It has been so encouraging to us to see those of you sharing with Lili! We had no idea what to expect when we started this. So far we've had six people with a whole range of dollar amounts, totaling up to the $4565.56 that you see in the side bar! (Side comment from a number nerd - what a fun number to type! All those repeating digits...)
As I was talking a bit about Lili tonight with Evania (6) and Gloria (4.5) before going to sleep, Evania commented that it reminded her of Jesus' commentary on the widow and the rich man giving in the temple. I agreed with her. The dollar amount isn't so much what matters as the heart behind the giving. As we prayed, Gloria asked God to give Lili the money she needs so she can have a place to live. (So some of the details are missing, but explaining debt is complicated, so that's what she pulled out of it!) Then she asked me where God gets his money! I love talking about this stuff with them. I told her that one way he moves his money around is by talking to his people - when we love him, we love and care about the things/people that he loves and cares about, and because we love him more than our money, we are happy to give where he wants us to give.
The amount that Lili needs to be completely debt free is significant. I don't know that we're going to get there, even with what has been given so far, but that again is God's deal. As any of you are praying over this, would you please pray with us and for us that we would be able to communicate clearly with Lili about what is going on here. Yes, we want her to have her needs met here by the closest thing she may have to a family surrounding her, but as I was thinking today, there are so many places where Paul especially talks about our relationship with God as one of adoption. It is too late for Lili to be adopted by an earthly family, but there is a Father for whom it is NOT too late for her to be adopted. Your giving is giving us a very practical opportunity through which to share with Lili the hope that is offered, not only for this life, but for eternity.
I'm curious about the "too Late" comment -- is adult adoption not a legal option in Bulgaria? Because I know it is in other countries -- a colleague of mine in Vienna I found out when I was there working with him for six weeks that he'd adopted his son when his son was 23 or 24. I had had no idea that adult adoption was a thing, but it made total sense when you mentioned it; after all, you don't stop needing a family just because you become a legal adult.
ReplyDeleteYes - every country is different. China, for example, requires the child to be *picked up* on or before their 14th birthday. It doesn't matter if your flight has been delayed and you get there the day after. The transfer of actual, physical custody has to be done by that date even if every single other piece of legal stuff has been filed and completed and approved. Bulgaria extends it to 16 years, and only requires that the commitment documents have been submitted before that date. We submitted about 2 months after Bobbi turned 15, didn't get to meet her until a 2 months before she turned 16, and then picked her up 3 months *after* her birthday. But I agree with you that it DOES make sense. Family, and family networks are not something we grow out of!!
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