Dream Maker, Our Redeemer

     The other day I was reflecting on what the Lord has done in our life over the last almost twelve years. I was reminded of my last year of high school and some of the people who were a part of my life and classmates I had during that time. It is amazing to think of all of the dreams that I had as a high school student and how with time those dreams have changed from what they were. Sometimes our lives may even have gone in a completely other direction than we ever thought possible. One of my teachers, Miss Nelson was such a great teacher and did such an amazing job preparing my class for "real life." I was a part of this program called I.C.E. You go to school a few class periods and then go to I.C.E class and then you go to a job that will help you acquire some of the skills you want to have in your long term career. I have so many fond memories of my classmates. My high school year as I prepared and really wanted to be a part of I.C.E I remember my teacher Miss Nelson interviewing me and as she helped me work on my resume later she asked what she could do to help prepare me for my future. She was one of the first people I told of my dream of one day building an orphanage and helping kids feel like they were part of a family. Even though my future looked a little different than most high school kids (preparing to get married, heading to Bible College vs a trade or career school) she encouraged me to pursue my dreams even if they didn't look like every one else's long term goals. 


     As I was reflecting and sharing this week I was reminded that we all have dreams deep within our hearts. These dreams they are placed in our hearts by God. These dreams may come about different than we ever think. Maybe our plans didn't go at all like we thought they would. A lot of times this is exactly the case. Sometimes I think God likes to do this to show us that really it is His plan even when we like to claim them as our dreams. They are really His dreams. Of course we have free will in the mix of all that too. Ultimately though even in the situations he doesn't want to happen in our life he uses even them for good. We may not always see that until we look back after many years.


     We later became parents and at the time had three children, we felt like the Lord was leading us to adopt. Long story short we were licensed to foster to adopt. At first I was pretty clear about not being willing to foster. I didn't think I could handle loving on children just to let them go home. I refused. To make another long story short pretty much God had another plan. We did foster. It sucked but was the best thing we ever did all at the same time. The kids we had in our home changed and impacted my life more than I could have ever hoped to impact theirs. I think God knew I wouldn't have been willing to just foster if he wouldn't have just laid it in our laps. It's funny how that happens in life. I think that if I would have known what I do now about how kids develop, how attachment works, I would never have had a dream to build an orphanage. Which is really just an institution which holds a bunch of kids. I think my dream would have been to see every child in home. Every child have a family. Every child be loved and cherished just like my kids have been in a family unit.


     When we went to Zambia for the first time in 2013 we walked into an orphanage; and my heart broke. As a mama who had four children and who had fostered and loved and let go. As a mama who had seen and celebrated each and every milestone for my kiddos. From their very first smile, their first tooth, their first steps and first words. To know that these babies didn't have a mama to adore them; broke my heart. I looked around and I thought, "God how can I even help." There were SO many babies; an entire room full of cribs with babies lining the walls laying still. Most of them were awake. I was amazed at how quiet they all were. Yet not amazed at all. Because I had worked with foster children and had children in my home that I loved with my very arms who had been so extremely abused and neglected that I knew the only reason these babies were laying so still is because they had cried and cried and cried and not had their needs met. They learned that no matter how much they cried that it wouldn't matter. SO they learned to lay still and self soothe. Some through thumb sucking, some through pulling out their own hair; some through other ways. My heart broke. I realized then that my dream would never be to build an orphanage. That it would be to make sure kids stay with their families and if that was't possible to be a part of a ministry or organization that builds children's homes with house parents. Where the kids may not be adopted on paper be raised in a family like atmosphere where they are a part of a family. My heart was to help the ones he puts in front of me even if I couldn't change the world or help every single orphan in the world. To help keep kids in families that is his very first design and if that isn't possible to care for His kids.

     When we left Zambia we knew that we couldn't see what we had seen and not be responsible to act. We had read about statistics and heard children's stories. Seeing these kids and holding them in my arms it all became much more than a statistic. We fed kids every day that literally that was their only daily meal. Most didn't have an opportunity to go to school and get even their one meal a day. In Zambia there are no government programs to feed kids. Most of all we had a confirmation that this was exactly where God wanted us for the next season.


     Every circumstance we walk through is for a reason and I can tell you that all the experience we had fostering as well as in training have well prepared us to work with this ministry. We are working with a ministry that believes in everything that we do. Whose first priority is to holistically care for the kids in front of them and to show them the hope they have in Jesus and to train them up in the ways of the Lord. Brandon has the ability to teach mechanics and as the older kids are aging out they are ending up back on the streets with no real trade or skill and some even committing suicide. We want to help prepare them for their future.


     Over the last few weeks the Lord has been continuing to prepare our hearts for the next step. He is continuing to bring people in our lives to partner with us. The gratitude that we feel it can't be explained with words.


     These dreams that the Lord has placed in both of our hearts are coming to reality. We want to encourage you that no matter what season of life that you are in. Whether you are a teenager and your life is just really beginning. Whether you are in the middle of your life and you wonder if these dreams he is put in side of you will ever really happen. Or whether you are at the end and you just don't feel purpose anymore. God has a purpose for your life. Do not give up on those things he has deep in your heart to do. Take steps toward those dreams. Time and money are nothing to him. Nothing is too big for the God who makes dreams and makes them happen.


    Over the last couple weeks it has been pretty inspirational not only watching God continue to provide but also for a special couple the Lord brought into our lives. God opened their eyes to something and awoke something in their hearts that called them to action. It has been awesome seeing a whole community of people helping the least of these in our own back yard. The Lord is no respecter of persons. He has desires and dreams for you to fulfill. He wants to open your eyes to a whole world in need of his love. Right before your very eyes. All it takes is a willing vessel submitting ourselves to him. People that are willing to do whatever it is that he asks. For us that is loving on kids with out a mommy and daddy. We would love more than anything to have you partner with us and be a part of something so much greater than ourselves. These kids they are worth being invested in.
Thank you for praying for our family and please know we are praying for you as well.


Serving Together,
The Fullers



We only need 29 PEOPLE/families or individuals to commit to partnering with us at $100 a month(recurring gifts)and we will be able to leave for Zambia. 
Here is where we are at:  Startup Costs: 100%! Praise the Lord!
Monthly Support Commitments: 55%!
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4nlToxATwU

Our goal: To reach 100% in monthly commitments so that we can leave for Zambia and love on these children. 

Will you partner with us today and be a part of what God is doing in the lives of precious children who are worth investing in?   www.kidsalive.org/fuller  (select monthly)