Dear Friends,
How can one calculate the value of a changed life? Over the years we have seen that God has used His own adoption of us as His sons and daughters to radically turn our worlds rightside up.
We have also seen the lives of 11 children changed through adoption. From their desperate earthly situations each was given godly upbringings and opportunities to call on His name and be changed in his or her physical and spiritual lives. Only Jesus can do that.
In Mexico there is a beautiful tradition honoring a young girl when she reaches 15 and celebrates her “Quinceañera”. It is usually such a beautiful occasion that the young girl often chooses to have a party with family, friends, godparents and a cake that may be as big or bigger than she is! There are songs, speeches, dances and prayers for her life. She wears a beautiful, long dress – all reminding us that she is a young flower that is blooming. The festivities celebrate the guests’ love for her and honor her value.
Fifteen years ago, a tiny, premature infant was put in an incubator in a rural clinic after her mother died in childbirth. The desperate father, not knowing us, offered the baby to us. He was grief stricken over the loss of his wife, lived in abject poverty and could not care for the child. We paid a dear young, single mother in the village church to go to the clinic to touch, hold, sing and pray for this child through the openings in the incubator. Day and night she kept to the task for one month. We looked for a family that loved the Lord to adopt the infant as their own.
We had a group of 10 men here on a work project when the infant was released and given to us. Each man eagerly awaited his turn to hold the new baby. One friend, Jim, said, “Let’s call her ‘Gloria’!” So Gloria it was. By God’s mercy, we were able to present Gloria to our friends for adoption on Mexican Mother’s Day (May 10th). They have loved their daughter dearly all these years. Little Gloria Noemi turned 15 in April and the party was planned.
The party took place in our yard and was one of the most beautiful, Christ and adoption-honoring events in our lives. Gloria Noemi has grown to love with all her heart not only her parents, but Jesus Himself. The “Quinceañera” was deeply moving. |