Maybe THIS Is What It's All About...

In a government run orphanage in Luoyang, China, is a little boy named Jack.  He is already matched for adoption with an American family, but the formalities seem to be taking forever.  Join me in praying for Jack and his new forever family, and praying for a speedy approval process.  Most of all, pray that God bless and watch over Jack until he can join his new family here in the US!  Thanks!

Yesterday a man I have never met in person made the above quote his facebook status.  Soon after a woman I have never met in person either did the exact same thing.  And then a few people I have met joined in.  Then, in addition to the status posts there were numerous comments being posted as well - some from friends, but many from people who have never met me and probably wouldn't know who I was if they did.  Encouraging comments, like...

Absolutely will :)

Praying!

Praying like crazy!!!!

My prayers for Jack join yours.

Praying now!

We will pray for speedy process for Jack!   

And later in the day when I copied the post to my own status I got the following response almost immediately...

"God must have been working this morning. This VERY thing was on my heart and I spent a great deal of time in prayer for you and Jack. I just kept praying that God prepare all of you for the transition and that HE allows Jack to feel so at home and at peace when he comes to live with you. That Jack currently feels and knows you as his family in his heart. My thoughts and prayers are there with you. ((HUGS))"

So, maybe, above absolutely everything else, this is what it's all about.  Getting the people of God to come together and be involved in the process.  Getting ourselves out of ourselves and in contact with the support groups that surround us.  Reaching out to God in His infinite wisdom and using the gift of prayer to address Him directly with our thoughts, desires and needs.  Just maybe He has brought us to this place so that we can fall on our knees and come to Him from where He has led us.

I have mentioned often that Jack is a well-known entity in the Show Hope community.  His face has been in newsletters and featured in blog posts, he is a favorite of many who have traveled to both the Hope Foster Home and Maria's Big House on mission trips, and I even have a jewelry catalog with his picture on the donate to Show Hope page.  He is no stranger to the cause of orphan-care awareness even if he doesn't know it yet.  So, maybe this all makes more sense than we realize.

How many people have been made aware of the plight of the orphan through our story and our adoption?  How many people have been made aware of Show Hope and Maria's Big House through our story and our adoption?  How many people have a bit more insight into the adoption process, the hoops and trials, the joys and celebrations now that they have started following our story and our adoption?  I don't even know the answer to that and I've been at the center of all the email updates, blog posts, facebook comments, fundraisers, etc.

So, maybe all of this really is what it's really all about.  Coming together, loving one another and sharing the marvelous love of our God and Creator as we present a united front in prayer to BRING JACK HOME!  As frustrating as each slow down has been, and as anxious as I am for the next piece of paper to arrive in the mail, how much more has the word been spread because of our need for prayers and the connections we  have made with others throughout the journey?  If all had been smooth sailing with no need to ask for help very few would have been involved in this miracle and very many would have missed out on Jack's phenomenal story.  For if there is anything to learn from this journey it is that we are all in this together.

So I will say it one more time - We give never-ending thanks for each of you who are and have been praying.  We appreciate your love and support more than you can imagine.  I know it may seem silly to seem so completely impatient in the midst seeing the hand of God at work, but perseverance is not the same as worry and prayers for progress are not the same as faithlessness.  God is good.  God has a plan.  I have absolutely no doubt about either of those things.  But bringing us all together seems to be His plan for now so I shall embrace those who choose to stand with us and pray, pray, pray alongside you for that blasted LOA!  =)

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6-7

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:19-20