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I have not sat down at the computer to write a coherent thought in over three weeks. I am in Ethiopia, Africa completing the adoption of my son, Samuel. I left the comfort of my home a month ago, saying goodbye to my husband and embarking on a journey to pick up our son. Now, while we wait for the courts to complete our case I reside in a small flat above a grocery store. In the mornings I watch herds of goats walk by and in the evenings watch the sunset over the near by highlands. I have spend each day of three weeks learning to be a mom in a very well- run but still third world orphanage. Although I have much to write about living in Ethiopia, meeting my son, and becoming a mommy African style I need to take a moment to encourage the adoption of older children.
I have, without a doubt, fallen head over heels in love with Ethiopia’s waiting children. There are many of them. They are beyond wonderful. They needs homes. Period.
This adoption, of the most adorable little tyke in the world, is not only my first adoption but the first child for my husband and I. Until this trip to Ethiopia I always knew that I could adopt young children but was unsure about what bringing an older child into my home would be like. Let me tell you from first hand experience getting to know these children- it can be done, should be done, and desperately needs to be done. Once you meet these older children their sweet spirit are impressed upon you. I have found myself saying more than once, “I could easily and gladly parent this child, these siblings, all of these kids!”.
I urge you today to consider opening your heart and home to a waiting child who may otherwise not be adopted because they are a part of a sibling group or older than an infant. These are the children who know that they have experienced loss and lay in bed at night and pray for a mom and a dad of their own. They make it through each day with great hope, perseverance, and humor. If you met them you would desire to be a part of their story and not overlook them. I am asking if any of you have considered adopting an older child to please do it! If you have not considered it, please learn more about the children that need families and pray that the Lord would soften your hearts to their stories and faces. There are thousands upon thousand of children that need a home. You may not be able to help all of them, but you can absolutely mean the world to one or two that may not experience a family’s love otherwise. Show these orphans the love of Jesus in a powerful way- become their mom and dad.
In the coming days I will write more about my adoption and about Ethiopia. I am on the adventure of a lifetime and my heart has absolutely been changed. I can proclaim that God is alive and moving strong throughout nations and at the same time in my own little story. I can proclaim that adoption, even with its unpredictability’s, is a miracle of love.
Learn about adopting older children. They are eagerly waiting and hoping for a mommy and daddy just like you.
Thankfully we have electricity tonight so I was able to get online for a moment. There is chanting outside my window and dogs barking like crazy. Those two noises here mean that it is bed time! As I go to sleep tonight, thankful for my son and this entire experience, I will be praying that God would raise up families for these children that have touched my heart.

This entry was posted on Monday, October 22nd, 2007 at 1:06 pm and is filed under Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.