gloriously ruined

In 2006, like many college students, I spent spring break in Mexico.

However, my spring break was a little different.
I spent the week as an intern for Amor Ministries, building houses and hanging out at orphanages. And not showering for seven days straight, which is evident:And I fell in love. I had been to Mexico several times before to work with Amor, and God had given me vision after vision of what it would be like to live in a place of poverty and run a school/orphanage. When we got to the orphanage, I saw all of dreams played out before my eyes. I am still unsure of what this means. I do know that the trip gloriously ruined me.

I have had a heart for orphans and adopting my whole life. There is something so incredible about people who choose to love children that they did not give birth to, ones that they have no obligation to. I have a friend named Heather who became a foster parent in her early twenties. She is a single mom, and is now in the process of adopting her son "Nemo. "
And it fills my soul with joy and makes my heart beat a million times a minute anytime I hear an adoption story.

I think about adoption all the time, and I long for the day when my home can look like this woman's:

They have three biological children, five adopted children (under the age of 5), and a "son" from Ethiopia who was too old to be adopted, whom they are currently trying to bring to live with them as an exchange student. They are not rich, but they are faithful, and it shows.

My prayer is that someday we will be able to open our home and hearts to orphans. Omar and I are not on the same page with this, but I am confident that God will change his heart. Because in the bible, we are commanded to love people, all people, especially orphans.

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress. James 1:27

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows — this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families. Psalms 68:5-6

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. Isaiah 1:17

Because, when it comes down to it, aren't we all orphans anyway? I am a prodigal daughter, who was wayward and lonely, fatherless and hopeless, who knows little of the world except that I have been adopted by the God of the universe.

His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave Him great pleasure. Ephesians 1:5