He is Faithful!

How the forest grows! :)

















































Last night was a very special time of honoring the staff here at Lily. We prepared a meal for them, served them and loved on them. Great memories!

The evening was especially stressful because Alberto had changed his mind about wanting to be adopted...and Alex was at the Notary office trying to get the paperwork official since the mom was there to sign off. Alex called me and I sent Gary over to the older boys dorm so Marcos could call his brother and talk to him. Ramon called Alberto and Mama called trying to help Alberto understand the importance of this decision. Finally, Alberto realized that life with his prostitute mom was not a good life for him and he needed to have a real family. This evening the paperwork should be finished for this. Keep praying about this. At this point it looks like we will be trying to get the boys across the border Friday morning if everything keeps working out.

In a few minutes I will be leaving for DIF for adoption updates. PLEASE PRAY! Several situations are very critical.

Micah has begged to go...(beats mixing cement!) and I gave in. :) Sid will be driving us and praying the whole way. I am thankful for Sid...a prayer warrior who has a servant's heart.

Later:
The meeting with DIF took place today and I am awed at God's work. We had no major breakthroughs, just a sweet sense of God's leading. I took 3 of the Riley children and the Arnett's girls with me to visit the people who are working with their adoption cases. These Mexican officials see names of children on paper every day but I think they get numbed to the fact that this is about children and their futures. I was able to briefly introduce the children to Laura, the head of DIF as she was leaving for a speech elsewhere. But, she gave us a quick moment and arranged for her staff to listen to the children. The next thing I knew we were in a room standing before the head of the attorney and his two assistants. Alex, my laison had not yet arrived...but the meeting began without him. I thanked our audience for their time and told them how much I appreciated all their work on behalf of the children. Then I introduced the children and instructed them to share with everyone what their adoption means to them. Belem begun and her sister followed. In short, they shared how they have been in the orphanage for 10 years...never dreaming of a family that would love them and adopt them. Now that they have met Keith and Becky, they are excited for the future and have hope for the first time. Next it was Leslie...Mark and Jean's daughter. She shared how her family has been torn apart. Leslie told the officials that her brothers and sister are living at two different orphanages and how it breaks her heart. She is dreaming of the day when they can live together and have a mom and dad who will love them forever. My tears began to flow quite heavily at this point, but then she began pleading with this man to make the adoption happen soon. At this point I was sobbing. Why would a child have to plead for a mom and dad? Having a mom and dad who love you should be the norm. Father, I trust You for doing what is best...but my heart breaks as I see the children suffer. When all the children finished speaking I asked them to leave the room. By this time Alex arrived and we were able to have some frank and honest conversations. Belem will not be able to be adopted because she turns 18 in December. The officials have beat around the bush too long and there is not enough time left now to make it happen. But her sister will be able to be adopted and we will do everything we can to get her sister, Belem, here on a visa ( not sure which one yet). The Riley case, however is moving. This Friday the judge is having an official 'audience' date to finalize the father's termination of rights. It will be posted two times the following week and then their case moves to the courts for the "official adoption process" where their file is handed from one judge to another. It is predicted that by February/March their adoption will be finalized. (This is Alex's and my calculation which has proved to be more accurate then their own flippant calculations.) I feel a deep sense of relief...and will be celebrating on Friday night when I hear that the 'audience' hearing went through with no hitches! Yeah!!!

I have been on many trips to various stores looking for an industrial strength toilet plunger (don't ask why) and there is none to be found. Anyway...I think Micah and I came up with a solution and will be presenting it to the team tonight. :) :)

Well, I need to scoot now because it's cookie time. The children are waiting...and this is the least I can do. If you could only see the excited look in their eyes as they anticipate eating them! Maybe these kids can capture a glimpse of what it is like to have a mommy baking them a treat in their own home....after school...like it is supposed to be.

HIS love endures forever!!

Another day has begun. The alarm clock seemed way too early-4:15. Only 4 more days with the kids...so we're trying to make the moments count. Tonight we are planning a staff appreciation dinner to honor all the workers. Please pray for us as it is a time of humble service to some very worthy people. We want to love on them. "Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me."

Yesterday Sid drove Alex and me to the home of Marcos and Alberto. These boys have been in the orphanage since they were pretty much toddlers. When we entered the home and sat down, there was a real spirit of unrest...and distrust. The air was filled with a sense of evil and betrayal. Alex began speaking on behalf of the boys and we let the Lord lead. I kept looking at Sid and asking him if he was praying and he nodded...in fact he said he hadn't stopped praying. We showed the adoption DVD and then tears started to flow. Tears of relinquishment. At that point, the Holy Spirit started to work on the hearts of the the mother, grandmother, sister and cousin. Their eyes were opened to the truth...and they knew what they needed to do. The mother began to sob...and I wept with her. Although she has not really been a mother to these boys, this prostitute who was very hardened by the life she lived suddenly showed a tender side...one I had never seen before during our earlier meetings. She got up from her chair and started to brush her hair to go into the officials office to sign the termination papers. The grandmother (who apparently suffers from some type of lung problems from smoking) then shared with us that her health is very frail. The Holy Spirit then prompted me to ask Alex to intruduce her to the Great Physician who could heal her heart...and give her eternal life. Alex jumped right in and told them that Mexico is full of religion and that it is a dead religion. But, Jesus Christ died on the cross so we could have a relationship with Him that is full of life. About halfway through this the boys mother walked into the room and listened to Alex...sincerely. By this time the tears were flowing again and Alex challenged them to let us pray to this God on their behalf to give them His peace. During this prayer he also asked them to repeat a sinner's prayer. Not only was Alberto and Marco's mom and grandmother repeating the words...but their sister and cousin. From that point on...there was a real peace that settled in the room. The creator of the universe, who died on the cross, revealed Himself to these precious people...and I will never forget it. Shortly after we piled into the car to go to the public office where she was going to relinquish her rights. But, of course, Satan was fighting the whole way and the office was closed. So, today at 7:00 Michigan time, Alex will be taking this mother to the officials office to terminate her rights so these boys can be adopted. The cool thing...is that I believe that she will have an eternity in heaven to be with her boys! Cool, huh?!!! Isn't God awesome!

Whenever I speak with bloodmothers about terminating their rights so their children can be adopted, I am completely done-in. The emotional trauma completely tears my heart out. I really believe deep down in the hearts of these women...they love their children...to the best of their ability to love. The problem is that they are are broken children in adult bodies having babies and they have never experienced a mother's love themselves. Living here at the orphanage I am surrounded by the effect of sin every minute. The children still have hope that their parents will come after them...and that this is all a big mistake. They wait for that day...but it never comes. I hate the fact that the children tuck themselves into bed every night...falling asleep without bedtime stories and silly songs. This morning I woke up the little girls for the day and they were all huddled down under blanket...2-3 to a bed to keep warm. They looked so sweet...like little angels. I loved watching them stretch out their little arms and yawn. But, that is something a mother should be enjoying...not a stranger. Please help me pray that the adoption doors would swing wide open...and these precious children's dream of a forever home will come true very soon!