Wednesday we packed up the truck and headed west. First stop Asheville to celebrate our 2 year anniversary. We stayed at a wonderful Bed & Breakfast and toured the Biltmore House all decked out for Christmas. It was wonderful. The next morning we packed up Big Red (the truck….yes he has a name) and headed west once again – destination Nashville. I cannot begin to describe the amount of emotions I have been feeling leading up to this moment. My only comparison to this experience is when I knew without a shadow of doubt that Andy was the one I was going to marry. I knew after the second phone call with Andy that I would marry him but it was not till about a month later when we saw each other for the first time in years that I was convinced even more that he was my guy. The same is true for this adoption journey.
You see Mercy Ministries is not just an adoption agency. In fact it is not an adoption agency at all. They were founded to care for and transform the lives of hurting young women. Girls and women from the age of 13 to 28 go there voluntarily to change their lives after being strapped by paralyzing pain from self-harm, abuse, depression, eating disorders, substance use, unplanned pregnancy and more. Mercy has 4 houses around the country but only the Nashville house admits those that are expecting. Of the 40 girls at the Nashville house only a few are pregnant. The expectant mothers are taken through a 6 week counseling program to educate and encourage the girls to parent their child. At the end of the 6 weeks they will decide to either parent or place their baby for adoption. If they decide to place their child for adoption, the adoption department team steps in.
I have had a heart for helping hurting young women for some time now. Even though I have not experienced some of the things these Mercy girls have experienced, I do however know the feeling of hurt and pain from living a life that is empty and lacking purpose. I found my identity in others and in selfish desires – a life that lead to a dead end. It wasn’t until I completely surrendered my life to Christ when I realized the degree of pain I was somehow masking for years. It hurt to face some things, things that I brought upon myself, but the Lord was real to me once again and more real than I could have ever imagined. Transformation is real…..and continuous! I am so passionate about young girls experiencing that same love and transformation and so my heart, having been filled with mercy from my Heavenly Father, is full of mercy for others.
When Erica told me her experience with Mercy Ministries, I knew, just as I did on that second phone call with Andy, that Mercy was the one. Mercy by definition means: compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. Mercy - the abundance of which The Lord graciously showed me and has called me to do the same toward others. Mercy Ministries….could it be more obvious?!
We began the paperwork for the homestudy as I continually grew in my passion for Mercy. I investigated their website and follow them on almost every social media site. How could I not, right? One day I noticed one of my favorite artists, Francesca Battistelli, was featuring a few of the Mercy girls in the video of her new single, “He knows my name”. She also sings the song “Beautiful, Beautiful” that is a complete short story version of my transformation in Christ and a song I still listen to on repeat. “He knows my name” video is a powerful one. I will attach it to this blog for you to watch. The girl’s testimonies are amazing.
On the road from Asheville to Nashville, I was overwhelmed with a mixture of feelings. Our trip there was for the sole purpose of meeting the adoption department leaders, touring the facility and the home to learn more about them and what our process of adoption would look like. I was nervous. OH MY GOODNESS I was so nervous!!! Just ask Andy, I was driving him crazy. Then it happened, the first gentle sign of peace. The minute we crossed the Nashville city limits as the sun was setting in front of us, “He knows my name” came on the radio. Finally I could breathe. The next morning as we entered the corporate office of Mercy all of my fears left me. The more I learned about them and their foundation, mission and vision, the more I knew this was right. This was a monumental trip for Andy. Since it took him a little while longer to realize I was the one for him than it did me, naturally the same is also true in this case. Smile. Being able to hear personal stories and seeing the home, learning about the foundation and approach of the girls counseling really made a connection for him. His heart, like mine, is full of mercy. And now is connected to Mercy Ministries.
During our visit we were told of the eye opening truth that adoption through them could take years. They never know how many pregnant girls will enter the program at any given time and because they encourage them to parent their child, there is no way to know how many would place their baby for adoption. In addition we were told there has been a noticeable trend of girls that come in with unplanned pregnancy already knowing someone whom they wish to adopt their child. Currently there are 10-15 waiting families to adopt a baby. There are currently no pregnant moms in the program that are planning to place their baby for adoption. We were also told that the 10-15 waiting families are also working with other adoption agencies to increase their chances of adopting. Andy and I looked at each other – we are only working with Mercy. Sounds impossible, right? Does that mean it may take years? Does it mean we may never be matched? Possibly. But that day we both knew that this was it. Mercy. Mercy Ministries was our place. This is going to take a LOT of prayer, support from family and friends, faith, and trust in the Lord to make the impossible possible. It requires total dependence on Him.
As we packed up Big Red for the final time I couldn’t help but to have so many fears and concerns loom over me. Mercy Ministries as a place for adoption seems so limited for us. Should we venture out and get info about other agencies? What if it takes years??? What if it never happens? Then all of a sudden as we crossed the Nashville city limits heading east I heard the beautiful sound of peace and confirmation in the voice of Francesca Battistelli singing, “He knows my name”.
May this journey be as much of a blessing as my marriage has been thus far. To God be the Glory! Mercy He gives to me, mercy I give to you. “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” - Psalms 34:5
You see Mercy Ministries is not just an adoption agency. In fact it is not an adoption agency at all. They were founded to care for and transform the lives of hurting young women. Girls and women from the age of 13 to 28 go there voluntarily to change their lives after being strapped by paralyzing pain from self-harm, abuse, depression, eating disorders, substance use, unplanned pregnancy and more. Mercy has 4 houses around the country but only the Nashville house admits those that are expecting. Of the 40 girls at the Nashville house only a few are pregnant. The expectant mothers are taken through a 6 week counseling program to educate and encourage the girls to parent their child. At the end of the 6 weeks they will decide to either parent or place their baby for adoption. If they decide to place their child for adoption, the adoption department team steps in.
I have had a heart for helping hurting young women for some time now. Even though I have not experienced some of the things these Mercy girls have experienced, I do however know the feeling of hurt and pain from living a life that is empty and lacking purpose. I found my identity in others and in selfish desires – a life that lead to a dead end. It wasn’t until I completely surrendered my life to Christ when I realized the degree of pain I was somehow masking for years. It hurt to face some things, things that I brought upon myself, but the Lord was real to me once again and more real than I could have ever imagined. Transformation is real…..and continuous! I am so passionate about young girls experiencing that same love and transformation and so my heart, having been filled with mercy from my Heavenly Father, is full of mercy for others.
When Erica told me her experience with Mercy Ministries, I knew, just as I did on that second phone call with Andy, that Mercy was the one. Mercy by definition means: compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. Mercy - the abundance of which The Lord graciously showed me and has called me to do the same toward others. Mercy Ministries….could it be more obvious?!
We began the paperwork for the homestudy as I continually grew in my passion for Mercy. I investigated their website and follow them on almost every social media site. How could I not, right? One day I noticed one of my favorite artists, Francesca Battistelli, was featuring a few of the Mercy girls in the video of her new single, “He knows my name”. She also sings the song “Beautiful, Beautiful” that is a complete short story version of my transformation in Christ and a song I still listen to on repeat. “He knows my name” video is a powerful one. I will attach it to this blog for you to watch. The girl’s testimonies are amazing.
On the road from Asheville to Nashville, I was overwhelmed with a mixture of feelings. Our trip there was for the sole purpose of meeting the adoption department leaders, touring the facility and the home to learn more about them and what our process of adoption would look like. I was nervous. OH MY GOODNESS I was so nervous!!! Just ask Andy, I was driving him crazy. Then it happened, the first gentle sign of peace. The minute we crossed the Nashville city limits as the sun was setting in front of us, “He knows my name” came on the radio. Finally I could breathe. The next morning as we entered the corporate office of Mercy all of my fears left me. The more I learned about them and their foundation, mission and vision, the more I knew this was right. This was a monumental trip for Andy. Since it took him a little while longer to realize I was the one for him than it did me, naturally the same is also true in this case. Smile. Being able to hear personal stories and seeing the home, learning about the foundation and approach of the girls counseling really made a connection for him. His heart, like mine, is full of mercy. And now is connected to Mercy Ministries.
During our visit we were told of the eye opening truth that adoption through them could take years. They never know how many pregnant girls will enter the program at any given time and because they encourage them to parent their child, there is no way to know how many would place their baby for adoption. In addition we were told there has been a noticeable trend of girls that come in with unplanned pregnancy already knowing someone whom they wish to adopt their child. Currently there are 10-15 waiting families to adopt a baby. There are currently no pregnant moms in the program that are planning to place their baby for adoption. We were also told that the 10-15 waiting families are also working with other adoption agencies to increase their chances of adopting. Andy and I looked at each other – we are only working with Mercy. Sounds impossible, right? Does that mean it may take years? Does it mean we may never be matched? Possibly. But that day we both knew that this was it. Mercy. Mercy Ministries was our place. This is going to take a LOT of prayer, support from family and friends, faith, and trust in the Lord to make the impossible possible. It requires total dependence on Him.
As we packed up Big Red for the final time I couldn’t help but to have so many fears and concerns loom over me. Mercy Ministries as a place for adoption seems so limited for us. Should we venture out and get info about other agencies? What if it takes years??? What if it never happens? Then all of a sudden as we crossed the Nashville city limits heading east I heard the beautiful sound of peace and confirmation in the voice of Francesca Battistelli singing, “He knows my name”.
May this journey be as much of a blessing as my marriage has been thus far. To God be the Glory! Mercy He gives to me, mercy I give to you. “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” - Psalms 34:5