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Hey friends/family/readers/accidental stop-by-ers!!

We’re going to try something out, because we’ve heard of it working very well for others.  We’re going to be holding an online “Anderson Adoption Auction” through Facebook!  Right now we’re in the process of gathering anything we can:

– items you’re willing to donate that may be valuable to someone out there

– items you make/crafts you do that others might want to bid on

– services you offer – are you a stylist? a plumber? electrician?  We’d love to collect bids on anything you could donate, and get you some great advertising in the process!  (sidenote: I told Sarah perhaps I should auction off doing someones Wedding down the road.  She nixed that idea.)

– Anything else you can think of!?

No matter where you live, or how we know each other, you can get involved!  Just e-mail me by clicking the “Contact” button above, and I’ll respond to get more details on your item/services!  For now, head on over to the Facebook Group, so you can help us publicize it to all of your friends as well, and join to stay tuned to all the great items that we’re already hearing about!!

When it’s time for the auction to begin, we will post pictures for each item, and bidding will take place by people posting their bids as “comments” under the item.  When the auction has ended, items can be shipped directly from the person donating it, as soon as they hear we’ve received payment!  It’s that simple!

Thanks so much, together with your help, we hope to bring our daughter home this year!!

“PRAXIS” – 1. practice, as distinguished from theory; application or use, as of knowledge or skills.

We’re in the midst of an international adoption from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  We began this journey for many reasons, among the top being God’s call for His followers to care for the orphans and widows.  Also, the call in Deuteronomy to pass on foundational God-Love to our children using every moment of our existence.  These are formative years in the greater life and testimony of our family, and there’s a little girl out there somewhere in her formative years who needs a family to love her and reveal God’s love for her.  Why international, and why the DRC?  There’ve been many answers to those questions, all leading to the path we’re currently on.  God is already using this journey to reveal Himself and transform hearts, confirming that we’re following His lead.  We continue to yield our plan to His, and are open to whatever He has in store for us.

In the midst of learning all we can about the aspects of this journey, we continue to hear an ugly truth.  There are people out there, both parents and orphanages/organizations – who would put financial/personal gain as a priority in the midst of the orphan crisis.  Parents who’ve paid thousands, only to find out the child they’re holding has parents or grandparents who were paid to let their child go “to be in a better place”…yet they continue forward in adoption.  Orphanages that are paid generic “fees” to go out and locate a specific orphan to meet the qualifications of those paying.  We’re thankful for the path we’re on, and the openness of all involved.  We’re able to ask questions every step of the way, meet everyone involved, and investigate anything we think might not be kosher.  Some in the adoption process are not given such opportunities, and are in fact often discouraged from asking questions or doing their own investigating.

You don’t have to search long to find stories of adoption corruption and mis-using children for personal gain.  There are great voices emerging as those who have grown from such experiences of investigating and learning the truth about the situation they were in.  Stories they are passing down to future adoptive families of how to be faithful in this journey of earnestly wanting to join the body of Christ in caring for those God’s heart aches for.

For me, it’s definitely been a reminder of the importance to yield our plans to Gods on a daily basis.  To have the humility, and courage, to follow God and Truth over what I think should happen right now, or even next.  Yes, we believe this is the path God is calling us toward.  In reality, it may be more a situation of “God gave us several trees in the garden to choose from, and we love what we ‘re tasting of this fruit called ‘Loving the people and children of the DRC.'”  But it certainly seems like God was at least leading us into the garden, with a grin on his face saying, “Hey Anderson’s….why don’t you try tasting this?” in a way that He knows it’s about to transform our lives, and possibly others as well.

So how is this all an update?   It’s not really.  No new facts.  It’s me pausing in a moment of difficult waiting, to reflect on the journey we’re on.  To offer Him this journey once again.  To testify that we still don’t know exactly where this will all lead, but we know who we depend on every step of the way.   Our family is so glad He is with us…

 

Here we go again with another “Five Minute Friday” post!  To learn more about “Five Minute Friday” (FMF), check out the linked image here.  Basically, each week there’s a word given for you to write about.  You start writing, no back-tracking, editing, etc.  At the end of 5 minutes, you stop.  Then you post it, and share in the community of words that were birthed during these 24-ish hours.  It’s cool stuff.
So here’s this week’s response to the word: “ cherished  ”

I’m still only  beginning a new understanding of the amazing capacity for Love God has given me.  Here we wait, documents all prepared, approved by State and Country, money…well, still in the process of being raised.  We are waiting for our daughter.  Waiting to hear her name.  To see her face.  To know her story.  To bring her home from Africa.

Where is she right now?  I’ve no idea.  In a country where children are being turned soldiers.  Where women are being abused at young ages in horrible ways.  Where infants are dying of malnourishment and abandonment.  Where even those who want to adopt are unfortunately inadvertantly involving themselves in perpetuating a system of corruption and valuing money over loving the orphans and widows.

Somewhere in the brokenness, a child waits.  She doesn’t know it either.  That she has a mommy and daddy.  She has 3 sisters waiting for her, racing to be the first to name her as our first “prayer request” tonight.  That she is incredibly cherished, even before I can hold her close, look deep into her eyes, and convey it with word and presence.

To think that all of this barely scratches the surface of my fathers love for me.  My father who adopted me into his loving family.  Who rescued me, and gave me to share His name….so that I could join his loving movement…

Grr…probably good to only have 5 minutes on this one.  If you’d like to help us in our fundraising – you can click the link on the right side of this page….”Both Hands”. 🙂  Any amount adds up.  But even more so….if you could add us to your prayers….we need His peace and patience…and doors to be opened. 🙂  Thanks friends!