We have had a very eventful week in regards to our adoption. Early in the week, we received the news that the government in Ghana has suspended all international adoptions. This news was extremely disheartening to say the least. The two little ones we were planning to adopt will not be joining our family after all. We are grieved over this fact, but we also know that God is sovereign over all aspects of this process, and we trust His will to be accomplished.
We began looking into other options before us. In addition to their Ghana program, our placement agency has a program in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Interestingly, Congo (also commonly called DRC) was our first choice of country, however when our agency presented us with the profile of the two siblings in Ghana, we felt a connection with them and decided to pursue adoption from Ghana. God does not make mistakes, and there is a reason for our interest in both the Congo and Ghana. There is also a reason for the suspension of adoptions in Ghana. God is directing this process, and we will follow His leading wherever it takes us. We know He will bring just the right children into our home at just the right time and from just the right place.
Along with that news and the subsequent emotional and mental adjustment which has followed, we also received the news that our homestudy is complete and has been approved. This is a very big step and it is such a blessing to have completed this particular step in the overall adoption process.
Another exciting threshold was reached this week as we hit the $10,000 mark in our fundraising efforts. Through some generous gifts, sales of several larger items, and a yard sale just today, God has provided this amount, and we continue to trust that He will bring in the rest of what we need. However, one aspect of the change of country that is particularly disappointing is the fact that adoption from the Congo costs a considerable amount more than from Ghana. Because of this fact, we will most likely be adopting only one child instead of the two we had hoped to be able to adopt. God can do miracles, of course, and if He wants us to have two little ones from Africa, He will send the funds we need.
The amount we would need for the adoption of two children from the Congo would be closer to $50,000. Yes, you read that right. That's a lot of money, isn't it? Again, we trust that God will provide what we need to accomplish what He has in mind in this, but we also want to be wise and to step out in faith only as He leads. We need much prayer for wisdom in this regard.
Over the next few weeks, we plan to share some aspects of life in the Congo that particularly made an impression on us as we were researching options of countries from which to adopt. As one of the most poverty stricken nations in the world--a country torn by war and civil unrest--it is a very needy part of the world. There are many children orphaned by war, the AIDS crisis, and extreme poverty. Many children die of diseases like malaria and typhoid. God has touched our hearts for the people of the Congo.
As our eventful week comes to an end, we see that God's hand is in all of the events which have taken place. He will bring his purposes to pass, and we can rest in the knowledge that He means it all for our good and for His glory.
This adoption journey sure has been exciting, and it's barely just begun!
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