How the Journey Began
We began discussing adoption during our engagement. From that time we have prayed that the Lord might allow us to some day adopt. Over the years our desire has only grown. We have had several friends whose lives somehow have been touched by adoption. Being around these friends has strengthened our desire. For the last several years we have just been waiting for God's timing.
In the Spring of 2004 we began to do some research about adoption. Because we already had two young boys, the possibilities for a domestic adoption didn't appear very promising. At the time our boys were two and a half and almost one. The research indicated we might have difficulty adopting a baby since we already had two young boys. We didn't think it would be wise for us to adopt an older child at this stage, and that seemed to foreclose most of the options domestically. We began to investigate the international options.
As we continued to research international adoption, we began to turn our attention to China. China's process is well defined, and there is a significant need. For those reasons and many others, we eventually found ourselves attracted to China. However, at the end of our research, we realized that finances would be a barrier for us. We began to pray more fervently that the Lord would provide the finances.
Later that fall some friends in our church who knew we were praying about the possibility of adopting invited us to their home. As the evening was winding down they told us they had some exciting news: they would be giving us a financial gift so that we could begin the process. We were elated! Finances had been the only barrier. What an exciting indication that the Lord's timing had arrived.
There are so many good agencies out there to facilitate adoptions from China. Initially we narrowed our choices down to three. One soon began to stand out to us: America World Adoption Association. America World's "vision" resonated with us. It also didn't hurt that they offered pastors a 50% discount on their agency fees. We couldn't be happier with them. They have been extremely helpful to us in the process up to this point. Everyone we have interacted with at America World has been thoroughly professional, but also refreshingly encouraging.
In the Spring of 2004 we began to do some research about adoption. Because we already had two young boys, the possibilities for a domestic adoption didn't appear very promising. At the time our boys were two and a half and almost one. The research indicated we might have difficulty adopting a baby since we already had two young boys. We didn't think it would be wise for us to adopt an older child at this stage, and that seemed to foreclose most of the options domestically. We began to investigate the international options.
As we continued to research international adoption, we began to turn our attention to China. China's process is well defined, and there is a significant need. For those reasons and many others, we eventually found ourselves attracted to China. However, at the end of our research, we realized that finances would be a barrier for us. We began to pray more fervently that the Lord would provide the finances.
Later that fall some friends in our church who knew we were praying about the possibility of adopting invited us to their home. As the evening was winding down they told us they had some exciting news: they would be giving us a financial gift so that we could begin the process. We were elated! Finances had been the only barrier. What an exciting indication that the Lord's timing had arrived.
There are so many good agencies out there to facilitate adoptions from China. Initially we narrowed our choices down to three. One soon began to stand out to us: America World Adoption Association. America World's "vision" resonated with us. It also didn't hurt that they offered pastors a 50% discount on their agency fees. We couldn't be happier with them. They have been extremely helpful to us in the process up to this point. Everyone we have interacted with at America World has been thoroughly professional, but also refreshingly encouraging.
posted by Shawn at
Saturday, September 03, 2005
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