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Wednesday, August 4, 2010

We Need To Talk

Alright folks, it's time to talk turkey, as they say where I'm from. We have been talking about being Crazy and all for several months now. We have cut back on spending, we have relieved ourselves of one rather old Audi, and we have harped on "making it do or doing without", or whatever that phrase was. But it's time to check the ol' gut. How much are we really doing and what good is it anyway?

If we are really, truly honest, getting rid of a car just to turn around and buy a scooter is not all that crazy. When the vast majority of the people on this planet don't have a scooter to their name much less even the most basic of cars - when they really and truly need the transportation - how is it crazy for us to have both? If I was really crazy I would have sold the car and walked to work, carrying two or three people on my back. That would get someone's attention. Probably a chiropractor to name just one, but you understand my point.

Earlier this year I started going to Uganda to learn more about what we could possibly do to help some children in a desperate situation and SixtyFeet.org was birthed. Since then I have been back again along with some other fine men, we raised a lot of money through the help of The Cupcake Kids, and we have been urging others to give and support that effort.

Sometime in the past couple of months, we have been fighting off a nagging feeling. It was a feeling something along the lines of 'Is that it?' As in, 'Is that all you guys are going to do? You're going to raise some money to help children in need - Ok, I get that, that's good. But what else?'

Well, we hadn't thought beyond that. That seemed good enough, right? These kids need money; or at least some of the things money can get them like food, clothing, schooling, Bibles... That's all they need, right?

No, that is not all they need. They need a family. They need to be a part of a family with a mother and father that love them and won't abandon them. They need brothers and sisters. They need aunts and uncles, cousins, friends, people, support. Everything that every single person on this planet longs for.

How many verses in the Bible, do you think, deal with orphans, the poor and prisoners (everything that summarizes the children we are working with through SixtyFeet)? Well, I started to try and count and then realized it covers vast swaths of the Old Testament, and in the New Testament, if you think about it, that's sort of the entire thing. Christ came and opened up salvation to everyone. Everyone that was not part of 'God's chosen' were grafted into the family once and for all. We have all, in no uncertain terms, been adopted.

So what does that have to do with us and our crazy selves? In case you haven't figured it out, we are starting the process of adopting from Uganda. To add a little spice of crazy, we're going for it and trying to adopt two - a boy and a girl. They have been together their entire lives and we want them to stay together. Up until a couple of weeks ago when we were in Uganda, they had spent almost their entire lives in what amounts to a prison. During the last SixtyFeet trip, we were able to move them out. They are in a very, very good place right now and we are so happy they are free to play and run around with other children their own age, they have a bed time and a bed, a bath time where they really get cleaned, and food like they have never eaten in their lives. But they don't yet have a home with a family that they can call their own. This is what we want to give them.

We are excited, but nervous. Check that, I'd say we are downright scared. I'm man enough to say it. We have watched several close friends go through the process of adopting this year alone - both domestic and international.  We have prayed for them, cried with them, and done everything we could to help them through very difficult circumstances - (It should not be so cumbersome to adopt a child). And we know what we have in front of us. At least we think we do. We know at least it won't be easy. It will be a major change for our family going from five to seven. Our little house will be bursting at the seems. Not to mention our scooter. Surely it isn't rated for seven. I need to check the manual.

But we know that we also have many, many people standing with us. We are in a church that fully supports us and every week the pastors pray from the pulpit for the children of Uganda and for the work of SixtyFeet. We are blessed to be surrounded by friends who will pray for us every step of the way. We ask that you do the same. We are moving forward in faith that this is what God wants us to do and we dare not back away from that. We will need strength, stamina and a whole lot of grace for the long days ahead. And we fully trust that He who called us will also equip us with all we need.

So there it is, the latest on the Crazies. Little did you know that the Owens are not just crazy, we are actually completely nuts. At least it feels that way now.

9 comments:

Jennie said...

Wahoo! Two more crazies!!!
Love you all.
(looking forward to seeing you soon, Shelly)

Jane said...

You may be nuts- but you are going to be blessed like crazy. The Moore's are praying for you and these sweet little children.
Also - Erin was right - those are some of the prettiest children I have ever seen.

Gabi Dickinson said...

This is the best news I've heard all week!
THANK YOU FATHER!

Unknown said...

They are adorable!! Thanks for bringing them into the family!! Tom and I can't wait to meet them!!

Unknown said...

I am just thrilled for your family! I can't wait to have lots of playdates with our Ugandan children!! Hopefully sooner than later!!

The Fruitful Family said...

Go on with your crazy selves!! We can't wait to scoop up those two precious ones and love on them!! Thank you for being an example of The Gospel. We love y'all!

Anonymous said...

What wonderful news!! We'll be praying that everything goes smoothly and you get those babies home quickly!
Love, The Grauleys

Michelle Johnson said...

This is super great news! I continue to support 60 feet in prayer and with finances. Will pray with you through the process. (we are a little "stuck" trying to bring our two home from Ghana, West Africa, and also know how things can go -- we can only obey and trust God with the results!)

Nancy said...

Yay! This is awesome news! Congratulations and I will be following and praying for your adventure.