I am a mother of 24 children. Yes, you read that correctly. I have always wanted to be a mother and last summer, the Lord gave me 24 precious children from around the globe.
It didn’t play out as I had imagined. I dreamt of a husband first. I dreamt of seeing the children face to face, giving them hugs, teaching them about Jesus, and providing for their needs, but that is not how the Lord blessed me at the time.
For the time being, God gave me the blessing of sponsoring 23 children through World Vision and 1 through Compassion International. It wasn’t my role to give these children hugs, teach them about Jesus, or provide for them. It was not the time to see these children face to face; it was the time to provide financially so others could fulfill these roles.
When God spoke to me about sponsoring each of these precious children, I told Him I would not do it if I had to bail at any point. That’s not who I want to be. I don’t want to give up when the going gets tough. I didn’t know how I would provide for them when I committed to sponsor these children because I didn’t have a job, but God spoke clearly that I was to sponsor these children, all of them. I told Him I would do it IF He would provide the funds, but I knew in my heart I would obey the Lord anyway.
At the time, I still thought God would lead me to a paying job, not to be a missionary with The World Race, but about a year later, I am preparing for The World Race and the money has almost run out. I didn’t know then how I would provide for these children for the approximate 15 year term and I don’t know now, but I trust God will provide. After all, He has never failed before. I have always had everything I need for today. What gives me the reason to doubt this now? I am sure the Lord will provide the means for these children to continue being sponsored, I just don’t really know how.
I do not want to give up these children. They are close to my heart and it has been such a blessing to be able to correspond with them and see the transformation and joy in their lives simply from being chosen and sponsored.
One of the children from the Philippines wrote me in one of his letters how thankful he was that I chose to sponsor him and that he prayed God would bless me so I could sponsor more children just like him. Little did Jeric know, God did just that when I committed to sponsor him.
Other children had very hard pictures, you could see the pain in their eyes, but their letters show the joy and love that has exploded in their hearts since their sponsorship began. How could I abandon them now?
I can’t. It’s that simple.
Sure, I can call up World Vision and Compassion and tell them I no longer have a means to support these children. They will waste money on reprinting sponsorship packets and send them out to stores for people like you and me to find. Somehow that seems like a cop-out for what God can do and how God can provide. He is our source and His resources never run out. Call me crazy, but I still believe God is going to provide.
I’m not really sure why I am writing this blog other than maybe God will speak to you about these children. Maybe He will speak to your heart about sponsoring one, two or all of them. Maybe He will speak to your heart about providing the funds for the duration of The World Race so I can continue to call these children ‘mine’ when I return. Maybe it is time for some or all of these precious children to be adopted into your family so you can know the joy and blessing of sponsorship. I don’t really know, but I pray the Lord’s will is done. Above all else, I pray the Lord is glorified and that whatever the answer or solution is that we would come to love Him even more because He is the Lord and He is good.
