It's OFFICIAL!!!

Our status on the NHFC's photolisting for Sergejs is "HOSTED" now instead of "On Hold"!! :) Thank you Andrea!

I have been praying about this hosting experience daily--usually more than once a day! At first, I had so much guilt about hosting Sergejs and "leaving behind" (so to speak) Rebeka & Robbie. Sometimes that still creeps up a little. But God is so good and He has given me a peace about Rebeka & Roberts and is letting my heart love Sergejs! After all, all of these children are deserving of our love just as much as another. All of these children deserve to know what a relationship with Jesus looks like and what a loving family looks like. All of these children deserve a chance.

I know some people don't get this--why host? Why are WE hosting? Aren't you crazy? You have 3 kids already. Even, "You just seem to have so much on your plate right now" and that was said by someone who doesn't know me in any way other than in passing. There are the "brave" people who will tell me to my face that we shouldn't be doing this and then there are those who just say it behind our backs. Either way, the only explanation I can give is that this is a mission. Jesus told us to go into the world and tell others about Him. He also told us to care for orphans. He has also (for those who have accepted Jesus) adopted us into His family and we are now sons and daughters of the King. He told us to care for the poor and the needy. Put all of that together. That's why we are doing this. That's why all of these people are doing this. Craig and I have prayed for God to show us what He wants us to do for right now. And we feel like this is it. God never told us it would be easy or free from any kind of issues. And knowing there were (with R & R) and will be issues can't/shouldn't make us turn back. Did Paul turn back just because he was beaten and thrown into prison multiple times? Did any of the disciples? And I mean, thank goodness Jesus didn't decide it wasn't worth it to die on the cross because it would be hard and painful. We tend to put Paul, Peter and the other disciples and martyrs on a pedestal like they were special and had some sort of special ability to withstand those pressures and hardships but they were just normal, everyday people with a lot of the same problems, doubts, etc that we have. The reason they have been put on a pedestal is because of how they lived out their faith. They stood in the face of persecution. They didn't back down. They carried out what God had called them to in spite of all that was in their way. If they could do it, why can't any of us? Why are there so few Christians who won't back down?
Goodness I'm not sure I expected this to turn into all that. :) But we are going to do what God has called us to do and I hope you all do the same.
So all of that being said, we ask for your prayers between now and December and while Sergejs is here. Pray that we will shine with the love of Jesus to all who see us.

Fundraiser

Hey--we've decided to have small little fundraiser for now to help bring Sergeis to America for Christmas. Eileen wants to help so we decided to have a sort of Bowl-A-Thon to raise money. We are going to take donations per pin that she knocks down. In a couple of weeks, we will take her best game out of 3 and collect the donations for that amount. It's easy for you to participate--you don't have to be present while she bowls unless you just want to (she bowls with a homeschool league every Monday.) I will send out an email with sponser forms to fill out with your name, address, phone number and pledge amount. If you'd like to participate and don't get an email, please email me at brooke@inhissight.org. I will then call or email with her score!
Just some information: Eileen has bowled 11 games. Her highest score has been 101 and her lowest score has been 69. She usually scores somewhere in the 70's. She has gotten about 4 strikes before. So that's it! I'll have more details and sponser forms soon!
Thanks in advance for partnering with Eileen to help bring Sergeis to our home for Christmas!