Joy Ride

I am on a JOY RIDE!  That's the best way I can express it.  This summer I have witnessed really incredible things happen.  I want to count all the ways that God has done immeasurably more that I could ask for or imagine and give Him all the glory!

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."  Eph 3:20-21

Most of my stories center around the journey of adoption but not limited to it.  Not even 24 hours of returning from the mission field of El Salvador, I was greeted with a special homecoming of my family members - a wonderful celebration of being home and all of the people who surround me and make up my family.  They all brought a bag of dried goods to fill my pantry, knowing that I wouldn't have a paycheck until September, and the food is enough.  I recently moved into my condo and filled up my kitchen.  God knew my needs and provided through my family.  I am so grateful!

My parents took me into their home for two months while I waited for lease on my condo to expire.  For them it's no big deal, but if I didn't have parents like them - who, without a second thought, just provided for every need...what would I have done?

My brothers and their families welcomed me in their homes for a few weeks in southern Ohio/northern Kentucky so that I could get reconnected with them and enjoy a piece of summer.  They took care of me, they fed me and the time I spent hanging out and getting reacquainted with them is priceless.

My grandparents and every single aunt and uncle that I have has in some way touched my life with a very special and unique blessing. Whether it be hosting a reunion, a weekend road trip to get my car, sacrificial giving to help get adoption going, hosting a huge garage sale at their home and the endless hours of tagging items and working the event, truck load trips to drop off donations and supplies.....how will I ever be able to repay them? Or even appropriately thank them?

On June 2nd I returned from El Salvador.  On June 4th, I needed $2,000 to sign a contract with an adoption agency.  I waited for a week or two because I had no idea what to do next.  One morning I felt very motivated and hopeful.  I told my mom "pray for Friday" and her mouth hit the floor.  It was only two days away.  I told her "God can make anything happen...just pray for Friday".  That Wednesday morning I set out to make 200 phone calls asking my friends and family to sponsor a "puzzle piece" for $10 that would eventually add up to the amount I needed to send in.  It worked.  People gave.  And I had the money in two days.  My parents and I were blown away by generosity and God's faithfulness.  He answered my prayer. 

That was just the beginning.  Now I'm in the midst of 3 fundraising events in 1 week and I still can't seem to get a grip on the amazing blessings that God has rained upon this journey through His people that are my family and even through those who don't even know me.  I need to raise another $8,000 in order to send in my dossier (my tedious paperwork & home study) so that the government can process it all.  I was and still am overwhelmed by the challenge to raise this money.  How will it ever happen?  But with those questions comes the confirmation of God's faithfulness as I journey every day of this joy ride with him.  I repeat a quote that I just read today.  "God is no dead-beat dad!  Let him show off a bit."  He has provided for every need and will continue to do so because this is His will for this little boy for a child in need and He will make it happen.  I am so honored to be along for this JOY RIDE!

The efforts that everyone has taken to help and be a part of this great big task reminds me of the love of Christ.  I do not feel worthy of the love and support but am given it anyway.  We are not worthy of unconditional love and a ransom for our lives, but are given it anyway.  To those who have "spent themselves to help satisfy the needs" (Isaiah 58:10) - may you take this to heart...

Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee?  And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?'  And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'

Thank you for everything you have done for me, for an abandoned child and for Jesus.  I will never be able to repay or appropriately thank everyone but Jesus can and He will. 

"We believe in you"

I was not sure how my family and friends would respond to the news of adoption.  Would they question me as a single person?  Would they think I was taking on too much?  Would they support me or stand by and wonder why I would choose to do this? 

The answers to these questions have blown me away and I can honestly say that I am overwhelmed by the amazing love God has shown me through friends and family.  Among the list of encouraging words, two family members said, "We believe in you". I cherish those words and keep them close to my heart because it helps me to keep moving forward when I get a little anxious about the mountain of work ahead on this journey.

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.            Psalm 143:8

I can't think of a better way for God to write this story.  Had I been working the last two years and saved to finance everything, I would have never been able to invite so many wonderful people into this journey and see how their hearts are moved to support, encourage and offer help. 

Knowing the love and support of your family and friends is priceless.  It helps you to move forward and appreciate the very precious moments of coming together to help one another.  I am so blessed with wonderful support and would never had known that if I wasn't on this particular journey at this specific period of time. 

When this little boy comes home I won't just be giving him a mother, but a whole entire forever family of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who cared for him before they ever knew him.  That's pretty special to me! 

The month of August brings lots of events and deadlines.  I am in the middle of a home study which will be completed in a few weeks and I have the goal of completing my paperwork file (dossier) which includes the home study by the end of August.  In order to hand in my paperwork I will need to raise $7500.  I have several events planned:

1.  Chick-Fil-A:  August 7th, 4:30-7pm (Macedonia, Oh)
2.  Garage Sale:  August 9-11 (Warren, Oh)
3.  Rubber Duck Regatta:  August 11 (Cincinnati, Oh)
4.  Thirtyone party:  September (Cleveland, Oh)

I am so grateful to everyone who has helped me thus far.  This is such an exciting time in my life and am glad that I can share it with so many people.  Thanks for being a part!

 

 

Many Pieces. One Puzzle

Thanks to everyone who sponsored a puzzle piece!  This helped me to raise the $2,000 I needed to send in the contractual agreement to get things started!  There is still a long road ahead but I'm grateful for all that helped with the first step!  Now, it's onto the home study...

A Piece of the Puzzle

This photo was made into a puzzle.  It has 252 pieces.  I would like to ask you to help me put the pieces together to realize an adoption. 

Sun rising behind the volcano at La Puerta del Diablo. 

This view happens every morning in El Salvador!

Each piece of the puzzle can be "sponsored" for $10.  Your name will be written on the backside of the piece.  As the pieces are sponsored, the puzzle will take shape once piece at a time.  Once the puzzle is completed, it will be framed (for viewing on both sides) and displayed in my home. 

There are so many pieces and parts to an international adoption and it really takes a lot of support to make this happen.  Thank you for your consideration in being a piece to the puzzle!


"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."  James 1:27

You can donate $10 by clicking Donate on the PayPal button (right column of this blog) or you can send a check to my address.  Email me at: senoritamas@gmail.com for my address.

Adoption

Short Version:  In April of 2011, I met a child that touched my heart like never before and now I am pursuing an international adoption.  The cost is estimated to be $20,000.  I need to raise funds to begin the process.  If you would like to help - one way is to click on the PayPal donate button (right column of this blog).  Read on below if you'd like to know more of the story :)

My story:

All of my adult life I have wanted to be married and have a family. Throughout my twenties I was plagued with insecurities about why I had such a hard time making that happen. I coped by telling myself that I cannot sit around waiting and that I should make the time that I have now purposeful so that when I look back, I will be happy with how I spent my single years. My attitude of purposeful singleness grew in my thirties. About four years ago I fasted for forty days and felt the Lord telling me to get myself in financial shape to be able to leave everything behind when the call to be a missionary came. I did that and two years later, I felt the call. Because I had prepared, I was able to go.  Now I am returning from two years of mission work - carrying a new mission in my heart.

A little over a year ago, a very special child arrived at the children's home where I was volunteering. He is the most special child I have ever met. Over the months I have developed a very special relationship with him. He is not hard to love, in fact, he teaches me everyday how to love. I find him to be a teacher of pure, raw love that isn't scared, wounded or selfish. He is filled with joy and hope every single day. I have dedicated a large portion of my time to being his advocate because he is a child with special needs. He uses canes to help him walk. After learning more about his family situation, I have decided that I would like to adopt him.

This decision was hard to come about because at first I didn't think I could take care of a special needs child. Then I was saddened by the thought that I would be a single parent. However, the more time I spent with this child, the more my confidence built and I suddenly found myself on the verge of tears thinking about what life would be like without him in it. I prayed for many months and sought out opinions of trusted friends and family members. I felt such encouragement and confirmation that there was no turning back. I claimed Isaiah 58:10 “If you spend yourself in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness and your night will become like the noonday.”

I want to spend myself satisfying the needs of this child. I feel that my investment could completely change his future to one of independence and that he would be able to live a life in which he can work and have his own family. I do not believe he would have such a future living in a developing country that does not have the same resources for special needs children.

An international adoption is very complicated, lengthy and expensive. There are agency, immigration, home study and translation costs involved that usually come to $20,000. Here is a list of agency program fees and other estimated costs:

1. Signed adoption agreement: $2,000
2. Dossier submission: $7,250
3. Referral: $3,750
4. Immigration: $1,200 (estimated)
5. Travel: $2,000 (estimated)
6. Medical: $400 (estimated)
7. Home Study: $1,500 (estimated)
8. Translations: $2,000-$3,000 (estimated)




I have served as a missionary for two years without a salary but God has provided for my every need and then some through faithful financial supporters. I have no doubt that He will provide for this situation that I am positive He has placed on my heart to pursue. My prayer is that God would be glorified through this adoption and that He will use it for His name in ways that are too awesome for me to fathom!

In Jesus name.


*PayPal is set up to accept donations for this adoption.  They deduct a small percentage to manage the money.  If you'd like to donate in another way, I am setting up a separate bank account for this purpose.  Once the agency has received a certain amount of money they will provide an account to which monies can be directly donated to them.  Thanks again for considering supporting this adoption. 

Inner Peace

My last week at Love & Hope Children's Home has been quite a whirlwind. I don't think anything could have prepared me for what I experienced and the mad race to the finish. I said goodbyes to: my house and my neighbors, the staff and the office where my desk is empty, my church and church friends, friends of the ministry, Board members, fellow missionaries, and all the precious little ones living at the Home. So many of these goodbyes were filled with pupusas, cake, kind words, hugs and kisses. I drove away this morning with tears in my eyes because I can see more clearly than ever before how God fulfills his promises to give us abundantly more than we can ever imagine.

My little buddy Antonio loves to watch Kung Fu Panda. He doesn't understand the English but he always tells me “Yo soy el tigre!” (I'm the tiger!) and proceeds to make karate chop moves and noises throughout. The panda must learn about “inner peace” in the movie because it will allow him to overcome his flaws and be a better leader. Tonio has picked up these two words and repeats them often. From the actions in the movie he has been able to explain that “inner peace” is “cuando no le duele mas” (when you don't hurt anymore). What a smart fella!

I'm sitting on the plane right now filled with so many emotions as I leave a country that is still developing and a ministry that was once is a fragile state. I have “inner peace” after the two years I have spent pouring my heart into something I knew was a calling from God. It wasn't easy at all. In fact it stretched me in new levels I have never known. In the end, I am amazed – astonished – and overwhelmed by the incredible ways that God has sustained me, allowed me to be used and gave me abundantly more than I could have asked for. It seems like He has given me an “inner peace”, the only place it can come from!

The new me

For quite sometime I have been hearing this question, "What's going to happen when you leave?"  My plan has always been to organize the administrative roles to this home and then find the capable people to carry them on.  I have finally replaced my role and am ready to come home!

Yanira is the new Director of Operations and she has wonderfully and swiftly take on most of my responsibilities and more.  She is smart, calm, respectful and capable.  I really, really, really, REALLY like her!  Hiring and training her has given me a great feeling about all the work that I've done down here and now I get to pass the baton to someone else (more capable).  It's so relieving and refreshing! 

Looking back, so much has happened and I've learned a lot about myself:  good, bad and ugly.  I'd like to think that I will be forever changed for the good.  I also value the way God has created me just as I am and that He can use His creation in ways that benefit him.  I am amazed that He sustained me the way that He did, although certain times more difficult than others, but over all He has the power to cover our weaknesses with His strength and grace, that's something that is still hard for me to believe.

I have never experienced having a heart for children like I have had here.  I once heard someone say that they felt "Jesus' heart for others" overcome them.  It wasn't until this experience that I can admit to sharing those same feelings.  I feel so much love for these kids and it warms my heart to see the little sweet things they do and hear the little sweet things they say.  I find much joy participating in their lives and getting a front row seat to seeing their development.  I know that I will see children differently when I return, in my classroom, in my family and the ones I haven't met yet that God will place in my life. 

I am a teacher at heart and have a strong desire to return to the classroom and have the platform to teach every single day.  The best part of my administrative role here is being able to teach SOMEONE ELSE to do it!  I'm not quite sure how God will use this part of the experience in my future but He always promises to use things for good.  It has stretched me to learn new things outside of comfort zone, to be diligent with details and responsible for SOO much and to work in an environment that challenges me and goes against the grain of how I have lived my life for so long. 

I am ready to come home.  I feel very strongly that God has placed a certain child on my heart and my heart breaks as I think about being separated from him.  I met him a little over a year ago and ever since then I have been contemplating my role in his life.  I have gone through so many emotions and thoughts in this past year but finally have decided to try to adopt him.  I look forward to doing this when I come home.  There is a ton of work, waiting and expenses ahead of me but I have peace that this is the next step in my journey.  God bless!