Write the Vision Make it Clear

And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision,
and make it plain upon tables,

that he may run that readeth it.
Habakuk 2: 2

Today I find myself reflecting again on the message taught by Mike Smalley. Here are a few of the facts he tossed at us:

1. Only 3% of Christians ever write down their goals.

2. God is a writer! He put everything of significance in writing--a permanent written record.

3. You are a special creation fashioned in the image of God and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. The life and testimony that God has given you is worthy of being documented.

I have told my husband for years that there is a book yet to be written in my heart. I am an avid writer. There was a time in my past that writing was my only source of income as I was a young reporter on the staff of a small town newspaper, and again later when Brad and I owned our own Christian newspaper.

I have been really putting some thought and prayer into this journey God has called me on. Today I still have no specifics in what He is wanting to do in my life by bringing me to CFNI. All I can say is that I am glad that I am here.
This has been my Abraham experience. God has asked me to leave my comfort zone of all that was familiar to me and go to a land that I did not know. So as I journey this road while at CFNI I am keeping a tender heart toward the leading of the Holy Spirit.

The more I pray and seek the Lord the more I can see a bigger picture unfolding. So for now, I am just going to keep this journal/blog as a record of the things God is showing me, and trust it all to prayer.

One of the things God has laid on my heart for after my time at CFNI is to pursue my Masters Degree in Social Work. This did not really thrill me because I had MAJOR issues with the entire field of social work when I received my bachelors degree and was part in parcel why I never fully embraced that as an option for my life. So when God started bringing this issue up with me I immediately cringed. I thought to myself, surely I misunderstood Him! So I began looking into a Masters program in Counseling. God came back with SOCIAL WORK. So I prayed all the more.

During this time our church had sent a team to Nicaragua to work with one of our missionaries Sandy Carter. I spent a lot of time that week in prayer for NIcaragua and the children in Sandy's orphanages. I was reminded of Sandy's prayer request of me when she was at our church in April. She told me that she had a friend who was a nurse in one of the hospitals in Managua. She said the hospital was being over run with newborns who were being abandoned at the hospital after the birth. The parents, who were living in such dire poverty, felt the babies would have a better chance if left at the hospital for a better life. The only problem is that the hospital does not have the resources to keep up with care of the abandoned babies. So it finally came down from the hospital officials that the abandoned babies would be left in their cribs to die because they did not have the resources to feed and care for the abandoned babies. Sandy's friend asked her to get her infant orphanage up and running as soon as possible so these babies would not be left to die in such horrid circumstances as starvation and dehydration.

As I spent that week praying I remembered that Sandy said she had found supernatural favor with some of the Nicaraguan government officials and that they are working on opening the doors of Nicaragua for international adoption. As it stands now, international adoptions are not legal in Nicaragua. Sandy said the laws are in process to open the doors and that she hopes to see process become a reality in about 2 years.

God has really burdened my heart of the international adoption of the children in Nicaragua. I have the ability , if I get my master's degree, to begin to do homestudies of families wishing to adopt. It is all together possible that God could put me in position so that we can have families lined up here in the states that are approved and ready to go to Nicaragua and adopt those children when those doors open in two years.

Can I say for certain this is a "Thus Sayeth the Lord" type of message to my heart? No...but for now, this is the burden I feel and I can definitely see that if this is the path God is leading me that my masters in Social Work would be a necessity!

One of the things that has perplexed me, in a humorous sort of way, is that most people get called to CFNI to become missionaries, pastors, youth leaders or worship leaders. And here I sit thinking that God may be calling me to be a social worker?

I am not about to second guess the wisdom of the Lord in bringing me to CFNI...I am just thankful that He did! Who knows, maybe I will be able to meet MANY students that have a Divinely called heart for Nicaragua as well. Maybe I can share the plight of the Nicaraguan children and Sandy's ministry with future missionaries that will be called to work along side of her...and maybe ...just maybe...that after losing 7 babies from my womb, who were born in Glory, that maybe...just maybe...there is a child(ren) in Nicaragua that God has for us to embrace and welcome into our own family....just maybe.

So, make clear the vision...write it down...so that those who read it may RUN steady and sure!

My Vision:

To engage in spiritual battle for the children of Nicaragua

To politically see the doors open supernaturally by an unexpected
political act of the government of Nicaragua (remember, the heart of the king is in the LORD'S hands!)

To pray into existence a missionary force that is called to work
along side of Sandy Carter in Managua, Nicaragua and workers to staff her orphanages

to pray, participate and share the NEEDS for the provision of Sandy's work...financial needs and manpower needs. The harvest is plenty, the
workers are few.

To do my part in getting my master's degree and specialize
in international adoptions

And if it is God's will I even have a dream of opening an international adoption agency out of Arlington...and as a master's level social worker...I would be qualified and able to do that.

Here am I Lord, send me! Do with me as you will.
Dawn

For more information on the ministry of Sandy Carter in Nicaragua:
http://www.childrenofdestinynicaragua.org/