Sisters fighting for the same cause

I want to introduce you to a friend of mine. Her name is Dorothy. I've never actually met her, but we are united as sisters in Christ. Previously she lived in Florida. You know....that beautiful place people move to when they retire. A place where people live out the rest of their days relaxing and basking in the sun, all while laying on white sandy beaches. There are frequent golf outings and expensive meals out with friends. Sounds great, right?

Not for Mrs. Dorothy.

(Kyle at Mrs. Dorothy's)

Remember the orphanages I mentioned visiting while Kyle and I were in Haiti last October? Well, Dorothy runs one of them. Many years ago, she left Florida behind and moved to Port Au Prince, Haiti to care for orphans. To care for the fatherless. To care for those who would otherwise be left to fend for themselves on some very dangerous streets. Even worse, those who may have been sold as sex slaves. Those who, because of their medical diagnoses, may have been left to die or starved by their parents because they knew they wouldn't survive anyway. No, I did not make this up. At one of the clinics, we met a family that told us this very thing.....and met their four-yaer-old boy who could fit into an infant car seat because his family wasn't feeding him. Why? He wouldn't survive anyway....

This is REAL stuff, happening every day. 

A majority of the children residing in Mrs. Dorothy's orphanage are HIV positive. They require extra care and medication. Many of the other children have medical needs, as well. This is a big job. They work hard to make sure all of the children are getting their needs met. 

Unfortunately, the Haitian government is currently working to shut down the orphanage that Mrs. Dorothy runs. She has learned that the written Haitian law is not always what is followed or enforced. She is  fighting a battle with a corrupt government. Right now we don't know why, but can trust the Lord to provide for those children.

So, now what?

Pray. Pray for Dorothy. Pray for the women working in the orphanage. Pray for the children. Pray for the Haitian government. Pray for peace. Pray for resolution. Pray for endurance, strength, wisdom and patience. Pray for them. 

Thank you for your prayers and support. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

We are expecting!!

That's right! The Anderson family is now expecting a child! No, I am not pregnant. We are adopting!!

Wow....did I really just say that?! Things are about to get crazy!

We have decided to adopt a child that is four years old or younger. Boy or girl - makes no difference to us. Hungary is where we are headed. Yep....Hungary. Who would have ever guessed?? Funny how God works sometimes, sending you places you never dreamed. I had jokingly said to a friend a few months ago, "We think we might adopt from Uganda. We know nothing about those European countries like Hungary." Hah!

You can check out some information about the journey we are embarking on here.

So, why adopt? God really began working in our hearts for adoption long before we ever realized it. First, and most importantly, we have been adopted by God through faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 8:15 "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" and Ephesians 1:5-6 "In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved." Also, some of you may know, Kyle was adopted as a baby, so it is very personal to us. Next came our mission trip to Haiti. We spent several days visiting orphanages while in country. This is where the Lord really moved us. Countless children, living in orphanages, fatherless. We learned their names. We held them in our laps. We played games with them. We smiled and laughed with them. We cried with them.  We hugged them. We loved them. So now, here we are....adopting from Hungary 6 months later.

We are very early in the process.....we received our official acceptance letter April 5th. I am hoping this blog will be glorifying to Christ and a blessing to you.