Why International Adoption?

One of the first questions and probably most common questions we have received since talking about possibly adoption, is why international adoption?

So...I will try my best to give an answer. 

Why would you adopt internationally when there are over 400,000 children within the U.S. Foster System, with over 100,000 needing to be adopted here? 

First, I have a hard time separating an orphan in one country from an orphan in another country.  UNICEF recently reported that there are 150 to 200 MILLION orphans worldwide.  MILLION!! The U.S. population is just over 300 million to give you a rough idea of what this number means. 

Friends, this is not an issue that just lies within 3rd world countries...the orphan crisis is one that is worldwide. And so I ask, what makes one child's life more valuable than another? Their age? Their color?  Where they live? 

No...in God's eyes, we are all equal.  He made us uniquely and perfect in His image. 

So why then would we fly half way across the world to adopt??...Because that is where we believe our child is....God's child for us is. 

Our hearts break equally for the child without a mommy and daddy that lives in the U.S. as it is does for the child without a mommy and a daddy that lives across the world. But after much prayer and time..this is where God is leading us.  And where He calls us, we will follow.

International and domestic adoption are both a beautiful image of God's redeeming love...but it is His plan, His redemption.

Do I think we are all called to adopt? No. But I think we are all called to care for the orphan.  Maybe that means you adopt internationally, or domestically. Maybe that means you become a foster parent. Maybe you help with various children's shelters and orphanages around the world or even here locally.  Maybe this even just means reaching out to a neighborhood child who needs a little extra love today. 

Where is God calling you?