Ruhl's Adoption
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Sometimes God works through major, significant events and other times he works through quiet nudges. This is a story of many quiet nudges.
As followers of Jesus, we strive to always seek him and his direction for our lives. We ask the question, “What step of obedience is Jesus calling us to take right now?” Over the last few years, obedience has looked like seminary, marriage, ministry in New England, and starting our family. Now, after being settled in Alton, NH for two years, we asked the question again, “What steps of obedience is Jesus calling us to take?” We had no idea where that would lead us.
Over this past year, some college friends took the journey of infant, domestic adoption. We had the exciting privilege to watch as God faithfully provided for them throughout the process. It was through watching their steps of obedience that God began to quietly nudge our hearts in the same direction.
For Olivia, it took place during the quiet moments of a car ride to an appointment. Reflecting on the beauty of our friends’ adoption story, the question popped into her mind, “And what about you? Would you adopt?” We had talked about adoption in the past, but very infrequently and never seriously. After all, God had already blessed us with one child, and we knew we could have more. And yet, as Olivia continued to wrestle with this question, the reality that there were children in this world without a home pressed heavier and heavier on her heart and she knew she needed to talk to Ben.
For Ben, it was through a class at Moody that began to turn his heart towards adoption. As the professor was teaching the doctrine of adoption, explaining that through our union with Jesus we are adopted as sons and daughters of God, he was impacted by the depth and beauty on display when a child is adopted into a family. God opened his heart to the possibility of adoption in the future. Jump forward six years. After one of their casual discussions about adoption, Ben decided this was a road he was willing to walk down, but would wait to see if the Lord lead Olivia in the same direction. So when Olivia, out of the blue, posed the question, “Would you ever consider adoption?” He was taken aback yet ready to say yes.
At the end of a long conversation, we committed to researching and praying about it. Through conversations with others, prayer, research and much discussion we believed more and more that this was the next step of obedience God was asking us to take as a family.
And so, we are very excited to announce that we are adopting! As we’ve prayed about it, we believe God is leading us towards infant, domestic adoption. We don’t know the baby’s face or name yet, but we know God is writing baby Ruhl’s story.
We know that it is the heart of God to care for the most vulnerable. This includes orphans and children in need of a home. Our desire is to align our lives with the heart of God, and we believe that one way he is calling us to do this is through adoption. While we can provide a Christ-centered home for a child, this is something we cannot do on our own. There are two ways you can partner with us. First, adoption comes at a considerable cost. This adoption will likely cost somewhere between $40,000-45,000. We hope to cover these costs through a combination of grants, scholarships, fundraising and saving every penny we can. The money will go towards the care of the birth mother during her pregnancy and delivery, as well as help cover the administrative and legal costs of adoption. We need the help of others to make this adoption possible, so please pray about joining us in giving this child a home.
Second, we need your prayers. Please pray:
- For God to watch over the mother during her pregnancy, keeping her and the baby safe and healthy
- For God to minister to the heart of the mother and father as they make this difficult decision
- For God to prepare us and Davie as we become a family of four
- For God to provide all our financial needs for this adoption
- For God to use our story to impress adoption on the hearts of other families.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions or if you would like to hear more details. We are excited to share with you how God will continue to unfold the story.
We are so excited to not just incorporate this child into our immediate family, but into our world (which includes all of you)! And we love that this child will not only be the recipient of our love but the recipient of your love as well!
We love you all,
Ben, Olivia and Davie
As followers of Jesus, we strive to always seek him and his direction for our lives. We ask the question, “What step of obedience is Jesus calling us to take right now?” Over the last few years, obedience has looked like seminary, marriage, ministry in New England, and starting our family. Now, after being settled in Alton, NH for two years, we asked the question again, “What steps of obedience is Jesus calling us to take?” We had no idea where that would lead us.
Over this past year, some college friends took the journey of infant, domestic adoption. We had the exciting privilege to watch as God faithfully provided for them throughout the process. It was through watching their steps of obedience that God began to quietly nudge our hearts in the same direction.
For Olivia, it took place during the quiet moments of a car ride to an appointment. Reflecting on the beauty of our friends’ adoption story, the question popped into her mind, “And what about you? Would you adopt?” We had talked about adoption in the past, but very infrequently and never seriously. After all, God had already blessed us with one child, and we knew we could have more. And yet, as Olivia continued to wrestle with this question, the reality that there were children in this world without a home pressed heavier and heavier on her heart and she knew she needed to talk to Ben.
For Ben, it was through a class at Moody that began to turn his heart towards adoption. As the professor was teaching the doctrine of adoption, explaining that through our union with Jesus we are adopted as sons and daughters of God, he was impacted by the depth and beauty on display when a child is adopted into a family. God opened his heart to the possibility of adoption in the future. Jump forward six years. After one of their casual discussions about adoption, Ben decided this was a road he was willing to walk down, but would wait to see if the Lord lead Olivia in the same direction. So when Olivia, out of the blue, posed the question, “Would you ever consider adoption?” He was taken aback yet ready to say yes.
At the end of a long conversation, we committed to researching and praying about it. Through conversations with others, prayer, research and much discussion we believed more and more that this was the next step of obedience God was asking us to take as a family.
And so, we are very excited to announce that we are adopting! As we’ve prayed about it, we believe God is leading us towards infant, domestic adoption. We don’t know the baby’s face or name yet, but we know God is writing baby Ruhl’s story.
We know that it is the heart of God to care for the most vulnerable. This includes orphans and children in need of a home. Our desire is to align our lives with the heart of God, and we believe that one way he is calling us to do this is through adoption. While we can provide a Christ-centered home for a child, this is something we cannot do on our own. There are two ways you can partner with us. First, adoption comes at a considerable cost. This adoption will likely cost somewhere between $40,000-45,000. We hope to cover these costs through a combination of grants, scholarships, fundraising and saving every penny we can. The money will go towards the care of the birth mother during her pregnancy and delivery, as well as help cover the administrative and legal costs of adoption. We need the help of others to make this adoption possible, so please pray about joining us in giving this child a home.
Second, we need your prayers. Please pray:
- For God to watch over the mother during her pregnancy, keeping her and the baby safe and healthy
- For God to minister to the heart of the mother and father as they make this difficult decision
- For God to prepare us and Davie as we become a family of four
- For God to provide all our financial needs for this adoption
- For God to use our story to impress adoption on the hearts of other families.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions or if you would like to hear more details. We are excited to share with you how God will continue to unfold the story.
We are so excited to not just incorporate this child into our immediate family, but into our world (which includes all of you)! And we love that this child will not only be the recipient of our love but the recipient of your love as well!
We love you all,
Ben, Olivia and Davie
Organizer
Ben-Olivia Ruhl
Organizer
Alton, NH
