Life here in Romanina is not what I expected, but then again I am not sure what I expected out of this month. I didn't even know where exactly Romania was when I applied for the Race. As much as we are told not to have expectations, there are always expectations made in my mind about what ministry will be like. Yet again, God trumps my expectations and has made this month so much more that I thought it would be.
We are working with Caminul Felix, an amazing ministry that focuses on there being a father and mother to raise orphan children up in a family. Our contacts have been with this ministry 20 years and have 21, yes I typed that right, children. They got their first 16 within the first week of them becoming parents. There are two villages here in Oradea and there are 16 houses total and each house has a family with anywhere from 8-16 children.
The unique thing is that these children will be their children forever. They don't rotate children in and out as they get older. They may not all share blood, but they are all family. They have weddings and birthdays and our contacts are even are welcoming the first few grandchildren into their family. Many of these children come from places where their parents simply couldn't take care of them for various reasons, and some of these children even come from hospitals where their parents dropped them off, abandoned them. It has been hard for me to say that we are working with orphans this month because the amazing thing is these children are in families.
I am so thankful for a family that has loved me, supported me, and walked through life with me for the past 23 years. I have loved every birthday, Christmas, family vacation and every other memory that we have made. They have instilled values and so many great things that have truly helped me in becoming who I am today. It fills me with joy knowing that these children who were orphaned for whatever reason will get to experience similar things that I experienced growing up!
Adoption has always stirred something deep inside my heart. I don't know why, but as God has been teaching me more about His heart for adoption, my heart has been stirring more and more. I am learning how to walk in my identity as a daughter of God. Here is a glimpse of a few truths God has been welding into my heart.
Jesus speaking, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whover abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:4-5
I need Jesus.
When Jesus was talking about the promise of sending the Holy Spirit he says, "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." John 14:8
God has a family.
"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God." Galatians 4:4-7
I am His daughter.
"And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6:18
This is my identity.
This is the truth I am walking in.
And it's beautiful.
