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I mentioned in an earlier post (The Light at the End of the Paperchase Tunnel), that we were nearing the end of the long document collecting process, and were thinking and praying through the next step in our adoption process.  That step included sending our final dossier to our adoption agency, along with almost $3000 to cover our next agency payment, translation fees, and a post placement deposit fee.  Truth be told we had no idea where that was coming from, and knew we would simply need to prayerfully wait on the Lord.

Back in the summer we had applied for a grant through a group called Shaohannah’s Hope, which was started by Steven Curtis Chapman, and his wife to help fund adoptions for those who wanted to open their lives and homes to an orphan, but found the fees to be the only significant barrier.  The Chapman’s have adopted three girls themselves, and are wonderful advocates for orphans around the world.  Anyway, we had received confirmation in September from Shaohannah’s Hope that we were being considered for a grant, but really had just continued to plod along with the steps in front of us, using the resources we did have until those funds ran out.  The last step was having our documents authenticated by the the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco.

About the time we sent the documents to the Consulate on October 13, we received a call from Shaohannah’s Hope asking if we would like to attend a Steven Curtis Chapman concert for free.  Chapman was going to be in town, and we were asked to come and enjoy the concert, and to be available to go on stage as Chapman shared about orphans and the ways the church could help care for them.  We thought, that would be a fun evening, and said sure.  We had a great time.  Karen is the Chapman fan in our home as I listen to much to U2, Derek Webb, and Jars of Clay.  Andy was into it for about 5 songs, and then amazingly enough fell asleep.  Chapman talked a lot about orphans, and adoption and I was reminded how incredibly amazing it has been to be on this road to finding our daughter in China.  I truly find myself thinking of her as my daughter, and long for the day when I will see her, in a way that is similar to the longing I had for Andy to come out of Karen’s womb.

Towards the end of the concert, we had our cue to head backstage, and I carried a still sleeping Andy to meet Steven.  When we got backstage, Andy woke up as the band launched into “Dive”.  He watched with wide eyed fascination as the drummer pounded out the beat, and took in the lights and view from the stage.  As they finished the band members walked by us, and Andy got handed a guitar pick and a drumstick, and we got called up front and center to meet Steven.  And it was here that I was reminded how good my God is yet again.  More importantly how good he is to me.  Steven talked again about the needs of the orphans, and encouraged again the church to support families who step out in faith to pursue one of these children.  He then blessed us by letting us know we had received a grant in the amount of $4000.

I have been absolutely amazed at God’s timing and gracious power in this whole journey to add a little girl to our family.  More importantly, my Father in heaven keeps reminding me that He is good to me, to my wife and to my son.  As one who is an heir to the throne of heaven, adopted by the Father above, it has been such a wondrous, humbling, awe inspiring thing, and I can’t help but praise God!  I was a crying happy fool last night as I thanked Steven, and one now as I type these words.  The great thing is we will mail our dossier out today, and the process will continue, and God will be magnified again and again and again.