La Casa de la Esperanza de los Walker

En el año 2017, nos pidieron a mi esposo Dyecol y a mí que fuéramos los pastores interinos de la Iglesia de la Biblia Abierta Palabra de Vida en Lehigh Acres, Florida. Poco sabíamos que nuestras dos semanas como pastores interinos se convertirían en siete años y sumando. Después de aceptar la llamada a ser los pastores permanentes, nos trasladamos a Lehigh en septiembre, justo después del paso del huracán Iván. No había electricidad en la ciudad y parecía que nos adentrábamos en la oscuridad y el caos. No me di cuenta de que también estábamos adentrándonos en lo que sería el resto de nuestras vidas.

Dyecol y yo nunca habíamos tenido hijos juntos. Poco después de mudarnos a Lehigh, vimos un anuncio de una agencia de adopción. Dyecol fue a la oficina de la agencia para obtener más información, y no transcurrió mucho tiempo antes de que estuviéramos asistiendo a una clase sobre adopción. El instructor de la clase hizo hincapié en que las posibilidades de adoptar a través del programa de cuidado de crianza serían mucho mayores, y no tardamos en recibir nuestra primera llamada para acoger a una niña de tres años llamada Isabella. Nunca olvidaré cuando vi a aquella niña asustada entrar por nuestra puerta. La tomé en mis brazos, apoyó la cabeza en mi hombro y mi futuro quedó sellado.

Apenas hacía un mes que teníamos a Isabella cuando recibimos una llamada para una segunda niña, María. Ruby, la hermana de María, se uniría a ella unos meses más tarde y, poco después de Ruby, recibimos una llamada para otra hija, la numero cuatro, nuestra primera recién nacida. Esta bebé solo tenía seis días y había nacido siendo adicta a las drogas. Nos dijeron que sus padres no la querían y nos entusiasmó la idea de que pudiera ser nuestra. La acogimos, la desintoxicamos y ella empezó a desarrollarse. Fue entonces cuando su padre biológico decidió que la quería. La situación se complicó aún más porque nuestras esperanzas de adoptar a las otras niñas se desvanecieron casi al mismo tiempo. Estábamos destrozados. Esta experiencia de saborear la maternidad me convenció de que quería volver a ser madre, pero ser padres de crianza era demasiado difícil. Me dije a mí misma: «¡¡¡Nunca jamás!!!». Hasta que recibí la siguiente llamada.

“Ms. Walker, I have a little girl for you….”

“I don’t know, we’re taking a break.”

“Ms. Walker, I’m telling you, you’re going to want this little girl.”

(Deep Breath.) “Okay.”

Our case worker brought over this ten-year-old little girl with big old grandma glasses, fuzzy hair, and the cutest smile. That little girl walked into our lives, and she has changed us forever. Her name is Anna-Tae Walker, and she became our first adopted daughter. Two months later, we were introduced to our daughter Heavenly. We loved her from the moment we saw her. Sometimes you just know. I said to my husband, “She’s not leaving.” True to my word, Heavenly AND her brother Joshua became ours through adoption.

Sometimes God walks you through a process of loss and then He dumps blessing on you when you least expect it. I didn’t understand why we couldn’t have the first little girls we tried to adopt, but God said no. He knew who our kids were.

Despite my having three adopted children, I continued to take new placements. My first experiences fostering almost broke me, but as I continued to say “yes” to each new child, God reinforced my heart with His strength. Instead of shrinking with each loss, my heart grows bigger as I watch family reunifications. God has gifted me with the capacity to love and to lose.

One night as I was lying on my bed, the Lord gave me a word: “Walker’s House of Hope.” I told my husband, “This is what we’re going to name the house where we raise the children God brings to us.” We started praying, “Lord, if you give us a bigger house we will take more children.” At that time, we had seven children in a three-bedroom house. It wasn’t long before the Lord provided us with a four-bedroom house.

I got the call almost immediately: “Ms. Walker, we have a sibling group of three.”

“You know I have seven children, right?”

“Yes, Ms. Walker, but you were born for this.”

Immediately the voice of the Lord came to me, reminding me of my prayer. He had given me a bigger house; I was obligated to fulfill my promise. So, we ran out and bought another bunk bed.

Today, we have ten children: three adopted and seven fostered. Every day after school, I hear ten voices at once, beautiful chaos. Each time I say aloud, “I have ten children,” I can’t believe it – not because it’s too much, but because it feels comfortable. When I dream about the future, I see myself with even more children, running around a big property and coming in to eat dinner around our huge kitchen table. I have found my calling, and I am believing for God to gift us with the house that’s as big as my heart.

I had a sign made that hangs in our current home: “Walker’s House of Hope.” When I look at it, I say to God, “This is not it. But this is it for now.”

Seven years ago, we moved to a city that was in chaos and darkness. Today, we live in a home of chaos and light. And as I look around my busy kitchen table, I have never been more excited about the rest of my life.

About the Author

Taneasha Walker

Taneasha Walker is currently co-pastoring Word of Life Open Bible Church in Lehigh Acres, Florida, with her husband Dyecol. She serves on the Southeast Regional Board as an At- Large member. Taneasha has gained experience in every area of ministry, using this knowledge to effectively care for the local church body as well as the children that have been entrusted to her. She is passionate about prayer, utilizing it in every endeavor. In her free time, Taneasha’s hobbies include reading, singing, and traveling.