The Beginning of the Story...

Brock writes:
In the summer of 2006, through much prayer and Bible study concerning how our family could give generously, God laid it on my heart to adopt a child. For several weeks following I had many times of questioning, yet even stronger times of confirmation.

Our church has a missionary family in Rwanda and our pastor had recently traveled there to visit a church and orphanage. Our church raised money to buy mattresses which were badly needed for the children at an orphanage there. They showed pictures at church of them being delivered, and although it was a good thing, I could not help but feel that it was really so little. This also answered one of the few questions that I had wrestled with. "How do I know where the child should come from?" It was an answer that gave me peace about the decision immediately. With this answer I knew it was time to ask Tina what she thought of the idea. She had no idea that this had been something I had been thinking and praying about. So that afternoon after church was the time!

Tina writes:
As I am straightening up our bedroom Brock says, "Can we talk about something that has been on my mind for a long time?" I nervously say, "OK". Then Brock responds, "You're going to think I'm insane, I don't know how to say this." So now I am really scared not knowing what my husband is trying to tell me. Finally he asks, "What would you say if I said I think we should adopt a baby?" As you can imagine...for a moment, I was speechless. It took me six years to talk him into having a third child. I knew without a doubt, that this burden he had, was indeed, of God. So after he shared his heart I responded, "I'm your wife, if God is calling you to do something, then He is calling me too!"

After sharing our thoughts with the kids they agreed that our family had a lot of love to share and said that they could not imagine a child without a mom and dad or one who may never hear about Jesus. So we agreed a Rwandan child would soon join our family.