We are headed out in about a half an hour to go and set up at the church facility we are using! Last night we washed and wrapped (in foil) 250 pounds of potatoes, got all the centerpieces made up and doubled checked all the details! I took some pictures last night..an almost all of them were blurry ( thanks to an almost dead battery!), so prayerfully I'll have many pictures to share with you from tonight!
I thought I would post the letter and information that the people coming tonight will get when they come in the door... so you can almost feel like you are there!:) Thanks for all your prayers!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TODAY…
…and supporting us in this adoption process. We are so grateful for all of your help and generosity, and humbled more than we can say just knowing that many of you have sacrificed your time, baking skills, etc…without even really knowing us!
Our family would already be considered a large family by today’s standard. Our firstborn, Garett, was stillborn and we can’t wait to meet him in Heaven. Our son, Micah, is 8 ½, Grace is 7, Faith is 6 and Titus is 4 ½. In light of the size of our family and the closeness in age, others have been quick to comment as to why in the world we would want to add to our family….isn’t it already big enough?!
We have never looked at this adoption as somehow completing our family...as if there is some missing piece to the puzzle we call "The Pichura Family". Our life really is FULL!!! If you have ever visited us for any length of time you know that life in our home is pretty busy, pretty constant and maybe a bit crazy too! To be honest, the thought of adding two more children (who don't even speak English!) to our family is, at times, an overwhelming thought.
But we are not adopting Samuel and Caleb to make our family complete, we are adopting them because we believe, with all our hearts, God is calling us to do so...and the thought of living outside His will and not obeying His leading is just not an option (we already deal with the consequences of our sin far too much as it is!). Now, don't get us wrong, adopting them, just like anytime we truly obey, is in no way a duty but true delight! And the love that He has put in our hearts for these precious boys...boys we have not even met yet....is amazing! And, even still, our love pales in comparison to the love God has for us…a love that sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to the cross to bear the Father’s wrath and make a way for us to be adopted by the King!
We do not expect the task to be easy. It will require much sacrifice for both of us. And we know that there will be times of frustration as thoughts of comfort and ease are nowhere to be found! But we forget often that the Lord doesn't call believers to a life of ease and comfort. Not only should we not expect it but we shouldn't aim for it as a goal (sure, we all need times of rest…but relaxation should never be the goal of life). Paul compares this life we live to a farmer (not much rest for him), a soldier (always prepared, always ready to fight...not concerned with trivial matters) and a runner (we have yet to see "easy chairs" on the track!). Our "rest" is awaiting us in eternity...but for now, there is work to be done!
We want to stop believing the lies the world throws at us that we deserve this and that (etc...) and instead, cling to the promises of Christ when He says that in this world we will have trials and tribulation but we can take heart because the victory is already won (we never have to live defeated!); that what God calls you to, He will give you the grace and strength to see it through and that we will reap a beautiful harvest if we do not grow weary and lose heart.
We are excited to bring the mission field to our home and teach these precious boys, along with our other children, the transforming work of Christ and the power of His gospel. They are children that we will call ours, entrusted to us by God, but, when all is said and done, they will have been adopted not only by us…but by all of you! So, with all of our hearts, we thank you for joining us in this adoption process and being used by God in the lives of Samuel and Caleb and in the life of our family!
His Adopted Kids,
Bryan and Kristin Pichura
CHRISTIAN WORLD ADOPTION AGENCY (CWA):
After prayer and research we decided to go through CWA for our adoption. They had a well established “Ethiopia Program” and we were so impressed that they listed people we could call and talk to who had adopted through them. Those conversations proved to be very beneficial! They also have a list of children (and their photos) that are already waiting for homes and we were able to access that right away. In fact, it was only a couple of days after beginning the process with CWA that we saw photos of Samuel and Caleb!
We also are excited with the work that they are doing not only in Ethiopia but in many other countries to spread the love of Jesus and be His hands to the communities around them. For more information on CWA projects just check out the table set up here tonight. Check out more of CWA at: www.cwa.org
ADOPTION LINKS:
1) Shaohanna’s Hope ( an organization founded by Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife that gives grants and help and encouragement to those adopting and those who have a heart for orphans and want to help in some way ( http://members.shaohannahshope.org/site/PageServer )
2) Together for Adoption – a beautiful website and organization focused first on our vertical adoption (by God) and then secondly on how that spills over into horizontal adoption. They are actually planning a mission’s trip to an Ethiopian Orphanage in June (applications are due by March 9th). How amazing would that be!!! (http://www.togetherforadoption.org/ )
ADOPTION THROUGH THE EYES OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER:
Galatians 4:4-8 “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.”
Ephesians 1:4-6 “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love 5He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”
John 1:12-13 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
I thought I would post the letter and information that the people coming tonight will get when they come in the door... so you can almost feel like you are there!:) Thanks for all your prayers!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TODAY…
…and supporting us in this adoption process. We are so grateful for all of your help and generosity, and humbled more than we can say just knowing that many of you have sacrificed your time, baking skills, etc…without even really knowing us!
Our family would already be considered a large family by today’s standard. Our firstborn, Garett, was stillborn and we can’t wait to meet him in Heaven. Our son, Micah, is 8 ½, Grace is 7, Faith is 6 and Titus is 4 ½. In light of the size of our family and the closeness in age, others have been quick to comment as to why in the world we would want to add to our family….isn’t it already big enough?!
We have never looked at this adoption as somehow completing our family...as if there is some missing piece to the puzzle we call "The Pichura Family". Our life really is FULL!!! If you have ever visited us for any length of time you know that life in our home is pretty busy, pretty constant and maybe a bit crazy too! To be honest, the thought of adding two more children (who don't even speak English!) to our family is, at times, an overwhelming thought.
But we are not adopting Samuel and Caleb to make our family complete, we are adopting them because we believe, with all our hearts, God is calling us to do so...and the thought of living outside His will and not obeying His leading is just not an option (we already deal with the consequences of our sin far too much as it is!). Now, don't get us wrong, adopting them, just like anytime we truly obey, is in no way a duty but true delight! And the love that He has put in our hearts for these precious boys...boys we have not even met yet....is amazing! And, even still, our love pales in comparison to the love God has for us…a love that sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to the cross to bear the Father’s wrath and make a way for us to be adopted by the King!
We do not expect the task to be easy. It will require much sacrifice for both of us. And we know that there will be times of frustration as thoughts of comfort and ease are nowhere to be found! But we forget often that the Lord doesn't call believers to a life of ease and comfort. Not only should we not expect it but we shouldn't aim for it as a goal (sure, we all need times of rest…but relaxation should never be the goal of life). Paul compares this life we live to a farmer (not much rest for him), a soldier (always prepared, always ready to fight...not concerned with trivial matters) and a runner (we have yet to see "easy chairs" on the track!). Our "rest" is awaiting us in eternity...but for now, there is work to be done!
We want to stop believing the lies the world throws at us that we deserve this and that (etc...) and instead, cling to the promises of Christ when He says that in this world we will have trials and tribulation but we can take heart because the victory is already won (we never have to live defeated!); that what God calls you to, He will give you the grace and strength to see it through and that we will reap a beautiful harvest if we do not grow weary and lose heart.
We are excited to bring the mission field to our home and teach these precious boys, along with our other children, the transforming work of Christ and the power of His gospel. They are children that we will call ours, entrusted to us by God, but, when all is said and done, they will have been adopted not only by us…but by all of you! So, with all of our hearts, we thank you for joining us in this adoption process and being used by God in the lives of Samuel and Caleb and in the life of our family!
His Adopted Kids,
Bryan and Kristin Pichura
CHRISTIAN WORLD ADOPTION AGENCY (CWA):
After prayer and research we decided to go through CWA for our adoption. They had a well established “Ethiopia Program” and we were so impressed that they listed people we could call and talk to who had adopted through them. Those conversations proved to be very beneficial! They also have a list of children (and their photos) that are already waiting for homes and we were able to access that right away. In fact, it was only a couple of days after beginning the process with CWA that we saw photos of Samuel and Caleb!
We also are excited with the work that they are doing not only in Ethiopia but in many other countries to spread the love of Jesus and be His hands to the communities around them. For more information on CWA projects just check out the table set up here tonight. Check out more of CWA at: www.cwa.org
ADOPTION LINKS:
1) Shaohanna’s Hope ( an organization founded by Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife that gives grants and help and encouragement to those adopting and those who have a heart for orphans and want to help in some way ( http://members.shaohannahshope.org/site/PageServer )
2) Together for Adoption – a beautiful website and organization focused first on our vertical adoption (by God) and then secondly on how that spills over into horizontal adoption. They are actually planning a mission’s trip to an Ethiopian Orphanage in June (applications are due by March 9th). How amazing would that be!!! (http://www.togetherforadoption.org/ )
ADOPTION THROUGH THE EYES OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER:
Galatians 4:4-8 “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.”
Ephesians 1:4-6 “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love 5He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”
John 1:12-13 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Comments
I can't wait to hear how it all goes today.