A sign of Hope

Do you ever have those moments where you just lose sight, you forget the hope you have? I had one of those moments this week. I was at the orphanage and it was my 1st time visiting since our summer camps had concluded. I was so excited to see the kids and then as I was sitting there talking with them and hanging out, one kid on each leg I thought about the summer and how amazing it was to see the kids outside the orphanage; having fun, laughing giggling and being treated like regular kids. Then as I sat there this feeling of sadness came over me..... yeah we took them out of the orphanage and gave them a good time, but now here there are back in this place that seems so hopeless. I left feeling a bit overwhelmed with this notion that I can love them, but I can never take them out of the orphanage.... and I felt so helpless and so small at that moment. And that thought has been on my mind the last couple of days. Then today a couple arrived with their grown daughter who was adopted from Romania when she was 4. Their daughter is beautiful, well adjusted and smart, funny and all around great. She graduated high school with honors and is entering her senior year of college. The parents shared part of their story and challenges they went through to adopt their daughter. Hearing their struggle and seeing their success gave me hope...... hope for our kids in the orphanage. Granted I can't provide families to come love our kids or adopt them, but I see what God's love and provision has done in this one girl's life & it reminds me of what God can do. I can see how even with all of her sufferings she is well adjusted and capable. She didn't even speak at 4 years old when she arrived in the states and now she is a college student and graduated school with honors... that to me is amazing. It was that glimpse of hope that I needed to see this week to be reminded that God is bigger than just me working in these kids lives... He's got bigger plans than I can even imagine.

Prayers from my diary.....

Dear God,

Thank you for this time right here, right now. This time here in Romania, this time being single and so focused on you is so precious. There are so many moments I am in awe of you God, I want to hold those moments and treasure them. We live in such a world focused on tomorrow, but God I want to be focused on the here and now. These days are so precious. I pray I would stop thinking about and worrying about my future. I want to be in the here and now with you God. I want to be still and know that you are God. Give me strength and wisdom to know when to focus on the here and now and when to make plans for my future.

Amen