I will have to post about my birthday soon, but this is my birthday wish- for everyone to read this, and pray for me and this trip!!! :)
Dear Family and Friends,
Several years ago, Patrick and I felt called to adopt. We went through the process of praying about it, thinking about it, talking about it and then decided to take a step. We decided we would adopt domestically through DFCS. We went to classes for months, we filled out gazillions of papers, had medical tests, had a home study, and got to a point where we were ready. We had three kids already and people thought we were crazy, especially because we were considering an African American boy. It was an incredibly emotional and exhausting time. A few days before our social worker finished our file, I found out I was pregnant. We called the social worker and told her to pull our paperwork, we were being blessed with another child.
Two years passed and we made the decision that if there were to be more Hartigan children, they would come a bit later, and they would be adopted. We decided to take the first step by “adopting” in Africa through an amazing organization we knew about through Liberty Hill Church. SERV International sponsors an orphanage in Kenya called House of Hope, we went on their site, saw James’ picture and we were sold. We send our monthly payment to provide his shelter, food, education, medical care, and needs at the orphanage. We send packages when teams travel to Kenya. We send letters and cards for his birthday and Christmas. But this all seems so small knowing we’d love to bring him “home” to us.
The Kenyan government makes it very difficult to adopt Kenyan children. So our dream of bringing James home is just that, a dream. We wish the rules would change, we wish there were another answer, but the answer we have now is “go to him”. How? When? Teams from our church go to Kenya several times a year and I had always felt pulled, but how does a mom of four, wife, friend, daughter, sister, teacher find time and money to go to Africa?? And should she even go? These were the questions that ran through my head for months. But then doors just started opening. Through a time of fasting and prayer, I asked God to let me know if I should go… and why? Just to see James? When he answered, he made it very clear. A trip to Kenya was in the process of being planned. It wouldn’t interfere with school, and it was a group of students that needed another female adult. The students? Kids from our youth group, most of whom I am privileged to have taught and watch grow into young adulthood. All I could think was, “this is my trip. This is what I do”. A trip where I will not only get to meet James, get to visit villages, feed people, build houses, but to have the opportunity for me and some of these kids to act out our faith together. When I came back to the questions, I felt God asking me, “What better example of being a servant can you give your children than by going where I send you?” So I signed up.
How am I going to do it? That’s God’s part- I am just taking the step, the step of faith to commit to a trip of which I’m terrified. I am asking you to pray for our team, for me, my husband, and my kids as we’ll be gone for nearly 10 days. Pray for overseas flights, motion sickness and lots of shots!! I am also asking you to help support me and my team of incredible students as we raise funds to pay for airfare, shelter, food, and the necessary expenses. If you would consider supporting me financially, I would be humbled and honored. I know God will place this letter in the right hands and the funds will be provided. It is the only way we will find the money to take 9 college students to Africa, as the cost of the trip is nearly $4000 a person. If you choose to donate, please use the enclosed slip and we will send you statement you can use for tax purposes.
With Love,
*Please mail donations to me at Ginny Hartigan, 104 Twilight Overlook, Canton GA 30114. Please make checks out to “SERV Ministries”.
“We know only too well that what we are doing is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. But if the drop were not there, the ocean would be missing something” Mother Teresa
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8
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