Home Study

We have STARTED our home study!

Last week we had the privilege of meeting our case worker. We were able to do our O.I which is a phone interview with our case worker and a member of Lifeline agency last week November, 1st 2017. We love how helpful our case worker has been. Everyone at Lifeline has such a beautiful heart! Our phone interview covered our testimony and our call to adopt. We were able to share our hearts and explain how God lead us to India.

We will have our FIRST face to face interview and home study tomorrow November 9th 2017! We are looking forward to meeting our case worker in person. It is pretty cool to think that our home study could be completed in January allowing us to register in the Indian database. After we are registered and approved make our 3rd installment. Once our third installment is paid we could be MATCHED. 

Matching is when a child meeting your requirements is shown to the potential parent for consideration and prayer. We could potentially see our daughter in the next couple of months! We are praying God will keep us on HIS timeline. If we try to rush the process we may be matched with someone else's daughter. We KNOW God has hand picked our daughter and we want HIS will for our daughter and our family. 

Help us pray! Family and friends help us pray for:

-Peace through the process

-Wisdom and spiritual guidance when we see potential children

-God's will not our own

-PLEASE pray for our daughter and her current situation (Pray she is in a good foster home or orphanage, pray she is receiving necessities such as food, water, tender love and care, accommodations) pray that she endures little trauma.

This Sunday is Orphan Sunday! Churches gather Nationwide to bring awareness to the orphan crisis and how you can help. Remember if the Lord is pulling on your heart to adopt, foster, donate or pray DO IT. There are so many ways to contribute. Please see video below:

https://vimeo.com/channels/593323/74664039

T-shirt Fundraiser Goals

T-SHIRT FUNDRAISER UPDATES

We have a goal based on what is expected from us money wise for our FIRST installment. Steven and I have saved a portion and we are needing to raise the remainder for our first installment.

I will be posting a pictures on this blog to show everyone what is being raised each day and how much remains. I want to thank everyone that has already bought a shirt, shared the post and prayed for us during this journey to bring our daughter home.

THANK YOU! 9/24/2017

We have only been selling shirts for 2 days and we already have $300 worth of shirts sold. We will post our deadline date so everyone wanting to place an order can get it in before the last day we can sell them.

9/27/2017

10/3/2017

10/8/2017
TOTAL: $2000!!!!!!! WE ARE SO THANKFUL TO EVERYONE THAT SUPPORTED US BY PURCHASING A SHIRT AND SHARING OUR POSTS!!!

BIG NEWS!!!!

Region, Region, Region!!!

After praying for doors to be opened and closed and praying God would make things VERY clear for us...We have been ACCEPTED to a region. This means we know where our daughter is or will be..

INDIA!

We couldn't be more excited. We wanted a region with great need. The country of India has over 20 MILLION orphans, making it the country with the largest population of orphans in the world today.

Above the physical need is the spiritual need! India is a beautiful country in the southern part of Asia that is home to over 1.2 billion people, making it the second most populous country in the world. India is a predominately Hindu nation, with almost 80% of its people identifying with this religion. 

We have the overwhelming JOY of raising our daughter to know and love Jesus Christ! She will NOT have an arranged marriage and will be able to pick her husband! We are ecstatic. 

We need your help bringing home sissy! Our shirts are ready for purchase. On our facebook account we already have a link up and available for everyone to buy their shirts. All proceeds go towards bringing our daughter home!

The map is an outline of India on the globe and the quote is from Mother Teresa. We know we can not change the entire world and save every child BUT we can save ONE life and love her deeply, teach her about her loving Savior and get her home as quickly as possible. We are offering sizes S-3xl prices are $25/shirt. Please see link to pay with card on our facebook page.

Bringing Home Sissy

The Paine family is excited to announce that we have begun the beautiful process of adoption!

Our first post is a little background on both Steven and my calling to adoption. I received the call to adopt while in high school. God gave me a heart for the orphaned around my freshman year in high school. I began praying about what this calling would look like and began to research what the process would look like and an excitement came over me. God placed families in my life that have adopted both domestically and internationally and I have been able to spend quality time with these beautiful souls through babysitting, church functions and lunch/dinner dates.

I personally felt called to the Asian region but was not limited to that area. While in College I took a study abroad trip to Thailand where I fell in love with the people group. After being blessed with an opportunity to student teach I was given a job as a teacher upon graduation. While living and teaching in Thailand I volunteered at an orphanage where my calling only grew stronger. At the time I was single and wanting to adopt due to impatience. The Lord closed the door on a particular little boy I had a strong connection with. God reassured me the call would be fulfilled but it was not time yet. I needed to find a loving husband with the same call for the orphaned.

Steven and I met through a mutual South African friend here in Columbus Ga. Steven is South African and he came over on a golf scholarship. I asked the Lord to confirm who my husband would be while dating by allowing him to not only have the same calling but to be the one to first bring up the topic. Steven explained to me his work in South Africa at his friend's mother's orphanage. He did lots of volunteer work there and spent a lot of time with the orphans. He explained he had a heart for orphans and the call to adopt. BOOM! God you are so COOL!

Steven and I have been married now for 4 years (on Thursday) and we have a beautiful one year old son. God has a funny way of showing us that our plans are NOTHING in comparison to the incredible plan He has designed for us. Steven and I had a 5 year plan to wait to grow our family and we thought (or I thought) we would adopt first. After 3 years of marriage God grew a desire in our hearts at the same time to try and have a biological baby. Secretly, I did not know if I would be able to conceive because God birthed the call to adopt so early on in my life I did not know if he was also preparing my heart.

Liam Avett Paine was born last September and we were ecstatic. He has brought so much joy to our lives and we never knew we could love so deeply. God had a greater plan! Liam's name means "strong-willed warrior and protector." Liam was supposed to be the first born so he could be the big brother who protects his younger siblings. I have seen these characteristics flourish in Liam. He cares deeply for other babies and children and it bothers him when they cry. Liam wants to comfort and protect those around him and he is such a giver. He learned himself how to share!


We will announce soon which program we have been approved for and which region we know God has our daughter waiting for us.

We are excited for you to take this journey with us!

Inspiration unlike any other!

I have been praying for inspiration in my last week’s here. And what better inspiration than the addition of a family member to the most important family--eternal family with an unconditionally loving heavily Father. I not only have an Earthly brother but another brother is added to the kingdom!

I left English volunteering today after work just as drained and exhausted as I have been my last couple weeks here when I received a message that filled my heart with overwhelming Joy! My brother has given his heart and life to the Lord. My heart jumped for Joy and tears of joy filled my eyes to the point of almost being hit by a motorbike in the streets of Bangkok. I had to finish reading the message once I got home. Gods faithfulness and as my father said "class" astounds me. God is an on time God and does not force himself on you. But he desires nothing more than to have an intimate personal relationship with each and every one of us. So naturally RIGHT when the words left my brothers mouth he was struck by the power of God with so much force he could not get off his knees! HOW powerful is God? Josh had a supernatural encounter with God and ALL he had to do is mutter the words "I am ready Lord, I don't want to live the life I have been any longer" Prophecy that was spoken over Josh to my mother in Jerusalem was fulfilled. If THAT does not make you want to shout praises to our Merciful Lord and Savior then I don't know what will. God knew in that moment lying in bed Josh would be ready and he was waiting patiently with excitement--

1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.4 before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. 5 You hem me in--behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

God knows the desires of our heart (Psalms 37:4) and NO prayer goes unheard--Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things.-Jeremiah 33:3 and we know from 1John 5:14--Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us!

This is a wakeup call to me! The ultimate Joy in life is a relationship with God the Father and spreading his Word to the Nations. This is our first and most important call! This was Jesus' last words to his disciples before he left Earth to return to heaven.

"Go forth and teach all the Nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded. And I will be with you always even until the end of the Earth. Matthew 28:19

When someone joins the heavenly family with the Heavenly father that should be our biggest Joy and inspiration. They know the meaning of life now and are living in relationship with the Father. I am so overjoyed and overwhelmed with thanksgiving and praise that my brother accepted God as his personal Savior! It is my encouragement to move on my last weeks over here. I am looking forward to seeing what God has in store for him. He is SO talented in so many ways! So PROUD!

The angels rejoice when an addition is made to the Kingdom and in the same way we should be rejoicing as well!

Oh the Places you will go, NO oh the people I will meet!

From Thai to Part Nigerian Part Thai, to Japanese and on to Sri Lankan.

It is always good to know, if only in passing, charming human beings. It refreshes one like flowers and woods and clear brooks.
Only minor flaw in this quote is "if only in passing." Why not share quality time with charming people that inspire, enlighten, encourage and take your breath away? To say I have met sweet people or kind people would be an understatement. God has put different families and individuals from other Countries, Cultures and backgrounds into my life. They have changed my perspective on life and taught me how to love beyond the boundaries of race and circumstance. These are stories of a couple individuals, families and or groups that have touched my life in a drastic way while living in Asia.

Of course I will start with the Thai people I meet on a daily basis. Their kindness astounds me. Do I occasionally get frustrated when trying to communicate? Yes. Do I get frustrated when I cannot locate certain things I am in need of? Yes. But ultimately this experience has taught me how to live a life not of ease but of thankfulness and admiration of people around me with so little that continue to praise God regardless.
Many people ask me why I would ever want to live in a third world country and why Asia. But God has given me a desire to see the Asian Buddhist community come to know Christ. When I read Joshua 24:15 I think immediately of the Thai/Asian culture:
And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Most Buddhist are simply Buddhist or call themselves such because they are worshiping the gods of their fathers (generational). But they lack one important thing: relationship. Christianity is not just a religion because religion is a manmade system and refers only to rules, laws and or ritualistic behavior but to live in Christ and with Christ we have a relationship with Him. We do not deserve eternity with Christ and therefor it is not a merit based system. There will never be enough that we can do to reach heaven. Jesus' sacrifice and his grace, that is freely given, allow us to have a relationship with him. This is what makes us different from Muslim or Buddhist. They are merit based and ,erely ritualistic. Unfortunetly, some "christians" in the states proclaim but do not bear the fruits or know Christ outside of religion and laws.
My desire is for those that are searching for more and looking for Hope to come to know that God designed them to have that Hope and unconditional love that only he can give. I not only have a heart for Thai people but when visiting Vietnam and Cambodia I met kind people that were so happy just to be alive. Did they have lots of money and shiney things? No. Most of them barely get along. But they were always positive and uplifting. Remember wordly riches will parish so store up your riches in heaven!

Lights of the world: Children
I have had the privilege to meet and see God work through many leaders and volunteers. I have had the opportunity to let God use me a messanger/delivery woman asn well. But where was the honor? In saying I did good works or good deeds? No, it is not by merit that we are able to enter the kingdom of God. But it has been meeting these children and developing relationships with them and interacting with them that has been the benefit. The children I see and get to work with will forever hold a special place in my heart and have changed my life forever. These children have absolutely nothing. From children that live in the slums, to children that are orphaned by human parents yes, but not orphaned at all actually because they have a Heavenly Father whose love is UNconditional and NEVER changing. What better love is there? There is None. I have had the opportunity to spend time with children that have HIV and are very sick. But the love and light of Christ burns so much inside of them that it burst out for all to see. Not only was I thankful beyond measure and humbled but I know now what it truly means to Trust and Love God no matter what the situation or trial may be. It puts things into perspective when you get outside of yourself and your own problems and see how SMALL your "trials" and "problems" actually are. These children have and continue to be such a blessing to me and I see God all over them. I am humbled daily.

One child in particular: I meet many children and fall in love with them instantly but one boy at BanNokkammin caught my eye and my heart as I walked into the orphanage the first day. This orphanage is bursting with love for one another and focuses on the most important thing--God's Love and Grace:) The children  at the orphanageand those that run the orphanage, including the foster parents, have developed a close nit family like environment and I have been so blessed to be able to watch and be a part of it. Kingston is his name and playing is his game. Kingston is a 5 year old boy at the orphanage who is very new to BanNokkammin. He arrived just last year and tends to be picked on some here and there because he is the new guy. He is very shy and timid but once you get him laughing and playing he doesn't want to stop. He was given up by his mother and more than likely has never seen his dad. He is the most beautiful little boy. His mixture of Nigerian features and Thai features makes him so unique and beautiful.

I had the privilege of meeting a Japanese family through one of my good friends Holly. Holly taught Sato English and Sato invited her along with 2 other men that helped teach her at the school over for dinner. I was lucky enough to get the plus one from Holly! Sato and her hubby Hedika had over 2 other Japanese couples and they were all in the kitchen cooking up a storm when we arrived. Seeing their hospitality and genuine concern for our comfort was such a blessing. They have so much character and are so selfless. We insisted they sit and eat but they stayed in the kitchen cooking more and more food and bringing it to us to eat. Not only was I able to learn about and eat lots of delicious Japanese cuisine but I was able to learn about Japan and customs and traditions that differ or are somewhat similar to my own. Meeting people from other areas of the world is so enriching. Japanese are known for their compassion and their kind hearts. I need and want more Japanese friends;)

The pleasure is all mine...Supporting a refugee family and hearing about them is one thing. But to go to their home and spend quality time with them is another. And when I say the pleasure was all mine, I mean it. These two families live in 2 rooms that have 1 bathroom. All together there are 10 people in 2 small rooms. These refugee families had to flee from Sri Lanka because whatever religion the Prime Minister is the rest of the country must be as well. The prime minister is Buddhist and unlike in Thailand, they are very oppressive and violent towards anyone not Buddhist. These two families are predominately Christian. One family, the one we spent most of our time with, had lost their father 10 years ago. He went to work and never returned. They continue to pray he will return and be able to find them. The rest of the family had to flee after the government became more oppressive. They have been living in Thailand for three years now and can only attend school one day a week and must stay in the confines of their home. I talked with one of the teenage girls who speaks good English and I asked her how she stays so happy all the time. "What is your secret?" She replied that "God is their Hope and that he gives them joy regardless." WOW what an inspiration. The things I complain about...the Sri Lankan food was amazing and I even got some beautiful body art that Sri Lankan people do for celebrations and big events.

Gods Timing: Another very special person. No he is not Asian but he is beautiful also with a heart of gold. People talk about God and his timing being perfect. I have always believed that and God is showing me once again he is in control of everything and knows the desires of our heart. There is a certain someone I met back in middle school and was very close friends with in high school. He moved from Columbus to California with his mom and sis and I did not see him again until graduation in '06 for a quick visit. We have not talked much since then but when visiting home during the flood a time presented itself and we began to talk. This led to talking endlessly for hours each day and lots of frozen moments on Skype. He has been such an encouragement and someone I can confide in. He has been a blessing the past couple of months and I am blessed and thankful to have him back in my life. God is so good! Relationships that last a life time.

In Search of Sanuk. Children's day in the Slums

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-20
A blog to go along with the Video I posted.
In search of Sanuk is a nonprofit organization geared towards not only bringing education to children that cannot afford it but also interaction to children that are in need of it.
Many parents are unable to spend time and invest in their children’s lives because they have to worry about making enough money to put something on the table at least once a day.
This organization, ran by some amazing Godly people Dwight and Nicole, brings English speakers to the slums to teach in fun and interactive ways. We are able to interact and spend time with the children and bring necessities like food and fresh water to the communities as well.
To learn more about the organization check out the video I posted. It gives an opportunity for you to give as well on the website.
This particular community literally straddles a railroad track. They have their houses/huts set up on either side of the tracks. Unfortunately for them, there is NO warning sound when the train is coming and the main way of getting around the village is by walking on the tracks. Many people have died or been seriously injured by the train.
Walls were put up eventually to help people with safety precautions. We saw when we arrived that the walls have been slowly taken down, at least enough for them to be able to see around. When your main way of moving is on the tracks it is hard to have that source taken away completely. And with the walls up it is difficult to see and you are closed in pretty tight.

Saturday we were able to bring fun games, songs, crafts, put money together to sponsor 3 families and give out food supplies to the 3 families most in need. The children got prizes and had a fun day of performances. This was such a wonderful opportunity I am so thankful God provided me with this opportunity to see lights of the world. We are to become more like children in their purity and selflessness. Remember the verses in Matthew:
Matthew 18:3-6 “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.