Hi!
So since our last post we have been SUPER busy FUNDRAISING, thus the delay in posting! Since our last "conversation" we have held one "Hoagie and Pizza" fundraiser that raised over $1,000 and are in the throws of planning a Community wide Spaghetti Benefit dinner being held this coming Saturday evening!
We don't have too much of an update at this time on our sweet baby girl, but our dear "Auntie Alice", who also happens to be our Attorney in Uganda is working so very hard to get that ball rolling and speed up this process! We are eternally grateful to Jesus for "heart" connections and even though someone isn't bloodline related, through Jesus, we really ARE related. She is the sweetest lady ever! She has poured her heart into our family since our adoption of Malachi and has become such a huge part of our family. My younger Sister, Carrie and her husband David actually got to meet Alice last year on a missions trip to Uganda that they took! Only JESUS could have arranged such a meeting! It was precious! So if you could, would you please pray for Alice as she continues to work on our behalf with our sweet baby girl? Not only this, but she is in the process of planning HER WEDDING which will happen in December and we are FERVENTLY praying that we will be able to be there for this special event!!!!
We have been matched with a 9 month old baby girl and they are working on completing the orphan investigation as she was abandoned and is in an orphanage. Please pray and agree with us for her safety, health and the speed of this paperwork.
Jesus has promised to us that this will be the following....
1) a faster than normal adoption
2) the TOTAL favor and raising of $35,000
3) that He is already preparing our Judge's heart for our case and we will find God's divine favor
4) that He has ALREADY sent an "Angel" with a divine charge to LOVE our baby girl while she's in this orphanage as only a mamma's heart can and that when we arrive she will settle right in with us and will know MY love to her as her Mamma! He is MORE than able as He sent an Angel named Moses to save Malachi's life that day in May in Uganda on those railroad tracks! What Satan has meant for evil Jesus will redeem because BOTH of our Ugandan children have a divine call on their lives to return to Uganda for His work one day!
We have also added a new way of online giving if you aren't familiar with PayPal. This new way is called YouCaring and can find our link to the right of this post!
You all have been so supportive and amazing and we are truly blessed by your prayers and generous giving! We pray Jesus LAVISHES his divine blessings on you!
Love,
The Cokes (ps...we will be REVEALING her name at the Spaghetti dinner)!!!
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
IT'S MOVE TIME!!!
It's with GREAT excitement that we share that we have been matched with a BABY GIRL from Uganda! We cannot really share any more information at this point, BUT it's MOVE time! To say that Malachi is excited is an understatement! He is anxiously awaiting more news!!
So with that most of you know (from Malachi's adoption) the enormous mountain in front of us financially! BUT..... just as we have been praying from the start of our sweet Baby girl's adoption and have witnessed first hand the Goodness Of The Lord in Malachi's own adoption, He WILL meet EVERY need!
We are kicking off our Fundraising with a Marianna's Hoagie (and Pizza) Sale!!
Please let me know if you are interested in purchasing any OR even taking an order form and being extended arms for us and selling to YOUR family and friends!! We would be SOOO thankful!
Some of you have been asking how you are able to donate if you do not live close by. Well we have actually ran into some issues with our Go Fund Me account, so we have deactivated that and are now using PayPal! Please see the information to the right on this blog for more information!
Above all we COVET your prayers for our Baby's protection and health as we continue to try and raise funds to get her HOME ASAP!!
Many Blessings,
Kevin, Marissa, Malachi and "Baby Girl Coke"!
Saturday, June 25, 2016
When HE speaks....WE MOVE!
Dear Family and Friends,
It's FINALLY TIME! The "Paper Pregnancy" has begun!
We have been somewhat "silent" the past few months as Jesus has been doing some pretty amazing things behind the scenes and we've had a front row seat to watch it all unfold! I will start out by saying...Adoption is messy, but also so very beautiful and redemptive!
We cannot begin to imagine what our family portrait would have looked like if we had not taken that first step out of the boat on white capped waves and said a somewhat fearful yes 6 years ago! It was our best YES yet to date! But here we are again, standing on the same boat looking at those white capped waves that seem somewhat higher this time and we have answered God's gentle calling with a more confident YES this time. You see, it seems that once you have had to walk totally and wholly by nothing more than faith that the second time around doesn't seem as scary, because we have first handed witnessed the "goodness of the Lord". We want to be totally open and honest that this time around there are a few BIG unknowns, due to the new Children's Law but we have been given a peace that passes ALL understanding from Jesus and the more important "Go for it" from Him. I was just thinking today, as to how to explain it to you all. And the analogy that kept popping into my head was that there is a battle and we are running head long into it carrying our banner and declaring that Jesus has already gone before us and as we are faithful to hear His voice in this we will claim the VICTORY for Him! He WILL win this battle and get all of the glory for it!
When Jesus speaks, we need to move. For quite a few months He has been silent, and I have to say at times that silence was deafening. BUT it was in that time He was refining and preparing our hearts for this new adventure. It's so easy sometimes to place God in our perfect little boxes and begin to control and dictate how our lives are going to play out. But if there is one thing I learned from a precious friend is that WHO ARE WE to put God into our feeble little boxes? He's the King of Kings and the Creator of the Universe. He hung each and every star in the sky and named them one by one! He can do ANYTHING. When we think that there is NO way, He says, "Umm, excuse me, step aside and watch me display my power!" As we are stepping into this new journey to our baby girl, He has had our minds on rewind and has been flashing us back to 2011 when He did ONLY what He could do in Malachi's adoption.
There are some "unknowns", but what we DO know is that Jesus has been Captain of this Ship and Master of the waves through ALL of this and we "KNOW" that we "KNOW" that THIS is our Destiny! When God says "I've given it to you, Go get it" (Deuteronomy 1:6-8). So it's with holy confidence that we are RUNNING headlong into this destiny! Once again, to be totally honest with you, we have some HUGE hurdles ahead. First and foremost we DESPERATELY NEED and COVET your prayers for guidance. Not only for us, but for our Attorney Alice along with our Agency team. Also, that Jesus would already be preparing the Judge's heart for our case. Looking back to Malachi's adoption there were SO many mountains that needed to be moved and we KNOW without a doubt that it was truly only the prayers of faithful people that helped move those mountains! And secondly, if you feel led in your hearts to give monetarily we would be so humbly grateful. As we laid our needs before the Lord, God was so very faithful in supplying EVERY need for Malachi and we truly believe that He will indeed prove faithful again! No amount is too small! In fact the Bible says, He takes the "little we have" and makes it "GRAND"! By sowing into our precious Flower's little life, you will be touching generations to come!
We are so very grateful that you allow us into your lives so that we may share what Jesus is doing in ours! We love you all and are so very blessed to call you family and friends!
Cannot WAIT to share more soon!!
Many blessings,
It's FINALLY TIME! The "Paper Pregnancy" has begun!
We have been somewhat "silent" the past few months as Jesus has been doing some pretty amazing things behind the scenes and we've had a front row seat to watch it all unfold! I will start out by saying...Adoption is messy, but also so very beautiful and redemptive!
 |
| One of the VERY FIRST pictures we received of Malachi (Age...approximately two months) |
We cannot begin to imagine what our family portrait would have looked like if we had not taken that first step out of the boat on white capped waves and said a somewhat fearful yes 6 years ago! It was our best YES yet to date! But here we are again, standing on the same boat looking at those white capped waves that seem somewhat higher this time and we have answered God's gentle calling with a more confident YES this time. You see, it seems that once you have had to walk totally and wholly by nothing more than faith that the second time around doesn't seem as scary, because we have first handed witnessed the "goodness of the Lord". We want to be totally open and honest that this time around there are a few BIG unknowns, due to the new Children's Law but we have been given a peace that passes ALL understanding from Jesus and the more important "Go for it" from Him. I was just thinking today, as to how to explain it to you all. And the analogy that kept popping into my head was that there is a battle and we are running head long into it carrying our banner and declaring that Jesus has already gone before us and as we are faithful to hear His voice in this we will claim the VICTORY for Him! He WILL win this battle and get all of the glory for it!
 |
| The precious Police that took care of Malachi where He was found the first day! |
When Jesus speaks, we need to move. For quite a few months He has been silent, and I have to say at times that silence was deafening. BUT it was in that time He was refining and preparing our hearts for this new adventure. It's so easy sometimes to place God in our perfect little boxes and begin to control and dictate how our lives are going to play out. But if there is one thing I learned from a precious friend is that WHO ARE WE to put God into our feeble little boxes? He's the King of Kings and the Creator of the Universe. He hung each and every star in the sky and named them one by one! He can do ANYTHING. When we think that there is NO way, He says, "Umm, excuse me, step aside and watch me display my power!" As we are stepping into this new journey to our baby girl, He has had our minds on rewind and has been flashing us back to 2011 when He did ONLY what He could do in Malachi's adoption.
 |
| Our "Ruling Day", with our Attorney Mark, in Jinja, Uganda! He is OURS! |
There are some "unknowns", but what we DO know is that Jesus has been Captain of this Ship and Master of the waves through ALL of this and we "KNOW" that we "KNOW" that THIS is our Destiny! When God says "I've given it to you, Go get it" (Deuteronomy 1:6-8). So it's with holy confidence that we are RUNNING headlong into this destiny! Once again, to be totally honest with you, we have some HUGE hurdles ahead. First and foremost we DESPERATELY NEED and COVET your prayers for guidance. Not only for us, but for our Attorney Alice along with our Agency team. Also, that Jesus would already be preparing the Judge's heart for our case. Looking back to Malachi's adoption there were SO many mountains that needed to be moved and we KNOW without a doubt that it was truly only the prayers of faithful people that helped move those mountains! And secondly, if you feel led in your hearts to give monetarily we would be so humbly grateful. As we laid our needs before the Lord, God was so very faithful in supplying EVERY need for Malachi and we truly believe that He will indeed prove faithful again! No amount is too small! In fact the Bible says, He takes the "little we have" and makes it "GRAND"! By sowing into our precious Flower's little life, you will be touching generations to come!
We are so very grateful that you allow us into your lives so that we may share what Jesus is doing in ours! We love you all and are so very blessed to call you family and friends!
Cannot WAIT to share more soon!!
Many blessings,
 |
| Kampala, Uganda standing on a hill overlooking the City and Lake Victoria in the background! Precious Memories! |
Monday, May 16, 2016
What do you do when…..GOD IS SILENT?!
What do you DO when….GOD IS SILENT? I'm talking about the "Cricket chirps, silent"! Have you ever had to walk down this path? I think at one point in our lives we have ALL had to experience this "SILENT" period. There are times when silence is welcomed, but there are also those times during that silence that you feel you might just lose your mind! The Bible talks about there being "Wisdom in silence" ... True.....sometimes, but I think in this world we live in today we are so not used to that "silence/quiet". But it is in those "quiet" times we really learn to "listen" for His voice and we find out who we are and what we are made of.
For the past few months I have been walking that "silent" path. Now along the way He's provided little "whispers" and they have been "treasures" to my heart. Speaking of "heart" a few months ago as I was standing at my kitchen window one rainy morning washing dishes (because yes, I am one who thinks washing dishes by hand is therapeutic (at times)…sick I know) the Lord spoke to my heart. I was having a deep inward struggle with the news that had just come in about Uganda and the New Law they were beginning to get ready to pass. We were having this conversation back and forth and it went a little something like this….
ME: "Lord, I don't understand how all of this is happening again? You called us to adopt our sweet little Flower from Uganda! You spoke that to us through several people and even confirmed it in both of our hearts, so we stepped out in faith and proclaimed bravely to the world that we were taking the plunge again and jumping feet first into this wide, scary but exciting ocean of International Adoption. Where are you in this?"
GOD: "Well, you told everyone that you trusted me and that you would follow me and listen for my voice…Here is what I'm speaking...BE STILL AND KNOW THAT "I AM GOD". I AM NOT MAN, I DO THINGS "MY WAY" AND I OPEN DOORS THAT NO MAN CAN SHUT. MY WAYS ARE NOT YOUR WAYS...YOU NEED TO LET ME DO THIS MY WAY. YOU ASKED THAT FLOWER'S STORY WOULD BE JUST AS DYNAMIC AS MALACHI'S AND THAT I WOULD GET ALL OF THE GLORY….didn't you?"
ME: "Gulp…..why yes, yes we did…"
GOD: "Well, then let me do my thing. "
And at that moment, I felt settled in my heart that we are NOT to move from Uganda at this point. I cannot explain it, BUT I know that we've not felt released from that Country. Jesus knows our hearts and how so very much this Mamma's heart is connected to that Country and it's precious people. I cannot explain it, but Africa just gets in your heart and blood. It's God-given, I firmly believe. We have tried to seek out a few other avenues for other countries, but so far those have turned up nothing and I don't think that is a coincidence. The deep love that Kevin and I both feel for this Country goes far beyond that "natural", it's definitely a "supernatural" connection. And to just prove HOW awesome Jesus is, after this little kitchen chat we had, I looked out the window as I have for the past year and saw a "precious surprise" in our tree. I'm here to tell you, I've NEVER seen this until that day. Now you can't really see it during the sunlight, it's only visible on the "dreary" I need a "boost" days…! But isn't GOD SO COOL?! (top of the bottom two branches about half way out…is a HEART)!
For the past few months I have been walking that "silent" path. Now along the way He's provided little "whispers" and they have been "treasures" to my heart. Speaking of "heart" a few months ago as I was standing at my kitchen window one rainy morning washing dishes (because yes, I am one who thinks washing dishes by hand is therapeutic (at times)…sick I know) the Lord spoke to my heart. I was having a deep inward struggle with the news that had just come in about Uganda and the New Law they were beginning to get ready to pass. We were having this conversation back and forth and it went a little something like this….
ME: "Lord, I don't understand how all of this is happening again? You called us to adopt our sweet little Flower from Uganda! You spoke that to us through several people and even confirmed it in both of our hearts, so we stepped out in faith and proclaimed bravely to the world that we were taking the plunge again and jumping feet first into this wide, scary but exciting ocean of International Adoption. Where are you in this?"
GOD: "Well, you told everyone that you trusted me and that you would follow me and listen for my voice…Here is what I'm speaking...BE STILL AND KNOW THAT "I AM GOD". I AM NOT MAN, I DO THINGS "MY WAY" AND I OPEN DOORS THAT NO MAN CAN SHUT. MY WAYS ARE NOT YOUR WAYS...YOU NEED TO LET ME DO THIS MY WAY. YOU ASKED THAT FLOWER'S STORY WOULD BE JUST AS DYNAMIC AS MALACHI'S AND THAT I WOULD GET ALL OF THE GLORY….didn't you?"
ME: "Gulp…..why yes, yes we did…"
GOD: "Well, then let me do my thing. "
And at that moment, I felt settled in my heart that we are NOT to move from Uganda at this point. I cannot explain it, BUT I know that we've not felt released from that Country. Jesus knows our hearts and how so very much this Mamma's heart is connected to that Country and it's precious people. I cannot explain it, but Africa just gets in your heart and blood. It's God-given, I firmly believe. We have tried to seek out a few other avenues for other countries, but so far those have turned up nothing and I don't think that is a coincidence. The deep love that Kevin and I both feel for this Country goes far beyond that "natural", it's definitely a "supernatural" connection. And to just prove HOW awesome Jesus is, after this little kitchen chat we had, I looked out the window as I have for the past year and saw a "precious surprise" in our tree. I'm here to tell you, I've NEVER seen this until that day. Now you can't really see it during the sunlight, it's only visible on the "dreary" I need a "boost" days…! But isn't GOD SO COOL?! (top of the bottom two branches about half way out…is a HEART)!
So in the days and weeks that have followed this conversation, I have constantly been reminded to BE STILL AND KNOW THAT HE IS GOD….and that He's got this. We've not made any progress, but in the past week, through Malachi's illness, I have made connections with a fellow Ugandan Mamma who happens to have just went through the same exact thing with one of her Ugandan Littles. We've been chatting and getting to know one another and it just so happens we have A TON more in common that any "natural" connection could have set-up. Nope, this is a God-given, "supernatural" connection and we are looking into some-things. So we humbly ask that you all continue to pray for us as we try and navigate this crazy wild second international adoption to our precious sweet "Flower"!
We are so thankful to you all and just feel incredibly blessed to be able to share what God is doing in and through our family!
Until our next update….!
Sunday, March 20, 2016
The power of a single seed
Seeds....there is so much power packed in one tiny seed! Did you know that the mustard seed is the tiniest seed yet when it grows it is the fastest and biggest of them all and grows into a large tree where birds actually come and build nests?! It may be TINY but packs a HUGE punch!
We are still waiting to hear some feedback back from our contact about the one African nation we are praying into and as we are still in a "holding pattern" just out of the adoption gate so to speak, the Lord has been talking to my heart about "seeds".
I was on my daily walk last week listening to a sermon and the speaker was talking about seeds oddly enough. He talked of how the seeds we plant now will have a lasting effect for generations to come. And how the Lord may be delaying the present to have a greater impact on future generations of our family! I had never thought of that but made perfect sense to my heart and head. Last week I must admit I spent a few days wringing my hands and trying to see how " I " could move things along. A bit OCD maybe?! Yes, admittedly so. But as I was walking and listening to this sermon, the tears began to sting my eyes and roll down my cold, wind blown cheeks. I heard the Master whisper " peace be still" to my worrisome heart. He said, "do you trust me with your precious flower's seed"? WOW!! My "spiritual" answer quickly was Umm, yes Jesus of course...how silly of you to ask! BUT then my "natural, OCD, control-freak side" kicked in and after some soul searching I gave a slight, silent, gulp whispered yes. Truth be told we ALL have things and areas where Jesus needs to gently remind us that the issue is really TOTALLY in His control and He's the Master of the waves! We only need report in for our boat trip, and climb aboard, He will steer the ship!
I do not doubt for a minute that He gave me this seed analogy for nothing! He knows how much I do enjoy "nurchering" plants and flowers in my yard and watching them grow! It's calming and relaxing to me. I can see that Flower is in her incubation time underground. While we cannot physically "see" the effect of the seed that was planted we know that she's "there" and Jesus is watering her and shining the light on her. In due time she will peek her precious stem above the soil and we will see her beauty and smell her deep fragrance! She will be perfect and will be a dynamic force for Jesus!
For now, stay warm for you are being nurtured by the King of Kings! The creator of the Universe! Stinking Amazing!
We are still waiting to hear some feedback back from our contact about the one African nation we are praying into and as we are still in a "holding pattern" just out of the adoption gate so to speak, the Lord has been talking to my heart about "seeds".
I was on my daily walk last week listening to a sermon and the speaker was talking about seeds oddly enough. He talked of how the seeds we plant now will have a lasting effect for generations to come. And how the Lord may be delaying the present to have a greater impact on future generations of our family! I had never thought of that but made perfect sense to my heart and head. Last week I must admit I spent a few days wringing my hands and trying to see how " I " could move things along. A bit OCD maybe?! Yes, admittedly so. But as I was walking and listening to this sermon, the tears began to sting my eyes and roll down my cold, wind blown cheeks. I heard the Master whisper " peace be still" to my worrisome heart. He said, "do you trust me with your precious flower's seed"? WOW!! My "spiritual" answer quickly was Umm, yes Jesus of course...how silly of you to ask! BUT then my "natural, OCD, control-freak side" kicked in and after some soul searching I gave a slight, silent, gulp whispered yes. Truth be told we ALL have things and areas where Jesus needs to gently remind us that the issue is really TOTALLY in His control and He's the Master of the waves! We only need report in for our boat trip, and climb aboard, He will steer the ship!
I do not doubt for a minute that He gave me this seed analogy for nothing! He knows how much I do enjoy "nurchering" plants and flowers in my yard and watching them grow! It's calming and relaxing to me. I can see that Flower is in her incubation time underground. While we cannot physically "see" the effect of the seed that was planted we know that she's "there" and Jesus is watering her and shining the light on her. In due time she will peek her precious stem above the soil and we will see her beauty and smell her deep fragrance! She will be perfect and will be a dynamic force for Jesus!
For now, stay warm for you are being nurtured by the King of Kings! The creator of the Universe! Stinking Amazing!
Thursday, March 10, 2016
When the WIND shifts directions...
Well, you can never be fully prepared for "life things" when the wind picks up! It seems when you have just figured out "Boating with Jesus 101" and your sailing along smoothly, the wind picks up, waters begin to stir and then the crashing waves come! Just like Jesus to change up the game or is it that the game plan never changed and we just assumed that it had?
So last night we received some disheartening news from the Adoption Agency we had been looking into...it seems with this New Children's Bill being passed, they have suspended their Uganda program. Wow, the initial emotional WAVE that hit me last night was like a kick to the gut. Instantly the feelings and emotions of the "yucky" stuff from Malachi's adoption came flooding back, and continued to crash over me for a good while. But as I received encouraging and uplifting words from my closest gal-friends, Mom, Sisters and then my husband...oh my dear sweet, encouraging, loving husband. Those worries and fears began to dissolve and I began to re-focus. I could honestly feel my "shell / skin" toughening again and my head and eyes rise to the "hills" where Jesus is. You see, we KNOW that our precious "Flower" is already picked for our family. She's a rare African beauty and since she's rare and ours it's taking her a little longer to "grow". She's not ready to be picked for our family bouquet yet. Oh but when she is, she will be radiant and so fragrant!
We ask that you continue to pray for us as we look into a few leads that we have for another Country. As Kevin and I were talking last night, He gently yet firmly reminded me and my heart that when we "stepped out of this boat" we prayed and asked Jesus to give our precious Flower just as a dynamic story as her older brother's. So now it's our job as her parents to entrust that to Jesus and keep our eyes fixed on Him, the Master of the waves and storm. We've stepped out in FAITH and now we will rely on His GRACE to carry us.
We humbly ask that as we have become transparent with you our precious family and friends as we share our story with you, would you please commit to pray for us DAILY? Like I have said, Adoption is NOT for the faint of heart. It is a daily necessity to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus for the wind can change in an instant! But thankfully we know the CREATOR of BOTH the WIND AND WAVES!
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,
Marissa, Kevin, Malachi and "Flower"
So last night we received some disheartening news from the Adoption Agency we had been looking into...it seems with this New Children's Bill being passed, they have suspended their Uganda program. Wow, the initial emotional WAVE that hit me last night was like a kick to the gut. Instantly the feelings and emotions of the "yucky" stuff from Malachi's adoption came flooding back, and continued to crash over me for a good while. But as I received encouraging and uplifting words from my closest gal-friends, Mom, Sisters and then my husband...oh my dear sweet, encouraging, loving husband. Those worries and fears began to dissolve and I began to re-focus. I could honestly feel my "shell / skin" toughening again and my head and eyes rise to the "hills" where Jesus is. You see, we KNOW that our precious "Flower" is already picked for our family. She's a rare African beauty and since she's rare and ours it's taking her a little longer to "grow". She's not ready to be picked for our family bouquet yet. Oh but when she is, she will be radiant and so fragrant!
We ask that you continue to pray for us as we look into a few leads that we have for another Country. As Kevin and I were talking last night, He gently yet firmly reminded me and my heart that when we "stepped out of this boat" we prayed and asked Jesus to give our precious Flower just as a dynamic story as her older brother's. So now it's our job as her parents to entrust that to Jesus and keep our eyes fixed on Him, the Master of the waves and storm. We've stepped out in FAITH and now we will rely on His GRACE to carry us.
We humbly ask that as we have become transparent with you our precious family and friends as we share our story with you, would you please commit to pray for us DAILY? Like I have said, Adoption is NOT for the faint of heart. It is a daily necessity to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus for the wind can change in an instant! But thankfully we know the CREATOR of BOTH the WIND AND WAVES!
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,
Marissa, Kevin, Malachi and "Flower"
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Getting out of the boat....!
Well that didn’t take long…
JUST as we climbed out of the boat to begin our journey / walk on the water we were slammed with a huge crushing wave. It doesn’t take the enemy long to try and drown what God has ordained, so to speak. Less than 72 hours after we excitedly shared our hearts and plans to pursue our precious “flower” a.k.a., Baby Girl Coke from Uganda we were hit with some pretty LARGE news. While we knew this was a possiblility, we just did not realize that it would come so soon.
JUST as we climbed out of the boat to begin our journey / walk on the water we were slammed with a huge crushing wave. It doesn’t take the enemy long to try and drown what God has ordained, so to speak. Less than 72 hours after we excitedly shared our hearts and plans to pursue our precious “flower” a.k.a., Baby Girl Coke from Uganda we were hit with some pretty LARGE news. While we knew this was a possiblility, we just did not realize that it would come so soon.
On Wednesday as Malachi and I (Marissa) were having lunch I received a text from our sweet Attorney/dear family friend Alice in Uganda. In her words, “parliament had some debate on the New Children’s Bill. It seems they are now requiring adoptive families to bond with the adoptive child(ren) for one year “in-country” in order to adopt.” (YIKES...this is a HUGE OBSTACLE)... I have to tell you, in that instant I had a divine peace, as did She. But you know how the Enemy tries to invade your thoughts and cast doubt. Try as I might to keep the peace, unfortunately I took my eyes off the Master of the waves and quickly began to sink.
My thoughts ate away at me. I went from having a supernatural peace to spiriling into crazy thoughts. My thoughts went anywhere from, “wow, it’s like Rwanda/Uganda all over again” to “I don’t know if I can handle this emotional rollercoaster again” and finally to “well maybe we “mis-heard” and are supposed to adopt from another African Nation”. Uh, can you say ALL of these thoughts occurred because I forgot “boating with Jesus 101”…NEVER TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE MASTER once you step out of the boat!
After I pulled myself together with the help of Jesus, my Husband and a few very close awesome gal-friends, I was reminded of this very fact by Jesus. He spoke quietly to my racing heart and said, “Marissa, don’t forget that you and Kevin asked me to make “flower’s” story JUST as dynamic as Malachi’s.” Gulp…! To which I replied…why yes we did Lord, thanks for the reminder…!
So, with that, We will dig our heels in and NOT BE MOVED. When the next wave comes, and I’m sure it will, this time lesson learned. DO NOT TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE MASTER!
In conclusion, we humbly ask that as we seek Jesus in this that we FIND Him and He brings clarity to this. President Musovini still will need to sign off on this bill. So please pray that Jesus moves on His heart and perhaps something different can be done to protect this program of adoption from corruption and give these poor kiddos a chance to belong to a family.
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