So many of you know that a group of friends and I took a little trip to Ethiopia this past summer. God showed up big and did many amazing things during that trip. One of the really cool things that happened on the trip is that there will soon be one less child waiting to be adopted in Ethiopia.
About two years ago, while spending time at the baseball field, we became friends with Carl and Aimee and their two boys Brayden and Blaise. I'm at the fields so often that it's always nice to get on a team with fun parents as this is my main social outlet these days. Their son Brayden and our son Colton were placed on the same team for several seasons and as we talked our way through the innings, of course Ethiopia came up. It's hard for us to get too far into new conversations without that happening. Our beautiful children are an instant source of curiosity which often leads to talks about the beautiful country of Ethiopia and it's amazing people.
It didn't take long for me to share about our involvement with Children's HopeChest and child sponsorship. When our church partnered with the I Care for the Nations care point in Ethiopia last year, Carl and Aimee were the first of our friends to sign up to sponsor a child. God used this sweet girl to plant a seed in their hearts.
No, we're not adopting from Ethiopia again,
but our friends are!!!!!
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| Carl and Aimee |
About two years ago, while spending time at the baseball field, we became friends with Carl and Aimee and their two boys Brayden and Blaise. I'm at the fields so often that it's always nice to get on a team with fun parents as this is my main social outlet these days. Their son Brayden and our son Colton were placed on the same team for several seasons and as we talked our way through the innings, of course Ethiopia came up. It's hard for us to get too far into new conversations without that happening. Our beautiful children are an instant source of curiosity which often leads to talks about the beautiful country of Ethiopia and it's amazing people.
It didn't take long for me to share about our involvement with Children's HopeChest and child sponsorship. When our church partnered with the I Care for the Nations care point in Ethiopia last year, Carl and Aimee were the first of our friends to sign up to sponsor a child. God used this sweet girl to plant a seed in their hearts.
This is their sponsor child Elshadai.
Earlier this year, I mentioned that I would be going to Ethiopia and casually asked Aimee if she wanted to go. She said she did, but lots of people say that.
A few days later, she texted me to say that she really did want to go and was totally serious.
She threw herself into trip planning and her family even felt led to sponsor another child at I Care prior to our trip.
She was able to meet both of their sponsor girls in June.
On our trip, we were surrounded by the beauty of Ethiopian culture. Until you go, there's just no way to fully understand what I mean by this, but these are some of the must kind, humble, compassionate and hospitable people I've ever met.
We were also confronted with the harsh realities of life that many of the people
there struggle with daily.
God used experiences over the past few years to gently nudge Carl and Aimee towards the idea of adoption, but this trip gave the final push for them to ask,
"What are we waiting for?"
I think these cute kiddos may have had something to do with this as well.
Shortly after we returned home, Carl and Aimee started the process to adopt a child from Ethiopia. They quickly worked to get all of their paperwork completed and they are now waiting to be matched with a child in need of a family.
We couldn't be more excited for them!!
But, we also know that adoption is a very costly process.
Carl and Aimee are trusting God to provide all of the funds that they need to complete this process. Having experienced God's faithfulness to provide throughout all of our adoptions and witnessing this with countless other families' adoptions as well, we know that He will do the same for them.
We also know that God often uses others to be his hands and feet and support those who have been called to bring a child into their home and family.
We all may not be called to adopt, but we are all called to do something.
Here's where you come in.
Aimee and her cousin have designed and created these awesome signs to help raise funds for their adoption.
These signs are a great way to display pictures of your sponsor kids and remind you to pray for them.
You can visit their etsy shop here to purchase one. They are available for a minimum donation of $25 (of course you could always donate more) and can be picked up locally or shipped for a small additional fee.
What a great way to keep those sponsor kids on your mind and help bring a child home to their family at the same time.
It takes a village people, so lets all put our hands in for the Schuster family and be a part of this life changing story.
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Hebrews 13:16
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