As part of Mihret’s third birthday celebration last month, we had the opportunity to volunteer at a ShowHope booth for A Night with the Chapmans. Both ShowHope and the Chapmans have a very special part in our adoption journey to bring Mihret home.
Last Summer, we received the unexpected news that we would be bringing Mihret home much sooner than we’d initially thought. At the same time, The fees and travel expenses we knew were eventually coming were needed much, much sooner than we’d planned.
And we didn’t have the money. At all.
When we came to this realization, we were crushed. How were we ever going to be able to make this work? I must confess, I began to panic just a bit. I didn’t have any answers.
A few days later, we received a letter from ShowHope, informing us that we had received an adoption grant from them. And it covered the rest of the fees and the plane tickets. The date on the letter? The same date that we found out we had passed court in Ethiopia!
I’ve heard all kinds of adoption stories about how God provides. I half-heartedly wrote them off by saying to myself, “Yeah, yeah. I know God provides. And that’s what you’re supposed to say in this situation.” To me, it had become the expected Sunday School answer, just like how “Moses” or “Elijah” are always the answers to Old Testament questions and “Jesus” or “Paul” are the go-to answers for New Testament questions. But this was no fluke. This was no Sunday School answer that everyone expects to hear. I am convinced that God moved this mountain before we even knew it was in our way. And our family is grateful to the people who work with and support ShowHope for allowing God use them as an instrument of His grace, love, and provision.
So we were excited to be able to spend the evening helping at the ShowHope booth at the Capmans’ concert. It was just a small, tiny-tiny way we could help give back to them. And the Chapmans’ passion for orphan care and adoption is contagious. I remember thinking that the last time we saw them live at Anderson University. In early October. 2007. That’s three years ago, in case you’re having trouble with the math. You do remember who celebrated her third birthday in early October – right?
Who would’ve known that while we were listening to Steven Curtis Chapman sing When Love Takes You In that our Little Girl had just been born half a world away?
Beautiful story!
I seem to remember you having a similar story, Kathy. Something about getting a check in the mail at the exact time that you needed it – right?
Even when we’ve been through it before, our silly little human brains start to categorize…”well, yeah, I know He was there for us the first time, but things are different this time.” The doubts start to creep in…but then He reminds us through others’ testimony that He’s STILL the one who moves mountains and brings little ones home when NO one els can! Thanks for sharing!
Yep – he’s STILL the One who moves mountains.
(he’ll also move 2K tutus)
Okay, I do know how to spell “else”.
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That’s it. I’m not going to read any more of the adoption stories..
I had NO IDEA about the connection with the Chapman concern. I do remember when you guys went to that, though!! Man.. God is so cool.
Heh – yeah, no one really knew that connection. Christy and I only figured it out sometime this year.
And you’re right. God is pretty cool.
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