Burdens of the Heart

My heart is heavy today, it periodically does this when I think of a certain family. I'm going to share a little of the story but obviously without the names because I didn't ask permission but I do ask that you pray for them.

There was a family who fell in love with a young man in an orphanage in another country. The young man was a teenager and lived a hard life-is there any other life when in an orphanage? I believe one of the parents saw this child on several occasions because of mission work. The adoption process started-wanted by all parties-and they scraped, saved and followed God's plan to adopt this boy. He became a part of their family, he became their son in more ways than just name. He was loved, unconditionally......maybe that was the problem. He traveled with them, they had a Church home, visited family. He went to school, they met his needs, helped him get his driver's license, cell phone-all the perks of the American teenager. His pictures showed happiness, showed a child who loved his family and wow, the love they had for him. So many opportunities for this young man. Struggles for the parents....as with any teenager, right.

A giant move for the family to a different State. Things are still seemingly fine, adjustments in the process. Son turns 18 and a few days later he simply packs up and leaves - for good. Left a note and without going into much detail basically said he was done, don't try to find him, and they just had too much love to give. He moved back to the State where they lived. Oddly enough, when one of the parents was back at the old home, they ran into their son. There was no closure, no real explanation but pretty much he was done being their son. Says he didn't use them and all of that stuff. Family offered to let him come back home, clearly he was struggling where he was. He didn't take them up on the offer and soon after even deleted his family from his facebook-that's pretty huge.

I hurt, hurt, hurt for this family. They feel used and probably with good reason. I mean, noone in the adoption world likes to say this, but they truly did save this boy. And we say it to biological children all of the time - they are ungrateful. I simply cannot imagine the pain and certainly don't really see God's plan in this. I do understand there is a plan, I have no doubts. But such pain for such a nice, God-loving family is hard to comprehend. And I know that noone is sheltered from pain, I get that. But they lost their son. And then I think of the son, who was a teenager when adopted, never knowing the true love of a Mom and Dad and not knowing the love of our God. How overwhelming this must have been for him. Parental rules made in love-he knew nothing about. Could his head and heart not handle someone loving him this way? Did he not see himself as worthy? Was it too late for him? Were the walls around his heart so hardened that they could not be broken down?

There is a lot of pain in this family and I imagine with the son as well. Orphanage life is hard, beyond our comprehension. That's not even a fitting statement for orphanage life. When I was allowed to sit with Cade (at 17-months)for a meal in his orphanage, I saw babies learning how to steal each others food when they turned their heads for a second, I saw them licking their fingers to pick up crumbs off of the table and floor. This is what they are learning as babies - already "survival of the fittest"; what have they learned by the time they are teenagers? My heart aches for this young man as well.

Please take some time to pray for this family-all of them. I pray God intervenes in the young man's life in a mighty way so he can realize the pain he caused and for him to allow his heart to open to be loved unconditionally. I pray God gives peace to this family, there is no understanding. I pray He gives them strength to let go and move on so they can find happiness again. I pray He gives them the knowledge that they did all they could for him and they did nothing wrong. I pray and I pray for their broken hearts!

(Edited to add: If you know this family, please don't mention their names in my comment section. TY.)

Innocent

His name is Innocent and he is about 5 months old, born in September 2008. He lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo...have you heard of it? It is one of the worst places to live....it is a war-torn Country with no hope of an end to the war in sight.

Innocent's mother lived in Goma, where the worst of the fighting is. This amazing woman walked and carried her son 300 miles to get out of the war zone. To save her baby. 300 miles later she walked up to a Methodist Missionary aid station.....having brought her son to safety, she soon died. They believe she died from malnutrition. She laid down her life for this precious boy....the ultimate sacrifice. She was his comfort, his provider, his protector...his Mother. And in the end, his salvation. Her life for his life. How amazing.

I need your prayers. My friends, Carrie and Brian (in our China adoption group), will soon be blessed to be this brave little baby's family. How exciting for them. The director of a local hospital has volunteered to send one of his nurses to escort baby Innocent to the capital city of Kinshasa, where he will be fostered by a Methodist minister and his wife until the adoption is complete, possibly 1- 6 months. There is no formula where he is right now and flights to Kinshasa are only once a week. He flies out tomorrow-thank you God.

I ask that you pray for Innocent today and throughout the day tomorrow as a new journey begins. You do not have to pray long, you do not have to get down on your knees, but please, oh please let God know you are praying for this very special little boy. You can pray with me now.

Dear Heavenly Father,
I come today to thank you for the many blessings you have given us. Today, Dear Father, I pray for Innocent. I lift him up into your arms of protection and love. Lord, please watch over this little one and calm his anxiety as only You can do. Please help quiet him as he does not understand the changes, the new sights, sounds and smells and does not understand why he no longer has the comfort of his mother's voice, the sight of her beautiful face, or the scent of her skin. Father, I ask that You put Your Hand of protection over him and wrap him in peace. I pray for his safe journey tomorrow and travel grace as he flies to his new foster home. I pray for his mother and pray she is at peace, knowing her baby is safe and will have a chance at life, all because of her bravery and sacrifice. I thank you for Innocent, he is a blessing indeed. Please heal his broken heart and I pray for his health and that he begins to get the proper nourishment his little body needs tomorrow.
Father, I pray for all of these things and most of all I thank you for your love, your grace and your sacrifice. Your Son's life for ours...forgiveness of our sins and our eternal salvation.
In Your Son's most precious Name, Amen.

Thank you for taking the time out to pray this prayer with me. Please pray tomorrow as well. Carrie and Brian, we pray for you also. We pray for God to calm your fears, to quiet your anxieties. We pray for God to wrap His peace around you. I want to thank you for your friendship. You are a blessing and an inspiration to me because of your courage and your open heart. We love you!