Full Circle

Today was our second Sunday worshipping with a beautiful group of local Believers, including a Canadian pastor and a missionary from Canada who have invested in this community and dedicated their lives to serving Jesus here.

I have to say that being with my brothers and sisters in Christ in foreign countries is one of the BEST experiences I've ever had.  I've done it in Russia, Albania, Curacao and some other places, and I'm always struck by how somehow these people know what it means to be the Church.  They don't go to church...they ARE the church.  They don't talk about it and form committees and programs.  The love Jesus, so they become His hands and feet in their communities.  They take care of widows.  They love on orphans. They minister in prisons.  They reach out to the poor.  And they don't ask for pats on the back.  They act (rightly so) like it is just what is supposed to happen when you are a follower of Christ.

We Americans have a lot to learn.

 The best part of today was when the Lord showed me this wonderful truth:  We came to Ukraine to love an orphan and bring him home.  But that wasn't the end of the story.  Today I saw that my boys were being loved on by former orphans who have made our family feel at home with them!

You see, this church is made up of a large group of young people who were orphans once themselves.  But because someone loved them enough to point them to Jesus, they did not face a hopeless future when they aged out of the system.  They found the love of their Father God could fill their hearts, could redeem the hurts of their past, could allow them to reach out to other orphans and show that God truly makes all things new.   





They have such beautiful hearts and spirits.  It is truly an honor to count them as friends.  They helped carry Joe and George during our walk to church and our walk to the mall for lunch afterward.  They held Joe during the service, smiled and played with the boys and made them feel so comfortable.  Honestly, I haven't seen my boys just be so relaxed with strangers EVER!  It is so amazing!

The thought also struck me that each of these treasures could have been a blessing to some adoptive family.  Yes, God is writing a different story for each of them.  But what a special addition they could have been to a family!!!  How many other children who are just as precious are waiting to be found and placed in a family??  How many Americans are too comfortable where they are to step out in faith and are MISSING the joy of having such a blessing?  

These kids have come full circle.  They have not let their lack of an earthly family inhibit them from showing love and grace and hope to others.  Why?  Because they know they HAVE a family!  They are part of the Body of Christ and they will never be alone.  

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