Adoption…I have to say it began after our miscarriage in
2007. I told Donald that there was no way that I could go through a miscarriage
multiple times. Of course, there was no reason to think I would have another
miscarriage, but that was the emotion I felt at the time. Several months later
we were pregnant with Reagan, our first Texas baby, third child. Needless to
say, the adoption convo was put on hold.
There had been conversations off and on about adoption but
Donald never seemed totally on board or ready. After discussing local foster to
adopt with Arrow Family Ministries several times and not getting the green
light from Donald, I totally dropped the subject and just prayed. Anyone else
do that? Stop talking about it and just pray. I just prayed that the Lord would
do a work in Donald’s heart or change mine. The desire was not going away but I
knew from experience that once God puts something on my heart that He will
fulfill it just maybe not in my timing.
So now it’s June 2014 and we are headed to Burundi, Africa
to celebrate a 5-year friendship with the Batwa people. There was a group of us
from our church, Community of Faith (www.cof.tv),
going to spend some time there. It was Donald’s second time and my first. Many
of you saw the pictures on Facebook. It was an emotional experience to say the
least because for the past 5 years I had been hearing of the amazing things the
Lord had been doing in their lives from providing land, birth certificates,
marriage licenses, education, food, children, and them even coming into
relationship with the Lord. Amazing is an understatement. When I met these
people, they were so grateful that I was in friendship with them. They hugged
me like family. I literally was in tears most of the trip because the videos
and photos brought back to the US don’t do it justice.
On the plane over to Burundi, Sarah Shook May, said, “Did
you hear that Burundi is open to adoption to the US?” Surprisingly, we said no
and then moved on to something else. Donald and I never talked about it again.
Then on the Friday before we were leaving Mark and Laura gave a devotion to the
staff at the bank where they do micro financing. Mark was talking about how he
was walking the lake one day and how he came upon a struggling duckling. A lady
walked up and asked what he was doing and he said this poor little duckling
doesn’t look like it’s going to make it. She said, “We will see about that,”
and scooped it up and walked off. He said that really impacted him because as
Christians are we going to say we care for the orphans and the widows or are we
really going to do something about it and make a difference in their lives. He
was encouraging them to take an active part in being in people’s lives. That
was the moment Donald said that Lord impressed upon him that it was time to
adopt and Burundi was the place. Are we just going to come visit Burundi every
couple of years and send them money through the church or are we going to take
an active part in their culture and provide an education and equip one of their
very own to come back to their culture and make a difference? Wow! Trust me,
that is God not us! It seems too big of a task and a costly one at that.
We met with an attorney while we were in Burundi and arrived
at no answers really. So, we decided to head home and do some research. While
in the Nairobi, Kenya airport, we saw a white couple with a black child. I
immediately said to Donald that they just adopted. He encouraged me to go speak
to them of which I refused. Then they ended up at our gate so then it was clear
that I needed to go talk to them. As soon as I approached them, they nearly
came out of their skin with excitement. They had been in a country for three
weeks not knowing anyone and not many people speaking English. I asked them if
they just adopted and they said yes. I asked them from where and they said
Burundi. What?!?!? “Burundi just opened,” I said. They said, “We are the very
first couple to come home to the US with a Burundi child.” Are you kidding me?
I couldn’t have orchestrated that if I tried. What a gift that the Lord placed
in front of us. We were able to talk to them and ask questions and ask about
agencies. What a blessing!
We arrived home and decided to really pray about this
because the last thing we wanted was this to be a Mission Trip high. This was a
huge change and task ahead of us. So, we took the next two months to interview
agencies and get more information. We decided on an agency in August and
started the massive amounts of paperwork needed for the home study. As of
Friday, November 14, we passed our home inspection and we will meet after
Thanksgiving to go over training materials. I hesitate as I type this but at
this moment I am actually ready for the waiting period. I’m sure I will not
feel this way long but I’m thankful this hurdle is behind us.
How long will it take you say? Well, it could take anywhere
from 18 months to 3 years. We are hoping sooner than 3 years. We feel like the
child is a boy and the age is 1-4 years old. And, that’s about all we know for
the moment.
We would covet your prayers for our child. The child is
called Bebe in Kirundi until the father gives the child a name which could be
up to a year. I don’t think we will wait that long but for now we will call him
Bebe. Pray for his safety and development. Pray for his family and care givers.
He may not even be born yet. Pray for us as we prepare ourselves for a new
child and all that comes with that. I’m learning it’s totally different from
having biological children. Pray for our biological kids and the transition
they will be going through. Pray for anything else the Lord puts on your heart
to pray and I would love it if you would tell me what you are praying for.
We are excited to see God move. He already has in many ways.
So, it’s official! We are adopting a boy from Burundi, Africa. All glory and
honor be to God!
“I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you.” John
14:18
Much love,
Gretchen, Donald, Cole, Riley Kate, and Reagan
