The Ticket Story

The wait this week has been hard. Not a peep from our agency. Well, we're not really supposed to get any news until November, but there's always the hope it will be sooner. I saw a friend at church this week with her adopted six month old son and my heart just swelled for that little guy and their precious family!

We're still reading the Hiding Place at night before the kids jump in bed to listen to Odessey on the radio. There's the story about the ticket. A six year old Corrie, her mom and her sister had just visited a family that had lost their baby to an illness. At the friend's house, the baby still lay in the homemade crib as friends an neighbors comforted the young mother. It was the first time Corrie had experienced death, up close and personal. She even reached out and touched the small, cold, curled hand. Corrie describes how this coldness crept along with her during her walk home, during her supper with family that night. Her Tante Jans had often talked of death and people's need of a Savior, but up until now, "death had only been a word. Now I knew that it could really happen - if to the baby, then to Mama, to Father, to Betsie!"

Corrie went to bed that night and waited for Father to come tuck her in. "....that night as he stepped through the door I burst into tears. 'I need you!' I sobbed. 'You can't die! You can't!' Beside me on the bed Nollie sat up. 'We went to see Mrs. Hoog,' she explained. 'Corrie didn't eat her supper or anything.' Father sat down on the edge of the narrow bed. 'Corrie,' he began gently, 'when you and I go to Amsterdam - when do I give you your ticket?' I sniffed a few times, considering this. 'Why, just before we get on the train.' 'Exactly. And our wise Father in heaven knows when we're going to need things, too. Don't run out ahead of Him, Corrie. When the time comes that some of us will have to die, you will look into your heart and fine the strength you need - just in time.'"

As I think of the time that Hans and I will be in Uganda without the kids (a week for us both, and then I will stay 4 weeks more), I wonder how they will do. For Mackenzie and Liam, this will be a very big sacrifice to make for Jesus and for their new little brother or sister. It's easier to trust that Jesus will give me my ticket of faith when I need it, but will he do it for them? In my head, I know the answer is YES. That's my prayer: that Jesus will give us what we need when we need it as we lay our lives down for Him. Faith, bravery, wisdom, patience, stamina, and a dying to ourselves.

I had a friend ask me why we wanted to have three kids....that this adoption will take resources and time away from Kenzie and Liam. They won't be able to do every extra ciricular activity their hearts desire. They won't have fancy clothes, and unending stuff. They'll have to share Hans' and my time, their house, and someone will even be sharing their room. But Hans and I know it's good for our kids to learn that it's not all about them. Laying down our lives for Jesus is a hard thing to do. It's painful, but not without joy and blessing. And I'm thankful that my Hero led the way for us, laying down His life to cover our sins so we can be with Him forever.

"If you are uncertain of which of two paths to take, choose the one on which the shadow of the Cross falls." Bishop Walpole.

Thanks so much for your continuing prayers for us. Let us know how we can be praying for YOU!!!