A couple of weeks ago Shane and I attended an adoption seminar. Since the begining of our marriage we have wanted to adopt, but have never felt like it was the right timing. But our hearts have always yearned for it. I heard on KLOVE that America World Adoption was having a seminar at Alamo Heights Methodist Church (which happens to be the church that our current church Riverside Community Church was a church plant off of). I mentioned to Shane that I wanted to go and much to my surprise he said he would like to go too. It was a date night! :) Amazingly, we were able to get a babysitter for Sutherlin, and the other two tagged along with my parents to a basketball game my dad was coaching.
I think we were both a little nervous about attending, but just kept putting one foot in front of the other. I love the way the Lord works. When we walked into the building, we were greeted by a couple from our church who we adore and look up to as followers of the Lord. And, then we find out that they are leading the meeting!! America World Adoption is the organization they are a part of and who they used to adopt their children! Amazing! We had no idea! And, to top it off, our preacher was standing right next to them. We were blown away. In awe. Totally welcomed and comfortable. We knew that we were supposed to be there.
The seminar was full of great information and wonderful testimonies. We left with a definite "yes" answer from the Lord and were confident of our call to adopt internationally. We were so excited and a bit overwhelmed. We knew for sure that we want to adopt a little boy around Cannon's age. But, the next couple of days left us with a huge question "Where in the world are we being called to adopt FROM??" It was almost too overwhelming.
Shane's close friend and business partner currently lives in Brazil. He felt a strong pull towards adopting from Brazil. I just had no idea. Every country I looked into I completely fell in love with. I could easily want to adopt from any of them.
The next morning I was able to spend some quiet time alone with the Lord. I kept asking of the Lord to speak to me, to show me where our child is from. My mind went over all the countries I had looked at the night before. My heart ached for the children in each of them. Then, as clear as day I heard "Ethiopia". What??? Really? No, that couldn't be right, Shane is pretty set on Brazil. I shared with Shane and he didn't think Ethiopia was where we were supposed to adopt from. I spent the next couple of days totally second guessing myself and what I had heard. I spent hours on the internet searching Brazil and Russia adoption. I kept going back to Ethiopia. Shane and I talked and talked about it, but could come to no conclusion. I met with my friend, Courtney, during the week (who has 2 adopted children) and told her that I was at the point of giving up. It's too hard! It's overwhelming! Where do we adopt from?? I was so confused. It would be easier to just let it all go.
A couple of days after that, I dropped the kids off at school and laid Sutherlin down for a nap. I couldn't wait to be alone with Jesus. I missed Him. I just wanted to sit at His feet and be with Him. No agenda. I prayed some, then opened up my Bible where I had left off the day before. I had been reading in Exodus, so I began in chapter 13. I love God's Word. And, I really love the Old Testament. Moses was leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt into the Promised Land. Then I came to verse 17, "When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." It immediately struck me that this is what I was feeling about adoption. I was facing "war", conflict that was too much to handle, so I just wanted to change my mind and forget about the whole thing. I remembered the conversation I had with Courtney. I felt as though the Lord was speaking to me through these Scriptures. I heard Him saying "I will give you favor. You will not face war. I do not want you to change your mind." The Lord was very near in that moment. I could feel His presence. I felt encouraged, lifted, heard. I kept reading. Verse 18 says, "So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea." I just stared at those words. The Red Sea. The Red Sea. The Red Sea. And then I knew it. I don't know geography well, and honestly I have no idea where the Red Sea is. But, in that moment, I knew it had to be by Ethiopia. I knew the Lord was speaking to me. I knew He was saying ETHIOPIA.
I frantically grabbed my phone and googled "Ethiopia" and "Red Sea". When the screen popped up I sat in awe. A huge picture of Ethiopia showed up and right smack on top of the country sits the Red Sea. Amazing. He has spoken. The Lord speaks. I knew in my spirit that the Lord was calling us to adopt from Ethiopia. I was confident of it.
I called Shane and shared with him what I had read and what the Lord has spoke to me. Unbeknownst to me, the night before, Shane had watched a video of a precious little Ethiopian boy that our friends are adopting and bringing home very soon. The boy was saying his colors in English and getting so excited when he got them correct. Shane watched the 4 minute video and fell in love. The Lord told him he also had a son in Ethiopia. He knew in that moment that we were supposed to adopt from Ethiopia. Incredible. He shared this with me and I wept!! The Lord has spoken! The Lord has clearly showed us the path to take....the road to the Red Sea. We stand in awe. We have a son in Ethiopia. Will you pray for him?
