9/4/06 Preparing to go

We are knee-deep in departure activities and will fly out later this week. Last week, we were enthused to receive a lot more medical and developmental information about the child we've been referred. We are feeling alot more confident about meeting her. She's definitely on the small size for age, but hopefully this is due to the circumstances of living in an orphanage and is not indicative of a more serious underlying problem.

In Russia, there are currently about 300,000 children in orphanages. Foster care is rare. Children are in orphanages for a variety of reasons. The parent(s) may have been economically challenged, had too many other children to care for, or have been physically unable to care for their children. The child may have had a medical condition the parent(s) did not have the resources to treat. Many of the children in orphanages are not available for adoption because their family has not formally given up their rights. Children may linger for years with no hope of a permanent home.

In the process of preparing to adopt, prospective parents have to be clear about their expectations for the child, the needs of the existing family, tolerance for risk and most importantly, the role of faith. Many children have developmental delays and nutritional deficits. Many have health problems that are treatable in the United States. Some have more serious disorders that cause life-long impairment. Attachment disorder (RAD) can be an issue because children may not have experienced trust and continuity from their caregivers to meet their ongoing needs.

We know that there are risks; we are not immune to the articles and the personal stories of adopted children and their families who face challenges. We have had frank discussions about what we are prepared to contend with. We also know that life is full of unknown risks. God calls us to leave our comfort zone and step out in faith, especially in situations where others may be helped. We are also aware of the significant costs of adoption and raising additional children and yet we know there are few better investments. We can only find peace in knowing that God will prepare us for whatever obstacles or challenges we may face. We ask for your prayers for our journey!