What Now?

It is September in Western Pennsylvania.  The leaves are just beginning to change colors.  The air is crisp and cold in the mornings, with warm weather still during the days.  Pumpkin flavored everything has crept its way into my diet.  Bella and I drive down a back country road, windows down, admiring the fall scenery as we listen to worship music.  Despite the fact that fall has only begun this week, we are headed an hour away from home, to a little shop in Pittsburgh, where we hear there are tons of pretty, girly things to buy Estefani for Christmas.  It may only be September, but mail is slow, and we need to start planning now if we want our girls to receive their gifts on time.

A song comes on the radio, and those words ring in my ears- I'm no orphan any more.  And I can't hold it in...tears stream down my face.  "Estefani?", Bella asks.  "Estefani", I confirm, chuckling at how common this has become.  It has been almost a daily occurrence over the past few months for one of us to break down over something that reminds us of our girl; a song, a photograph, a Disney princess backpack at the mall....

Our hearts are longing.  I miss my girls.  I miss that world of relentless love.  I want to be in that place where my heart is constantly aligned with His. 

As I think of all God has done here, I realize this was never my plan.  These girls were never my plan.  Guatemala was never my plan.  That village tucked away in the mountains of western Honduras was certainly never my plan.  When God started this journey just over two years ago when He simply led me to sponsor Sulmi, He saw all of this.  He saw the village in the mountains.  He saw Melania....Aura...Estefani.  He knew the whole time.  One step of faith can cause a lifetime of God's plans to unfold.

So, what now? 

Since wrapping up the Honduras and Guatemala blog series, I have received updates on all 4 of my girls.  Bella received a heartfelt letter from Estefani talking about our visit.

Melania writes that she knows God cares for her, because He has given her the chance to be loved by someone like me (umm...wow.)  In the three letters I have received since our visit, each which were about two pages long, she shows spiritual maturity and even responds to my letter sharing my testimony, telling me about how she accepted Christ at church with her friends!  She also shares that she is learning to play the guitar in the worship band and goes to church often.  The openness and spiritual encouragement in her letters genuinely uplifts my heart every time.

Sulmi and Aura are also doing well.  They have recently received some medical care, dental care supplies, groceries, and clothing as a result of an inquiry made after our visit.  Their baby sister, Yeilin, should also officially be my sponsored child within the next few months.

So here's the deal: Bella and I are planning to return to Honduras within the next year, hopefully much sooner.  That is our main priority missions-wise, knowing that Estefani has the biggest need right now.  Aside from foreign missions, God has been doing so many incredible things with so many incredible people where I am right now.

 Greater things are yet to come.  What God is doing is just so good!