Missouri Family Doubles in Size with Adoptions from Peru

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Scott and Lauren Sterling received an email message from Peru that tugged at their hearts. It said, "We need a mommy and daddy." Five individual irresistible pictures were also attached. The message was on behalf of five Peruvian children, ages 9 to 17, who became orphans when their parents passed away from tuberculosis. So, how did the children know about the Sterlings thousands of miles away in Blue Springs, Missouri? Turns out a friend of the Sterlings was in Peru not long ago, met the five children and came up with a plan which was launched when the email was sent.

"Although this faith journey has been tough at times, it has been so worth it. There is light at the end of the tunnel. And God isn't just making 5 lives new because they get a family, he is making our lives new because of what He is doing in us and through you." Lauren Sterling tells K-LOVE News that months went by, but she just couldn't get the children out of her mind. After a lot of thought and prayer, Lauren and husband Scott agreed to pursue adoption and they got the complicated international legal process underway.

Fortunately, the Sterlings, who have two children, Logan and Laney, were not alone in the bold move. Scott is an associate pastor at Gateway Church. The church family raised money to help with the costs involved in the adoption process and travel. The Sterlings also got a bit of a home makeover to accommodate the five new family members. Lauren said, "People painted beds and put together beds and set up the rooms so that it looked like they'd always lived there. I came home yesterday to a target gift card in the mail. I have food dropped off randomly all the time, our pantry was stocked when we got back, stocked like I don't have room for it stocked, some of it's in the garage! I mean, people have gone above and beyond."