Question #1: Why are you adopting internationally when there are numerous children available to adopt in the U.S. and even in Iowa?
The idea to adopt originated via a video clip of orphans in Zambia, so this is how our interest was initially spurred over-seas. An added bonus is that we knew adopting internationally would become a gateway to numerous opportunities for our family to become involved in missionary work.....and it has. Since beginning the adoption process we have also come across many couples who have adopted domestically, or who are currently in the process. Both types of adoption are wonderful and either way you slice it, the outcome of either type means one less orphan. Bottom line, God just specifically put international adoption on our hearts at this time.
Question #2: How can you be sure that the child you receive will be 'healthy' ?
Once our child is identified he will have a medical check-up complete with infectious disease testing prior to our official committment and adoption. He will also have a full visa medical screening issued by the Embassy prior to him getting approved for a visa to leave the country. 'Healthy' in international adoption does not necessarily mean the same thing as we think of here in the U.S. Since Ghana has no clean water, mosquitos carrying malaria, etc. there is a high probability that our child may come to us with some sort of malnutrition, stomach worm, or even malaria. We have requested a child free of infectious disease.
Question #3: Will you change his name?
We would really, really like to keep his name but if it is very hard to pronounce then we will consider forming a nick-name from it, or moving his first name to his middle and renaming his first. In one of our adoption training books that we read there were a bunch of commentaries in a section entitled 'What every adoptive parent should know' and these were excerpts written from adoptees. In that section there were numerous comments of how important it was that these children who were adopted were able to keep the name they were given by their parents at birth. It is a type of memento that means so much to them....and for some it is one of the only pieces they have that they can hold onto from their previous life. As a parent, I have thought much about this and have put myself into the shoes of the birthparents of whoever our child will be. I know that the names we gave to JJ & Jayla hold much meaning for us. We thought long and hard about them and even prayed about them. Names provide such an identity. One of the children we were considering to adopt was named Godwin. By the time we inquired about him he was no longer available for adoption, but I did look up the meaning of his name.....and it means 'Friend of God'. I know that his birth mother had such a purpose in naming him that.
Question #4: How will you as an all-white family be able to raise a black child?
In adoption lingo we are termed as a trans-racial adoption. And, it will be hard, and the hardest for our child. We do have a few things on our side though. First, an important thing for our family is going to be ensuring that our child has a strong sense and connection with his culture. We plan on taking trips to Ghana every few years to help our child to remain connected with his heritage. Also, it is very important in trans-racial adoptions for the child to be able to often see, be around, and interact with other children and adults who look like him. Our lifestyle will easily accomodate this. This will be especially integral during the search for identity which we all go through....some at a young age and some not until the teen years. I have full confidence that Jake is a wonderful role model for young men, no matter race, and I think he will have wonderful wisdom to offer during the trying times that we may face as a trans-racial family.
Question #5: Isn't international adoption pretty expensive? How will you afford it?
It is expensive. We faithfully believe that God has asked us to adopt, and we are going to do what it takes to make it happen. One major bonus is that there is a Federal Adoption Tax Credit available for all qualified adoption expenses in the year the adoption is finalized (this credit will have to be renewed by the government for 2010). This credit totals close to $12,000 so that will obviously be very helpful. Other than that, all of our expenses will be paid for by the money in our savings account.
Question #6: Do you already have a child identified to adopt?
Not yet. Over the next month the Pastor who heads up the organization in Ghana will be identifying a child in our specified age range (and we have also specified a boy). The goal is to have a child identified by the time that Jake flys to Ghana in February (he will be there Feb. 11th through the 18th). Jake will hopefully get to meet our child then......we will not be able to bring him home on that trip however because of all the paperwork and court proceedings that we still need to go through. Typically with international adoptions the children waiting for families are staying in an orphanage. However, with the Ghana program that we are going through the children are often residing in the village...being taken care of by the other villagers until families can be found for them. Pastor Sam is in constant communication with the villagers and therefore is the one who identifies the children up for adoption.
Question #7: How long will the process take?
Specific to Ghana, the process can take up to one year, but more than likely we will be able to complete it within 9 months.
Psalm 68:6
God sets the lonely in families.
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