Christ Presbyterian Adoption Booklet

Christ Presbyterian Church is putting together a booklet on adoption composed of the submitted writings from the congregation. During the month of November, Christ Presbyterian is celebrating adoptions and these booklets will be shared. Here is what I wrote for the booklet!


Psalm 91: 14-16
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

We are in the process right now of adopting a little boy who is four years old from Uganda. The judge has signed his custody papers. Yet, even as I write this, we are anxiously waiting for a court date. Once we have the court date we will travel to Africa and get our son!

A seed of desire for adopting a child was planted early on in my life. Due to some medical problems, I had been told at the age of seventeen that I would probably never have children. Three biological children later, God began to cultivate that seed, which He had planted years before. We had begun to pray for the Lord’s leading as to when and where we were called to adopt. Immediately upon hearing about the need in Uganda, the Lord made it very clear to both of us. That was where our son was waiting. I have heard that adoption is not grown in the womb but in the heart- and my heart is overwhelmingly swelling. Throughout this adoption process, the Lord has been teaching me so much. Primarily, to follow where and when He leads. He has shown me that my hand must be open, and I am to trust fully even when things do not make sense. He has also now placed a deep burden on my heart that I hope never lightens. This burden is for orphans around the world. My eyes have been opened and the veil has been lifted. There are over one hundred forty-seven million orphans around the world- without home, without hope, and in need of the Lord’s hand of provision. I have not even gotten to hold Judah yet, but Judah has already taught me so much about the Lord’s character. God is the hero of every story, coming to the rescue of those who need his mercy and grace. God has delivered us from the kingdom of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of Light, adopting us into the family as children of our Father.

Judah is a picture of sweet redemption. He is four years old, and he is adorable!!!! We have seen pictures and watched videos. Friends, which have volunteered at his orphanage, have given me little glimpses into his life. In all our pictures, he almost always has a HUGE smile on his face. One day, I hope he reads this and realizes how much I CAN NOT WAIT to hold him in my arms, to kiss his face all over, to rub noses, to sing to him, to help him realize that he has not been alone these past four years. God protected him when he was left in a taxicab at one week old. And God answered him with a “forever family”. For all the days of his life, God will be with him, deliver him, and lead him. I want him to know that the waiting is very hard- that we would bring him home this second if we could. But, O, how I am so grateful that God has given us this amazing little boy that we have prayed for… for so long...our Judah!

By the time you read this, we will hopefully have him home with our “forever family”. But as I am writing this, part of our heart is in Uganda, and not complete without him. Soon, little one, soon…

-Lindsey (and Ryan) Doyle