It is interesting to see the looks on some faces of people when we tell them that we are taking all of our children to China with us. Everyone is excited about the opportunity of us taking them. But getting inside the heads of others is what would be interesting. The biggest questions we receive are:
- How much is that going to cost?
- Boy, isn’t that expensive?
- What about school? They allow them to miss two weeks of school???
Anyone that knows Jenn and me know that we are two pretty tight individuals with our finances and with what we say (unless I am typing….then you get too much said…). So to answer the first two questions, yes, it is expensive and only Jenn and I (and our Father) need to know what it costs. In regards to the part about school, we have been blessed to be a part of a school that wraps itself around these types of opportunities. So we have been cleared to allow all our children to go with us by the administration. (PTL!)
In regards to the cost of the trip, Jenn and I had to really consider the cost versus the benefit of taking everyone on the trip. A lot of the decision goes back to the journey our family has taken over the past couple of years. Last year at this time, we were 5 months into trying to sell our home, we entered the world of private school education for all 3 of our children (gulp), and Jenn was driving 70 minutes one way to school every day. People were scratching their heads over our decisions….and sometimes we did as well. At this time, I was praying and reciting Matthew 6:31-34 and Philippians 4:6-7. If you had asked me if we were taking everyone on the trip, I would have told you that you were crazy and might see if someone would be going in my spot had this trip come up last year. Looking ahead towards next year, I may have ask myself “What was I thinking last year???”
However, none of that makes sense right now. We know that traveling internationally like this is going to be expensive. We treat this as an investment into the hearts of our children – not as a sunk cost (must bring up an accounting term J). But how many times do you get to meet your little sister for the first time – as she meets you?? This opportunity may never come along again for them as children. If we are provided the blessings to provide this for our children, we will use this season just for that – and trust in His provisions.
James 1:27 calls us to look after orphans and widows:
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
Our children have been given the passion for orphans through our journey and being surrounded by many awesome families in our community that have adopted many children from all over the world. Getting to witness this first-hand and having the possible opportunity to go to WeiWei’s orphanage and play with them will give them a new insight into the plight of the 147 million orphans worldwide. Who knows what the Holy Spirit will stir in their hearts. We do not want to take away that opportunity for His work to be accomplished.
Lauren has already informed us that she will be adopting when she gets older! YES!!!!! (One child at a time….PTL!!)
One more reason I had yesterday on my early morning jog was the reminder that WE are adopted as his children for HIS pleasure!
Ephesians 1:5-6 “He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” This is a realization that we must hold fast to as He sends us into the world to being Him glory. Apart from our Father, we are alone, destitute and without hope…..probably like our daughter felt last October 7th as she stood in a strange place, not knowing anyone and wondering what was going to happen. Are we that much different as we attempt to walk this world without Him as our Father and Head? And did you get the fact that HE CHOSE US for HIS PLEASURE?!? He is the God of the ultimate universe, and He desires to be with us and call us His children! As much as we want WeiWei as our daughter, and for her to totally transform our lives, our Father wants to be with us far above more than I can imagine.
And the fact is that He does not really need us to continue His work. In the world’s terms, we are all considered rejects of this failing earth. As rejects, we are worthless and not needed. However, when Jesus came, He came to fulfill what is written in Hebrews 10:14:
“because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”
He came to make us His children and seek the path of Holiness. We are no longer considered rejects of this world, because Jesus came to save us for something so much better – eternity with Him!!!
Do you kind of see our reasons for taking our children on this trip??? We desire and pray for their hearts to be changed forever as they take this path. It is nothing that we can accomplish for them, but for them to seek His face when they see their little sister for the first time. I still get choked up every time I hear the first verse of Steven Curtis Chapman’s song “Heaven Is the Face” (a must-hear for everyone). Only my Father knows what we will do when we meet WeiWei…..and only He knows what we will do when we meet Him someday….
May we be more pleasing to Him every day!
No comments:
Post a Comment