When we walked into the judge's office yesterday the judge had a look on her face that could kill. She did not greet us or smile. She simply told us to have a seat. I gulped and said a quick "Oh Lord, help us" type of prayer. This was the judge that everyone warned us about. The one that throws young children out of her courtroom. We had been praying for weeks that we would be salt and light to this woman and when we walked into our office I knew we would need a miracle.
She started asking the normal questions...our age, our nationality... Then she asked why we wanted to adopt. We explained that we had always wanted a big family, but due to infertility problems, things hadn't gone as planned. We told her that we have been praying for a child for years and that we truly believed that Anahi is the answer to our prayer.
In that moment, something happened to the judge's face.
She smiled, then she looked down and started to weep. She broke down and shared with us that she also suffered from infertility. She told us that Anahi came to her office when she was just a few days old and that she herself gave Anahi her name and that she slept with her in bed until the paperwork and vehicle were ready to ship her off to Asuncion. She asked our occupation and while we were hesitant to tell her our *real* work, we told her that we work with the church. She asked if we were pastors and we said, "yes." She was delighted to see the family that Anahi would be in and she told us that she would do her best to get the papers finalized within the week. The judge wept two more times as we were conversing and sharing about our visits with our daughter and the way God was building our family.
We encouraged her that God has plans for her family as well and that although many times we don't understand His ways, they are for our good.
When we walked out of the courthouse our lawyer looked at us and said, "I've known this judge for 15 years and I have never, EVER seen what just occurred. It is obvious that God was at work due to the prayers of His people. I am absolutely shocked."
This is what God does to a judge that always takes her time, is critical, cold, and didn't seem to have a heart for children. Ezequiel reminds us of this promise, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." -36:26.
We were overjoyed to see your prayers made such a huge difference in the heart of the judge. Thank you for interceding! Will you continue to pray for Judge Evelyn that she would seek God's face and that HE would answer her prayers as well?
She started asking the normal questions...our age, our nationality... Then she asked why we wanted to adopt. We explained that we had always wanted a big family, but due to infertility problems, things hadn't gone as planned. We told her that we have been praying for a child for years and that we truly believed that Anahi is the answer to our prayer.
In that moment, something happened to the judge's face.
She smiled, then she looked down and started to weep. She broke down and shared with us that she also suffered from infertility. She told us that Anahi came to her office when she was just a few days old and that she herself gave Anahi her name and that she slept with her in bed until the paperwork and vehicle were ready to ship her off to Asuncion. She asked our occupation and while we were hesitant to tell her our *real* work, we told her that we work with the church. She asked if we were pastors and we said, "yes." She was delighted to see the family that Anahi would be in and she told us that she would do her best to get the papers finalized within the week. The judge wept two more times as we were conversing and sharing about our visits with our daughter and the way God was building our family.
We encouraged her that God has plans for her family as well and that although many times we don't understand His ways, they are for our good.
When we walked out of the courthouse our lawyer looked at us and said, "I've known this judge for 15 years and I have never, EVER seen what just occurred. It is obvious that God was at work due to the prayers of His people. I am absolutely shocked."
This is what God does to a judge that always takes her time, is critical, cold, and didn't seem to have a heart for children. Ezequiel reminds us of this promise, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." -36:26.
We were overjoyed to see your prayers made such a huge difference in the heart of the judge. Thank you for interceding! Will you continue to pray for Judge Evelyn that she would seek God's face and that HE would answer her prayers as well?
Amazing!! Oh our God is so good!! I have goosebumps.
ReplyDeleteWonderful report about the judge and the adoption - brought tears to my eyes too. God does so much through the selfless act of adoption. I also adopted a child - he'll be 4 in October - and it didn't feel very selfless to me because it has brought me so much joy. But I believe God blesses the family that says We will stop trying to do things our way and yield to Your way, Lord. God only had one natural child too, but has adopted millions more!
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