Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Why Adoption? Why China?
Most of you know that we are in the process of adopting a baby girl or twin girls from China. You have probably read my profile or you have gone here to read about us. We are almost 6 months into our wait. I'd love to share with you all why we are adopting and why China.
First of all,we have a desire to add to our family. Adoption has actually been on our hearts for many years. Our desire to adopt has deepened as we have researched and read books on adoption related topics. We were amazed to find that there are an estimated 20 million orphans worldwide and about 3.5 million in China alone! China has a large percent of orphans and most of them are girls or special needs children. This is due to the one child policy that is enforced by the Chinese government. The penalties for having unauthorized children are severe if discovered and can consist of being fined a years salary for the poorer chinese people, the loss of a job, imprisonment, social ostracism, etc. Abortion has become a very common practice in China to eliminate pregnancies of baby girls or even children with slight defects. The chinese typically prefer having boys because the sons will take care of their aging parents. They are the family's social security. The funny thing is it is illegal to abandon a child...so the birth parents are not allowed to keep their child (if it is their second child), nor can they set up for their child to be adopted. The parents or birthmothers are forced then to have an abortion or secretly abandon their child upon the streets or marketplaces of China...hoping someone will find them. Sometimes,the babies do not even survive being abandoned. The number of abandoned babies in China has caused the need to have government run institutions in China called orphanages. These are common place institutions all over the country, much like a courthouse to us. The *nannies* in these government run orphanages take very good care of the babies. The Chinese people truly love children and want them to be in happy homes. Although most of the nannies are very loving and nurturing, most babies do not receive adequate personal attention. Most of the baby girls are slightly malnourished, often sickly, and have development delays. Please pray for our baby, Lydia...that she will would have loving caretakers and that God's hand would protect her and prepare her for attaching to us, as her parents.
The reason for us adopting does not just evolve from our feeling of sympathy for the conditions in China. It is also not simply that we desire for more children...it does go deeper than that. WE are believers and have strong convictions that lie in God's Word. We believe God has a heart for the orphan child. His heart for the fatherless is quite obvious in scripture. God mentions orphans and the fatherless time after time to convey to us that they should be important to us,too. He cares for them and defends them. But, He doesn't stop there! He also tells us that we must care for them if we want to practice true religion.
It is time for our family to really do something in regards to helping the orphan child. We have always considered adoption as a way to add to our family. Now, God is bringing that reality into our lives. It may not be that adoption is for you...it is not for everybody, but there are things you can do to help! Your family could:
After much prayer,study, and heart searching, we believe it is right for us to bring one(or two) of these baby girls into our family as one of our own. We rejoice in God's providential plan for us. We are certainly unworthy of His graciousness and kindness, but we want to trust in His purposes and plans.
To God be the glory!
You can read more about Help for Orphans here!
First of all,we have a desire to add to our family. Adoption has actually been on our hearts for many years. Our desire to adopt has deepened as we have researched and read books on adoption related topics. We were amazed to find that there are an estimated 20 million orphans worldwide and about 3.5 million in China alone! China has a large percent of orphans and most of them are girls or special needs children. This is due to the one child policy that is enforced by the Chinese government. The penalties for having unauthorized children are severe if discovered and can consist of being fined a years salary for the poorer chinese people, the loss of a job, imprisonment, social ostracism, etc. Abortion has become a very common practice in China to eliminate pregnancies of baby girls or even children with slight defects. The chinese typically prefer having boys because the sons will take care of their aging parents. They are the family's social security. The funny thing is it is illegal to abandon a child...so the birth parents are not allowed to keep their child (if it is their second child), nor can they set up for their child to be adopted. The parents or birthmothers are forced then to have an abortion or secretly abandon their child upon the streets or marketplaces of China...hoping someone will find them. Sometimes,the babies do not even survive being abandoned. The number of abandoned babies in China has caused the need to have government run institutions in China called orphanages. These are common place institutions all over the country, much like a courthouse to us. The *nannies* in these government run orphanages take very good care of the babies. The Chinese people truly love children and want them to be in happy homes. Although most of the nannies are very loving and nurturing, most babies do not receive adequate personal attention. Most of the baby girls are slightly malnourished, often sickly, and have development delays. Please pray for our baby, Lydia...that she will would have loving caretakers and that God's hand would protect her and prepare her for attaching to us, as her parents.
The reason for us adopting does not just evolve from our feeling of sympathy for the conditions in China. It is also not simply that we desire for more children...it does go deeper than that. WE are believers and have strong convictions that lie in God's Word. We believe God has a heart for the orphan child. His heart for the fatherless is quite obvious in scripture. God mentions orphans and the fatherless time after time to convey to us that they should be important to us,too. He cares for them and defends them. But, He doesn't stop there! He also tells us that we must care for them if we want to practice true religion.
James 1:27 says: Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: To visit the widows and orphans in their distress, and to keep onesself as unstained by the world.
It is time for our family to really do something in regards to helping the orphan child. We have always considered adoption as a way to add to our family. Now, God is bringing that reality into our lives. It may not be that adoption is for you...it is not for everybody, but there are things you can do to help! Your family could:
1) Participate in mission trips to China or to orphanages around the world
2) Provide financial support for organizations that minister to orphans
3) Help organize an orphan's ministry at your local church
4) Pray for the orphans.....especially the lost daughters of China!
After much prayer,study, and heart searching, we believe it is right for us to bring one(or two) of these baby girls into our family as one of our own. We rejoice in God's providential plan for us. We are certainly unworthy of His graciousness and kindness, but we want to trust in His purposes and plans.
Psalm 68:5-6 tells us that God is the father to the fatherless, God delights in setting the lonely in families.We have been given the blessed gift of adoption, recognizing that adoption is a perfect picture of what God has done for each of us who proclaim Christ as Lord, by making us HIS child!
To God be the glory!
You can read more about Help for Orphans here!
I am a stay at home mother to 4. I am very blessed to have a godly husband who loves the Lord and his family. I welcome the days of much needed grace,the times of sweet victories,and the tears of trials,knowing it is all for God's glory. I want my lifesong to sing to Him,the author and finisher of my faith. Soli Deo Gloria--To the Glory of God alone.
22 Comments:
I'm so excited for you. I've wanted to adopt since before I had kids and hope that someday that will be a reality.
This is a wonderful journey you are on. We brought our daughter home from China in December, right before Christmas. It was a very long wait (2 years start to finish) but she has been such a blessing and joy. We are truly amazed and blessed that God saw fit to bring her to our family. As a proud mamma I must share some pics of her
http://mysite.verizon.net/shelbyfamily7/
Jill
You should check out my pastor's blog, pathood.org, and his wife's blog, amyrhood.blogspot.com. They just got their referral and pictures yesterday. She is beautiful and looks really healthy. I think adoption is an amazing way to grow a family!
That is a beautiful post Kim. You have quite a way with words.
THANK YOU for this post - truly inspiring! I'm praying for Lydia!
Hi, Kim
Just found your blog through a friend. We also are in the process of adoption through CCAI...our LID is 8/29/06. We have three bio kids, also homeschool, and enjoy many of the same great teachers that you mention. Thanks for your great blog! We'll look forward to following your journey!
Amy,
Please leave an email address,blog adress, or some way to get in touch with you. It sounds like we have a lot in common!
Kim
It's so exciting to learn more about this journey of yours! Do you know who Lydia is, or is Lydia the name you've chosen for the baby girl God brings you? It's an honor to pray over this process for your family!
What an exciting time for you, Kim. And, thanks for posting this.
Kim,
James 1:27 was the verse that motivated us to adopt. We brought Emmaline home from China in Nov. 2005. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns re: adopted girls from China. Our first year with Emmaline was definitely very difficult due to attachment issues and physical problems.
Woo-hoo!!! (Twins- I had no idea of that possibility for y'all!!) I am praying, as I pray daily for our future children, I lift up your family as well.
Blessings on this journey!
Stacey,
Well,we have requested twins and our homestudy okayed us for twins...but it is highly unlikely since we already have other children. If God sees it as best,though...I guess anything is possible! I am praying for twins but I am blessed and content with however the Lord works it out!
Thanks for your prayers!
Kim
I learned so much that I didn't know, and was reminded of things I don't focus on enough. Thanks.
I'm curious to know if "Lydia" is the name for one you will adopt one day, or is she a certain baby that you are already aware of. Are you in the process of adopting her now, or still waiting for the process to start. So many questions...I probably missed it in an earlier post.
Ok, I read back and see that you might get twins, so I think that answered my question, that you don't know who yet, but Lydia will be the name, right?
Hi,Darlene!
We are 6 months into the wait for a referral. The wait right now is 12-16 months! Then at the end of the wait,we will receive a picture and all medical info that is known on her. We will travel to China 6 weeks after that. Her name will be Lydia...or if we happen to get twins, Lydia and Louisa probably. We do not know her yet,but decided to name her,so we can pray specifically for her by name. God knows who she is and where she is right at this moment and I am sure He has little Lydia in His hands. She may or may not even been born yet. I'm thinking that the birthmother is pregnant now,or she could be born. We just don't know. We have requested as young as possible,but qualify for a baby or babies up to 2 years old.
I was not sure where to answer,so I decided here,so others could read it.
Thanks!
Kim
Kim, what a beautiful post and I say a loud, hearty "Amen" to every word.
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I love that you have named her and are praying for her wherever she is right now. So exciting.
I have always felt the need to pray for my children's future spouses... to pray that they are being nurtured now and taught how to be good spouses and parents someday, that my children grow up to meet wonderful Christian people to share their lives with. I know God knows who they are already and it gives me comfort to know they are being molded to be ready for my precious children.
I will also pray for Lydia. She will be a very blessed child.
Annie
I always had adoption in the back of my mind, or in my heart? Since we only have one child who is 9 now...
God Bless,
Candy
Thanks for sharing part of what has led you to adoption. Reading about God's call to adoption for other believers is very encouraging to me right now.
What a wonderful journey you are on and I will enjoy following along with you. What a blessing!
Thank you for sharing,
Laura
I've enjoyed reading your adoption story!
We adopted our two daughters 4.5 yrs. ago from Russia at ages 9 and 12.5 yrs. We never cease to be amazed at what God has accomplished not only in our daughters, but us too!
Looking forward to watching your story unfold in the days/weeks/months to come!
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