Editor’s Note: In honor of National Foster Care Month, we are featuring stories from some of our foster families. If you’d like to learn more about the ways you can Be a Family to a child please visit www.beafamily.org.

As a young girl, I always dreamed of marrying “Prince Charming” and having the perfect little family. As time went on, I did marry the man of my dreams. But the “perfect little family” never came.

A few years passed, we tried fertility treatments that did not work, and then we began to see a fertility specialist. During this time, I know God spoke to me, and I surrendered to His will. I was moved by Proverbs 3:5-6, which says: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

I gave up my desires to have my own biological children, and He gave me a peace that surpasses all understanding.

My husband and I immediately began attending information meetings for foster care and chose Buckner as our agency. Within six months we had completed all our training and requirements. We became a foster-to-adopt family.

Three days after receiving our license, we welcomed two precious angels into our home. They lived with us for almost 15 months. At times, it looked like we were going to be able to adopt them, but God had another plan. We said goodbye to our two angels this past March. It was the hardest thing we have ever done.

We re-opened our home within a few weeks and received our 5-day-old “Li’l Bit” a few days later. I was able to pick him up from the hospital. We do not know how long he will be staying with us, but we just enjoy each day we have with him. God placed him in our home for a reason.

I know without a doubt that my husband and I are doing what we have been called to do. Becoming foster parents has completed my ideal “perfect little family.” I get to share my home with many special little people.

I have only one regret… I wish we had started fostering sooner.

Andrea Chambers and her husband have been a licensed foster family with Buckner since December 2010. They live in Mesquite, Texas, and are currently fostering their third child, a beautiful and sweet newborn baby boy. 

Prayers of the Week:�
-God, we ask for your strength, peace, and grace in the lives of those who have answered the call to serve children as foster parents.
-God, thank you for calling us to play a part in Your redemptive work.

———————————————————–

If you are interested in submitting a devotional for Buckner Faith Focus, please e-mail lsturdy@buckner.org.

I had no idea the sound of dozens of children banging on the back of a metal gate would change my life forever.

I was 17 years old and had just gotten off of an eight-hour drive up a mountain to Xela, Guatemala. It was my first trip overseas and I had no idea what was in store for me. 

The kids at the orphanage knew we were coming, and were so excited they were lined up at the front gate anxiously waiting for us to arrive. We could hear them long before we got there as their excitement triggered yells and clanging behind the gate that separated us. 

Once we entered the orphanage, each of us was enveloped by several kids at once, wanting to touch us, know our names or just look into our eyes. 

I had never seen or smelled anything like what I experienced inside this orphanage. These kids had little to nothing and the living situation was like nothing I had ever seen in America. Regardless of their surroundings, each child had a huge smile plastered across their face at the sight of new visitors. 

That’s when I noticed a small girl off to the side, about 10 years old. She was alone and crying. 

I approached her, asked her name and tried to make conversation the best I could with what Spanish I knew. She did not respond much, but I quickly found out it was her first day at the orphanage. 

She was so scared and overwhelmed with the longing for her mother and her siblings. After this first conversation, this little girl never left my side.  That day she was truly in need of someone to walk beside her and comfort her through this transition. I knew this little girl was why God had sent me to Guatemala.

After spending a week in Guatemala my heart had been transformed, and the Lord had shown me my passion and plan for life. Since then I have been on five other trips overseas to three different countries. Buckner has provided so many opportunities for me throughout the past couple of years to serve God in the way that I was called to.

Allie Gerlach went on a mission trip with Buckner Missions. 

-God, please comfort those children who are separated from their birthparents and who feel the pain and longing to belong in a family.

-God, thank you for your perfect timing.

Every child I have ever met quickly grasps the concept of ‘follow the leader.’ Many times I have found myself surrounded by shy children in locations all over the world. ‘Follow the leader’ is a great game to help break the ice and makes you an instant hit with the children.  No language is necessary when you are willing to be silly with kids.

The game also is a great metaphor for leadership in service for Jesus.  As I step aside as the leader of Buckner, I hope to be an excellent follower of our new leader, Dr. Albert Reyes. I am supremely confident that Dr. Reyes is uniquely equipped to lead Buckner International for the next generation.

Being a follower means I will pray for Albert and all the leadership of Buckner. I commit to be available as a volunteer, advocate and encourager. To the staff of Buckner, my co-workers who have made my life what it is today and who have blessed me every day for these past 18-plus years, thank you. I have been blessed to have been the fifth president of Buckner, and each of you — whether you’ve been a Buckner financial supporter, a co-worker, a trustee or a prayer supporter — has honored me and this ministry with your trust and support. Linda and I will continue to share our financial resources with Buckner ministries throughout the world. 

The best leaders are followers even when — especially when — you can’t anticipate the outcome. It requires trust and faith that our Lord can work in other’s lives His wonders to perform. Jesus said it this way, “True leaders must go to the back of the line.”

Kenneth L. Hall served as the fifth President and CEO of Buckner from 1994-2010, and as CEO from 2010-2012. Ken will retire April 30 after nearly 19 years of service to Buckner and those it serves.   

Prayer of the Week:
-God, we pray for the leaders in our lives, in our country and around the world. Give them the wisdom and strength to know and do your will.

—————————————————

If you are interested in submitting a devotional for Buckner Faith Focus, please e-mail lsturdy@buckner.org.

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

One of my mission teams to the Dominican Republic was given a gift the day we arrived: Out of the 32 bags that were checked at the airline counter on Saturday morning, 31 of them did not make it to Santo Domingo.

To make matters worse, the single bag that made it was mine. That was an awkward trip leader moment, being the only person with clean clothes and all my stuff.

Fifteen team members had the chance to spend three whole days traveling with only the items in their carry-on bags. “Togetherness” happens when women have a limited number of clothes and three bathrooms. We shared shorts, T-shirts and pajama pants from our carry-ons (and my lone suitcase) to replace the luggage that was still in an airport somewhere.

On the third day, the bags arrived. Everyone was so excited to have their stuff for awhile, but as I sat listening to them unpack, I heard: “I can’t believe I packed this much stuff. That was unnecessary.” After a couple of days of wishing for the comfort of clean and familiar clothes, everyone could see what was truly important.

These mission trips are my job–my actual, full-time job. I’ve seen a lot in the last five years and have traveled with more mission teams than I can count. But never have I seen a team form such genuine friendships so quickly. Getting over ourselves just makes us better at ministry. Nothing else could have fostered the community that could be seen in that team.

Again and again, God displays His love in ways that simply don’t make sense to us. Like lost luggage.

Susan Williams is the director of missions support for Buckner Missions in Dallas, Texas.  

Prayers of the Week:
-God, we thank You for the abundant blessings You shower over us each day.
-God, please bring our minds back to Your will and purpose when we are focused on life’s inconveniences or wrapped up in our own discomforts. Help us to love and serve You gladly at all times.

—————————

If you are interested in submitting a devotional for Buckner Faith Focus, please e-mail lsturdy@buckner.org.

“… Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

It can be easy to focus on outward appearances. We look at the things people do and determine whether or not we think they are good or bad, sincere or insincere, deserving or undeserving. But do we really look at their hearts?

We judge others by comparing them to ourselves. Somehow it makes us feel better – like we’re not so bad after all. And it makes it easier for us to justify and minimize our own sins and failures.

But how are we showing a lost world the love of Jesus Christ when we respond to others in this way? Do we even understand what it means to love like He loves? Sometimes I think I might have grasped it, and then I get a glimpse of the unfailing love Christ has for me and realize that I haven’t even touched the tip of the iceberg in understanding how wide, how long, how high and how deep my Savior’s love is for me.

When we begin to see others through His eyes, our judgments are replaced by mercy and our outrage is replaced by compassion. We begin to see that we are all just as capable of committing the same kinds of evil we see take place all around us. And we acknowledge that it is only by His grace that we have been saved from doing the very same things.

How humbling it is to reach this point in your walk with Him! He did not choose me because of anything I have accomplished or could offer Him. He chose me before the foundations of the world only because of His love.�

Whitney Floyd is a foster care case manager for Buckner Children and Family Services in Dallas, Texas. Prayers of the Week:
-God, give us wisdom to look past outward appearances and into the heart.
-God, we praise You and thank You for rescuing us, though we did nothing to deserve Your mercy and grace.

———————————–

If you are interested in submitting a devotional for Buckner Faith Focus, please e-mail lsturdy@buckner.org.

Sign up here to have our weekly Faith Focus e-mail delivered to your inbox!