In the very short (or NOT so short) time that we have been on this adoption journey I have been asked many, many, mannny questions about our story. "When are you going", "how much does it cost", "are you crazy" (yes everyone just loves being asked that :)), and last but not least, "Why international when there are so many children here who need to be adopted? Why not help out your own?" Yesterday that last one was even followed up by, "just make sure you don't get one that has issues that's just horrible for the parents!" That last one felt like a slap in the face and I wasn't sure I was going to be able to pick my jaw up off the floor! Aside for the last comment, I have no problem answering questions. I actually enjoy it because I feel like people are genuinely interested in not only our life, but the process. But I must say I've always had a hard time answering the why international. I mean I know why I chose international. It's where we felt God was leading us to go. Plain and simple. Now trying to explain that fact is not as plain and simple to others. I am by no means saying I have great faith, because I lack that more times than I can count, but I just knew. Like the day you said yes to your husband. Yes you were nervous still of the unknowns, and you weren't sure where the journey might take you, and you for SURE had no clue what you were REALLY saying yes to, but you just put your faith into saying yes. When we said yes to China a peace washed over me that I was right where I was suppose to be. Right where He wanted me to be. Now to explain that to someone who doesn't believe in God...that is another story.
The longer I have been walking this road the more assurance I have that we are doing His will. I was reading this great article by a man named Sam Mclure and he said that:
"First, there are around 100,000 orphans in the United States compared to 167 million orphans worldwide. According to The Washington Post, there were over 600,000 women in America waiting to adopt in August of 2008. In other words, if every woman in America adopted one child domestically, there would still be over 500,000 women willing to adopt. However, even if these 500,000 women adopted internationally, there would still be a over 11 million international orphans needing care. Now, think for moment. In 2007, 78.4% of the United States’ population of 302 million considered themselves Christian. James 1:27 commands the Church to care for the widow and the orphan. If less than half of these 236,768,000 American Church members took this command to heart and cared for the child that God had placed in their hearts, there wouldn’t be an orphan problem, in the United States or anywhere else."
600,000 waiting to adopt in America!!! does that tell you how easy it is to adopt in America??? Sad isn't it? Another sad fact, adoption has gone down 50% in 2012! There are so many kids just waiting for us. SOOO MANY!!! If we as Americans who have so much more privilege don't reach out to them, who will?
Please PLEASE hear me and do not misread what I'm writing. There are many children here in America who need people to bring them into their homes, whether it is to adopt or foster. Right now, where we are in our lives, we don't feel called to do that. Josh and I have always said when our kids are older and out of the house we hope to be foster parents. And being to be called to adopt from America is an amazing opportunity as well!!! I write this only to share where we are coming from in our journey in the here and now.
Please know we both love love love it when we can share with anyone where we are in our journey...unless your telling me I'm crazy...that I can do without :).
Hope you all have a blessed day!!!!
To read the rest of this amazing article go to:
http://www.theadoptionfirm.com/2013/02/21/ill-tell-you-why-reflections-on-domestic-and-international-adoption-by-anne-louise-pass/
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ReplyDeleteOne thing about international adoption is that the international babies and children are on average much worse off than an American child who is not adopted. While much more needs to be done to help get children adopted in America too, we do know that no child in America will be abandoned by the government or foster care program. Sure the kids won't always get what the deserve, but they at least won't be thrown in a dumpster, killed, or left on the street. In many other countries kids don't have this privilege. In fact in some other countries such as China if you are an orphan and do survive to adulthood, you will never be considered a normal citizen. There will always be a stigma on you and you will never have a chance. The government doesn't recognize that you exist as a citizen. In America not only is it unlikely that adoption will literally save a life, the kids in America will have the full rights of an American citizen and need not fear the same level of stigma as they would in other countries.
ReplyDeleteThank you thank you for posting that!!! I totally meant to add that to my post! Very true, I have heard this point many times and is another reassurance that we were heading where we were suppose to be! :) Thank you for adding that!
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