Widen your tent to make room for the orphan. We’ve been thinking and praying for a house for a few years. The dream felt extravagant. I am grateful for my small comfortable home. But as we adopted ivy, the possibility of another biological child showing up in the system, made us realize that we would not be eligible to adopt again in our small apartment. Even so, I’m surprised nobody even suggested it’s already too small of a place. We now feel it is, with the pandemic and home confinement as well as distant learning. 

Some people grow, moved by need. Children are a great motivator to take responsibility and evolve. So expanding into a bigger home comes after having children. I hear of stories of people not being certified to adopt because they lack the space. 

After speaking up and discussing with family, we felt at peace deciding to make an offer on the duplex up the hill in our neighborhood. It is a walk by faith, especially as the pandemic didn’t slow down. Uncertainty looms. 

We negotiated and did the math. Conrad’s parents offered a loan if we needed one. My parents gave us the money they had at hand. The beauty of not having much, is that one can be very generous with whatever they have. And I realize parents will always be parents, giving advice, encouragement, money, support even as we reach our late 30s. How much more will we do for our own kids. 

So, with the thought of expanding our tent to make room for the kids we adopted and potentially more kids, as well as our parents when they come to visit from abroad. Money is a means to life. And as Liviu Mocan said, God our father is so excited to give us good gifts, we only ought to ask. Living by faith is quite something. There is a time to stand still and focus, lay low and rest. And there are times to take leaps of faith, to take flight and soar up high. 

I joked about turning our pockets inside out. And this is what we did. I exchanged all the money we had saved. I transferred practically all of it from our US savings. And now we wait to make the Downpayment and make it real. I had to get creative with the transfers. But that is what I’m good at. Finances. And banking. 

This week Brian taught on psalm 58. How fitting. “Share your food with the hungry,

and give shelter to the homeless.

Give clothes to those who need them,

and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

“Then your salvation will come like the dawn,

and your wounds will quickly heal.

Your godliness will lead you forward,

and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.

Then when you call, the Lord will answer.

‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.”