My Story

Most of you have already heard this a hundred times, but it donned on me that there may be some who do not know the whole story. So here it is from the beginning. Well, maybe not the VERY beginning, but you get the point!

In October of last year I felt the LORD prompting me to go on a two week mission trip to Africa. While there, I fell in love with the orphans we served and the godly ministries fighting for them. After returning home, I could not shake the draw to this place. I began fasting and praying for what God would do with this experience. Through that time He began unveiling to me His call for the next chapter of my life. His Word became so clear to me through verses like James 1:27, “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,” and Luke 14:33, “In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” I knew then that He was asking something so much more from me. And so, in the light of who He is, there is no other response for me, except to follow Him.

“What God has promised He will accomplish – if with His help, we are willing to set aside our fears, trust Him, and by faith take some new steps.” Gary Oliver

This call is two folded. First, I will be going back to Kenya and serving in one of the orphanages I visited back in October. I will move there this July and be staying for a year. Haven of Hope (HOH) cares for over 30 orphans, ages 0-10 yrs, and is run by Mama Nellie. This is an amazing ministry and it will be my great joy to serve her and those kids in any capacity I can. In addition to helping with the day to day needs of running this orphanage, I will be doing on the ground work for the new non-profit I am a part of. Through Hope Grafted In, we will be assisting HOH in developing self sustaining sources of income. I am so honored to be a part of this process.

Secondly, when I am there I will begin the process of adopting. There are approximately 163 million orphans in the world and I can’t bear the thought any longer of not doing something about it. God has showed me that no child should be without a home because I want to live in my comfort zone. As an extension of what God has already done for me, adopting me into His forever family, He is calling me to do the same for one of these. I can’t rescue them all, but I can make a difference for one. I will not be able to adopt a child from HOH, but will instead work with a licensed Kenyan agency recommended by Nellie.

I am still in the fundraising part of this journey. He has been so faithful already and I have all of my travel and stay expenses covered. Now, I am working on raising the adoption fees, estimated to be around $10,000. This is a daunting task, but He has been faithful thus far and I know He will not fail now.

“A person who lives in faith must proceed on incomplete evidence, trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse.” Philip Yancey

This is never quite how I envisioned God would use my life. And whereas some days I am unsure if I have what it takes to walk this kind of road, I do not hesitate for one moment in the ability of my God. If He has called me to such a responsibility, I have no doubt He will walk with me every moment. I may only have enough for the moment, but I believe His grace is sufficient. Where He leads I will follow.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my story and thank you in advance for walking this road with me. For all of you who have so generously given, faithfully prayed, and lovingly supported me, I am eternally grateful. Following God’s call on my life would not be possible without you.

“Surely those who know the great passionate heart of Jehovah must deny their own loves to share in the expression of His.” Jim Elliot