The Next Step

Thank you so much for your faithful support, love, and encouragement that we have felt over the miles for these past four and a half years. We have had the awesome privilege of seeing the fruit of your prayers over and over again...and this time, in an amazing transformation of our family. I praise God for the change we have experienced over the past two months. Although physically, our situation hasn't changed (STILL waiting for the adoption to be finalized), the difference in our family has been dramatic. The Holy Spirit has slowly chipped away at the tiny cracks in our children's armor and we have been blown away by the beauty revealed. I have seen more smiles and heard more laughter during the last month than we experienced during the first year we were together. The tension that reigned before has been replaced by a peace that God is bonding us together as a family. He has done far more than I could have hoped or imagined and I stand in awe of His mercy and grace.

Several months ago, the CLM orphanage in Turvo was closed...and we have been presented with the opportunity to be the team leaders in its re-opening! The breaking down of the walls around our children's hearts has confirmed to us that our family is now prepared for this next step together. When we presented it to them, we shared that our desire was to minister as a family but only when they were ready. They listened intently as we told them that we believed they were our primary ministry and we wanted them to know that they would always be our priority. After a lot of questions and hashing out of details, they each in turn shared that they thought we were ready...and then began to share specific areas where they wanted to help! When we visited the orphanage later that week, Lindsay told me that she wanted to read to the children because she knew "it would make them happy." She then said, "I know God has a purpose for me because He said that I'm going to change the world!" It made me cry because we were given a prophetic word before we came to Brazil (WAY before we even had an inkling that we would adopt!) that we would be "raising world-changers." It was beautiful to hear her claim this for herself after the numerous times we've prayed it over her and her brother and sister. We will begin implementing the first phases of preparing the facility for children and building a team in the coming weeks. Please pray for our family as we embark on the next part of our journey together.