Kisses from Katie

I feel like I finally get it.  I feel like I can see pieces of my story and experiences and desires all coming together.  I feel like I can see why God brought me to a certain place and let me go through something hard.  I feel like His purpose and vision is becoming just a BIT clearer in my mind.

It's largely because of the book I was able to read this weekend, Kisses from Katie.  If you haven't heard of it, you need to check it out.  It's about a girl who had everything here in the States, but said yes to the Lord's call on her life for missions.  She fell in love with a country called Uganda, and she adopted 13 children on top of the hundreds of children she helps to feed, clothe, educate, and just show and tell them the love they have in Jesus.

Every word she wrote stirred my heart.  Every story she told had me glorifying the Lord and what He is doing.  Every mention of a child had my mind and heart saying:

"I could do that.  I want to do that."

Let me clarify that though - I don't want her story.  I think she has an incredible calling in her life, and it greatly encouraged me.  But I don't want her story.

I want the one that the Lord is preparing and writing for me - JUST for me. That's the best, most beautiful story I can ever imagine.

I know though that the Lord used her story in a very profound way in my life.  In a previous post, I mentioned that I didn't know if I'd be able to have kids because of health reasons.  I am SO happy to say that is no longer the case!! Obviously I won't know until that time ever came, but that was a pretty hard time for me. Lots of crying out to the Lord, lots of anger, lots of selfishness, etc.

But the Lord did an amazing thing in that - He made me look at adoption and foster care.  I researched as much as I could about the process, and saw an incredible display of the gospel through it.  My heart fell in love with the whole thing, and I know without a doubt that it's what I want to pursue when the time comes.

I've also shared my struggles/idolatry with the whole singleness thing - it's something that I cling to and just thoroughly enjoy right now.  It's an amazing gift that has allowed me to grow SO much in my walk with the Lord.  However, this burning desire in my heart for adoption and foster care wasn't going away.  I thought that meant I'd have to get married first and be all settled and what not.

But Katie's story showed me that isn't true. Not in the least.

I can foster as a single woman.
I can adopt as a single woman.
I can display the beautiful message of the gospel to kids who might never have seen or felt a love like that - as a single woman.  

It may not be ideal by society standards, but as Matt Chandler says so often, "Where the ideal is lacking, grace abounds."

I've been praying about clarity for missions work and what exactly I want to do and focus on.  When people have asked me in the past, it's sort of been me just being willing to do whatever Christ asks of me.

Now, I can boldly say that my focus is on mentoring, fostering, and showering kids in the love that overflows from my heart because of the gospel.

It's going to be hard - you really, really don't need to tell me that.  This article is one of the best I've seen in regards to that whole idea.  Yes, most children in the foster care program have 'baggage.'

But don't you?  I know I do.  I know I brought a whole lot of baggage (and continue to bring it) when Christ opened my eyes.  Yet again, this makes the gospel such a great bridge into their life.

I've found the local fostering agency in Bawtry/Doncaster, and I'm praying for a way to work with them as soon as I land.  I'm ready to see the Lord work in their lives, in my life, in the city of Doncaster, in the UK, across Europe, and across the world.  He can do it through this simple act of obedience - just saying yes to His plan opens the door for some pretty amazing things.

What is He asking you to say yes to?  What part of your life seems so bleak now?  Where does the Lord seem distant and unloving?  Don't lose hope in that.  Don't lose faith in the storm or the drought.  Trust me, I know it's hard.  Surrender it daily, and one day, you can see the beautiful plan the Lord has to use it for your good and His glory.

**If you or someone you know are interested in becoming a partner with me in sharing the gospel with not just the kids I will one day get to meet, but with all of those searching for love, truth, forgiveness, freedom, please consider supporting my trip to the UK!

I am in need of $3,300 USD per month to serve the Lord in the UK, and I know the Lord is going to make it happen.  If you're interested in becoming a monthly supporter, please follow the link below to start the process.  As always, email (ashumpert@swissmail.org) or call me (704-618-0968) for questions, ideas, prayers, etc! ***