The testimony of meeting Sasha

On December 31, I received an email about a young man, Sasha, who was visiting a host family in Austin Texas. Usually, I delete the emails which do not address me personally, but for some reason I began reading this one. In the beginning of the email it stated, "You are among the lucky "random" email recipients I chose to send this information to." I read about how the host family was looking for a family for Sasha. My heart was immediately pricked and I prayed a simply prayer saying, "Lord, you know my heart and it's not me you must convince, but if this is your will that we are to be a part of his life then you will talk to my husband." So, I immediately sent the email to my husband and went on with my day. 

I was spending personal time with the Lord, seeking His word and journaling in prayer. As I was reading, this is what was given to me. Yahweh Yireh, which means the Lord will Provide and this is what stuck with me, "If you have been "sitting outside the baker's shop," hungry for God's blessing, ask him to help you to move inside by giving you the grace to obey even the smallest command. Before long your small steps of obedience will lead to larger ones and then your steady habit of obedience will lead to deepened faith, enabling you to experience God as Abraham did, as Yahweh Yireh. This comes from the book, 'Praying the Names of God' by Ann Spangler. 

Then, January 2, I got another email with photo's of Sasha, as I viewed them I thought, "He looks like OUR boy." I again forwarded it to my husband in hopes he would look at the pictures and feel the same way I did, all the while knowing he usually does not read the emails I forward unless it is immediately important. And in all honesty he's been known to just delete them because he is so overwhelmed by the number of emails, phone calls and business he must take care of in the coarse of the day. 

That evening we went to dinner and I asked him, "So, did you read the email I sent you?" and by the look on his face I knew he did. Then I asked, "Did you look at his pictures?" again very little verbal response, but I knew he had looked at them. I let it be without trying to force the conversation and I thought that was the end of it. 

On Saturday, January 3rd, the boys and I went to his office. He brought his computer to me and said I want you to read this. It was several correspondence that he had sent in response to the first and second email about Sasha. I was shocked and unable to respond as I did not know if this meant he was curious or serious. I gave it back to him and said a quiet little prayer. 

Sunday evening as we watched testimonies at church from different people, one in particular touched me and made me think about Sasha again, though I had never met him. The testimony was about a couple who took in some kids in need and it was the husband who was certain this was what they were suppose to do. We went home afterward and never even discussed it. 

Monday morning came and as I spent my personal time with the Lord this was given to me, "Adonay" means Lord and Master, He is Lord and we are His servants. I then underlined these sentences taken from the book, 'Praying the Names of God' by Ann Spangler; 

Pray for the grace to become the kind of servant who is quick to do God's will. Remember, too, that the Lord is the only one who can empower you to fulfill his purpose for your life. In fact, it is in knowing him as your Lord that you will discover a true sense of purpose. I wrote a prayer in my journal and this was what I prayed, "I pray over Sasha, Lord may your perfect will come to pass and may we be obedient to your plan." 

I then went to gear up to begin school (homeschool) with our two boys. While in our morning class my husband called. He was full of excitement and urgency as he told me I needed to immediately have a meeting with the kids, contact the host family and arrange to go and meet Sasha. I was elated to say the least. I immediately woke our daughter who happened to be out of school for the day and told all three kids we must have a family meeting, immediately. 

We all sat down and discussed the situation and the urgency to go and meet Sasha only if everyone agreed to welcome Sasha as a part of our family. We looked at his pictures together and before I could even finish the conversation, all three kids were insisting they could be packed and ready to go in 15 minutes and we needed to go meet Sasha. 

Finally, I called the host family and asked if they thought Sasha would want to meet us or if he was already attached to other families. I was advised to come and meet him since he only had until Wednesday before he would have to return to the Ukraine. I called James back and told him we are all in for Sasha and we could be ready within the hour to travel to Austin, Texas, which is about 6 hours away. He gave us the blessing to go and the sadness of his inability to join us due to a heavy work load and court dates.