As promised, I want to share a few thoughts today about new life. New life awaits our girls, but new life awaits each one of us in Christ, as well. Our girls are having a little trouble saying good-by to the old life. But we know that the old life is death to them. They don't really have a future if they stay in the orphanage. So, why do all of us sometimes insist on "staying in the orphanage" of this life and our sinful natures?
We want to ask the girls - "Do you have any idea what's in store for you when you leave the orphanage and come with us?" Yet we can't really converse like that with them yet. Christ also asks us, "Do you know what I have in store for you if you only follow Me?" Jesus longs for us to know that we are CHOSEN by Him, and we only have to agree to follow. We want our girls to know they are CHOSEN and treasured and loved. We will do anything for them.
I just finished rereading C.S. Lewis's MERE CHRISTIANITY. I read it in college, but felt that this would be the perfect opportunity to read it again. I'm so glad I did, because Lewis's insights have been very helpful in trying to make sense of our time here in Ukraine. He's helped me to see the spiritual application around every corner. Lewis talks about the difference between Bios life (physical life) and Zoe life (spiritual life). Bios life is like living in the orphanage. You are merely existing, but it's comfortable because it's all you know. Zoe life is like going to America, with all the benefits available, and being taken into a family who loves you and will provide for you the rest of your life. Only Zoe life is when we are taken into the family of God (adopted) and He will provide for us, as His children, throughout eternity! So why would anyone choose otherwise? I know the girls will look back and wonder why they had any trouble leaving the orphanage.
Tanya told us today that our appointment at the court on Friday is set for 8:00 am! Yay! That is answered prayer! Thank you, God! Then the plan is to get right in the car and drive out to the village to get the birth certificates, and, if all goes well there, we'll drive from there into Donetsk to obtain the passports. If all goes well there, we'll drive back to Mariupol and go to the orphanage to have the official "turning over of the children." The orphanage director will need to be there, and Arkadi (the social worker), and Tanya, as our translator. Then we get the girls' suitcase and belongings and get them out of there! They will stay with us at the TLC over the weekend and then we'll take the train to Kiev on Monday. If all goes well, that is.
So we'd appreciate your prayers about all this. We are so ready for the waiting to be over. We are ready to get our girls and go home! (Please pray for our patience, as well!) I keep coming back to my favorite verses in the Bible - Jeremiah 29:11-14. These verses were written to those in exile from their homeland. They seem especially appropriate to us now.
"'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you,' declares the Lord, 'and I will give you fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,' declares the Lord, 'and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.'"
These verses apply to Mark and me now in Ukraine - He will give us everything we need now, as we pray to Him, and He will return us to our home. They apply to our girls - a hope and a future is what they need. And they apply to each one of us who are truly orphans and need a loving Father to bring us back from exile and into His arms. As the words to a song I've heard says, "There are no strangers, there are no outcasts, there are no orphans of God." He loves us all so much!
New Life! It is a wonderful thing. But we all must choose to leave the orphanage. It's time.
Love,
Dawn and Mark
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3 comments:
Congratulations on making it so far! The goodbye could be prolonged and emotional or very quick. We've had both. Usually during the summer the schedule is up for grabs and the staff not as attentive. We were supposed to pick our son up at 2PM and at 6PM the staff didn't have the documents we needed (Immunizations/medical/school records and original registration and bank account money) or his stuff ready to go and asked we come back the next day, to which our facilitator replied with a "NO!" Also, if they haven't told you already about the girls bank account, they have one. Sometimes it is implied you will turn it over to the orphanage as a further donation. We were given a choice both times of what to do with the money. God bless your final journey to HOME!
Mark & Dawn,
Praise God for all this wonderful news. I have been reading the blog everyday. Dawn Jones has as well. I love being able to speak to our other school staff about the wonderful work you and Mark are doing for God and His children! We are so excited about you all coming homewith your "new" babies! God bless and keep you.
The Pitcher's
Mike, Vicki, Erin and Pammy
Oh the lessons we are learning through your experiences. It is humbling for me (and I'm sure the rest that read your lines) to see your longing to bring your girls home and parallel that to Christ's longing to have US HOME! It has helped me to have a different out look on my life here. Where do I really want to lay my treasures at?
God bless you in your service to Him and in doing so, your service to us. He is SO GOOD!
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