Up until March 1st (that's our goal) we will be working through 2 stacks of paperwork... our Home Study & our Dossier. Each has their own guidelines, some that overlap, while others do not.
This morning we were able to share with our church family about this process (in a very simplified format) and also include them in our process. While we will be Eli's parents and our immediate family will become his, our church family will also be his church family. We ask that our church family pray for him. Pray for us. Pray for his health, his biological mother (and possibly father) and for his caregivers right now.
But most importantly we'd like you to pray for his spiritual growth... that he would grow up to know the Lord and be a mighty warrior for God's army. That we, as his parents, will show him a love like no other and that we will exemplify Christ in our relationship with him, so that he will know the Maker of the Universe and have a relationship with Him.
So, one of the requirements in filling out our Dossier, is pictures. Pictures of every room in our house, pictures of Eli's room, pictures of the front of the house, pictures of the back of the house, pictures of us, pictures of our pastor (that one was easy :), pictures of the outside of the church and pictures of the inside of the church. And we all know a church is just a building without the people, so we decided to take a picture of the inside of the church... filled with all the people that will love him and be praying for him.
So Eli... here's your church family!!!
Over the last few years I've learned a lot about the family of God. I've come to know so many brothers & sisters in Christ from other churches, other denominations, other states, and even other countries. And for those of you who aren't in this picture, but are my brother or sister in Christ... you too, will always be welcome in our lives and into Eli's as well.
For those of you reading, who aren't saved or don't know Christ or extremely confused about this whole adoption thing, while I'd love to introduce you to Eli... I'd really love to introduce you to a loving, compassionate, Father & Savior, who is all-knowing, all-powerful and would love to be apart of your life.
We plan to raise Eli in the church, around his Church family, from the day we bring him home to Wauchula until the day God decides to take him home. We know his skin color will be different from ours, we know that from an early age he will learn about what adoption is & probably experience loss and sadness, we know that there will be obstacles from day one... but we also know that love has no boundaries, that Christ made salvation for EVERYONE and that he died on the cross for you, me, those in Africa and all around the world, we know that Eli will be accepted into our community by so many of you and will one blessed little boy.
Acts 2:42-47
The Message (MSG)
That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met. They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.
That's awesome!! Baby Eli is going to be one super blessed kiddo to have all those amazing people in his life!
ReplyDeleteAnd welcome to the paper part! (much better than the waiting part I might add :) I actually loved the paperwork! Gave me such a sense of accomplishment as I finished things. After so many months/years of waiting you feel like you are actually doing something to help bring your baby home!