The Wilderness Detour

Now that we have been approved, I feel like I can write a little more personal stuff here on my blog. Before, I tried to just write about the facts of the process in case someone official here in Kenya was reading this. (But really, how would they even find this??)

I was reading in Exodus 13 again today. I love this:

17 When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.

I feel like that happened with us here. Boy, I thought we would have our baby before Christmas last year (I kept hearing the Words "before Christmas"...) and look at us. It will be October of this year that will be the earliest we will have Baby.  Looking back, I realize we needed this Wilderness time. It has only been a few weeks since my Living in Kenya epiphany. I needed that. Our Baby needed us to experience that shift. And thank you, Jesus, ever since I fell on my face and really sought forgiveness for not being content here, our process has moved forward exponentially.

In verse 17 God says when the people are faced with a battle, they might turn around and head back to Egypt if they are traveling along the shortest route. This process hasn't been easy for us (to say the least), and I am not saying we would have quit during the hard parts if the process was shorter, but we are definitely not giving up now!  Too much blood, sweat, and tears put in so far to give up.

This Wilderness time has also built us up and gotten us "ready for battle" in whatever form that looks like. I feel like there will be many battles yet to come.  I bought this book and am excited about reading it.
Adoption is 100% a spiritual battle. Satan hates families. And he certainly hates adoption.  (How do I know that? Looking from a pure logical standpoint, Jesus loves adoption - He was adopted! - so by definition, Satan must hate it because he is the epitome of everything Jesus is not.) And I completely understand why the enemy does not want this to happen.

I have such huge vision for our child. I believe these adopted Kenyan children are the bridge to healing for our American nation. Healing to white families who would otherwise not embrace a child with black skin. Healing for African Americans to realize we are all one race, one family under God, a place where they are all accepted and loved and belong.


Thank you God for the Wilderness. Continue to grow us closer to you!