Isaac from Uganda...

Boy, do I have a God-sized story to share! It's a bit on the wild side...but every bit His side! Here goes...

Yesterday morning before I began teaching school with the girls, I was doing a little of my minimal maintenance in the bathrooms cleaning them up a bit. I was just kind of doing my thing...not really thinking all that much about anything except...well...cleaning my bathroom:)

Then, the Spirit of God spoke to me. Now, normally I would do some kind of disclaimer here about how it wasn't audible, it normally doesn't happen like that, etc. But, I just finished reading the first chapter of Forgotten God by Francis Chan...so I will just leave it at the Spirit of God really did speak to my heart...really!

He said something like, "Frances, what would it look like if I asked you to care, feed, shelter, clothe, educate, love, pray and doctor up a child that you never got to get anything is return? What if you never got to feel them in your arms, smell them clean after a bath, pray with them at night, hear them pray to God kneeling by the bed at night, see them dance with your family while washing dishes, see them graduate high school, meet their fiance, hold your grandchild, and nurse them when they are sick? What if I asked you to do everything that a family would do...without anything in return? What would that look like and would you do it? What if I touched you and called you to the spirit of adoption...without the results of adoption in your home?"

"Hmmm. Not really what I was looking for today, God! I mean, what does THAT mean?" was my response. I went on with my day keenly aware that I had encountered the Spirit's speaking to my heart...my heart literally burned in me...as I can only imagine the hearts of the men on the road to Emmaus.

That afternoon, my friend Brooke called and we had a very amazing God FILLED conversation where we both shared struggles, convictions from God, and I felt led to share what the Spirit said to me that morning. I am so glad I did...because I don't know that anyone could truly experience the JOY of the rest of the story as she and I did!

When Jay got home from work we sat in the living room together and I told him all about what happened. Somehow I knew that it would involved Compassion International. He was calling us to sponsor more children...we knew this. I would not share this with you unless it was important to the testimony God has given. I never want my left hand to know what my right hand is doing...because the praise of God is FAR greater than any moment of praise from man! But, it is vital to the testimony so I will share.

After our time of sharing and conviction...I went to Compassion's site and here is what I read - This is cut and pasted directly from the Compassion site:

Looking for Children for Adoption?

If you are looking for children for adoption, consider sponsoring a child while you wait.
There are many children waiting for adoption, and all of them need a loving parent like you. Regrettably, the adoption process can sometimes take years and thousands of dollars. Not everybody has the time or financial resources that are necessary to adopt a child.

Consider this alternative to adoption.

Many children are not up for adoption, but they still desperately need your help. These children cannot be adopted, but you can still help them when you decide to sponsor a child with Compassion International. Compassion is not an agency that places children for adoption. Instead, we connect loving sponsors with children from developing countries who are in great need.

When you sponsor a child, you provide:
*Nutritional food
*Supplements and clean water as needed
*The opportunity to attend school or stay in school
*Health care (regular health checkups, immunizations, medicine and more)
*Opportunities to learn job skills
*Beneficial recreational activities
*The opportunity to learn about Jesus and experience God's love firsthand
*An intimate relationship with you through letters and pictures. You can even visit your child in his or her native country!

When you sponsor a child, you are linked with one particular child, who will know your name, write to you, and treasure the thought that you care.

If you're waiting for children for adoption, you clearly have a heart for children in need. Why not sponsor a child today? Your cost: only $38 a month, which is much less than the cost to adopt a child. Even better, you don't have to wait. You can sponsor a child through Compassion right now. Simply click one of the children's pictures to the left to get started today.

Ahem. Um...OK.

So, below that there were 1622 children that were unsponsored. How in the world do you pick? Our other cutie pie from Uganda, Esceza, Anli chose at a Casting Crowns concert we went to over 5 years ago. That sweet little thing is one of our family! Her pictures hang on my fridge along with my kids'. Her photo is in my bathroom right next to ones of the girls. She is my little God baby...not born in my tummy...not mine to hold and care for...not one who is orphaned and needs a family...but one that God called us to love and care for like she was ours.

How in the WORLD would I even begin to know? So...I prayed. I sat. I listened. He answered my heart.

What did I speak to you 3 months ago concerning this adoption thing? Wait for an Isaac experience and don't try to force an Ishmael one.

What were you going to name the son you desired? Isaac.

What country is so very tender to your heart? Uganda.

Well then. Enough? Enough.

So, I sat trembling with my computer in my lap and began to look through 1622 profiles. Every SINGLE one. At number 700 I met Isaac...from Kenya. OK, God maybe Uganda was too specific! Kenya is in Africa...Uganda is in Africa. I heard wrong...I did my own thing...I assumed you meant Uganda. But, after SEVEN HUNDRED profiles...I think little Mr. Isaac who is seven years old and cute as they come from Kenya is our boy...right?

Well, I kept going to make SURE there was not another Isaac and as I went through a THOUSAND profiles there was not ONE other Isaac to be found! I'm getting more and more confident that little Mr. Isaac from Kenya is our fella and I just heard wrong or thought wrong on the whole Uganda thing. Maybe I just have Uganda too much on the brain!

I still kept going. After ONE THOUSAND, SIX HUNDRED, and TWENTY profiles my eyes were blurry and there was not ANY other Isaacs!!!

NOT ONE.

Then, I clicked the LAST page...where two other profiles were found and number 1622 out of 1622...

Isaac from Uganda.

I lost my breath. My heart stopped...literally. There was our Isaac from Uganda...and he is...

NINETEEN.

My eyes teared up. My heart was hammering like it is right now. I was in shock.

Isaac from Uganda.

The last profile.

Number 1622 out of 1622.

The last one.

The least.

The oldest.

Nineteen?

Nineteen.

I showed him to Jay and his eyes were as big as the moon itself. Nineteen? Nineteen.

We knew he was our fella. We told the girls the story...they were amazed! They couldn't believe there was an Isaac from Uganda...we couldn't either girlies!

I called Brooke and she had chills since she had heard me share about all of this before Isaac from Uganda! I'm glad I had someone else who knew the prompting of my heart beforehand. She said the most precious thing I won't forget...

"Isn't it just like God to wrap all of this in your heart in a NINETEEN year old when in your mind you thought of a little one?"

My mentor said:

"Remember the Blind Side? He was 17!"

We were amazed together! I called and shared with 2 other friends and they were in awe of God's confirmation and Hand.

We immediately sponsored Isaac from Uganda! We called this morning to get some more info on him and about the older kids in the program without sponsors. I told the Compassion rep on the phone the story and she was giddy with excitement! She told me the plight of the older kids without sponsors. How they see those around them that are little getting sponsors so easily while they continue to wait. They see those around them with letters, gifts, and photos while they wait...knowing that not many people get all the way to number 1622. Who looks at 1622 profiles and gets to the 16,17,18, and 19 year olds?

Thank you Jesus that we did! You spoke it and you made it come to pass. It was You alone who connected us with our Isaac from Uganda. Number 1622.

What a JOY this is! Are we adopting him? Um...no. Does he have a family? Praise God YES! Does he have siblings? Praise God YES! Does he and his family now receive the food, clothing, shelter, education, training in Christ, and prayer that the Lord desires they have? Praise God YES! Does he have a prayin' and lovin' family in GA? Praise God YES!

I pray that if you have never sponsored a child...especially an older child...that you would seek the Spirit's leading. I pray that you will visit Compassion and allow the Lord to lead you to the child that He has in store for your family. You will not only be a blessing...you will receive a blessing!

The spirit of adoption is not only in the actual act of adopting a child into your home physically. I am learning this through the past 14 months of being on the actual journey itself to bring a child home. The spirit of adoption is opening your heart to another and embracing them as your own family. Loving them with all you have and all you are. Serving them with open arms and open hearts. Praying for them like they are your own flesh. Loving them like they are your own flesh. Serving them like they are your own flesh. Laying down your life like they are your own flesh.

It's what our Heavenly Father did for us through the death and resurrection of Jesus His Son. He brought us into His family. He adopted us....spiritually!

Many of us have not adopted or can't adopt physically. Don't let that stop you from joining God's heart of adopting spiritually! I'll warn you...you won't get to snuggle with them at night. You won't get to feel their hugs in the morning when they wake up with a smooshy face. You won't get to hear them pray, be at their weddings, hold them as they cry when someone makes fun of them, see the joy of them have their first child...you won't get those. But, I'm learning...that's not what adoption is about.

It's not about what I get.

It's just not about me.

It's about joining the heart of God.

It's about loving without anything in return.

It's about Him...and about salvation...and about His glory.

Join His heart for the world. The orphans, the widows, the immigrants, the poor, the sick, the imprisoned, the battered, the rebellious, the angry, the trafficked, the slave...the lost. He loves them ALL.

What a story from the Author and Perfecter of our faith! It's a wild ride and aren't you just LOVIN' it?