Spurring Each Other On

I’ve recently been reflecting on the amazing-ness of the Bamboo Tribe:

Last week, two Bamboo families from opposite edges of Tennessee met together for dinner to swap adoption stories and encourage each other; they had never met, but were instant friends.

This week, two different families—one from Wyoming, one from Virginia, left to pick up their sweet bamboo children. This is the fourth trip to China for the Virginia family and they have been such an encouragement to the first time family from Wyoming!  They will meet up together at the US Consulate in about ten days.

Tomorrow, a family from Georgia will be arriving home with their newest Bamboo daughter. During their layover in Seattle, we will be meeting up with them and another local Bamboo family who is expecting to travel during the holidays. We’ll be providing Starbucks, homemade snacks, and enough hugs to carry them through their last leg home.

Next week, two Bamboo mommas, from Minnesota and Pennsylvania respectively, will meet face-to-face for the first time as they fly to Southwest China on a missions trip to love on children in a Christian foster home and to encourage our precious Chinese brothers & sisters there.  This is the province that Isaac is from---I’m SO VERY EXCITED that they are going to minister to those that ministered to my child, and they get to do it together. 

Two weeks ago a 6 year old Bamboo sister asked her parents to Facetime another Bamboo sibling three states away, because they had met at the Bamboo reunion and she missed her. <3

These are just a few of this month's examples of the care and encouragement this group of families provide to each other. It happens like this ALL the time…it’s so beautiful to watch; and incredible to be a part of. I am motivated by this group of families. 

Yes, we’ve all adopted children with Down syndrome from China, that is true—and really, on paper, that is the only similarity that binds us (we all come from wildly different backgrounds!)—but the familiarity is so much more than that. It is an instant trust, an immediate connection, it’s a confident safety in their presence because they love Jesus like we’ve been called to do.—humbly, graciously, passionately, full of crazy-scary faith. They are actively caring for the widow and the orphan and going out of their way to inspire those around them to do the same. They are walking out the Gospel with each other and that equates to “brotherly love” in God’s vocabulary.  We call it our Tribe. 

I don't know that there is a magic recipe other than what the Word says. Find the people who are loving Jesus like you (similar callings? same ministry? shared passions or giftings?) then encourage, build each other up, serve each other, serve together, be humble and compassionate, have fun, spur each other on to love and to good works (Heb 10:24)! Get connected and fellowship. Bear each other's burdens and love Jesus together. Find your tribe...love them hard...because this is how "all men will know that we are His disciples" (John 13:35)