Both Hands Project - 11/6/10

We serve an awesome God!!!


We arrived at Odessa’s home Saturday morning, planning to work on building a pump house for her water pipes so they wouldn’t freeze throughout the winter. When we got there, they didn’t have any water. The night before, the pipes burst. WOW! God’s timing is amazing.

After eating our breakfast provided by Hardees, we got to work. Most of the men started fixing the pipes and building the pump house. The rest of us blew (with leaf blowers) & raked leaves to help clean the last few leaves of fall off the yard and flower beds. (The family had already gotten rid of the majority of the leaves.) This family does everything they can to take care of their property, but because of physical limitations there are some things they cannot do.  Jeff even had the doors to put on the front of the pump house built, painted, and ready to go!

The weather was warmer than expected and we only saw a few flakes of snow throughout the day. We praise the Lord for controlling the weather for us!!! I (Marie) was able to spend some time talking with Odessa and getting to know her better. She’s a wonderful lady and was so thankful for the help our team gave her.

We left the project saying that even if this didn’t raise any money for our adoption, it was worth it. We were so blessed!!! God uses us in many ways and He works out details! We thank God for the privilege of serving this family!

Our team: Pastor John Bunn, Mike Bush, Jeffrey Keith Watts, Tony Watts, Lenora Bush, Marie Angus, Keith Watts (front), Odessa Watts (our widow), Dean Watts.

Not pictured: Brad Angus took the picture, Mark Underwood contacted businesses to sponsor us, and Jeannie & Robert Baker kept our girls while we worked.

Many other people prayed for us and gave toward our adoption.  THANK YOU to everyone who had a part!!!!!

Before - The old pipes

Broken Pipe

Mike & Tony work on a wall for the pump house

A Little Goes A Long Way

An infant needing a family. A widow living in Eastern Kentucky who just needs a little help. A group of people desperate for pure religion. What could these three things possibly have in common?


All three are coming together to play key roles in an exciting fundraising opportunity taking place on November 6, 2010. This fundraiser will help us adopt our infant son while we spend a day fixing up a widow’s house. We are asking our family and friends to sponsor us while we work on her home. All the money that is donated will be used to bring our child home to his forever family. Think of it like a charity walk, but instead of us walking to raise money, we are going to support a widow in need. I want to give you an opportunity to participate in this awesome project, if you want to. If not, no big deal, but honestly I hope you find this as irresistible as we do. Both Hands, through its partnership with Lifesong for Orphans, is an organization that is dedicated to comforting widows and helping orphans. Lifesong makes it possible for your contribution to be tax deductible.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27 (NIV)

Meet Pauline (widow) …

Pauline is a dear lady from our church family who lost her husband almost 2 years ago. Pauline is our neighbor and while her husband Fred was living he often came down and helped us with things around our place. He helped in our garden and even taught our girls how to shuck corn. He was very special to our family and although we miss him, our loss was nothing compared to Pauline’s. She lost her best friend and life-long partner. Since Fred’s death, Pauline has remained active, but is not able to do everything around her place that she would like to. The very day we found out about Both Hands fundraisers, it became clear that Pauline was the widow we wanted to help! Although it was a little difficult for her to accept our offer to help her because she prefers to serve others than to be served, she humbly accepted our offer.

How Can You Help?

We are not all called to adopt, but we can play a part in this wonderful process.

Prayer — Please pray for God’s continued blessing on this adoption process, for God’s timing, that God will bring us the child who will most benefit from joining our family, for the birthparents as they make the difficult decision to allow their child to be adopted and that God would draw them close to Himself through this adoption. Please pray for our family during the waiting time and through the adjustments of adding a child to our family. Please pray for continued blessings on Pauline and for the ministries of the Both Hands Foundation and Lifesong for Orphans.

Team — Please consider joining our team in working Saturday morning (Nov 6th) and/or asking others (friends, businesses, whoever) to financially join our team. You could choose to help another widow and still raise sponsors! We pray this project will raise awareness of the needs of those around us. Even if you can’t work at a widow’s home, you could invite others to join our team.

Financial — Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help cover the remaining $15,000 in adoption expenses as we work with the team to bless the life of this widow, Pauline.

“My friends, adoption is redemption. It’s costly, exhausting, expensive, and outrageous. Buying back lives costs so much. When God set out to redeem us, it killed Him.” ~ Derek Loux



Every Dollar Helps

Please make your tax-deductible checks to Lifesong for Orphans before November 19th. You may preference how the donation may be used by writing “Angus #1442 adoption” in the memo section of your check.

Mail to:
Lifesong for Orphans
PO Box 40 / 202 N Ford St
Gridley, IL 61744

Donations can also be made online at

http://www.lifesongfororphans.org/bhProj.html

Just scroll down the page until you see our picture and click on donate.

*100% of all funds raised will go directly to cover adoption costs—nothing will be taken out for Lifesong for Orphans’ administrative costs.

*Please note that in following IRS guidelines, your donation is to the non-profit organization Lifesong for Orphans. They retain full discretion over its use, but intend to honor the donors suggested use.

Not Approved for No-Interest Loan

Yesterday we were notified by ABBA Fund that we were not approved for the no-interest loan.  There are just too many people needing financial assistance and they can't help everyone.  Their e-mail was very encouraging and I understand that they can't loan money to everyone who asks.  I have to admit, though, I was surprised that we were not approved. 

A loan makes so much sense to me because we should get a tax credit and we have a grant that won't be sent until the child is in our home.  Both of these are cases where we need the money up front and then will be reimbursed - sounds to me like a loan would work.  I honestly thought that was how God was going to provide the last of the money we need before we can be matched.  I really thought I'd soon be able to tell the agency, "We're ready to be matched!"  I thought this organization was ideal because we wouldn't have to pay any interest.  God MAY still provide a loan, but this is a definite reminder that God does NOT work like I work and He does NOT think like I think.  Isaiah 55:9 states it clearly - "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."  Funny (actually it's sad) that I as a human try to figure out how God will work and even base much of my confidence and my plans on the way I think it's best for Him to work. 

As I was going to sleep last night I decided to listen to a sermon titled "How to Live for God's Glory."  The main point was "We glorify God by trusting Him."  What a timely message for me.  The preacher used Abraham and Sarah (and the birth of Isaac) as an example of this point. 
"Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, 'So shall your offspring be.'  Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead.  Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised."  Romans 4:18-21 (NIV)

I don't know how many times God has used the story of Abraham and Sarah to encourage and challenge me through this adoption journey.  We have not waited any time compared to them and yet Abraham believed.  The situation seemed impossible and yet Abraham believed.  God has also used their story to warn me not to run ahead and try to accomplish things in my way or in my time.  If I try to "help" God, I will just make a mess of the situation.  And, so, I'm trying to wait and believe. 

Please pray that we will sense God's guidance as to what other steps we need to take.  We do hope to do the Both Hands fundraiser soon.  http://www.lifesongfororphans.org/bothHands.html


We have had a wonderful weekend.  We were blessed to spend Friday night in Cincinnati and spend Saturday at Coney Island.  (Someone paid all our expenses.  It was a special time for our family -- a mini-vacation.)  It was extra special that we were able to spend time with Brad's mom & stepdad.  We made great memories and of course we took lots of pictures.  I hope to upload some soon but can't with dial-up.

Have a blessed sabbath - REST in HIM!!!

So glad we waited on God!

God has been working behind the scenes as we've been waiting on Him.  It has been amazing to sit back and let Him work.  Now I don't mean we've been completely idle.  We felt clear to do our homestudy with Adoption Assistance, Inc so we filled out paperwork and had a homestudy visit.  We've looked at some placing agencies, but just haven't felt clear for one reason or another.  The ones we've leaned toward either wouldn't work with us for some reason (like we already have children or we don't make enough money) or had a very negative evaluation from someone we trust.  So, we've just waited.  We are so glad we did.

As we shared in our last blog, God's Grace Adoption Ministries gave us a matching grant of up to $2500.  Generous friends donated $1129.85 so it will become $2259.70.  PRAISE THE LORD and THANK YOU to the friends who gave!!!  Unfortunately, GGAM cannot tell us who gave.  They will only tell us the total given.  This is frustrating because we cannot thank individuals.  So, if you gave and you're reading this, thank you.  We deeply appreciate your gift!!!  One group that gave was the Pro-Life Ministry from Kentucky Mountain Bible College.  It was so encouraging to be supported by college students (who don't have much money) and to be reminded that God will provide in ways we don't expect.

Sunday I (Marie) was called and asked to participate in a ministry opportunity in October.  I said I'd pray about it and I was to give an answer by Wednesday.  I prayed and talked it over with Brad and planned to call between 4 and 6 to say "Yes!" because I could see no good reason to say "No!"  Brad told me that if God wanted to close the door, He could make it clear.  Well, at 4 o'clock the phone rang. It was a lady from an adoption agency that wouldn't typically work with us because we don't make enough money.  They have a required gross income that we don't meet and then they want you to make $10,000 more per child.  I had e-mailed the agency briefly explaining our situation and asked if they made any exceptions.  Instead of simply replying to my e-mail, she called.  We talked for quite some time and she said that Adoption Assistance does such a good job with home studies that if they approve us, she doesn't care how much we make.  WOW!!  The agency also had been refusing to work with most families who can have biological children, but she told me they changed that policy this week.  God is into details!!!!  It sounds very hopeful that we may have a baby much sooner than we were expecting.  Brad & I felt that the possibility of having a baby by the time of the ministry opportunity and the fact that I received the call at 4 PM (the time I had planned to call to accept the opportunity) was God's way of closing the door and I called to say, "No!"

That night we began filling our paperwork for Graceful Adoptions.  We still have some more to do, but it's not too much considering what we've filled out previously.  Much of it is similar to what we've done before, so it's not difficult, it just takes time to put it in the format this agency wants.  It will cost over $20,000 to work with this agency and we will still have some other expenses.  We cannot use the two grants we've been given until we are almost finished with the adoption process.  (This is to guarantee the grants given support adoptions that are completed.)  We know that God is leading and as someone said, "Where God guides, He provides."

I continue to be encouraged by the quote from George Müller, "The greatness of the sum required affords me a kind of secret joy; for the greater the difficulty to be overcome, the more will it be seen to the glory of God how much can be done by prayer and faith."

Matching Gift at God’s Grace Adoption Ministry

We are so excited about the way God is providing for our adoption. When God first led us to adopt, one of our biggest questions was how we would pay for it. But we realized that if God truly wanted us to adopt, He would make it possible. I'm reading George Müller - Guardian of Bristol's Orphans by Janet & Geoff Benge. As George said, if our dream is God's idea, as long as we do all we can, it is "ultimately God's responsibility to make the dream a reality."


God’s Grace Adoption Ministry, Inc. has committed to match any donations made toward our adoption “dollar for dollar” up to $2500. Would you please pray that God would lay it upon many hearts to join us in our adoption journey? If you’re interested in giving to our adoption and having your donation matched, please send your gift to

William & Rebecca Angus Adoption

c/o God’s Grace Adoption Ministry, Inc.

P.O. Box 4

Modesto, CA 95353

IMPORTANT: Please enclose a note that says this gift is for William and Rebecca Angus Adoption. (Yes, we’re confusing people – we both go by our middle names! )

To be eligible for the matching grant, these funds need to be received by GGAM by May 15, 2010.

If you want more information, please feel free to contact us with questions at marieangus@hughes.net or to check out their website at www.ggam.org or e-mail them at info@ggam.org.

Donations are confidential, tax deductible (as allowed by law), and are paid directly towards adoption expenses after placement of the child.

Thank you for your prayers!!

Brad & Marie

"The greatness of the sum required affords me a kind of secret joy; for the greater the difficulty to be overcome, the more will it be seen to the glory of God how much can be done by prayer and faith." ~ George Müller

God Is Providing

We received a notification from God's Grace Adoption Ministry today that says we've been approved for a $2,500 matching grant. Praise the Lord!!!  This is definitely an encouraging word for a somewhat discouraging week.  Actually, the week isn't discouraging on the whole - we just don't know what God has in store for us in relation to adoption.  I've had a lot of questions and doubts about what His will truly is!

Please continue to pray for God to guide us clearly!  We want His will and we want Him to bring glory to His name through this entire journey!

Here are some verses that have encouraged me this week.

Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. ~ Micah 7:7 (KJV)

"Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who wait for me shall not be put to shame." ~ Isaiah 50:23b (ESV)

"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength," ~ Isaiah 30:15b (NIV)

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." ~ Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

Thank you so much for your prayers and encouraging words!!!

A Greater Yes

A friend shared this with me.  I thought it fit our situation so well and wanted to share it.  I pray it encourages you in your situation too!!!  God definitely knows best!!

A Greater Yes
Marcia Henry / Marcia Henry Music / BMI
Made Popular by The Whisnants

Verse 1:
It starts with a desire, planted deep within your heart
You pray in faith, and wait for God to move
Time passes and you wonder
Did He hear me when I called?
Should I even have prayed that prayer at all

Chorus:
You never pray a prayer, your Father will not answer
He can't ignore His child's earnest request
So while you're waiting and believing
For what you thought was best
Trust God if He says “no” ….. You're still Blessed
There must be a greater yes

Verse 2:
There comes a time when child-like faith
Must graduate to trust
Trials come and you're convinced you're on your own
But the teacher's often silent
During the hardest test
But He'll answer when It's time with what is best

Chorus

Bridge:
Sometimes God will answer - just like we prayed
But other times what's on His mind
Is a better plan, another way, a greater yes

Chorus

If you'd like to hear this song, follow this link
A Greater Yes

God's Confirmation

We serve an amazing God.  He speaks in so many ways.  I love it when He reinforces lessons I'm learning in multiple ways.  Our lesson at Bible study confirmed what He's teaching me about waiting and being content in where He has me right now.  It also gave me a wonderful way to view it!  First I want to share some of what God's been teaching me lately.

I've been listening to some of John Piper's sermons.  (As a side note, you can download his sermons for free at http://www.desiringgod.org/.  I'm not saying I totally endorese everything he says.  There are tons of sermons there.  But the ones I've listened to so far have greatly challenged me - especially his sermons on unbelief and the sermon titled "Are You Humble Enough to Be Care-Free?" based on I Peter 5:5-7).

I've listened to Piper's sermon "Battling the Unbelief of Impatience" several times.   In it he says, "The opposite of impatience is not a glib, superficial denial of frustration. The opposite of impatience is a deepening, ripening, peaceful willingness either to wait for God where you are in the place of obedience, or to persevere at the pace He allows on the road of obedience—to wait in His place, or to go at His pace. "
Right now, we are waiting in the place where He has us and we are very content.  That has to be God, because I'm not by nature a patient person, but He is working in me.  PTL!!!

Here were the main points of our Bible study lesson and (how it applies to us specifically): 
Taken from Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman by Beth Moore Session 5

It's important to know...
1.  When it's time.
2.  When it's time to wait.  (Obviously it's time for us to wait in the adoption process.)
3.  When it's time to wait for someone else's time.  (We can't adopt until the time is right for the birthparents.)
4.  When the meantime is God-time. 
          Never in our wait is God inactive.  Something is up.  Something is happening in the heavenlies.

We lose our strength when we wait upon the event, the thing, the person, the baby, ... 
As Isaiah 40:31a says, "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength."  I'm NOT to be waiting for the time I get to adopt a baby boy.  I am to WAIT UPON THE LORD and He promised to renew my strength.

Blessed Beyond Measure

We haven't updated the blog lately because there isn't much to say about the adoption process.  We're in the WAIT and PRAY (repeat, repeat, ...) stage.

We have applied to Show Hope (Steven Curtis Chapman's organization) and God's Grace Adoption Ministry for financial aid.  We are waiting to hear from both organizations and praying for God to provide in His way and in His time.  We also tried to contact the Boatner Foundation, but don't have current contact information.

In the mean time we are rejoicing in where God has us and how He has blessed us.  God has been so good to us.  We know that even if we never have the privilege of rearing a son, we have been blessed beyond what we could have imagined.  Our daughters are at such fun ages.  God has supplied all our needs and has given us many of our wants.  I never dreamed life here on earth could be this good.  Is it perfect?  No, of course not!!!  But God is good and we can't praise Him enough for working in our lives and allowing us to serve Him.  Thank You, Lord!!

Starting the process

As I said before, I didn't tell Brad what I felt God might lead us to do.  I didn't know if God was really asking us to adopt or not.

Fast forward to February!  God began to speak to Brad.  He had several things happen in such a supernatural way that he couldn't ignore them.  He prayed and prayed.  Finally he looked at me and said something like, "I don't know if this is the right time to say this" (it was late at night) "but I think God might be leading us to adopt."  I pulled out my journal and showed him my post from November 26th.  We were both amazed at God's guidance.

We decided to follow where He leads.  We called a friend who adopted around 20 years ago to find out what agency they used.  When he said they'd used Bluegrass Christian, we contacted the agency to get information.  We met with Kati (the counselor for birthmoms) and got basic information from her.  We connected well with Kati.  She spent time with us and asked us our story of what brought us to consider adoption.  We were very impressed with the ministry this agency has with expecting mothers.  We filled out the basic application and sent it in in early March.

Because Mary (the lady who works with adoptive parents) had several things going on in her family, she wasn't able to get in touch with us until late June.  We began to wonder what we should do.  Thankfully, we prayed and waited.  We met with her in early July and received the assignments to do and the paperwork we needed to fill out.  She said one of the most important things for us to do was to write our birthparent letter.  (This is a letter to expecting mothers that shares about us, our family, our community, etc.  The mother then picks what family she would like to adopt her child.)  Mary said everything else can be rushed if necessary, but we can't be picked unless we have that letter in.

We sent our birthparent letter in early August.  We're working on paperwork and making progress.  Brad hasn't had time to do much of his part because of his work, but if we get chosen, he can do it pretty quickly.  We will do our homestudy after our paperwork is in.  After the homestudy is complete, we'll begin applying for scholarships, etc.

We'd appreciate your prayers as we follow God's leading.  We would love to raise a son, but more than anything we want to bring glory to God.