02/14/05

OUR ADOPTION STORY

One of the first (and most frequent) questions we are asked when someone finds out that we are adopting from China is "What made you decide to do that?" Clint's and my decision to adopt did not come overnight. After trying to conceve for nearly a year, it was clear that God had a different plan. Could it be that something that had been in my heart for many years was going to re-surface?....
The subject of adoption was not new to us. Five years prior, after having trouble conceiving, we began looking into adoption. We had inquired about adopting from China, but were told that domestic adoption was a better choice for us because we were too young and didn't meet the minimum age requirement for China. To make a long story short, three months into it we became pregnant with our second daughter and didn't pursue it any further.
Fast forward to 2003 - Clint and I both felt our family was complete. Just when we thought we were done, along came the desire to have one more. After many long (and often late) discussions and going back and forth on the issue, it was decided that we would try for 12 months to get pregnant. If it happened, great! If not, then it was not meant to be and we would move on with our lives, content with our two daughters. As the months passed, frustration levels grew with each negative pregnancy test. God started working on me again to consider adoption by putting me in touch with other adoptive parents...at church...at gymnastics...at the mall. TV and radio programs on adoption just happened to be on when I was in the car or turning on the news. God was speaking loud and clear this time!
One night I wept and asked God to either 1) take this burning desire to adopt an orphan away or 2) open the door and show us the way to our daughter, guiding us through the long process it would take to bring her home.
It amazes me how God can work in your life if you let him. I do not know exactly when or where, but he answered my prayer with one of my favorite Bible verses, Proverbs 3: 5-6 :

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

I know at times Clint and I both felt that our two kids were a comfortable balance for our busy lives. God kept tugging at my heart and I decided to pour out my feelings in a letter, eight heart-wrenching pages in all, which I shared with Clint one evening. We prayed with many tears and both felt like God was opening a door for us to adopt, just like he has adopted all of us. We knew that we could not do this alone and He would have to guide us through every step. Our biggest concern was financial - how Lord, are we going to pay for this adoption? He has already begun to answer by opening some doors in this area and we are trusting him to continue to provide the means to get our little girl home.
God has given us an incredible peace in our hearts The unknown can be scary, but if we had not taken a step of faith, we would have missed out on this incredible experience of bringing our new daughter home from the Peoples Republic of China. We don't yet know how old she will be or what she will look like, but we know that God is placing her in our arms for a reason - this child was meant for us. God's plan is a perfect plan, even if we don't realize it at the time.
It is hard to believe now that we just started the paper chase in February and in a few months, we'll be receiving our referral and travelling. The child that has been in our hearts this past year will be in our arms very soon!
 

(Prepare for a Bright Future)

MACEY'S ADOPTION STORY

On the other side of the globe in Tonggu, China, this is how a little Chinese girl named Tong Min Ping began her life and her journey to us. This is taken word-for-word from our translated referral paperwork. (I added english measurement conversions for the metric-impared)

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Child's Progress Information Report

Name: Tong Min Ping     Sex: F     Date of Birth: Feb. 9, 2004

Address: Tonggu County Social Welfare Institution, Jiangxi Province

Reporting Date: July 1, 2004

Tong Min Ping, female, born on Feb. 9, 2004, was picked up at the gate of The Civil Affair Bureau of Tonggu County on Feb 11, 2004 and was then sent to our institution by policemen with with Public Security Division of Tonggu County. The worker of Child Department of our institution gave her name. She was examined by the doctor of our institution and estimated her DOB as Feb. 9, 2004 based on the state of her umbilical cord. Her physical measurement on admission showed height 41cm(16.2"), weight 3.5Kg(7.7lbs), head circumference 30cm(11.8") and chest circumference 30cm(11.8"). On Feb 11, 2004 we completed admission procedures for her after approval of the Civil Affair Bureau.

The child has normal physical development. We visit the foster family weekly to obtain the child's state of life, development and health and teach the foster mother how to raise the child scientifically. The child is up to date on her immunization. The child is in good health and is free of any serious diseases. She is a beautiful child with a fair complexion and chubby cheeks. At one month, she had good suck and cried loudly. At 2 months, she appeared to smile. She always looked at someone. She still had sleep for most time. At 3 months, she had good physical condition. The limbs moved freely. She began to make sounds. She smiled when the caretaker played with her. At 4 months, she watched TV. Often sucked fingers. She had facial expression for the need to urinate. At 5 months, she vocalizes double syllables when cried. Can grasp a toy nearby. She can stand for a moment being supported under the armpits. She is restless and likes to be busy.

She currently eats milk with rice flour as main food, 5 meals a day, 220ml(7.5oz) each. She poops and peeps normally. She is a sound sleeper.

She is well looked after in the institution and she is an active and lovely child.

Placement person:   Guo Luo Sheng

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What a story! We have learned that the orphanage at Tonggu is currently being rebuilt and expanded . While this is being completed, the children are in foster care. This is good news, as foster care usually means that the children have more on-on-one interaction with the caregivers. Another adoptive family was kind enough to provide  some photos of Tonggu:

Tonggu Orphanage under construction

Tonggu Town Center and Hospital