In 2014, Alan and Linda Baker, married for 30 years at the time, went on a mission trip to Belize with their two grown daughters. They returned to Belize in 2016 for another mission trip and spent time at a children’s home. While there, Alan and Linda met four sisters between the ages of 2 and 12 who they began bonding with. Upon returning home, Alan and Linda eventually decided that they wanted to answer God’s call to care for orphans and adopt all four of these girls. For the past 4 years, Alan and Linda have experienced many unexpected bumps, twists, and turns in the difficult road of international adoption. Despite many discouraging setbacks at times, Alan and Linda pushed forward in faith, believing that God had called them to make these girls a part of their family. Finally, on January 14, 2021, Alan and Linda boarded a plane to Belize to bring their new daughters (Ashanti – age 16, Monica – age 10, Rihanna – age 9, and Kourtney – age 6) home. They shared with ICM that their initial meeting with the girls upon arrival went well and that they all enjoyed their time together in Belize. Once they finally got the girls’ visas (after setbacks with their Embassy appointment) and everyone tested negative for Covid-19, the Bakers were allowed to head back to the states. On January 27th, the (much larger) Baker family finally arrived home. Please join us in praying for this wonderful family as they all enter into a time of many transitions and adjustments. Alan and Linda have asked for prayers for the girls as they adjust to a new home, school, and culture. They have also asked for prayers for the two of them as they go from being empty nesters to having a full house again. In addition, they shared the following: “We’d also like to just praise Jesus for the wonderful people who have been our support system. We couldn’t do it without them.” ICM couldn’t be happier for the Bakers, and we look forward to continuing to walk alongside them on their adoption journey throughout their post-adoption phase.
Prayers and Praises
1. Thank the Lord for his provision of adoption in the lives of children in need of a forever family.
2. Pray the Lord will lead and guide the ministry of ICM as we seek to continue to serve every child and family we come in contact with in the year ahead.
3. Pray the Lord will provide for the financial and volunteer needs of ICM in 2021.
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