Jeeah's Hope - Part 1

The first part of the story of Jeeah's Hope: Adoption and Foster Care Ministry.

During one of the most difficult time of our adoption journey I was crying one Sunday at the altar to God. We had just lost the dream of adopting a daughter from China, many of you know about Faith. My heart had been broken, we were so confused and lacked any direction. We had finished our dossier and it sat on someone's desk waiting . . . I was broken and really questioned what kind of God would allow me to feel so much pain.

One Sunday kneeling at the altar a sweet couple who was very familiar with our adoption journey met and prayed with us. As we finished praying and left the altar, they handed us a locally published magazine with a family on the cover who were adopting. This couple said, "perhaps you could get in touch with this family." I knew the wife on the cover from a few years past and had heard their family was in the process of adopting. I did not contact them, but kept in touch through mutual friends about their adoption.

Two years pass by and then this last summer I decided to call this friend, Emily, featured in the magazine. We had been home with Grant for awhile and she had also recently adopted a little girl from South Korea, Ellie Jeeah. For hours we would talk on the phone sharing our hearts for adoption and reflecting on our unique and challenging journeys.

Tragically, about two months later, her daughter Ellie Jeeah died of SIDS. Ellie was just under two years old and had only been home for less than a year. I have never been close to a family who had lost their child, I cannot even begin to imagine the pain of loosing a child. We had just become friends and I heard the Lord say, "walk with her." Honestly, I was so scared because of my insecurities and pride. I was so worried about what I was going to say, or if I would be able to say the right things, what if I called at the wrong time . . . the Lord said, "walk."

Through all the confusion of "why" the Lord used this family to show me what it looks like to be the daughter of a king. My new precious friend, Emily, having lost her daughter, walked through this tragedy as the beloved daughter of THE KING. She was grounded in who her Father is and did not waiver about His love for her and her daughter. She did not rest in the whys because she knew the character of her Father and believed without a doubt that He would turn Ellie's short life into something beautiful. Emily walked into the memorial service with her husband and 5 boys in such humble confidence and if that was not enough, she stood and gave her adoption testimony. Passionately she encouraging everyone to hear that God calls us all to care for the orphan. I was so taken by her radiance and grace and moved by the beauty of her heart as she honored God during such a difficult time. In lieu of flowers, their family asked for people to donate money to begin a fund to help others adopt.

I was obedient and chose to walk with her, all the time thinking that it was for her benefit. Do not get me wrong, I wanted to be friends, but I was afraid. I am sure I said really stupid things and to tell you how kind her heart is, she did not need an extra friend, God had blessed her with a large community of sweet friends. I had no idea at the time that my decision to walk with her was a blessing for me and that God had a much bigger plan which would unfold later. Looking back, I can see God so clearly wanted to show me more of Himself through her life.

Emily never wavered or grew tired during her grief - her foundation of Christ was built upon a rock and the death of her daughter was not separating her from the love of God. She was a witness and through Her testimony He was leading me to a place where I would begin to trust Him more and more.