Two Stories Collide

About two months ago, Jeff attended a meeting at church about a family oriented missions trip to the Dominican Republic.  I was out of town with the kids at the time and when he told me about it, I got super excited.  We should do it.  All four of us.  It'll be great to expose Case to how other people live and how to give back to those in need - whether it's just playing with them or making a home cooked meal.

We then learned that a minimum of three families needed to apply in order to make it a trip for all ages.  If less than three families applied, the trip would be geared towards families with kids ages 6 and older.  We decided we wouldn't go unless we could take Siahna.

We started filling out applications and began talking to Case about the trip and how we would celebrate his 6th birthday in another country.

Around that same time, I was battling with an inner struggle completely not related to the Dominican.  Siahna has a bible verse in her room that says, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made."  While I believe that with all of my heart, and I know that there was no mistake in how God made her, I struggled with how we, as her parents, will help her believe that in the coming years. 

We have no idea what the future holds for her and whether or not she'll excel in school and sports and boys (heaven forbid!), but right now we know that she'll start preschool on an Individualized Education Plan - simply put, special ed.

No parent wants that for their child.  And I've been a teacher long enough to hear those kids think they are stupid or not worth it because they have learning problems.  I don't want either one of my kids to ever believe that about themselves, even if they have problems in school.

So, I was struggling with the "I believe she is fearfully and wonderfully made, but will she think she is fearfully and WONDERFULLY made?"

At the same, one day in the mail we received a magazine from World Vision and the front cover had a picture of smiling, black girls.  Below their beautiful faces it said, "Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.  Dominican Girls Discover Their True Potential."

Right then and there I not only knew that God will help me raise my little girl to know that she is fearfully and wonderfully made, but we were supposed to go to the DR.  No doubt about it.  Could it be any clearer?

We filled out our applications, turned them in and waited to hear how many families applied.  The application due date came and went and we didn't hear anything.

Jeff stopped our children's pastor (she's leading the trip) one Sunday and asked her about it.

Only two families had applied.  This meant we wouldn't be going, because we wouldn't go unless we could take Siahna.

I was crushed.  I truly felt like the World Vision magazine was confirmation.  And now my struggle was, "When you thought you heard from God, but really didn't."

But guess what?  Today, a month after all this, we got an email that we're going to the DR.  All four of us.  Three families are going to love on children, to make new friends and experience life together.