Counting the Cost of Hosting

So much to process and say, only have a few minutes, but wanted to get some of it down. What struck me about the airport was the other host families.


One, single mom of 2 adopted Chinese daughters hosted in Indiana. They drove to DC to get Mia three weeks ago and Jill, flew with Mia yesterday from Indiana so Mia could fly to Chicago to get her connecting flight to Beijing. Seeing Jill's love, dedication, sacrifice for these children is so beautiful. I am so glad to have met this beautiful woman! So many logical obstacles could have stopped her. Time, money, energy, singleness, her girls starting school, work....but no, she shared her life with Mia.

 Then there is Tracy and family. We would not have done this without their faithful example! Time and time again, they take his step of faith to love these orphans. Look at their smiles! How they beam! Don't you see Jesus just shining from them? They open up their house to awkward, homesick, different people, in the name of Jesus. And guess what?!  THEY ARE BLESSED!

 And Kristy! She watched Tracy for years and took a leap of faith. The first meeting she thought, "what have I gotten in to?" In the end, she and her family were the ones who received the blessings! And see that lady in blue? She is a friend of a friend from Texas, who flew up to meet Andy since he will be her son! Had Kristy and her family not taken this risk, Andy would be aging out within a year working in a factory. Now he will be a big brother to 4 other boys and have a mom and a dad!

 This mom in the jean capris, is gorgeous! She has 4 biological kids, adopted 2 with Downs from Bulgaria (5th, 6th) and then gave birth to her 7th. They have 7 kids, and decided to host! They actually stepped up at the last minute when Weston's host family fell through. They drove 6 hours from Pennsylvania to DC! Her heart! Her love for Jesus, her beautiful family, her husband, their tears as they said goodbye to Weston their host child.....so dear! 

And my friend Ann! She signed up to host at the last minute when Alexis' family fell through so she could experience this with us. Well, her child came on time so they didn't even over lap. Ann has 3 other kids and one is a 2 yr old. It would have been easy for her to say 'no' and it was a challenging month, but God met her. Alexis got her love tank filled and experienced thing she never would have!

I was so struck by these beautiful families! They are not pre-worrying about the hardships they could face or the obstacles they have to overcome! They are just loving these kids one day at a time. They didn't let money, time, inconvenience, differences, distance, other children, and worldly comforts stand in their way. And as a result, they were blessed! Oh the bitter sweet joy we all felt having given part of our hearts to these children. Oh, the beautiful blessing of relying on Jesus for our energy, sustenance, and sanity.

 I am blessed! Honored that Jesus peeled back the curtain a bit and showed me more of His glory. Loved by my friends and family who have asked, prayed, checked in, supported, and cared for us.

If you think God may be asking you to take this "leap of faith" to host, contact us. My friend Tracy is hoping to get 10 kids to Richmond next summer. Read Tracy's blog to see her Hosting Challenge .

As for us, still relaxing in His love, seeking His will, and enjoying our best summer yet!