A Cry from Ghana

by Ruth

On July 24th, 2012, I heard a cry from a boy in Ghana.  It broke my heart.

On this particular afternoon, I was out in a boat in the middle of Lake Michigan, with a group of women I am so blessed to have in my life.  We call ourselves the BFFs (Bible Friends Forever).  We met about 5 years ago doing a Beth Moore Bible Study together.  We had such a great time doing the study together, that after it was over we decided we just could not move on and lose contact with one another.  We committed to meeting on the 2nd Wednesday of every month from 1-3pm.  Obviously, not every one can make it every time, but it is a high priority for all of us.

A couple things are very important to our group.  One is praying for one another.  We have seen some very cool answers to prayer.  Another is doing service projects together.  And we just enjoy being together and having fun.

One of the women, Sue, has a daughter named Tammi.  Tammi's family was in the process of adopting two boys from Ghana.  It was not an easy process, and there were many bumps in the road, and times of discouragement.  We were faithfully praying for their family through this time.  Eventually, in June of 2012, the boys arrived in the US to begin living with their forever family.  Our group was even invited to the airport to greet them when they got off the plane (unfortunately I could not be there).

On the boat that afternoon, I asked Sue how the boys, Kadre and Attah were adjusting.  At that point, they had probably been in the US for 5 or 6 weeks.  Sue shared some fun and touching stories, and then she shared that when Kadre was leaving the foster home in Ghana, he had a friend say to him - "Kadre - find me a family that will love me, even if it's in Norway".  Can I just say, I wanted to cry right then and there?  I didn't but the rest of the time I was on the boat, all I wanted to do was get off, fly directly to Ghana and bring him home to my house.

And I just could not get that story out of my head.

The next morning, as I was sitting at my desk working (mind you, I work at home) silent tears were running down my face.  For a couple hours.  I couldn't stand it any more.  I finally sent my husband an email.  That day also happened to be our 25th wedding anniversary.

This was my email:  "What do you say for our 25th anniversary we adopt a teenage boy from Ghana?  Sue B's daughter & son-in-law adopted two boys from there, just came about 4 or 5 weeks ago.  They are Kadre & Attah.  Kadre has a friend in the orphanage, and when he left, the friend said to him ... "Kadre, please find me a family, even if it's in Norway".  He will age out in a few years - then he will be turned out onto the streets to fend for himself."

After I hit send, I wondered what on earth I had just done, and if my husband would think his wife had just totally lost it.

After a few minutes, I got a response back.  It was simply "gulp".

When my husband got home that night, I found out that the story I shared had also touched him (and he did not think I had totally lost it!).  It didn’t take much discussion to figure out that we both felt drawn to this boy's story and that we needed to begin praying about what God would have us do.  We were left with a looming question - are we being called to consider adoption?

Ruth

A Step of Faith

by Doug & Ruth

Yes – we are expecting!  With high anticipation and much excitement, we are thrilled about the possibility of adopting a teenage boy from Ghana, Africa.  As a family, we have always enjoyed having temporary guests in our home.  From high school and college students, to exchange students and now taking a step of faith and pursuing the adoption of the boy who just wants a family to be part of.  Over the past couple years, we’ve toyed with the idea of a more permanent situation in our home.  This past summer while Ruth was with some friends, the story of this young man came up.  From there it has seemed like one God moment after another.

So now that you know the big news, we’ve decided it would be fun to keep a blog of what God is doing in the lives of a family from Kentwood, MI and a boy from Ghana, Africa.

Why?

To capture the story of a teenage boy from Ghana.

~From the time we heard this story, there have been so many amazing moments.  Some small and some big, but all evidence that something is going on that is not typical.

~We don’t want to forget ANY of these moments, and to capture everything that happens on this journey ahead.

~To share this journey with our friends and family, and even those just interested in the adoption process.

~But really it’s for him.  So that one day, after he’s become a part of our family, he can read it, and see how clearly God’s hand has been on his life.   The plan God had in place all along – since the beginning of time.  It’s just now being revealed to him and to us, and we are humbled to be a part of this story.

It seems so clear that God’s hand is on this boy’s life, and God has such a clear specific plan in place.  We can literally see that.  But the thought that keeps coming to us over and over is that God’s hand is on each of our lives in the same way, and there is a specific plan in place for each of us.  We just aren’t always able to see it so clearly.

Our hope is that if you choose to journey with us by reading this blog and following the events that God orchestrates over the next several months with our adoption journey, that it will be a blessing and may even help you recognize how God’s hand is on your own life.