A Night with the Chapmans

We had the privilege of volunteering at the Show Hope booth last night at the Chapmans concert in B'ham. It was humbling, just to meet Julia, Caleb's wife. She was the one who told us what to do, about passing out packets and getting people to be SH sponsors. She was very gracious and humble....I cannot imagine what it's like to be part of that family...to be walking on the journey of suffering, God has called them to, since He took Maria home May 21, 2008.

This will be brief, but I hope to post more later, it was a blessing just to be there....there were 3 SH booths at the church and we were at one, with 2 other couples. We had over 20 people sign up, just at our booth, to be monthly sponsors....meaning their money is split between supporting Maria's Big House of Hope and providing grants to adoptive families like us.

The other couple there also had received SH grants, so it was neat to meet them and see others in person, who had also benefited greatly from the Chapmans ministry. We also talked with several couples praying about adoption, and talked to another couple from Decatur wanting to start an orphan care ministry at their church.

All in all, a wonderful evening....a fresh testimony that God is in the orphan-care business...obviously...and His people are responding to the call to care for the fatherless (Is. 1:17; James 1:27)....my heart is so passionate about this and adoption...as two of my daughters are adopted. I cannot imagine what we would have missed...and I was very close to missing this call for DanNi's adoption. Even though things have been tough these last two months...I know that I know that I know, He placed her in our family....and I think back to 2006/2007, when I first was feeling the call to adopt again, and I told God 'no'....are you sure we are suppose to do that again? ....I really don't want to....

then Maria Sue Chapman was killed in a tragic/freak accident at their home in 2008....and my heart toward adoption has never been the same.....sadly for that family they are grieving the loss of Maria and hoping for that day to SEE her again in heaven, but God used her death to get my attention....to get the attention of a mother who had adopted one daughter and was content, thinking "I'd done my part" in the orphan crisis....what about everyone else?

How selfish of me....and after Maria's accident...He would not let the thought out of my mind...and that summer, I vowed to God, to quit telling Him 'no'....not just about a second adoption, but about things in general....and my life has never been the same. So, Maria's death has impacted our family, and many, many others, I'm sure....and I truly believe DanNi is here as a result of the Chapman's faithful obedience to God, in the midst of unthinkable tragedy...to live out the suffering He has entrusted to them, so that others will see His heart for adoption....grieving, and praising Him at the same time.

 How strange is it, that the Hand which allows the pain, is the same one to provide the healing? We serve an amazing, mysterious, omnipotent God...who deserves our best...all our worship, our praise...and on the most difficult days, through our pain and our tears, I think He is most blessed when we reach out to Him for comfort that only He can give, as we declare Him Lord of all.