Plans for the Summer?

(originally posted by Matt on March 2012)

It's about this time of year when the people around you begin asking, "What are your plans for the summer?" The answers might range from traveling for children's sports teams, going to the lake, or even visiting Disney World. You likely don't expect to hear, "We're hosting 3 orphan sisters from Eastern Europe." To be honest, neither did we. That is until God showed us something so much bigger than the Magic Kingdom (no offense, Mickey, we still like you).

Before I go on, let me introduce myself. I'm a husband, father, worker, outdoor enthusiast, and Razorback fan seeking to faithfully follow Jesus Christ. Natalie and I have been married for nearly 4 years and have 2 wonderful kids.

Now that we've been introduced, back to the story. As I was saying, a couple of years ago hosting orphans for the summer wasn't on our radar. In fact, we didn't even know it was possible. Don't get me wrong, our hearts have always been soft toward the orphan and adoption. In premarital counseling, we even talked about the possibility of adoption someday, but the thought didn't progress much further than that. Throw in 2 kids, jobs, a house, and the other stuff of life, and orphan care was simply an idea that we liked. But God had other plans.

And so we are hosting 3 sweet sisters this summer through New Horizons for Children. It didn't happen overnight, but little-by-little God began to show us that His heart for the orphan is written throughout the entire Bible. He showed us how we were spiritual orphans, and adopted at a great price. The more we learned the more tender our hearts became (let's be honest, I'm talking about my heart because everyone knows Natalie is one of the most compassionate people ever). Then all of a sudden, orphan care wasn't an idea to be agreed with, but 3 little girls who just want hope, a home, and to be shown love. Our hope for this summer is that our hosting these girls will be a reflection of the greater story of the redemption of all things to them, to us, and to those around us.

We are excited for this journey to unfold, and to see crooked paths made straight by the Lord. Please stay tuned for upcoming posts that detail how our family's story intertwines with that of V*, S*, and Z*.