Dear Family and Friends,
Happy New Year! Chris and I pray that as you begin this new season in 2011 that the Lord would bless you, stretch you and continue to make you more like Him each day. Isn't it awesome that we serve a God who's love for us never changes? I was realizing yesterday that no matter how many times I fall or fail, God will NEVER love me less and that was such an encouraging and freeing thought!!!
Ok, now that I am done with my pep talk for the year :), we have an update on Colocha!! I emailed Hope of Life last Thursday to just kind of get an update (we hadn't talked to them in several weeks), and within an hour I had a response. The lady I emailed with told me that she had been down at HOL a few weeks ago and that Colocha was doing well. Then the most amazing thing happened, she volunteered to have them take a picture of her and send it to us!!! I was blown away and very excited to see how this beautiful girl had grown. We had a picture by Saturday! Although we are very excited to see her, it also broke our hearts because she looks very sad. I just wanted to reach through the computer and hug her. :( Please continue to pray for God's protection and health for her and also that the relationship between Guatemala and the US would improve. We appreciate each and every one of you and your prayers and support of what God has been and is continuing to do in our lives!
Hannah
Monday, January 3, 2011
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
No news is... no news
Hey everyone,
Sorry for the delay in bringing an update. Things around our house have been fairly hectic lately, and finding time to fill everyone in has been increasingly difficult.
Unfortunately, there is no new progress to report. There was hope of a pilot program starting that would get adoptions moving again, but the U.S. State Department felt the Guatemalan authorities weren't taking the process seriously enough, so they pulled out. God was not caught by surprise, however, and we have hope that He will continue to work all things out for His glory, which ultimately brings about the best for us.
This situation, as frustrating as it has been, has brought Hannah and I to a deeper understanding of the faithfulness of God. We were reflecting just the other day on how our attitudes have changed regarding this entire process. While we still feel like parents who are separated from their daughter and still believe that one day God will bring her home to the glory of Christ we've seemingly lost the sense of urgency that we once had. We still pray for God to protect her, to provide for her, and to bring her home, but our prayers have lost that sense of desperation. Our hearts ache for the day when our family will be united, but our focus has shifted. We've moved on, in a sense, to "the next big thing."
The realization of just how fickle we are brought about in us a spirit of thankfulness that in this respect our Savior is nothing like us!!! His is never passionate about us in one moment but not in the next. He doesn't pursue us for a while and then move on when we don't respond. He will never be less zealous about us then he is at this very moment! He is faithful when we are faithless. Even when we rebel against him, he pursues us. As often as Hannah and I fail as eventual parents and as followers of Christ, Jesus remains faithful to us. He will never move on to "the next big thing." He is, everyday, making us more like him, just as he promised.
So please, pray for us. Pray that, in a great display of his glory, God will bring our daughter home! Pray also that we would learn to be faithful parents and faithful Christ-followers.
For His Glory,
CMB
Sorry for the delay in bringing an update. Things around our house have been fairly hectic lately, and finding time to fill everyone in has been increasingly difficult.
Unfortunately, there is no new progress to report. There was hope of a pilot program starting that would get adoptions moving again, but the U.S. State Department felt the Guatemalan authorities weren't taking the process seriously enough, so they pulled out. God was not caught by surprise, however, and we have hope that He will continue to work all things out for His glory, which ultimately brings about the best for us.
This situation, as frustrating as it has been, has brought Hannah and I to a deeper understanding of the faithfulness of God. We were reflecting just the other day on how our attitudes have changed regarding this entire process. While we still feel like parents who are separated from their daughter and still believe that one day God will bring her home to the glory of Christ we've seemingly lost the sense of urgency that we once had. We still pray for God to protect her, to provide for her, and to bring her home, but our prayers have lost that sense of desperation. Our hearts ache for the day when our family will be united, but our focus has shifted. We've moved on, in a sense, to "the next big thing."
The realization of just how fickle we are brought about in us a spirit of thankfulness that in this respect our Savior is nothing like us!!! His is never passionate about us in one moment but not in the next. He doesn't pursue us for a while and then move on when we don't respond. He will never be less zealous about us then he is at this very moment! He is faithful when we are faithless. Even when we rebel against him, he pursues us. As often as Hannah and I fail as eventual parents and as followers of Christ, Jesus remains faithful to us. He will never move on to "the next big thing." He is, everyday, making us more like him, just as he promised.
So please, pray for us. Pray that, in a great display of his glory, God will bring our daughter home! Pray also that we would learn to be faithful parents and faithful Christ-followers.
For His Glory,
CMB
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Update
Hey All,
Just wanted to fill you in on the latest news from Guatemala. First of all, thank you so much for each and everyone of you who have been faithfully praying and interceding for us and for Colocha, I can feel the prayers! It has been a hard week, we heard from Guatemala this week and the news was not every encouraging. As you know, adoptions have been closed to Guatemala, but when we went down in July, there was talk of opening back up adoptions soon. We have been emailing back and forth with Hope of Life every three or four weeks, and last we had heard, the adoption rep from the organization was meeting with a Guatemalan official a couple of weeks ago. We wrote this past week, and we have heard that the US has pulled the plug on the pilot program to reopen adoption process between the two countries. Evidently, Guatemala wasn't taking the process seriously, so until they can come to some kind of agreement, we are stuck. Please pray that we can stay faithfully believing in God's direction for our family, but also for Colocha. When I think about her in the nutrition center waiting for someone to love her, it breaks my heart. Pray that God brings someone in her life, someone who can love on her. We are so thankful for each of you, for how you are partnering with us in prayer!
Hannah
Just wanted to fill you in on the latest news from Guatemala. First of all, thank you so much for each and everyone of you who have been faithfully praying and interceding for us and for Colocha, I can feel the prayers! It has been a hard week, we heard from Guatemala this week and the news was not every encouraging. As you know, adoptions have been closed to Guatemala, but when we went down in July, there was talk of opening back up adoptions soon. We have been emailing back and forth with Hope of Life every three or four weeks, and last we had heard, the adoption rep from the organization was meeting with a Guatemalan official a couple of weeks ago. We wrote this past week, and we have heard that the US has pulled the plug on the pilot program to reopen adoption process between the two countries. Evidently, Guatemala wasn't taking the process seriously, so until they can come to some kind of agreement, we are stuck. Please pray that we can stay faithfully believing in God's direction for our family, but also for Colocha. When I think about her in the nutrition center waiting for someone to love her, it breaks my heart. Pray that God brings someone in her life, someone who can love on her. We are so thankful for each of you, for how you are partnering with us in prayer!
Hannah
Monday, October 18, 2010
More Thoughts
Hey Everybody!
I was realizing today that those of you who read our blog haven't really heard from me yet, and I thought today would be a good day to start. Wow, what a crazy ride the last few months have been! When we headed down to Guatemala in July, Chris and I prayed that God would do something in our lives, something that would change us. It was interesting to see how God did that in us. Both Chris and I had been on trips before to Latin American coutries and had felt a connection and a burden for those places. This time, we didn't really feel that connection specifically to the country of Guatemala or the region of Zacapa, but to Colocaha instead. When I first saw her, she caught my eye across the nursery, a cute little girl that was looking at me with big, sad brown eyes. I went over and picked her up and as they say, the rest is history. She stole my heart, plain and simple. She was so hungry for someone to love her, and for a blip in time that week, it was me. As the week progressed, so did my burden for this little girl. There were other children that I held, but none that even came close to her. By Wednesday afternoon, I started wondering if maybe God had more in store for us and Colocha. When I approached Chris about it, it was amazing to see how God had been working the same thoughts in him. Friday afternoon, we went down to the rescue center and spent some time praying with Colocha and asking for God's guidance for us. We left that day, not sure when we would see her again, but trusting that God had a plan for us. You know, its a crazy feeling, putting your heart out there and exposing yourself to hurt, but knowing that God has a plan. It's been tough for me, battling to leave myself open and trust, even when it sometimes feels like there is no end in sight. Right after we got back, I was talking with my mom and she said something that continues to resound in my mind when I am discouraged. She said, "Hannah, don't you think that the God of the universe could open up adoptions for just a moment in time for one little girl? He's God, He can do anything!" Continue to pray for us, pray for us to keep trusting, to not give up and most of all that Colocha can come home to us soon.
Hannah
Friday, October 15, 2010
Update
Dear Friends,
Thank you so much for all your prayers & encouragement during this exciting yet trying season in our lives! Your support means the world to us.
Over the recent weeks and months it has been increasingly difficult to look at pictures, to share our story, even to beg God to move in this situation without feeling discouraged. For myself especially the lack of any visible progress has caused a great deal frustration. Our hearts yearn to be united with this little girl and every moment that passes without her here only makes the frustration & anxiety worse.
I can't help but feel, however, that this isn't the way we should respond. We proclaim to believe in a all-powerful, benevolent, sovereign God yet when things don't work out the way we want them to we become dejected and depressed. Pray that God would remind us daily that He is working all things out for His glory and then for our good. Pray that our faith will be strengthened during this time. Pray that we would have the strength to pursue God in prayer daily. God bless
- CMB
Thank you so much for all your prayers & encouragement during this exciting yet trying season in our lives! Your support means the world to us.
Over the recent weeks and months it has been increasingly difficult to look at pictures, to share our story, even to beg God to move in this situation without feeling discouraged. For myself especially the lack of any visible progress has caused a great deal frustration. Our hearts yearn to be united with this little girl and every moment that passes without her here only makes the frustration & anxiety worse.
I can't help but feel, however, that this isn't the way we should respond. We proclaim to believe in a all-powerful, benevolent, sovereign God yet when things don't work out the way we want them to we become dejected and depressed. Pray that God would remind us daily that He is working all things out for His glory and then for our good. Pray that our faith will be strengthened during this time. Pray that we would have the strength to pursue God in prayer daily. God bless
- CMB
Friday, October 1, 2010
Update
Dear Friends,
Over the past few months we've remained in contact with the wonderful people at Esperanza de Vida, and here's what we've learned:
Currently, U.S. adoptions from Guatemala are closed. Some may see this as a barrier, but we see it as another way for our great God to show us how awesome and glorious He is! As you pray and ask God to open this door, remember it won't be the craziest thing He's ever done :)
Esperanza de Vida has done some digging into "Colocha's" background. What we've learned so far is that she was abandoned soon after her birth. She has no birth records, no known family members, no legal name; technically she doesn't even exist. "Colocha" is the nickname given to her by the staff (it means "curly headed" or "curly top"). Now they have to petition the Guatemalan government to grant her legal birth status/citizenship, then declare her abandoned, then declare her eligible for adoption.
We've also learned within the last few days that the adoption representative for Hope of Life has a meeting with government officials this week. So pray that God would move and work in a way that brings glory to His name!
Please, pray for us during this time! Pray that God teach us to trust Him during this process and pray that He would open doors. We'll keep all of you posted
-CMB
Over the past few months we've remained in contact with the wonderful people at Esperanza de Vida, and here's what we've learned:
Currently, U.S. adoptions from Guatemala are closed. Some may see this as a barrier, but we see it as another way for our great God to show us how awesome and glorious He is! As you pray and ask God to open this door, remember it won't be the craziest thing He's ever done :)
Esperanza de Vida has done some digging into "Colocha's" background. What we've learned so far is that she was abandoned soon after her birth. She has no birth records, no known family members, no legal name; technically she doesn't even exist. "Colocha" is the nickname given to her by the staff (it means "curly headed" or "curly top"). Now they have to petition the Guatemalan government to grant her legal birth status/citizenship, then declare her abandoned, then declare her eligible for adoption.
We've also learned within the last few days that the adoption representative for Hope of Life has a meeting with government officials this week. So pray that God would move and work in a way that brings glory to His name!
Please, pray for us during this time! Pray that God teach us to trust Him during this process and pray that He would open doors. We'll keep all of you posted
-CMB
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