Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Unanswered Prayer Part 12 - When an Answer Comes

20 minutes after I finished hugging the porcelain last night, I heard Janelle's phone ring.

She answers,
"Hello?"
(pause)
"O Hi Gina!"

Was this the call that was giving us an answer to a prayer we've been praying for the past 5 1/2 years?

As I outlined at the beginning of this series, the biggest unanswered prayer Janelle and I have wrestled with over and over is the that we would have a baby. Years of trying, trusting, and being frustrated saw an answer last night.
As discussed in Part 6, sometimes the answer to our prayer comes differently than expected...

Janelle and I are having a baby!

Here's the crazy part... the baby is due in 7 days.

Over the past 2 months, through a process that can only be explained as "God orchestrated", we have been going through the adoption process. From beginning of application with the adoption agency till finishing the home study, we were done in 19 days... a record according to Gina, the social worker we've been working with.
There is a 17 year old gal that has decided the best option is to place the baby girl she's carrying with a loving Christian Couple that are desiring to be parents.

As she's been looking through applicants and praying through the choices, she made her decision yesterday... a decision we are rejoicing in and excited to let others know about!

Our daughter is due October 31, and we have been invited to be at the hospital the day of the birth.

Now, the birth mother always has the option to choose to not place the baby with another family up to 24 hours after the birth, so we are continuing to trust God.

God's unique answer in this?

1. We are going to have a baby, just not in the way we expected.
2. Janelle and I both have a calling to work with teens. The birth mother is in her Senior Year of High School, and we have an incredible opportunity to minister to this gal as well.


God is good. He's in control.

Do I still have to wrestle with Unanswered Prayer in my life? Absolutely!

Yet, last night we were reminded that there comes a time when those Unanswered Prayers get an answer!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

i'm so excited for you and janelle! you two are going to be amazing parents! you have a lot of stuff to get in one week! if you guys need diapers, we have a lot of size 1-2 left over from elijah! you're more than welcome to have them!! congratulations!! that is so crazy! i was telling a.j. about it and we were saying that it's so cool you don't have to wait the whole 9 months to have your baby in your arms! just one week! or at the most like 3!! how cool!!! anyway...we'll be praying that everything goes well!! yeah!!!

jenn said...

how wonderful! being adopted myself and knowing others who have gone or are going through the process, i just thank you for sharing your love!

Andrew said...

This blows my mind man. Seriously. You and Janelle inspire me. Kelly and I will be praying for you. Love you man. Also, you, me, DC, Christmas break, Hacienda. Capice?

Rob said...

Amen, my brother!! I'm so excited for you and Janelle and, as an adoptee myself, very happy that the mother cares enough to give that child up to a Christian family wanting to give it a home. You guys are going to be awesome parents, and it will impact your ministry like you won't believe. Being a father, at least for me, makes me see God the father in a whole different light. Just like Pete's books, prayer works, no matter if we like the answer or the speed at which it comes. I'm still praying up until the 31st, at which point I'll start praying for you both as parents. Yeah God!

Anonymous said...

There are no words to express our Joy for you and Janelle.We have been with you in prayer also over this,and now here it is! God is good.Well I think I feel like dancing....Yep I'm doing the happy dance. Much Love form the Benders

Dan said...

I couldn't possibly be happier for you. Wow.

Unknown said...

I have chills running all up and down my arms!!!! I am so excited for you and Janelle! Praise the Lord for He is good and congratulations!!!

Love and miss you both!

Jon said...

Congrats! You two will make great parents! I know that grandma and grandpa prenkert are excited too.

Phil Strahm said...

Congratulations! I'll look forward to the updates on your blog, which I'm sure will be many!

I hope your dog will be able to adjust to getting less of the spotlight, haha!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! I just found out the fantastic news at Bible Study tonight. What a blessing this little one will be to you! There is nothing like it!

God Bless!
Marcia Cramer