Have you ever had a time in your life where you had a legitimate
heart desire and yet you didn't see any way for it to be fulfilled and
then - WHAM - God pours out blessings above and beyond what you could
have ever hoped for??? Well, this is one of those stories.
Ever since we were "unofficially matched" with our new son in Hong Kong I have had a concern about language in the short and long term. Yes, I know kids pick up language quickly when they are immersed, but my nearly 9 1/2 year old son has had a lot of instability the last 5 years and frankly, the amount of Cantonese I can learn before we travel and all the pantomiming in the world won't get me very far when attempting to communicate that he is loved regardless of how big or little a struggle it is to adjust to life after moving across the ocean and away from everything he knows. Emotions swell in me as I think of everything he will leave behind in order to join our family...I don't want language to be another loss. I shared my concern with others and I prayed about what we could do, but I felt pretty overwhelmed and helpless.
Enter Amazing Blessing #1. Sometimes when I spoke to people about my concern, they mentioned a Christian family who moved back to Morton 3 years ago. This family lived in Hong Kong for 4 years and then Southern China for 12. They established a business and a church there and then God called them back to Morton. I learned that the husband is completely fluent in Cantonese and the wife knows a fair amount as well.
I heard about them, but I admit, I was very reluctant to contact them. After all, I was asking them to take a part in my son's life! To be available to help sort out messiness when the language barrier is causing frustrations and anger. This was no small request, and this couple has their jobs, 3 children, and a life of their own. Finally after 3 months of praying and stewing, I asked for their contact information and sent an email. The very next day the wife contacted me and said she'd like to meet with me the next night at a local coffee house.
To say I was nervous was an understatement. Did she think I was nuts to be imposing on their family? Would she feel obligated to help? I prayed for calm and the wisdom to speak the right words.
And our meeting was wonderful. No, better than that.....annointed.
She told me how excited she was for our family and how she and her husband would love to help with some translation and teaching us about Hong Kong so we can understand a bit better where our son is coming from and the great heritage he brings with him. And then she added, "But your greatest asset will be a woman named Winnie."
Amazing Blessing #2....Winnie.
Winnie just arrived in the United States 1 month ago. She came to join her husband (an American) who is furthering his education. Winnie is from southern China. Her native language is Cantonese, and she is also fluent in Mandarin and English. She is a wonderful Christian woman...who now lives in my tiny hometown and is willing to help. My heart catches in my throat and my eyes fill with tears.
And there's more....she was a teacher in China. She has a heart for children and a gift to teach!!!!
I sat in awe.
But the blessings didn't end there!!!
This dear wife didn't just hand me Winnie's contact information, smile and walk away. She told me she would get a hold of Winnie and her husband and find some dates that would work for them and then call me up so we can arrange a date for all of us to get together and get to know one another better.
I could have never even dreamt to ask for the reality God has blessed me with. God's blessings are truly "pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap."
Ever since we were "unofficially matched" with our new son in Hong Kong I have had a concern about language in the short and long term. Yes, I know kids pick up language quickly when they are immersed, but my nearly 9 1/2 year old son has had a lot of instability the last 5 years and frankly, the amount of Cantonese I can learn before we travel and all the pantomiming in the world won't get me very far when attempting to communicate that he is loved regardless of how big or little a struggle it is to adjust to life after moving across the ocean and away from everything he knows. Emotions swell in me as I think of everything he will leave behind in order to join our family...I don't want language to be another loss. I shared my concern with others and I prayed about what we could do, but I felt pretty overwhelmed and helpless.
Enter Amazing Blessing #1. Sometimes when I spoke to people about my concern, they mentioned a Christian family who moved back to Morton 3 years ago. This family lived in Hong Kong for 4 years and then Southern China for 12. They established a business and a church there and then God called them back to Morton. I learned that the husband is completely fluent in Cantonese and the wife knows a fair amount as well.
I heard about them, but I admit, I was very reluctant to contact them. After all, I was asking them to take a part in my son's life! To be available to help sort out messiness when the language barrier is causing frustrations and anger. This was no small request, and this couple has their jobs, 3 children, and a life of their own. Finally after 3 months of praying and stewing, I asked for their contact information and sent an email. The very next day the wife contacted me and said she'd like to meet with me the next night at a local coffee house.
To say I was nervous was an understatement. Did she think I was nuts to be imposing on their family? Would she feel obligated to help? I prayed for calm and the wisdom to speak the right words.
And our meeting was wonderful. No, better than that.....annointed.
Amazing Blessing #2....Winnie.
Winnie just arrived in the United States 1 month ago. She came to join her husband (an American) who is furthering his education. Winnie is from southern China. Her native language is Cantonese, and she is also fluent in Mandarin and English. She is a wonderful Christian woman...who now lives in my tiny hometown and is willing to help. My heart catches in my throat and my eyes fill with tears.
And there's more....she was a teacher in China. She has a heart for children and a gift to teach!!!!
I sat in awe.
But the blessings didn't end there!!!
This dear wife didn't just hand me Winnie's contact information, smile and walk away. She told me she would get a hold of Winnie and her husband and find some dates that would work for them and then call me up so we can arrange a date for all of us to get together and get to know one another better.
I could have never even dreamt to ask for the reality God has blessed me with. God's blessings are truly "pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap."
