Paper Chase II

Late this fall we started to notice that the wait for China might be a bit longer than expected. China's process is all based on your Log In Date (LID). That is the day your paperwork is added to the pile. Our log in date is 3/28/07. Right now people with log in dates from 12/27/05 are just getting their babies. Yikes.

Currently, China is completing 6 days of referrals per month. So, for example, in January they referred children to families with log in dates between 12/19/05 and 12/27/05; an 8 day batch.

If we use 6 days/per month, we're looking at another five years from now before we get a referral. All that is to say we have been looking for something to do in the meantime!

We consulted with a number of people, prayed a lot, did a gut check, and eventually decided to ask our agency for permission to do a domestic adoption while we wait on China (in our contract it states we cannot bring another child into our home until we've completed our adoption with Holt--which is common).

On January 21st we received permission. So, we begin again. Our dossier will stay in line in China while we pursue a domestic adoption.

Who knew what was waiting for us down this road when we started out in Nov '06. Who knows what's waiting for us now. Or a better question might be, "who" is waiting for us now?

God's Mission: Adoption

by Max Lucado

When we come to Christ, God not only forgives us, he also adopts us. Through a dramatic series of events, we go from condemned orphans with no hope to adopted children with no fear. Here is how it happens. You come before the judgment seat of God full of rebellion and mistakes. Because of his justice he cannot dismiss your sin, but because of his love he cannot dismiss you. So, in an act which stunned the heavens, he punished himself on the cross for your sins. God’s justice and love are equally honored. And you, God’s creation, are forgiven. But the story doesn’t end with God’s forgiveness.

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our Spirit that we are children of God (Rom. 8:15–16 NASB).

But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons (Gal. 4:4–5 NASB).

It would be enough if God just cleansed your name, but he does more. He gives you his name. It would be enough if God just set you free, but he does more. He takes you home. He takes you home to the Great House of God.

Adoptive parents understand this more than anyone. I certainly don’t mean to offend any biological parents—I’m one myself. We biological parents know well the earnest longing to have a child. But in many cases our cribs were filled easily. We decided to have a child and a child came. In fact, sometimes the child came with no decision. I’ve heard of unplanned pregnancies, but I’ve never heard of an unplanned adoption.

That’s why adoptive parents understand God’s passion to adopt us. They know what it means to feel an empty space inside. They know what it means to hunt, to set out on a mission, and take responsibility for a child with a spotted past and a dubious future. If anybody understands God’s ardor for his children, it’s someone who has rescued an orphan from despair, for that is what God has done for us.

God has adopted you. God sought you, found you, signed the papers and took you home.

Staying the Course

Until recently we have relied on our agency and some friends for information about China adoption and the wait at hand. Now, however, we have discovered there are numerous forums on the web discussing this very thing. As a result, I (Lonnie) have learned more about our wait and where it's going.

We thought 23 months worth of waiting sounded like a long time. Turns out, it could be even longer. The "rumor" is that the wait could grow to three years and possibly even four. Yikes.

We have also found out that our agency will allow us to adopt in the meantime, some thing that was not allowed until these unusual circumstances arose. They gave us four countries that had turnaround times that would allow us to complete the adoption and have a year in between adoptions (a requirement).

We sat down at the computer one night and decided to review the countries and see which one might be the best. After an hour or so we stopped. The same kind of excitement and spirit we had for our China adoption just wasn't there and we don't want to adopt out of impatience.

Whenever we wait for anything, God works in us as we wait and prepares us for what we are going to receive. In the end, we end up better off than if we had what we wanted "today".

So, we prepare.

We Beat the Elephants

We just received the October update from our agency and the wait has now reached 23 months.

That is 23 months from March 2, 2007 for us. So that places our referral time around Feb 2009.

Prior to this announcement, the mammal with the longest gestation period was the elephant at 22 months. Now however, it is Lonnie and Nancy at 23 months!

We're #1! Yeah!

A girl?

One of the questions we get asked a lot is, 'how do you know you will be getting a girl'. Here is a little more background on why we will likely get a girl.

When it's time for us to receive a referral, a photo of a baby selected by the CCAA (Chinese Council of Adoption Affairs) will be sent to us. At that point, we will have a given amount of time to agree to adopt that child--of course we will. There is a >90% chance that she will be a girl. Why?

a) China has a one child law. You can have one child and that's it. It's to control their population.
b) There is no social security system in China, so boys are preferred over girls as they will work and support help support the family and support their parents in their elder years.
c) When girls marry, they leave their family origin and go to live with the husband and his family.

So, when families are trying for boys and have a girl and can't have any more kids, they abandon or abort the girls. The abandoned girls are left in public places, so they will be found and taken care of. From what we have read, it is an incredibly painful decision for the family, but one they feel forced to make.

We'll post another update as we hear more about the wait.