The Arbo Adoption
Donation protected
This is, uniquely, both the beginning and the culmination of a long journey. So many things, people, events, places and ideas have assisted in ushering us to this point. Our story is one of joy, pain, frustration, elation... thesis and antithesis. First, though, a word about beginnings.
From the first date of our courtship, Jennifer and I were transparent with one another about our shared desire to have a family. An awkward first date conversation? Yes. A necessary first date conversation? In hindsight, absolutely. It was clear to us both that God had given us an overwhelming desire to love, raise, nourish, disciple, lead, protect, instruct and support children. When we married in 2007, we gave little thought to the process involved with having a family. In the good-faith attempt to finish graduate degrees, and settle into marriage, we postponed the pursuit to have a family for the first four years of our life together. In 2010, we travelled to Wake Forest, North Carolina where I would pursue the M.Div. under the call to overseas missions. One God-ordained Thursday morning Chapel (Veterans Day 2010) we recieved another, unexpected call. Jennifer, then working as a 5th grade teacher at a Franklin County elementary school, had not yet accompanied me to a Chapel service, nor would she have the opportunity to do so again (due to scheduling.) That November morning, Dr. Tony Merida preached the sermon of a lifetime; entitled "From Slavery to Sonship," Merida moved expositorily through Galatians 4:4-7 to paint a perfect picture of adoption. Walking, hand-in-hand across the lovely SEBTS quad, one thing became abundantly clear: God had called us to adopt.
Returning to Johnson City in June of 2011, and to our beloved Central Baptist Church, we sought to begin the process of adopting a little one, even as we explored international missions. Roughly 4 months from departure to Guatemala with Clubhouse Ministries, we recieved a notification about a 6-year-old boy from a local agency that matches at-risk families and mothers with ready and willing Christian couples. We immediately fell in love with the child with whom we were matched. With the possibility of an adoption so imminent, we felt the Lord leading us to put away the plans for Guatemala.
Late into the adoption process, the birth mother came to the fore, effectively ending our dream...at least for the moment. This was a particularly difficult time for us as a couple and as a family. You see, Jennifer and I had already, in the year leading up to this disappointment, endured 3 miscarriages (at 5 months, 6 weeks and 5 weeks respectively.) In June of this year, we lost another precious baby at 9 weeks.
Though we have not given up on our efforts to conceive and sustain a pregnancy biologically, we feel that God is leading us to pursue adoption with much more focused and undeterred approach. I am Pastor to Students and Families in Hartsville, SC. Jennifer teaches 3rd grade at a local school. We have covenanted with Bethany Christian Services in this new beginning, and thus we have come full circle.
We are profoundly grateful for all of the love, support and advice given to us by our families, friends, Pastors, mentors and brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Ultimately, the adoptive act is not an end, in and of itself. Rather, it is a means by which we can glorify God, His grace and mercy to us, while fulfilling the Scriptural mandate to "take care of the orphan." (James 1:27)
To do this, and to bring to fruition all of those things we have longed for in the deepest parts of our hearts, we will need your help! Anyone familiar with adoption through an established facilitator will be aware of the financial requirements. Bethany C.S. does a laudable job of keeping costs to the minimum necessary; yet, even still, the burdens are great. We humbly request that you partner with us in this love act. Even if you are not able to support us financially, please pray for us!
We are excited, and wait with baited breath, to see what God has in store for our family as we seek Him and serve Him.
From the first date of our courtship, Jennifer and I were transparent with one another about our shared desire to have a family. An awkward first date conversation? Yes. A necessary first date conversation? In hindsight, absolutely. It was clear to us both that God had given us an overwhelming desire to love, raise, nourish, disciple, lead, protect, instruct and support children. When we married in 2007, we gave little thought to the process involved with having a family. In the good-faith attempt to finish graduate degrees, and settle into marriage, we postponed the pursuit to have a family for the first four years of our life together. In 2010, we travelled to Wake Forest, North Carolina where I would pursue the M.Div. under the call to overseas missions. One God-ordained Thursday morning Chapel (Veterans Day 2010) we recieved another, unexpected call. Jennifer, then working as a 5th grade teacher at a Franklin County elementary school, had not yet accompanied me to a Chapel service, nor would she have the opportunity to do so again (due to scheduling.) That November morning, Dr. Tony Merida preached the sermon of a lifetime; entitled "From Slavery to Sonship," Merida moved expositorily through Galatians 4:4-7 to paint a perfect picture of adoption. Walking, hand-in-hand across the lovely SEBTS quad, one thing became abundantly clear: God had called us to adopt.
Returning to Johnson City in June of 2011, and to our beloved Central Baptist Church, we sought to begin the process of adopting a little one, even as we explored international missions. Roughly 4 months from departure to Guatemala with Clubhouse Ministries, we recieved a notification about a 6-year-old boy from a local agency that matches at-risk families and mothers with ready and willing Christian couples. We immediately fell in love with the child with whom we were matched. With the possibility of an adoption so imminent, we felt the Lord leading us to put away the plans for Guatemala.
Late into the adoption process, the birth mother came to the fore, effectively ending our dream...at least for the moment. This was a particularly difficult time for us as a couple and as a family. You see, Jennifer and I had already, in the year leading up to this disappointment, endured 3 miscarriages (at 5 months, 6 weeks and 5 weeks respectively.) In June of this year, we lost another precious baby at 9 weeks.
Though we have not given up on our efforts to conceive and sustain a pregnancy biologically, we feel that God is leading us to pursue adoption with much more focused and undeterred approach. I am Pastor to Students and Families in Hartsville, SC. Jennifer teaches 3rd grade at a local school. We have covenanted with Bethany Christian Services in this new beginning, and thus we have come full circle.
We are profoundly grateful for all of the love, support and advice given to us by our families, friends, Pastors, mentors and brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Ultimately, the adoptive act is not an end, in and of itself. Rather, it is a means by which we can glorify God, His grace and mercy to us, while fulfilling the Scriptural mandate to "take care of the orphan." (James 1:27)
To do this, and to bring to fruition all of those things we have longed for in the deepest parts of our hearts, we will need your help! Anyone familiar with adoption through an established facilitator will be aware of the financial requirements. Bethany C.S. does a laudable job of keeping costs to the minimum necessary; yet, even still, the burdens are great. We humbly request that you partner with us in this love act. Even if you are not able to support us financially, please pray for us!
We are excited, and wait with baited breath, to see what God has in store for our family as we seek Him and serve Him.
Organizer
Patrick Collin Arbo
Organizer
Hartsville, SC
