Kinsman Redeemer
I assure you, when you did it for one of the least of these..., you were doing it for Me.
--Matt. 25:40
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Elijah’s story
In November of 2006, God invaded our comfort zone again and told us we had another child to be added to our family through adoption. Unlike when we started down the road to adopt Isabel (her story), this time our faith challenge had little to do with money. We knew He could take care of that. Our struggle was whether or not we had room in our hearts and home for another child, we just did not feel capable. As we finally surrendered our plans to Him, we stepped out in faith and began our adoption process. As if to reassure us that we had heard God correctly, we received an unexpected check in the mail from the US government for over $12,000 the very next day! It had something to do with a job held over 15 years earlier. Less than a month later, we were given $8,500 by a couple of families at our church and our adoption was practically paid for.
God was still challenging us to trust Him in other areas and we had to listen closely to His leading. We pursued two different preschool age boys in Guatemala but God closed the door both times. We sensed He was closing that door completely so we explored other options. Again and again God led us to a new program set up by our previous adoption agency, All God’s Children International. They had recently opened a program in Ethiopia and we could not turn away once we saw the staggering need. God had made it clear to us from the beginning that this adoption would be of an older child and we made the decision to request a boy between 2 and 5 years old. It seemed the most sensible fit for our children's birth order. God had different plans.
As we completed paperwork and prayed over our unknown child, God continually drew us to the waiting children list. There was only one boy on that list and he was "too old" for our family. It just didn't make sense to us but ultimately, God made it clear that he was ours and we could not pass him by. On August 12th, 2007, we met our almost 7 year old son, Elijah, and we have watched in awe as God has knit him into our hearts and home. He has adjusted beautifully into his new family and country and we praise God for this precious son. We are so thankful He pursued us to welcome this gift.
“Whoever welcomes one of these little children
in My name, welcomes Me.”
-- Mark 9:37
