I Have a Dream...and an Assignment

For over twenty years I have had a dream of adopting a child from Haiti. I went on my first trip to Haiti as a seventeen year old high school student. I left a piece of my heart there and have been back many times to the land that I love. After the earthquake on January 12, 2010, we began to pursue the adoption process. Through a series of unforeseen events, that process was abruptly and painfully halted. I had to let go of the planning, processing and moving the direction of adoption. The country of Haiti is so corrupt, so the possibility of new adoptions being allowed was even up for debate. I laid down my dream, left it in hands of the One who gave it to me...and walked away. It was far too painful to contine reading blogs, researching agencies, reading profiles.

All along, I knew that the Lord was asking me to be faithful to Him and to others who were moving toward international adoptions. Was I willing to lay aside my own bleeding heart and rejoice with those who were rejoicing? Yes, Lord, yes.

Saturday, I attended a foster parent shower for a dear friend. It was hosted by one of her closest friends who is in the process of adopting from Ethiopia. I read her blog this morning http://waitingforethiopia.blogspot.com/ and see clearly that we share the same mother's heart...and the words she wrote are so close to the ones I've written through the years...So today, with much weeping and many tissues, I accept the assignment to interceded for this precious family. I say, "Lord, I am Yours. I submit myself anew to You. You know the deepest desires and longings of my heart and I know that You placed them there. I don't know when, if, how, who, where my dreams may or may not come true. But, while I wait, I want to be faithful to support those who are walking toward their precious babies. I commit myself to praying for M and her family. For now, that is the specific assignment I know You're giving me. If there are others, let me know. Lead me, anoint me and use my prayers to give strength to this precious family...I am Yours. I belong to You. Nothing can snatch me from Your hand. Your plans and purposes will be fulfilled, the gates of hell will not prevail..."