WHY CHINA

“Why China?” I was asked as I shared my news with a stranger, in the library.  I didn’t just tap him on the shoulder and say “Hey, we’re adopting from China!”  He actually started the questions.  I was looking in the video section with the kids.  I happen to walk past a documentary of France.  I thought there might be one for China and I stopped to investigate.  As I did, this man walked by.  He said, “Oh, are you going to learn French?”  “No, I was just curious if they also had something for China” I said.  Now, this guy didn’t even work at the library J  He naturally asked if I was going to travel there.  And then I said it.  I told a stranger, one of the most exciting things that is going on in my life, “Well, we will be traveling to China when we adopt, sometime next year.”   “WHY CHINA, WHY NOT HERE?” he plainly asks me.  We’ve been asked that question so it wasn’t new, but usually I am more prepared and anticipating it.  I attempted to explain that our desire to adopt wasn’t out of a need to grow our family.  But out of a faith passion.  There are certainly children here, in the US that need forever homes.  But we’ve been led down a different path.  We know that children that live in orphanages have physical and mental delays in growth ONLY due to the fact that they are institutionalized.  So we are drawn to chose a child from a country where they are predominately in orphanages and not foster care.  China offers an extended age for adoptors (over 45), unlike many countries.  And China also offers the chance to get your child in one trip of 10-15 days.  Many countries require 2-3 trips.  And with China, the adoption is final before you leave.  It’s been a tried and true experience for years.  So, that is why we chose China.  And what I really wanted to say, but thought I might back down on, I did say.  I told him that our faith compels us to desire to follow after God’s example.  To father the fatherless.  That adoption might not be for everyone, but caring for the less fortunate in tangible ways, is something we can all do.  That adoption is God’s story, and we want to be a part of it.  Well, he smiled real big and said “That’s great, I’m glad you feel that way, best of luck to you.”  And I smiled, and thought, but didn’t say: Awe, thanks, I don’t need luck, I’ve got God J But I appreciated the chance to tell a little bit of our story.  I anticipate we will have many more episodes of questions when we arrive home with someone who looks different than us.  And the opportunities to affirm our child in our family will be many.  And by the Grace of God, we are all adopted into His family.  So I can speak from experience.