Author: Wick

Husband, Father, Pastor, Missionary, Writer, Poet, Friend, reader, coffee enthusiast, hockey Wing-Nut, musical participator, etc...
Posted in Adoption Journey, Uncategorized

praying for peace.

Posted on by Wick

We’re moving into a new stage of our adoption, that of being approved by the US Government.  The State has given it’s thumbs up, and from what we’ve heard it shouldn’t be any problem, approval-wise, from here.  The difficult part now will be the fund-raising, the information/document gathering, and the waiting.  As I’ve said already, I believe the “waiting” is not inactive, but a precious and valuable part of the entire journey.  So I’ve been trying to use this time to learn more about where our daughter is coming from, and how to be in prayer for her.

That’s hard.

Right now, in the land my daughter lives, there is much brokenness.  As if living in one of the most densely populated and poverty-stricken countries in the world wasn’t enough, there’s more.  A war is going on.  Children are being recruited as soldiers.  Civilians fear walking certain streets, for fear of being forcibly recruited or killed.  Women are being raped.  The scarcity of food, drinking water, etc….is made even more scarce by the fear that you may not survive the trip.  I would talk more on the specifics, except there are blogs and search engines I’d rather not be connected to.  For more information on the DRC, check out my new page.

There has been a “ceasefire” for 4 weeks now, simply meaning there have been fewer deaths during these days.  But the rebels continue to recruit while the country’s army continues to make plans for how to “handle them”.  Soon, the ceasefire will most likely be broken or end, and who knows what will happen to the area.

As a small consolation – the area we will most likely go to pick up our daughter someday – is completely on the other side of the country.  But she may come from the war-torn region herself…and no matter what, will be obviously impacted by what is happening there right now.

Yet, here we are at the beginning of a new school year.  An amazing mom and teacher, over-loaded with love and desires to teach and be with her family.  A first-grader who is soaking up every bit of knowledge she can.  2 pre-schoolers racing each other to see who can learn next.  A father who tries to be a solid disciplinary “Principal”, but is probably a push-over.  A home filled with love, being shaped by God, and an empty space waiting for our daughter to come home.

And so, we are praying for peace.  Peace in the midst of waiting for our daughter to be brought home.   Peace for our family, as we try to explain to our daughters exactly what is happening in this adoption process, and how to pray for their sister.  Peace that our fund-raising efforts and grant-applications might actually be fruitful in time.

But there is a peace we want more than all of these.  It’s what the citizens, army, AND rebel forces and families of the DRC want more than any ceasefire.  It’s what I want for my daughters, grandchildren, and great-great grandkids someday as well:

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” – Revelation 21:3-4

But until that time comes, may we find ourselves going out into the world and announcing Jesus Christ is Lord.  Not with guns and picket signs – but with acts of Love, Grace, and New Life.  If we are constantly people who are praying for peace, we may more naturally live in a way that helps bring it about…”on earth as it is in Heaven…”

Posted in Uncategorized

Not waiting…

Posted on by Wick

At this point, we’re still waiting to hear back from the state  about our home-study.  It was quite a process of interviews, examining every minute detail of our lives: past, present, and future plans.  We collected documents and legal forms from every area, and now it’s all in the hands of someone who decides whether or not we will be “permitted” to adopt.

It’s a good reminder that I’m not great at waiting.

The expected wait time is between 2 days, and a month-ish.  It’s been a couple weeks already, and we continue to ask God for patience.  But God reminded me yesterday that I was missing out on a blessing the midst of it all.  Just as the Church calendar includes seasons of “Advent” (waiting) as a way to draw near to God – so these days and times of waiting can be embraced in transformative and life-bringing ways.

One of the many reasons we’ve chosen to adopt is to orient the identity of our family around depending on God in new ways.  Sure, waiting is rough.  Fund-raising will be difficult.  Traveling will be prayer-inducing for sure.  But it’s not about us writing the story, taking pictures, so that someday we can point it all out to our daughter and say, “Look, this is what we did out of love for you.”  Communicating love to her, and be involved in bringing hope to a part of the world that needs it….are definitely involved.  But there’s more.  Someday I hope to thank my daughter.  Because in pursuing her; in exercising our faith to depend on God, wait on God, and orient the identity of our family around God and the work of His Kingdom – she has contributed to God transforming all of us along with her.

And so…as we wait and pray together this week…we are not waiting for God’s work to begin…we are caught up in the midst of it already.

Which also means – we need to be raising funds to bring her home!!!  We’re selling these incredible t-shirts for only $20 each!!  If you’d like to support our adoption financially, and look great doing it – just e-mail me by clicking this link, and tell me your size!  The great news is, we’re not even going to limit your contribution!  If you’d like to order 10 shirts at $20 each…you totally can!!  If you only want one shirt, but want to give as if you’re buying 10 shirts….you totally can!!  E-mail us today!! 🙂
(sorry, I realize I totally went from prayerful, thought-provoking words….to a sales-y fund-raiser.  I promise, once the funds are raised, I probably won’t do it again.)

UPDATE: This post was previously written….but yesterday afternoon we officially heard from the State – we’ve been approved!!  Fundraising, here we come!!!!!! 🙂

Posted in Different Moments, Different Thoughts

Bob Evans & the Bear

Posted on by Wick

Our oldest daughter turned 6 this past week, and the thought that continues to light up in my head is a quote from Dr. Leman’s book “It’s Your Kid, Not  A Gerbil“.  Something to the effect of by the time our kids turn 6 years old, we’re 1/3 done with having our time with them at home.  It’s definitely a thought that has me grabbing at moments with her, and breathing through them slowly and with purpose.

This morning was just such an occasion.  Bob Evans generally sends my kids a birthday card (because we’re friends with Bob), good for a free kids meal.  That’s usually a reminder to take my daughter out for a daddy/daughter date for her birthday.  We talk about the previous year, and I tell her the Bible verse I pray for her on a regular basis, and for the year to come.  This year the card never came, and awesome father that I am, I didn’t make plans without getting a “free meal” card in the mail.  Thankfully, my wife reminded me we can eat there even without the free meal card.   Silly me. 🙂

As we walked in, the waitress said she’d be right with us.  But Addie, being the incredibly mature 6 year old she is…asked if we could sit at the bar where we could watch the kitchen/etc.  I said sure, so we hopped over and sat down, talking with Cathy the coffee lady.  She proudly announced that:  1. We were celebrating her birthday.  2.  She had a loose tooth, and the tooth-fairy was totally going to pay up.  She ordered the expected chocolate chip pancakes made into a creepy looking smile (the bacon was placed like a giant nose, instead of the eye-brows), washed down with a chocolate milk.  I followed suit with my predictably cheap “a la carte” biscuits and sausage gravy…though I did splurge on an expensive mug of coffee.   (Sidenote: it only comes with two biscuits….why offer me honey and jam also?  Like I’m gonna eat the gravy as soup?)

The neat moment came when an older gentleman sat next to my daughter, and began his obviously normal routines.  The waitresses knew him, and affectionately referred to him as “Bear”.  He joined us in conversation at one point, asking my daughter if she had any pets.  I was probably too proud, when she responded “Yes, we have chickens!!”, which he was a bit surprised by.  Then he told her she had a doggy too, at which point she and I were both a bit confused.  We definitely do not have a doggy.  But using a piece of paper, he laid her hand down and gently, as an obviously trained grandfather would, traced an outline of her thumb.  He then added the face, ears and collar.  There, see?  She had a dog right in her hand.   He then wrote the word “D-O-G” on paper, and asked her to read it.  She passed the test.  Then he told her to use the same letters, and wrote “G-O-D”, and asked her to read that.  She smiled and said confidently, “God.”  He smiled at her, looked at me, and back to her said, “And you know what?  God made little doggies, and he made you too!”  She smiled in agreement, and he told her she could take the drawing home to color and show her sisters.  We each finished our meals as Bear told us a little about his many grandchildren.

Thank you Bear.  May more and more people enjoy the experience of your thumb-drawings and spelling lesson.  It wasn’t theologically heavy, and didn’t need to be.  It wasn’t selling her heaven, or offering safety from hell.  It was simply a message revealing God on her level.  May each of us live in a way that recognizes how much we can reinforce the messages of God’s Love for others on a regular basis.  Especially at unexpected moments like this.