessa Fleitz

Meang Chhay