Meeting Molly

It has been a good day. All of us getting a good nights sleep the previous night was the key to a good start. Everyday we have had a great breakfast. An expansive all-you-can-eat buffet has been included at each hotel. There has been a tremendous variety of choices each day none of which were pop tarts or Eggo waffles. We have all thoroughly enjoyed breakfast each day.
Today was the day that Molly decided I was an ok guy. She spent a lot of time just sitting, playing and "talking" with me that she had not done up until this point. Of course I just soaked it up. It was good for Paula that Molly didn't have to be in constant direct contact with her. We can also are Molly quickly advancing in her physical abilities. On day one with us she crawled slowly and awkwardly. Now not only does she crawl all over the place with some speed and agility but she will also pull herself up to a standing position, walk along the edge of the bed and slowly walk around the room while holding our fingers. Today also she turned to us on several occasions when we called her name.
Still the neatest thing for me to watch has been how Elizabeth and Daniel have taken to her. I just never realized how emotionally that had also become throughout this process. It has been a great affirmation that their coming on this trip was the correct decision.
"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." John 14:18. That verse has strategically popped up for me there different times today. The obvious parallel is that Molly and these other children being adopted will no longer be orphans. That is an awesome thing. Please don't think that was our motivation in this. We don't in any way are ourselves as saviors of a little girl. We believe that God gave us love for another child and we found her here in China. We do hope that He may use this adoption to help bring Molly into His kingdom someday. That is the greater parallel. God has promised not to leave any of His chosen as orphans. I love the firmness of that verse: "I will not. . .". There's no maybe or possibly or any condition in that promise. He said that He will not leave us. Period. End of story. This is in stark contrast to how we treat each other. We as people and even Christians are constantly breaking our commitments and leaving people behind. We were all so terribly saddened here when a prospective adoptive family decided after meeting their new child to send him back to the orphanage and go back home without him. Despite repeated pleading and reasoning with them they sent him back and left. We all asked ourselves and each other the obvious questions: how could you? Why? After considering it further the answer seems plain enough: we are all sinful, selfish people capable of any gross atrocity. That's what makes Christ all the more amazing. He didn't have to come down here. When He did come anyway He could just as easily have said, "Forget it. They're not worth it. They are the most ungrateful lot I can imagine. I believe I'll just head back home, kick my feet up and enjoy some angel music and send a giant meteor their way to put them out of thru misery and forget this whole human experiment. I just don't need the headache." But He didn't. He came, stayed, paid the ultimate price and promised to come again. "I will never leave you or forsake you." (Deut. 31:6, Jos. 1:5, I Chron. 28:20, Heb. 13:5). Once again it's "never" without condition or alternative. He won't ever leave. That's something in which to take great comfort.
There are so many orphans around the world who have seemingly been forgotten and left behind. Even if adoption is not right for you, there is still so much you could do. Give to the Lottie Moon and other offerings for missions, fill a shoe box for Samaritans Purse, support a child through World Vision or similar organization, support a family who is adopting, pray or just teach your kids about this need. Even better reach out to those around you with Gods love. One of Gus orphans may be waiting.