“We had a foster placement for 2 days and woke up to find her gone, along with our 3 month old car!” - Wendy Paape, foster mom
You’re heading out the door to pick up a 17 year old boy from jail whom you supported for 10 months during court hearings & incarceration only to find that A DIFFERENT teen you opened your home just 2 days earlier had stolen your brand new car. What would you do? This happened to Wendy.
Wendy scrambled to borrow a car so she could pick up her foster son who had been charged with carjacking and auto theft. While she was devastated by the theft of her own car, Wendy was about to welcome a young man, who had caused this same devastation to someone else, into her home.
You probably wouldn’t blame Wendy if she changed plans & decided to not pick the 17 year old up from jail or if she threw her hands up and said she was done fostering.
Wendy scrambled to borrow a car so she could pick up her foster son who had been charged with carjacking and auto theft. While she was devastated by the theft of her own car, Wendy was about to welcome a young man, who had caused this same devastation to someone else, into her home.
You probably wouldn’t blame Wendy if she changed plans & decided to not pick the 17 year old up from jail or if she threw her hands up and said she was done fostering.
This is the battle that Wendy and her husband, Brett, have entered into. The enemy seeks to destroy these kids, but you can’t fight for kids without getting roughed up, knocked down, or deeply wounded in the process. They would tell you that they are not heroes or saviors of these children, but merely following God’s direction in obedience. You can’t help them all, but you can help one. You simply go where He says “Go.” You fight for the ones He brings you. Wendy would tell you that you can’t do it alone. You need support. Many well-meaning friends and family have encouraged her to quit. When that happens, where do you turn? Thankfully, they have found hope through Family Gatherings. |
“LoveMoves.Us has really made a difference for us. I’m not sure we’d still be doing foster care without it.” - Wendy & Brett
To learn more about family gatherings and how you can get involved, continue reading here.