They have booked their flights into the United States and they will be here shortly before Christmas. We've begun the countdown. The past two weeks have been an absolute blur of activity while we prepare for their arrival. I've prayed for God to please show me this is His will, that He's in this, and I've reminded Him that I need his help to do something so bold. It is difficult to live with those you love, let alone a family you don't know and don't speak the same language.
But God. He never disappoints me. Every day there's been a miracle. I have been so tickled by both his faithfulness and his creativity.
Every day, something new shows up. We've had clothes donated and furniture given to us for free. We've got beds for the children. We've even had a family volunteer to "adopt" the Ukraine family for Christmas and buy all of their Christmas presents. I'm blown away. I wish the Ukrainian family could see all of the activity happening here while things fall into place for their arrival, but I do give them daily updates.
I've gotten bolder with God. I have asked him to make bigger things happen and now I am just trusting that He will. We need to figure out a car situation for them, or some sort of transportation. I am watching to see what He is going to do. He's been absolutely showing off these past few weeks, and I wake up every day delighted with what must be coming next.
For example, yesterday, I awoke to a neighbor calling on my cellphone. She had some old cabinetry in her shed, so she wondered if I might want it for the family. The crazy thing is that I wanted to put some cabinets in my basement where the family is going to be staying. I wanted them to be able to snore snacks or perhaps get something to eat in the middle of the night without having to trek up the stairs.
I immediately woke my daughter up to go with me to look at the new (old) cabinets. We knew right way it was going to work perfectly for the space we had available. But, I didn't have a way to move them to my house. We don't own a truck. I called my father on his cell to tell him about it, and he said, "I'm ten minutes away with a friend in a truck. Want us to pick them up for you?"
"Yes!" I said.
And that's how everything has happened since I decided to be bold and follow God's prodding to open my home. I've only seen God do things like this one other time in my life, and that's when we adopted our children.
Last night, my daughter said to me, "I'm going to bed, but I'm sure you'll wake me up early tomorrow for some other new crazy adventure."
I laughed. But, her words rang true. I have no idea what God has in store for us right now. Every day is a delightful adventure. I only know it has been a long time since all of us have been this joyful. I've gotten to know co-workers better as they've reached out. I've gotten to know my neighbors better. I had no idea what this would lead to.
Yesterday, I received a message from the father of the Ukraine family. "My English is not good enough to tell you how I feel," he said, "So I will just say thank you."
I can't wait until they get here. We've talked about how our two families may not be related but we'll always be family. God is so good, so faithful, to me. What a privilege for me to get to help this family. What a privilege to watch Him work wonderous miracles to make all of this happen. His love still shocks me. It is never-ending, and his grace and generosity are unlike anything on this Earth.
What a blast it is to follow Jesus.
1 Peter 1:8-9 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
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