Show Hope

Yesterday, we found out some really cool news. Our little one's file does not have a ton of information in it about his past. This is not unusual. But, knowing that he will be our son, this mama wants as many connections and information as possible, so I start digging and researching. I must have googled every piece of information that I possibly know on him and have searched FB and blog posts and looked at every picture of Chinese orphans that I can find. If I will not fight for my little guy to know more about his past, who will? Well, luckily through a few different connections, I found out a little tidbit. It isn't huge, but for me, it just filled my heart with such JOY!

Do you remember how this whole adoption journey began? It all started with me reading the book, Choosing to See, by Mary Beth Chapman (Steven Curtis Chapman's wife). STC is a Christian musician for those of you who do not know. After I read that book, God started stirring adoption within my heart. At the back of the book was a link to an organization that the Chapman's had started called, Show Hope. It is an amazing organization, which advocates and cares for orphans and gives grants to families to help with the financial burden of adoption. Watch the video below to find out more about them.




I remember looking up Show Hope's website after I finished the book and thinking to myself "What am I doing? Why am I looking at this?" This was really my first step into what would transpire into our journey to Maverick.

I recently learned that Show Hope has a special floor at the orphanage where Maverick was brought as a baby. With over 700 children in this orphanage, the chances of him being cared for on the Show Hope floor were bleak, but I found out yesterday that he indeed was under Show Hope's care at some point when he was younger. I am not sure how long he was on that floor or when he entered under their care, but I do know that whatever time frame he was there, he was well loved and cared for and that just makes this mama so happy!

Right now, they cannot release any information to me about his time there as our adoption is not complete, but once our adoption is completed, they will send us any additional information and pictures that they have of him from his time with Show Hope. Yippie!

I was so excited about this. It was so neat to see how God used my cousin to get that book in my hand, how He led me to that website even though I had no clue why I was looking at it, how we started in Ethiopia, but ended up in China (Where Show Hope started) and how our little guy benefited from Show Hope's care. I love how God brings stories together like this.

Something else that is pretty neat, we found this information out yesterday, the same day that we got our China home study completed and in our hands. A completed home study means you can apply for grants. I always knew that the first grant that we would apply for would be from Show Hope. Last night, we sat down and started filling out our application on the website. The same website that I typed into my computer almost 3 years ago and asked God "Why am I looking at this?" Ha! God is so cool!

Now, I ask that you would pray for us. Pray that if it is God's will for us to receive a grant from Show Hope, that it will happen. Not all families who qualify will get a grant, as funds are limited. But, it would be so neat if we were granted one, no matter how big or small. We still have about $15,000 to raise in the next 9 months before we can bring Maverick home. I have no doubt that God will provide! He has always been faithful. We have HOPE!

                                        (Maverick on the Show Hope floor at the orphanage.)
                                                 

Check out Show Hope's website to find out more information:

www.shopehope.org