Our daughter who is now 4 has been hearing our conversation with others and asking, "Are you going to Ukraine to get "Anna", the child we hosted last summer?" Since we have already received our bad news that she isn't available to us, we are dodging the question as diplomatically as we can.

 

Yesterday, Leslie told her she would bring her back a good prize when we return and asked her what she wanted. Her response was simply just bring back "Anna". Of course, Leslie started crying. Had I been there I think I would have too!

 

The geniuneness & simplicity of a child's understanding of things is so refreshing. It is similar to the faith & repentance in Christ that Jesus spoke about in Matthew 18.

 

2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them

3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

 

 

 

Our friends, Beth & Steve, are in Ukraine with Kostya, our facilitator. We are praying for them and anxiously awaiting news from their appointment. Their appointment is today!

 

 

We continue preparations for our travels. We are beginning to layout our packing and organizing.

 

I am not sure if most have considered this, but we are trying to get with a lawyer to ensure our will, trust, etc. is correct and up-to-date if the Lord wills us to meet Him during this trip. This has been hard! I am an emotional wreck inside!

 

 

 

We have been very busy these days in preparation for our upcoming trip to Ukraine. Trying to get closure on home matters is taking its toll on us. Ha. Ha.

 

We completed our immunizations this week.

 

I have been burning DVDs of MacArthur & Sproul sermons to watch while on our trip and hopefully, I can finish it up this week.

 

The reality of leaving our 2 children behind has begun to sink in this week and has created some sadness and anxiety for me.

 

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR US!

As we embark upon this journey, it can be likened unto a vessel setting sail to sea on a journey that is seeking a destination. While it may appear that our destination is the adoption of possibly two children, it really isn't. That is simply part of the means to the end or destination. The destination is communing and walking with God in this process while the children are the reason behind the voyage. It is like a sailor who loves the sea and simply seeks opportunities or reasons to be at sea,  it is his love of sea that drives him to seek opportunities to be at sea. This is not to diminish our love of seeking additional children and their impacts on our lives, but God is the focus!

 

While on this journey, we can expect winds to blow us to and fro. We can expect God to allow storms to pound upon our small vessels in this vast sea. We can expect God to loosen Satan's noose or lengthen his leash as he did with Job such that he may crash waves upon our little ships trying to sink it, but God! But God is the navigator of this ship and nothing will occur beyond His decree! God already has our child or children marked out for us. Our mission is to pray, seek & rely upon Him to take us to them and reveal them to us. We must walk in faith that He will accomplish His will!

 

So, let's look at verses on biblical faith and trusting the Lord!

 

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

 

Jeremiah 32:17,26-27 - ‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you....The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?

 

1 Chronicles 29:11-12 - Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.

 

Psalms 23 - The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

 

Lamentations 3:22-28 - The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.
It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him.

 

Psalms 73:23-26 - Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

 

Isaiah 41:10 - fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

 

Psalms 147:11 - ...the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.

 
Trust in the God's unfailing love even when a desired blessing seems to be so slow comng.

Psalms 13:1, 5-6 - How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?...

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

 

IT'S REALLY A JOURNEY OF FAITH IN HIM!