Robin Freeman, Foster Mom, Mt. Bethel UMC Community of Care

The Freemans: Changing hearts, changing lives

 

When the call came in about a set of premature twin babies who were being removed from their parents' custody, FaithBridge Foster Care CEO, Bill Hancock, knew exactly who to call. Robin and Greg Freeman of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church foster care ministry had become FaithBridge's "go to" foster family for babies in that county.

But even Robin acknowledged that caring for two infants born six weeks premature was a challenge. For any parent, adjusting to a newborn's feeding schedule can be tiring, but when there are two newborns who also happen to be attached to beeping heart and lung monitors, it can be exhausting. Robin found that everything she did took a long time. "When we would go out, it would take about six trips just to get to the car. There were babies, monitors, diapers, keys?I would get somewhere and realize I had forgotten to eat. It was round the clock."

Despite the sleep deprivation, Robin persevered and ended up learning a lot about herself in the process. She acknowledges that she had a tendency to downplay her own inner strength, labeling herself as "not tough." But the experience with the twins changed how she looked at herself. "I learned that I don't give up. It was hard. I can do really hard things and I don't give up," Robin shares.

The Freemans' experience with fostering has led to a lot of self-discovery, as well as a realization that God's plan for us may not always be what we expect. Robin admits that when she first heard the calling, she wanted to pretend she didn't.

"There was a sermon at the church, but we weren't there for it. When I heard about it, I felt like it was God's calling. My first thought was 'please no.' At the time, my little one was in kindergarten. I had other plans?other things to do. But I felt this prodding in my heart that I could do this. I don't know how to explain it."

Robin and Greg went on to participate in FaithBridge Foster Care's weekend impact training and became part of Mount Bethel's foster care ministry. In June of 2007, they received their first placement. Since then, the Freemans have fostered six children-all of whom have been under the age of two. But even with that, Robin acknowledges that what she expected and what God provided were very different.

"People assume I'm such a baby person because we always take them in. But really, around nine years old was my favorite age. God changed me in that way. He gave me an openness to be willing to go there and try it out. Now, I love our babies. I have no doubt that God changes hearts."

Read about another foster family: NEWS | Read about another foster family: The Lotts