October 2009

A SEASON OF ADOPTION

by Terri Conlin

Monte Schmidt

a·dopt (a/dopt) noun      choose for oneself, make one’s own, embrace
huiothesia (Greek) hurios = son + thesis = placement

It only takes 40 minutes each week on a day of his choosing, but it grows beyond its borders into his heart and mind, and even across the years. Monte Schmidt is in his fifth season as a lunch buddy, enjoying lunch and play with a child at risk at a local elementary school. This year he will meet his fourth lunch buddy. Monte is adopting him for a season. The commitment is usually for a school year, up to two consecutive years at most. His first little guy was in fourth grade when Monte began eating lunch with him once a week. During their time together the two became fast friends even outside of the school grounds. As it turns out, Monte knew his baseball coach from church and so the cheering came from both the dugout and the grandstands. That sports bonding eased right into summer fun and beyond the lunch buddy commitment. With the blessing of the boy’s single mom, Monte took him camping with his own sons to Camp Tilikum and, their last official summer together, to the Peak. 

Along the way, Mom came to church a few times full of questions about relationship versus religion, perhaps more wall than wonder. Monte listened and explained, but he knew a mother’s heart would strengthen the team so he connected her with a mentoring mom to walk alongside with encouragement and wisdom.  Judy Howard is a delightful redhead with a swift love for God and a formidable faith hidden behind the gentle sway of a southern drawl. Judy thought she might offer friendship over a cup of coffee, but that never worked out for reasons both big and small. Undeterred, Judy shifted her efforts to academic tutoring as the boy entered the turbulent transition into adolescence. Tutoring led to attending a parent/teacher conference along with Mom.

But smooth was not the way. The tiny family had big problems. A drug-using dad popping in and out of the home, along with mom’s declining health, led to limited work hours, little income and chaos at home. Add to that, poor decision-making and wavering boundaries and, despite emergency help, the family eventually lost their home. With the home front shattered, war had broken out. What began as a season of sowing, trusting and hoping in the LORD for the heart of a boy, became a battleground for a vulnerable family to survive. 

Back to back, Monte and Judy continue to fight for the boy and his mom. Swords are drawn without a weapon in sight. Monte is a wizened warrior when it comes to fighting for families. He realizes the battle will not be beautiful. Judy learned quickly to bring her faithfulness to bear. She understands her commitment may not be matched, still she maintains a regular presence in their lives. When she arrived for her most recent tutoring session, nutritious snack in hand, the house was dark and silent. No one was home, no one had called, no one remembered. She left the snack at the front door. Ministry can bring disappointment and discouragement ringing loudly with the echo of the doorbell, but the whisper of the Father rings true and clear like the peal of church bells every hour on the hour all through the night.