The History Behind It All

For years Sheryl has asked "What do you think about the idea of adopting?" and my answer was always "I'm not interested". For years I took mission trips to various countries and experienced orphanages in Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, India, and China. It wasn't until my first trip to India in September, 2003 that the idea of adopting even became a thought or consideration. The children in the orphanage at the India Gospel League in Salem, India captured my heart and intrigued me how these children could exude such light, hope, smiles, and love given their circumstances. The answer had nothing to do with their "less than ideal" family history and circumstances and more to do with their current status and the transformation that had occurred in their lives. They had traded the past filled with sadness for a future filled with hope, love, and acceptance. The hope that they have comes from the Gospel and from a certainty of their eternity through a free gift offered by God through Jesus. Their eternity no longer depended on their performance and in satisfying all of the various Hindu gods. Their eternity depended on a gift and not on human effort - all they had to do was accept the gift. That gift became the "light" in their lives and eventually a light for other small villages in southern India. The India Gospel League does not place their orphans for adoption but sends them back into their villages after completing their education so they can be that "light" and share the hope and The Truth they have with their own people.

On November 6, 2006 Sheryl requested that we each spend 30 days praying about the possibility of adopting. Reluctantly, I agreed. I soon came to realize that my comfort was more important than my spiritual growth and obedience. Life was becoming a little less hectic as our three biological children aged and matured. I may have been running and exercising my physical body but I was doing nothing to exercise my faith. "Without faith it is impossible to please God..." Hebrews 11:6. Twenty-eight years ago I accepted a gift that has changed my life and the course of my life since receiving that gift. If I was given such a great gift that I did not deserve then how could I possibly withhold the gift of a family and a home for a child in an orphanage - because I was selfish and wanted comfort? Hardly!! Obviously, the decision was evident. On December 8, 2006, Sheryl and I agreed to begin the adoption process. We spent several months deciding on where to adopt (China) and on an adoption agency (Family Adoption Consultants - FAC). After completing piles of paperwork, fingerprinting, and a home study, our paperwork (dossier) was submitted to the Chinese Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) on November 1, 2007. We have now been waiting for over 2 years. Are we concerned whether we have the energy, patience, and money to become parents for a 4th time? - Sure. But God has always been faithful - especially when we step out in faith on Him.

On December 2, 2009 we were given 48 hours to make a decision on the referral of a little girl who had a repaired cleft lip. All of the reports from the medical specialists that we consulted came back very positive. But at the last moment, we felt too hurried and rushed into making a decision and we released the referral back into the "system" with the knowledge from the adoption agency that we could never access her again. Our family experienced a sadness and a regret and we knew that our decision would have been different if only we had been given more time. Two weeks later we were contacted by the adoption agency and informed that the little girl that we had reviewed and released was actually on a different list and was available for 3 months to the agency. After inquiring whether we could consider her again, FAC contacted the CCAA and FAC later informed us that we could have a 2nd chance. God does work miracles and He is faithful. On December 28, 2009 we informed FAC of our decision to accept the referral of Zhou Hui - who has since become known as Grace to our family. She will have a new family, a new life, and a new name. Sound familiar? When we make the decision to accept God's free gift and place our trust in Christ then we are adopted into the family of God and given a new life. We are now waiting on our approval by the CCAA so we can proceed with the next steps and with travel plans. It currently appears that we will be traveling to China between the end of March and the middle of May of this year. Our desire is also that Sheryl and I will be able to take all three of our kids when we go to China to spend our two weeks picking up our new daughter and completing the final paper work. Hope to know more soon.