HOPE

an amazing day. just amazing.

i have to give some history to make this day make sense {and to have it down "on paper" for my own sake.}

a little less than a year ago, 4 couples met in our living room.
i had never met 2 of the couples before in my life.
God literally threw us all together and said, "Go. Do."
it was so cool. and scary.

{LOVE this precious group of people!!!! LOVE!}

we started meeting once a month. we all love orphans. we all go to the same church. and we had the desire to bring an awareness of God's heart for the orphan to our church. to educate others. to invite them to join us in asking God how He wants to use us.

our first meeting we just had a flip chart and started writing.
"if there were no limits on time or money or resources, what would we want an 'orphan ministry' to look like?"
it was fun.
we wrote and wrote and dreamed and dreamed.

we continued to get together once a month.
we would meet at 7:30 pm. pat would get home around 7...change his clothes, hug the kids, scarf down some dinner. and i would ask him, "do you have a plan for tonight? what is the goal?" we didn't know. we never knew. it was so weird for the two of us "planners" to go into meetings like that. but...EVERY.SINGLE.MEETING we made huge progress. we slowly, month by month were led by Him to what our group could bring to our church body.

we had "homework" each month - research in different areas.
we would come back together, share and decide where to head next.

it was just amazing to walk into each meeting and it was a black hole...we had no idea what to expect...but He clearly guided us and led us where to go.

after about 6 months of meeting together, we had a "plan" that we felt like we could bring before the elders at our church.
we asked to come.
they accepted.
the 8 of us, having NO idea what response we would get, went before our elder board one thursday night.
the response was amazing.
there were tears. and He was just THERE. in it.
the elders said, "yes. we are behind you 100%."
{a BIG part of their excitement was us coming to them with a plan that WE were going to do. we weren't asking THEM to do it. we were just asking for their support and permission.}

so...the plan that we presented to them was for a Sunday be dedicated to the launch of this ministry. for the pastor to preach a sermon about God's heart for the orphan {this was VERY important to us...}. and then there will be 3 ways for people to engage in the immediate future that will be presented that day: an adoption seminar {for people to come and hear about domestic and international adoption - both from agencies and from families}, a meal packaging event at our church where the food will be sent to orphanages, and a missions trip to visit/care for orphans.

TODAY WAS THE DAY!

the launch of the HOPE Ministry!

 

it was an EARLY morning...especially with the time change last night!

but the excitement and adrenaline made up for it!

arriving at 7:45 am...

getting set up...

**it was SO cute...at one point in the morning, bailey came up to me and said, "mom? are all these people hoping {because of the shirts} for our 2 brothers??" she thought it was all for our boys :-) 

in the service...

we had a table set up to answer questions, sign people up for the events...

we were amazed at the response and excitement!

aren't our shirts fun?!? it was a last minute thing...but i think it really helped people figure out who to talk to in the mass of people!

LOVE this guy! and SO proud of how hard he's worked to put this all together!
{and AMAZING that i could barely get him to have a conversation about orphans and adoption 3 or so years ago!}

we have 3 services at our church...and it was a little too long for the kids...so my parents came to the second service and then took the kids to lunch during the third service. so kind of them! and so fun to have them be a part of the day!

my dad...

{i hope i took my hand out of my pocket at some point?? it's there in EVERY picture!}

God did big things today. it was just amazing to be able to be a part of it.
the conversations we had with people...the excitement we felt...the willingness of others to jump into this ministry...the amazing group of people we get to serve alongside that have become some of our closest friends...it was just all amazing.
we are humbled by it all. and not quite sure how to take it in.
except to be thankful.
and keep pushing on...it's so beautiful to join Him where He is.
we don't know exactly where it's going.
but, that's ok.
we will just keep taking one step forward as He leads us.

if you want to listen to the sermon {it was GREAT!} it should be here soon {maybe later tonight or tomorrow??}
if you live in the area and want to participate in the meal packaging program {ANYONE can come! even kids can participate!} check out the details here. you can also GIVE towards it - it's only $.25/meal!{we are packaging over 140, 000 meals that day!}

and pray for the hearts of those that were made aware for the first time today...for God to lead them where He wants them...for them to respond to His call...