As I begin to write this, news is breaking of a 5.6 earthquake in Venezuela. This, of course, comes after the 6.5 quake in northern CA on the 9th and the devastating 7.0 quake in Haiti on the 12th. The earth is moving. As I await news of any destruction in Venezuela, my heart is heavy for Haiti. I look at the photos and hear the first-hand accounts and I feel helpless. I wonder how a nation already so afflicted can ever recover from such utter devastation.
I want to help...to go beyond my pocketbook and comfort zone. But how? After watching Matt Lauer interview the director of a large orphanage in Haiti, I thought I had my answer. Recently, we have been researching the adoption process and now our heads are swirling with agency names, programs, legal jargon and dollar signs. There's also the big question of where to adopt from. Domestic? International? We don't feel particularly called in one direction over the other, seeing as that it's next to impossible for US citizens to currently adopt from the one country we are bonded to, Kenya. It was in this gray area where I thought I felt God move within my soul and tell me that we could make a difference for a Haitian child. However, upon researching the Haitian adoption requirements, we found that one parent must be at least 35 years old and we need to be married for at least 7 (in some cases 10) years. Joel is 31, and we've only been married for 5 years. Once again we find ourselves frustrated with the fact that the adoption system is just not designed for young couples wanting to be parents. If it's not the extreme financial burden, it's an age restriction...or both. In addition, Haitian adoptions take an incredibly long time in comparison to other international adoptions. Not surprising, given their poor infrastructure. Now, in the wake of this natural disaster, it's utterly ridiculous to think this would be a good idea.
So how do you know? How you do you separate the whisper of God from the voice of your own human desires? I'm realizing that in my frenzy to learn as much about adoption as possible, I have seldom paused to listen to God. I think I'm afraid of what He will say or where He will point me. It's those fears that send me into type-A overdrive. The planning, list-making, control-freak side of me takes over and I end up forcefully trying this, then that, then this again. My husband tells me I'm "all over the map." Comments like this are usually my cue to stop, comb my hair, and breathe. So that's what I'm going to do. If it's truly God's desire that we adopt a precious orphan from Haiti, then He will make it happen...in His timing. And if His plans for us are far different, I pray we will be quiet enough amidst the noise to truly hear Him calling to us.
In the meantime...we will pray fervently. We will find other ways to help. And we will remember the numerous U.S. families who were in the middle of their Haitian adoption process when the earthquake hit. It's my own personal prayer that their children are found alive and will come home soon.
Most importantly, we will take comfort in the fact that when the earth moves, God moves too...
But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction.
-Job 36:15
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
-Psalm 34:18
2 comments:
Yep. I just cried again. I didn't even think about families who were prepared to adopt from Haiti and how this would impact them. There are SO many people affected by this. My prayers go out to them. But like you, it doesn't seem enough. And giving money doesn't either. I wish I could just snap my fingers and be there and find something to do with my hands.
I love your Bible verses, Hol. I'm having some major, like, I-need-to-drive-to-Madison-and-have-girl-time-with-Holly feelings.
P.S. That age restriction thing is SO frustrating!!!
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