one less

As of Friday afternoon, there is now one less orphan in the world! Our little boy in the DRC had an uncle and sister who were looking for him. And they found him. And while we are saddened by the news that this little one will not be a part of our family, we are rejoicing that today he is with his family. We firmly believe that the best place for a child to be is with his birth family in his birth country. (If they are able to care for him.)

We are saddened by this news but not altogether surprised. The orphanage where this little one was living is bad, even for the poorest country in the world. There have been three investigations in the last five years; including a current one. We have prayed daily that God would protect "G" and get him out of there. And He did.

As additional orphanage allegations came out in the past few weeks, I've said many times "It will be a miracle if we can get this little boy home." What I meant by that was our home. What God intended for him was a different home. But I believe our prayers were not unheard or unanswered. They were just answered by an all-knowing God who sees the finished picture when all I've got is a single puzzle piece.

I don't want to come across as holy and happy and fake - this is hard. Another setback in a nearly three year journey makes me want to gouge my eyes out with the nearest sharp object. As Matt Chandler said in his sermon two weeks ago - "If there were an easy button I'd be smacking that mug." I WANT easy.

But it is VERY CLEAR that God is trying to teach us something not easy. (Likely many things or we are just really slow and it is taking a few years.) But sometimes I just don't want to learn the lesson. I don't want to relate to and encourage people who have gone through marriage crap or cancer or more cancer or being told they are unfit to parent or... But God does. He has me here, right here, because this is where He wants me. Jesus says in John 15:16 "You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit."

Friends, I would not have chosen "here" on my own. I would have chosen easy. I would not have chosen to produce fruit that relates well to suffering. But that is my fruit. And I would not trade it. I know that God has planted me here with design and purpose. I'm just not altogether sure what that design and purpose is quite yet.

Psalm 68:6 God sets the lonely in families...