'God's ways are not only higher than our ways,
they are perfect' (from BSF notes on Genesis)
Forty years ago I began a new season in my life, parenting. At the time, I did not realize it was going to be such a long season. Now one of my favorite things to hashtag is #parentingisforever
Forty years ago, I was also a high school business teacher. I was just into my third year of teaching when I sensed God leading me to give up my career and become a stay at home mom. What did that even mean? Bill and I talked it over - at the time he was a youth pastor and I was making almost as much as he was as a teacher. We started praying about it and begin preparing to live on one income. We made two major decisions to make this financially possible - pay cash for our cars and pay our credit card balance every month. That was it. We have lived on one income by these 2 budgeting steps for 40 years.
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At that time, I began praying that God would give me a career when my job of rearing children was done. In 2003, I had 2 kids in college and a 5 year old. One morning before church I prayed and asked God if He was ever going to answer my prayer. As audibly as I have ever heard Him speak, he said, ‘your children aren’t grown yet.’ I took that as a no for now and continued parenting and helping Bill grow our church.
Fast forward to 2021. This August my oldest child turns 40 and my youngest is 22. I am celebrating my 65th birthday in July. We are now in a season of preparing for retirement. However, in my case, I am retiring from full-time parenting.
Through a series of what you might call ‘unlikely events’ God has orchestrated a job for me that could only come from Him. He has been preparing me for this job for 40 years. I was offered a job with Saving Susan, a unique ministry that elevates orphan care in developing countries through local Christian partnerships. At this time, they have partnerships with orphanages in Cambodia and Guatemala.
They partner each child with a loving Christian family, enrich their education, and support them holistically on their path to fulfilling God’s will for their lives. Saving Susan works in countries whose borders are closed to international adoption. The parent partners are able to Zoom with their adopted children often. They also have the opportunity to visit their child on a Saving Susan Sponsored Field Trip.
My official title is ‘Field Trip & Partner Relations Director. In a nutshell, that means I reach out to churches and pastors and offer them an opportunity to partner with Saving Susan. There is no financial obligation on the part of the church, just an opportunity to share their story and invite others to become involved in the life of one orphan.
I have been praying for several weeks about how to share this new adventure. Some of you have walked with our family for years and shared our journey. We have served in churches together and forged a friendship that is very important to me. Hopefully you can see why I wanted you to know about what God is doing in my life.
Even though God has prepared me in my many ways for this new adventure, there is one way that I am having to learn. God’s word says ‘Ask and it will be given to you’ That has always been difficult for me. I’m a doer not an asker. However, over the years many that are receiving this letter have asked us to support you in what God was calling you to do and we have been happy to do so.
You might be wondering what the ask is going to be in this letter. Well here it is. I am asking you to pray for me and for Bill as we begin this new season. Bill is preparing to retire from our church in the not too distant future (Covid has definitely extended our ministry here). We are praying about where to live and exactly what this new season looks like for us.
I am also asking you to pray for this ministry. Pray about sharing this ministry with those you know that have a heart for orphans, foster care and missions. Saving Susan began in 2015 after a couple went on a mission trip to Cambodia with their church in 2013. They met an orphaned girl that they wanted to adopt but soon learned that borders in Cambodia were closed to international adoption, mainly because of human trafficking. The overhead for Saving Susan is provided through their tent making job - an elevator company. 100% of the money donated to Saving Susan goes directly to the children and orphanage where they live.
And lastly, I’m asking you to consider inviting us to share with your church through your Sunday school class, small group or at a worship service. Bill is also asking pastor friends to let him fill the pulpit for them when they are on vacation. This gives him an opportunity to continue to preach and me an opportunity to share about Saving Susan.
You can contact me directly at Allyson@savingsusanministry.org or text me at 205-534-0035
The website for Saving Susan is www.savingsusanministtry.org
In 2016, I went on a trip with a social good company to Cambodia. Meeting a local pastor opened the door for me to know about Saving Susan.
