“IF THIS IS A DREAM I WISH NEVER TO AWAKEN.” --Cinderella
Most of the time when we receive emails and letters regarding our family they are of a positive nature, encouraging our hearts. But recently a letter came scolding us for adopting Burundian children, saying that they would be better off in orphanages. I wonder if it’s an instinctive trait in all created beings—to belong to family. To find each other is the theme of love stories—to search for, find and hold on to something that is precious is Biblically based. Is it coincidence when people longingly seeking, ecstatically find? Or is it God at work, boosting us over walls and incredible obstacles in the world—as He sees fit?
It’s normal that as they grow my kids get curious about their beginnings of which we don’t know much. Christopher, age six and ornery at not getting his way, threatened to run away to look for his “other” mother. All orphan stories are tragic—how can a little kid handle that history? How can I make it all better? In the end they each need to be brave and courageous, accepting to live without remorse or regret, that God allowed them to be different—their Burundian roots grafted into our ”Muzungu” (word for foreign white person) family tree. I remind them that, when they were but new-born infants, The God of the Universe was there by their sides, giving them two miraculous gifts: first, determination—to hold on tenaciously through birthing and abandonment worse than TV trauma; and second, the opportunity for us to find each other.
One of our teenage daughters, Carly Mae, turned 16 on May 1st. Her name means Strong Maiden, and her Kirundi name, Ingabire, (Inga-beer’ay) means Gift. Thank you for your prayers for her and for all our kids—every one of them is truly a GIFT!
We praise the Lord for work and ministry—I know I write as a mommy—I’m the one typing out these newsletters—forgive me if I talk mostly about my immediate ministry—our ten amazing kids and Rainbow Centre children.
“From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise.” (Psalm 8:2)
God bless you—everyone!
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