Adopt the Least of These
When we committed to Pinelake’s Outlive Your Life in 2011, we pledged to grow, go and give. Our first step was a monthly donation, and then we began looking for opportunities to “GO.” The Lord has blown us away with the “growth” that has followed. Around the same time of this commitment, we began praying about adoption. We already have two children and really wanted to have more, but pregnancy had been difficult and we both felt the desire to have an older child. We didn’t even tell anyone that we were even considering adoption when, out of the blue, we received an email inviting us to join the Adoption Care Ministry in Madison for a meeting. We went with open minds and willing spirits and it was at this meeting that we were introduced to the 
orphans of Uganda, Africa through a documentary entitled Bereaved.
To say this opportunity merely “moved us” would be a gross underestimate of the Lord’s calling on our lives. It was during this film that God’s call became very clear to us: “adopt the least of these.” We began praying fervently about this and in September 2011, through the financial and prayerful support of family, friends and a grant funded by Outlive Your Life, we were able to travel to Kampala, Uganda for 10 days.
During this time, we played with, prayed over, loved on, held and kissed the very same children that we’d seen in the film. No longer were they just unknown faces from a documentary. The connection became very personal. Now, we know these children as Samul, Abraham, Peter and Vivian, and many, many others that we pray for by name. They’ve been abused, sold, traded and abandoned. And they live in a prison destined for the “unwanted.”
In meeting these children, we recognized that they are really no different than our own, except that they are in dire need of a mommy and daddy and loving families. They need support, encouragement, tenderness, care and affirmation and all the things that we feel God has equipped us with to provide to them. They need a home. We know we cannot adopt them all, but we do feel called to adopt one and we pray that through our obedience more people will open their hearts and homes to adoption as well. Not just from Africa — from everywhere. There are an estimated 147 million orphans in this world.
We are currently applying for legal guardianship of a Ugandan child with the understanding that the adoption will be finalized here in the States, as is customary with Ugandan adoptions. We have received our favorable homestudy and are preparing for our second in-country visit for March 2012. During this time, there is a very real possibility that we will meet the next little “Puckett” and we are overwhelmed with joy.
Looking back and seeing how the Lord has paved this road for us is beyond humbling. We are so thankful for all the support we have received through this. For us, what began as a 24-month pledge has turned into the most wonderful lifelong commitment imaginable.
By Marty and Christy Puckett, members, Pinelake Reservoir campus
Considering adoption or foster care? Or want to help care for the many children without parents? Connect with Pinelake's Orphan Care Ministry on myPinelake.org.