Gotcha Day, May 6 - by Andy

May 6th is "Gotcha Day" for Will and Lena. This was the day our family had been awaiting for a long time - the day that Will and Lena would leave behind their lives in eastern Europe and become part of our family. Excitement was high that day a few weeks ago in Chisinau, Moldova, as we were driving to Will's orphanage. When we are almost there, our agent, Albina, calls and asks if we have clothes for the kids. We had packed clothes for Will and Lena but they were back at our apartment - all the way across town. Albina explained that the kids could take nothing from the orphanage - not even the underwear they were wearing. We turned around and went back to get new clothes. About an hour later we get to the orphanage.

Will said his goodbyes to friends and caregivers - including Ana, who had cared for him since he was seven days old. Then, he stripped off his old clothes and put on new. Leaving his home for the past six and a half years, Will Birchfield walked out of the orphanage with new clothes and a new name!

We then load up and drive to Lena's orphanage where we go through the same steps. She takes off layers and layers of old clothes, puts on new outfit, and walks out of the orphanage as part of our family. To me it was a striking, living picture of what Christ has done for us. He has replaced our filthy rags with robes of His righteousness and adopted us into His forever family. In Christ, we are now and forever children of the King of kings!

Will getting changed

Lena getting changed