For the last month featured blogs on the World Race site have been about adoption and stories of orphans and how meeting even just one child on the race can change a persons heart forever. This Sunday is orphan Sunday. This day has had a special place in my heart the last few years thanks to two of the greatest people I have ever meet.
When I started going to youth group in high school I never knew what an impact it would have on my life. I honestly started going because it was something to do on a Sunday night with my friends, and my friends would talk about how cool the youth pastor and his wife were. So I started going and I loved it. Summer (the youth pastors wife) was the most genuine and loving person I have ever meet. Countless times my senior year she was there for me when I needed a friend.. not just an adult to tell me everything will be better eventually.
Since I stayed in Orlando for college I was able to remain close and even begin helping with the youth. Just a week after graduating high school my parents told me they were getting a divorce, I started my first class at UCF, and most of my friends left for college all within that summer, and Shane and Summer were there for me through all of the tears. I also remember that summer being the start of something great in Shane and Summers life. After trying to start a family of their own and doctors visits, and prayer Shane and Summer began the adoption process. I remember watching their faith and hope in those first couple of months. It was so surreal to me to have two people that I looked up to really living out their faith and not just preaching about it. God calls for us to take care of Orphans and widows. The same idea behind the World Race of living out our faith and replacing the empty traditions the World teaches us.
Over the next year Shane and Summer and a lot of other peoples hearts grew for their child including mine. God had placed it on their heart to adopt a child from Ethiopia. They started the adoption process with the intention of adopting a baby boy. By Springtime however Ethiopia had cut its amount of approval letters and it could take years for them to bring their child home. I remember the sadness I saw on Summers face, but also the presence of hope in her. By June of 2011 a year latter God had directed Shane and Summers path to two Ethiopian brothers. Abiti and Negalegn. All along God had so much planned for them. He was never hurting them with not having a biological child, he was not hurting them when they could not adopt a baby boy, all along he had planned for these two boys to become apart of their family.
They meet their boys in Ethiopia that July. August of 2011 was a big month in the adoption process. They would have to pass court and be approved so that they could bring the boys home. The courts close in early August though for the rainy season which would postpone the boys coming home for over four months. On the last day of courts being opened they were told that they did not pass because of a paperwork mistake on behalf of the adoption agency. Never before had I prayed so hard that something would change that God still made miracles happen like he did in the Bible. I hated to see the sadness this brought them. Then one day leaving work I pulled out my phone to call my mom and then I saw Summers text saying that somehow the courts reopened and they passed. I screamed out loud in the parking lot and praised God. On October 19th 2011 I was at the airport with half of our church and their family waiting their arrival. When they came out of the terminal and I saw those two little boys there it was so amazing. To see two people there I had only prayed for but yet loved so much already. Christian the older one hid behind Shane most of the time only letting out a smile or two. And then Joash the younger brother held Summers hand and loved posing for the camera. Such different personalities inside these little guys but both so precious.
Oh and in this picture Summer is pregnant with their little girl Avalynn who would be born in April on Easter Sunday. God is so good!
So how does this relate to my World Race Journey? … well I’m not exactly sure. Shane and Summers influence on my life led me to the notions of applying for the World Race without them even knowing it. The love and faith they have in each other and in God is inspiring. Watching how God brought their family together over the last three years has only affirmed my love for Him. The same way they love their sons is the same way God loves all of us. He has adopted us into His family. Shane and Summer moved back home to Greensboro North Carolina. Fortunately I was blessed to spend a week with them after training camp. It was 2 years and one day since I had first meet the boys at the airport. Such a sweet time full of laughs. Back in July the World Race posted a photo and a caption that read “On the Race, your teammates become your brothers and sisters. Who in your life has become like family and why?” The five people God brought to my mind was the Somers family and the love I have for them and that they have for me. And my heart is overwhelmed with with Joy when I am reminded that this is the same love God has in each of us who have been adopted into his family. I know that on the race my heart will break for children and orphans that I meet, but knowing Christian and Joash’s story gives me hope. God is so faithful and loving.
Some pictures of last weeks visit with this wonderful family. I am so thankful for their support on my race.
I by no means gave their story justice. I only touched on some highlights. You can read the blog they kept during the process herehttp://www.growininourhearts.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2013-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2014-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=1
God calls us as believers to take care and be the voice for the poor and for orphans. Pray about how God can use you in the life of children and people around the world.
