It’s okay to be scared. That means you’re about to do something really brave.
“Are you sure?” I asked my husband with a fear in my eyes. Then he said something I’ll never forget. “We have always said we felt the Lord calling us to this. And we will always be able to find excuses for why the time isn’t right.” I nodded as he wrapped me into a hug. I returned the phone call I had received and told them “Okay. We’ll do it. We’ll take him.”
One week later, right after our daughter’s first birthday, our new 15-year-old son moved in. Gianssen is from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and had come to the States to try for better educational opportunities. His parents run a non-profit ministry in the Dominican and had sent his older brother to do the same 6 years prior. Now his brother was starting his junior year at Stetson University in Orlando, Florida playing basketball and Gianssen’s hopes were to follow in his footsteps, earning a basketball scholarship. We committed to a minimum of 3 years (the rest of high school) as his American guardians with the hope of him continuing to college here in the U.S. as well. We voiced that we were not in a financial situation to be able to afford taking him in and all the expenses that come with that; but we were assured financial partners and support would be provided if we would be willing to handle the physical and emotional aspects.
The first few weeks were an adjustment…for everyone. We had to adjust to having a teenage boy in the house. Typical day to day things shifted, not in a bad way just in a different way. Electric and water bills increased and our grocery bill…well it skyrocketed to say the least. It was a transition period for Gianssen too. He went from a home with electricity just a few hours a day to remembering to turn off light switches. From getting cold water 2 days a week to an endless stream of hot water that seemed like it went for days. We had to have conversations like 40 minute showers are too long and lights get turned off when we leave a room. As we all tried to get to know one another better, the days turned to weeks, which turned into months. He was great right from the start; he was respectful, an amazing big brother to Mila, and a hard worker in school and basketball. As time wore on he started to open up more and feel more comfortable. It wasn’t long before he affectionately became “G” to everyone and it was hard to remember what life was like before him.
As people in our community began to meet him and be around him, we would get the same question pretty consistently:
How’s it going with him? What’s it like to have him with Mila being so young?
And we would look at each other and smile because we could honestly answer it’s going great! We love him and he’s such a good kid. The Lord really knew what he was doing when he put us together. But we always had this underlying issue that was pulling at us. We never received the financial partners we were promised. We had individuals donate to us and that was a huge blessing to us. We are so grateful we had so many give in so many ways. But it wasn’t near enough to sustain us moving forward. And we knew eventually, we would have to dip into our own savings account that we had been trying to build up. That is exactly what happened. Fast forward even more and our savings are almost completely gone. We are so far in the hole without having that steady support we were told we would have. We continue to pray and reach out, trying to do whatever we feel is right in asking for help, something I am not great at doing. But we believe the Lord is going to provide like He always has. He will provide ways we can stay together as a family.
Because that is what we are. Gianssen truly has become a part of our family. He has his American parents, sister, grandparents, and the rest of our family. His love for his biological family is still strong–I love that they Facetime every day. We have grown to love his parents and siblings like family as our own. We are so blessed by our Dominican extended family through this son we share. Mila truly adores him and to watch their relationship grow brings tears to my eyes. It is a true mother’s dream to bring a teenage boy in when your first and only baby girl is so little and for him to just overwhelm her in the best way. We see him as our own and truly don’t know what life would be like without him as our bonus boy. We are continuing to pray that the Lord shows His favor on our family and that we seek Him above everything as we grow as individuals and as a unit.
“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Romans 15: 5-7
If you would consider becoming a one time donor or a monthly partner to help us keep our family together, please click the link below! Put our last name “Detrick” in the memo line when you give. All donations are tax deductible and we truly appreciate any consideration you give it. Please be praying for our situation no matter what you decide, as we know the Lord will provide if this is His will.
GIVE HERE! Don’t forget to add “For the Detrick’s” in the memo line please!