We have served as a host family both in Minnesota and now Southern California which has allowed us to see brokenness face to face through the lives of the children most impacted. Safe Families has provided an avenue to love and come alongside struggling families in need.
As we have served over the past eight years, we have been incredibly blessed as we care for others and live out our Christian convictions. These hostings have provided opportunities to know the needs and brokenness just beyond our community that we would have otherwise ignored and extend compassion to those who need it most. We have seen the powerful ways it has shaped our three daughters and opened their eyes to the needs of others. We have walked into low income housing apartments in areas that have certainly been beyond our comfort zone. Our girls have seen the messiness of poverty and how complicated it is for some families to make ends meet.
Last Friday morning, I received an unexpected text from a mom we had previously served with Safe Families asking us to care for her beautiful thirteen month old daughter as she is nearing the end of her pregnancy with baby number two and will need ongoing help over the next few months.
What allowed us to say yes to something we knew would not necessarily be easy?
Our entire family is on board. Our girls love this ministry and serving children in our home. Our past experiences and knowing the Lord will meet us in the hard places. The support system that is built into the Safe Families structure that allows for access to resources - prayer, meals, tangible needs in order to take on a placement like this with very little time to plan and prepare. We are tremendously thankful that we don’t do this alone and are beyond grateful for the generosity and support we have already experienced over the past week. Through this ministry, we have also seen the gospel lived out as others give in sacrificial ways.
With gratitude-
Chad, Christie, Charis, Chara & Caelin