Learning How to Pray

A spiritual retreat, a family wedding, an anniversary vacation, recitals and end of the year programs, work transitions and travel, and Nathan starting a doctorate - the last several months have been a whirlwind of activity for our family.  We are grateful to finally catch our breath and share a brief update on our adoption journey. 

Our dossier was successfully accepted in Ethiopia in March 2014. We are happy to share that we continue to move up the waiting list toward a referral for our new child. Each month, we receive an email update with a progress report indicating our place on the list. We started at #30 four months ago and now are down to #25. Some months there are several referrals, some months none at all. At the current pace of referrals, we will be waiting another 20 months. It could be shorter, it could be longer. 

On the one hand we want to pray that the process will move more quickly. We are excited for our family to grow and are filled with anticipation to meet our child and bring him/her home. Naturally we don't want to wait any longer than necessary. 

Yet we are conflicted in praying that way. To pray for the referrals to speed up means that the need for adoption is increasing. More referrals means more children not being able to stay with their birth parents, and more parents giving their children up for adoption. The circumstances that have led or will lead to the child being orphaned are inherently full of pain and loss. 

We wish we lived in a world in which adoption wasn't necessary. The grace-filled beauty of adoption is born out of the deep pain of the need for it. 

So, as we continue to learn patience we believe we have discovered how to pray during this time. We have felt encouraged to pray not only for our child, but for his/her birth parents. Whether or not our child has been born yet, we pray for the health and wellbeing of the mother and father.  We trust that God has knowledge of this situation and cares. We also trust that God is like an attentive parent and when we, God's children, make the desires of our heart known, God's creative and healing Spirit blows through their lives. 

As we wait, as you read this, will you join us in praying for our child's birth family? 

We deeply desire to show God’s love to one of His own by making him or her one of our own. Please pray for all five us during this journey.

In God’s Grace, 

Nathan, Kameron, J. Henry, Amelia (and Baby #3!)