“Your Word is a lantern to my feet and a light upon my path.”
Psalm 119:105

A dental clinic waiting room is a place where you would expect a hygienist to call your name, but not God. As I sat in that waiting room, reading an article about millions of orphaned African children with no family to care for them, God planted a seed of compassion in me. I will send money to help, I resolved, and keep them in my prayers. Nonetheless, I was left with overwhelming despair over the needs of these children.

Fast forward a few months to a Good Shepherd Sunday morning worship service. The announcement sheet listed many small groups forming to read and discuss the book, The Purpose Driven Life. I felt a little shy about sharing my faith with others, but decided to give it a try. The book and my fellow group members blessed me more than I could have imagined. It resulted in a tremendous growth period for my faith and helped me receive direction from God. I learned how easy it is to tap into God’s Holy Spirit within me and to listen to God speak to me. I then had the confidence to step out in faith to do something amazing that God was leading me to do. Through this small group, the seed He planted in me that day in the waiting room had been watered and nurtured until it became a desire to adopt a child from Africa. Small group, BIG purpose! About 10 months after the small group, my husband Tom, 14 year old son Matthew, and I made a life changing trip to Ethiopia to bring our new 13 year old son, Temesgen, home. As a result, all of our lives have been blessed beyond measure.

Happily, Good Shepherd has continued to change our lives with the adoption of 2 sisters from Ethiopia in September of 2007. Feben, age nine, and Melat, age twelve, have brought much life into our home! Tom and I, Matthew, and Temesgen traveled back to Ethiopia to bring our new daughters home. It was a beautiful reunion with Temesgen’s older brother who was able to spend much of the week with us. We were fortunate to have met our girls’ grandparents, aunt and their brother. God continued to work in our lives by bringing Melat’s best friend from the orphanage home right here in Madison in November of 2007 with her new mom. We are still praying for Feben’s best friend and her best friend’s twin brother to find a home here in the US. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church has played an important part in changing the lives of four orphaned children who will now have unlimited possibilities in their new lives here. My husband and I are in our 50s/40s and yet are still being blessed with children. There are so many possibilities for a fruitful life when God is directing your steps! Good Shepherd Lutheran Church has helped us appreciate the meaning and potential of our lives.

Happily, Good Shepherd has continued to change our lives with the adoption of 2 sisters from Ethiopia in September of 2007. Feben, age nine, and Melat, age twelve, have brought much life into our home! Tom and I, Matthew, and Temesgen traveled back to Ethiopia to bring our new daughters home. It was a beautiful reunion with Temesgen’s older brother who was able to spend much of the week with us. We were fortunate to have met our girls’ grandparents, aunt and their brother. God continued to work in our lives by bringing Melat’s best friend from the orphanage home right here in Madison in November of 2007 with her new mom. We are still praying for Feben’s best friend and her best friend’s twin brother to find a home here in the US. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church has played an important part in changing the lives of four orphaned children who will now have unlimited possibilities in their new lives here.

Loving Father, thank you for your Word and your Holy Spirit within us to receive the many blessings you offer. Help us to step out in faith on the path that you have lit for each one of us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.