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

"When you've done it to one of the least of these, you've done it for me"
- Jesus

   Thank you my friends!!  Thank you for caring for an  orphan and practicing "true religion."  Already so many have shown their love and care to Lucy by  "purchasing pieces of her puzzle" (if you're not sure what I'm referring to - you'll have to click HERE for an explanation).
  You my friends are "caring for an orphan" with your prayers and financial support in helping to pay the high cost of getting Lucy Kim out of the orphanage.
   I feel the need to explain that because some folks don't see it as "helping an orphan" but instead giving to a fundraiser or a "good cause."   I'd love to challenge you to rethink that concept.   If we believe that an orphan is a child who has no parents (or parents capable of caring for them), and providing a child with a family is the very best way to help an orphan.  Then one of the best ways to help an  orphan is helping a child into a family.  That helping part can be done in various ways.  We can open our home to a child, we can give prayer support to a child, we can pray for an adoptive family or we can give of our financial resources to help the child into a family.  That's why supporting an adoption IS orphan care. And.... my Bible tells me that orphan care is practicing true religion!  :)
   While we all agree that helping orphanages with any number of things (ie:  medical, school, hygiene supplies, etc.) or sending missionaries is what we consider "orphan care" -- helping an orphan home is also "orphan care."

"Timid and afraid of strangers"

"You need patience with her, because she is timid and is afraid of the strangers."  "The child dislikes getting along with the strangers."  These are two sentences we read in Lucy's recent update report that we received.  Older reports have suggested the same thing; our youngest girl is very shy and fearful.  Of course reading those words while looking over the update tugged at my Mama heart. 

She's never been able to experience the love and security of a family! It's no wonder she's afraid, shy and timid.  As her Mama, I want to hug her, whisper "it's ok, Mommy's here" into her ear and assure her that Daddy and I are not going to leave her.  And she will understand these words and everything will be "happily ever after".  But real life tells me, it's not that easy!  What can I do to help prepare her for her family (that as of now - are "strangers" to her) ?  

PRAYER!  Our family is asking our Father God to prepare Lucy's heart, soul and little mind to be supernaturally prepared for us (her family!)  Knowing HE can do exceedingly, abundantly more than we can fathom", I'm praying with my tiny mustard seed faith for a miracle.  Praying that Lucy will NOT be afraid when we at last get to pick her up and hug her and whisper "I love you, precious girl" into her ear.  Prayers that somehow the bond will supernaturally (by God's grace) be there and she is able to welcome her new family into her heart, soul and mind.  Will you please pray for Lucy too?  What a gift to have other's praying on her behalf, even now before she's aware of the LIFE CHANGING transitions that are coming.  The body of Christ interceding on behalf of an orphan, what a beautiful and precious thought.
Letting us know you're praying for Lucy Kim would be so encouraging.  

Somebody Special is Having a Birthday in March!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCY KIM!!

   Lucy Kim is having a birthday this month and while we are unable to be with with her this year, we still want to celebrate her life!  We’re inviting YOU to participate in this birthday celebration. We want to give Lucy a large picture puzzle when she arrives home!  But we're looking for help in completing the puzzle.  It will require no shopping and might possibly be the most practical and meaningful birthday gift you have ever given. 

 THE GIFT OF A FAMILY TO AN ORPHAN! 

   When completed, the picture puzzle will feature Lucy’s picture on the one side and on the other side will be a list of all the names (along with the number of puzzle pieces sponsored) of those who were a piece of the puzzle in getting her home.  It will be put in a double sided frame and displayed in our home.

   Will you consider being a part of “orphan care” and helping Lucy home?  More information and how to donate can be found by clicking HERE .
   We'd also love for you to write birthday greetings/wishes for Lucy in the comment section.  All  messages for Lucy will be printed and put in her "baby box" to give to her when she gets home.
   Thanks for your love and support in our journey to bring Lucy home!

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

February Update

   February 1st through February 7th, our sweet oldest daughter, Linsey ran an "on-line auction" to help raise money for Lucy's adoption.  God really blessed her precious investment of time and energy!  Many generous friends and family donated and bid on the 100 various auction items and $4000 was raised to help bring our sweet girl home!!  We've been asked what the cost is to bring a Chinese orphan home to the United States.  While giving exact figures is almost impossible (namely because of variation in airfare costs) the approximate total it will cost for "Lucy's ransom" is $30,700.  Like all orphans she has no voice in the matter. This is the cost of bringing a Chinese orphan into a family here in the United States.  And let me tell you she is already worth it!!  How can we put a price tag on a life?  All life is created in HIS image.
God is already providing through His people and we are blessed to watch it unfold.  Very shortly our next fundraiser will be announced.  We're working on a  fun way to help raise more of Lucy's "ransom".  More info. coming SOON!
   Concerning the on going "paperwork trail".....on February 11^th, we sent our “I-800A” application to the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services)

The thick mailer was sent via Fed. Ex. and had a folder that included our application to bring a child into the United States, a notoriety copy of our home study, two checks, one for processing the application and a second one for Kurt (because he is over 18 yrs. and lives at home), Merle and I to get the required biometric fingerprinting.  
    On February 15th, we received a text and e-mail that the mailer had arrived and we were given a number to refer to for any future correspondence.

     February 27th,  USCIS mailed the paperwork we'll need to have biometric fingerprinting  completed.  In an effort to "keep the process moving" as quickly as possible, we're going to take the paperwork we receive for fingerprinting and travel to York the first week in March and pray that they will take us as a "walk in" and allow the three of us to be fingerprinted.  

   

Little Red Envelopes

   On Sunday, February 10th a dear friend handed me a little red envelope and told me it was for our  Lucy girl!  As I took the envelope from her, she proceeded to tell me about the Chinese tradition.  

   Chinese New Year, which began on February 10th this year, is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. Children in families receive money in red paper envelopes and celebrate with large feasts, festivals, and lots of time with relatives.

   I thanked my friend (dressed in a beautiful Chinese silk coat most likely gotten in China where she lived for several years), not only for the envelope and money but also for the education and sweet gesture of love.  I love to learn about culture!  And right now I'm especially excited to learn about the homeland of our newest daughter!
    At one point in the day a thought washed over me,  up until a few weeks ago, Lucy didn't  have her own family, has she ever received her own "Little Red Envelope"?  Most likely this is her very first!  
Lucy Kim, your special red envelope is waiting for you at home!  Happy Chinese New Year sweet girl!

Wait or Wake Up?

Hi Friends!
This is Merle writing  -
I’ve been thinking and reflecting the past few weeks about all the things God has done to confirm and facilitate our call to adoption. And as I look back at that sentence I just wrote I’m struck by the realization that it’s not about me and Kim. We’re just pieces of the puzzle He is using in the life of a little girl to bring glory to God. Praise God for His answers to prayer. As I look back, He has blazed such a clear path for us that we only had a few times (and they seem incredibly small now) that we felt lost or unsure.

I must say that this has so far not gone exactly as I envisioned. The process of adoption especially international adoption is an extremely long process. If you’ve read Kim’s earlier blog posts you know some of the red tape that is a part of the process. Friends of ours have been in this process for 3 or 4 times as long as us already and are still waiting to bring their child home. I was ready for this and expecting this. Scripture is very clear about God’s timing and we are encouraged to “wait on the Lord”(Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 27:14). I’m a pretty patient guy when it comes to the big things in life, especially the difficult ones.  I usually like to take lots of time before making a big decision, so I was prepared to wait for God’s clear timing. As usual God is always in the process of stretching us. While some of us need our faith stretched by waiting on God, mine was to be stretched by being pushed by God.

My early expectation was that the agency would send us a referral once our dossier was completed and approved by China. When Kim called me to the computer to watch the video of our “Little Miss So Sad” I had no expectation that this could be our daughter. In fact my “guard” was up as it often is when Kim shows me pictures of precious children in need. (See video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbcEtVUNBjU&feature=youtu.be).  When the video came to the image of Lucy waving at the camera, it felt like she was waving right at me.  I think I connected with her at that point, but it was such a long shot, could we really connect all the pieces to adopt this particular child? Our home study was not even complete; we still had forms to fill out and training to complete. This didn’t feel like “waiting on the Lord”. But as it turns out my faith was to accept what God was putting in front of us. We did a few things to see if our adoption agency could get Lucy’s file, and we had even given up thinking that this was perhaps our daughter. But God miraculously brought her file to us, and it was sweet confirmation that this was His will.

All I can say is that every day we love her more, and God can’t move too fast for me anymore. But perhaps now I’ll get my chance to wait on the Lord.

Helping to bring Lucy home!

Helping Lucy Home

     As the wonderful news of finding Lucy Kim circulates, some are asking how they can help in bringing her home.  We have created a separate page on this blog so that those who would like to financially support Lucy through a tax deductible gift could find all the information at one central location. 

    On the side bar of this blog is a Support Information"tab that will take you to a page that explains how you can donate. Thank you so very much for loving an orphan in such a tangible way!   "He sets the lonely in families!"  (Psalm 68:6) and we know that where God guides He will provide.

With Much Appreciation, 

Merle and Kim

(and Lucy Kim!)