Reflections of Our Adoption

As I reflect back on our adoption, I remember Audrey and I talking about a radio program called Family life we’d listen to earlier that day while she and I were both working. We were both moved to tears while a couple shared their story on the spirit of adoption. When we discussed the option we thought it was awesome but most likely not for us because of our situation. We prayed to the Lord to over come the following objections. I’ve since found out that the Lord loves when we have objections.

1. We lived in a very small house with three of our four kids at the time; one was living in a make shift bedroom in the garage. We obviously didn’t have the space for another child.

2. Being a blended family with two boys and two girls and I'd been raising kids since I was 22. I was really looking forward to having some alone time with my wife, since we never really had much since we both had kids when we met.

3. We clearly didn’t have the money to pay the high cost of foreign adoption. Very costly!

4. We weren’t getting any younger. We were in our early forties and we might be able to deal with two little ones but if I had my way this would just be a conversation to make us feel good but the reality is this will most likely never happen.

The one thing that we did do is offer it up to our King and redeemer Jesus Christ in prayer. Have you ever heard the saying; “Be careful what you pray for because it might come true.”

Jesus said if you have faith like a mustered seed you can move mountains. I’ve read some amazing stories on men of faith. I’ve studied the faith chapter in Hebrews. I’m clearly not one of those that fall into that category. I’m more like the doubting Timmy. I’m consistently inconsistent. For those of you, who really know me, know that I talk a great game.

This call has challenged our faith, marriage and a promise that was made to us before the world’s creation. Within the last five years God provided the home we needed. While I was sick with my heart and not working and in the height of the real estate boom while people were waiting days for a chance to buy a home, God provided us a new home below market value for our family. Praise be to God! One down four to go…

While listening to our pastor speak one morning God really had laid on my heart that we have eternity to rest. When did Paul, Peter, or John ever retire? We have eternity to rest in Him. Number two down two to go…

He then provided the resources we needed to pay for the adoption. Before and after considering adoption it is easy to consider so many thing of this world we can spend money on what we were to do with the money we had sitting in the bank?

We heard Geoff Moore’s speak at a compassion concert with Bebo Norman and give his testimony about the adoption of his two daughters and God spoke to us that night to adopt. As a worship pastor Frank Sanza reminded us in China about the last verse in a praise song (while we prayed in the piano bar at the hotel) “Blessed be the name of the Lord” he gives and takes away, it was such a great reminder for us and sooo true!!! Number three down one to go…

Once we made the decision God had put sisters on our heart. So we were thinking twins. Last year while waiting through the process we committed two weeks to prayer and special days of fasting. At the end of two weeks we received an email from our adoption agency that there was a special needs for sisters to be adopted since one would be turning 14 May 8^th.

We continued in prayer and asked God have us the peace that we knew that Xiao Wei and Ya would be the sisters. Because of our background with being a blended family and the dynamics that we’d dealt with in the past, our adoption agency felt that we were the most qualified to raise two more teenage children. All four objections overcome through his grace. And little did we know at the time that this would be the first adoption in the Henan province of 98 million of two older sibling being adopted. Before our girls older siblings were adopted to different families.

As we’ve stepped out on the promises of our Lord and Savior we’ve seen our faith increase in Him as he has faithfully taken us to a new assignment. We’ve learned, and are continuing to learn to take God at his word.

George Muller brings up five points that we should follow to be sure that we are in His will and not seeking our own will:

1. Entire dependence upon the merits and mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the only grounds of any claim for blessings.
2. Separation from all known sin. If we regard iniquity in our hearts, the Lord will not hear us, for it would be sanctioning sin.
3. Faith in God’s word of promise as confirmed by His oath, not to believe Him is to make Him both a liar and a perjurer.
4. Asking in accordance with His will. Our motives must be godly: we must not seek any gift of God to consume it upon our own lusts.
5. Importantly in supplication. There must be waiting on God and waiting for God, as he is patient to wait for the harvest.

Mr. Muller goes on to state that the importance of firmly fixing in mind principles such as these cannot be overstated. The first lays the bass of all prayer, in our ones with the great High Priest. The seconded states a condition of prayer, found in abandonment of sin. The third reminds us of the need of honoring God by faith that He is, and is the diligent seeker. The fourth reveals the sympathy with God that helps us to ask what is for our good and his Glory. This teaches us that, having laid hold of God in prayer, we are to keep hold until His arm is outstretched in blessing.

We were able to experience the faithful walk of our dear brothers and sisters who have listened to the call of our gracious king and redeemer. We have all been orphaned and adopted by our sweet savior. We were dead in our trespasses, at the bottom of the sea of sin with no life until our savior gave us life. Ephesians the 1^st chapter.

So many children are hoping to be loved by a dad and mom. Our greatest joy is being able to touch the lives of our children and now our newly adopted children; Maria XiaoWei and Danielle Ya Fate. Maria’s Chinese names is Xiao Wei which means morning flower, she is precious like a morning flower that brings joy to all that see her. Danielle I call our little butterfly; who flutters here and there and we find such happiness and laugher in her free spirit as we watch her sparky personality light up a room.

When we take God at his word He will provide the answer in His time. Just as we plant the seed, it will take some time for the tree to blossom and produce the fruit of His promise.

God bless,

Tim & Audrey Fate