Adoption

In 2006, after plenty of discussion, examination, and prayer, my bride Rebecca and I decided that adoption would be the best way to begin to build our family. Rebecca took the lead in investigating the process, and ultimately the path of international adoption was the one we determined best to follow. Our hope was to eventually adopt a brother and sister from Ethiopia .

Over the course of fifteen months we were interviewed, examined, and evaluated by social-workers, case-workers, doctors, counselors, creditors, and various representatives of local, state, and federal government agencies to prove our worth as potential adoptive parents. We filled-out, signed, and mailed unwieldy paperwork, traveled everywhere between here and there for various documentation usually needing notarized signatures and for fingerprinting by people wearing badges to prove out patience as potential adoptive parents.

No mistake, Rebecca was the leader doing the footwork for the adoption—without her determination and hope, there’s little doubt we wouldn’t have gotten over the obstacles we encountered. Even after all this though, when that was required of us was completed and we could do no more, when all the paperwork was affirmed, bundled, and sent to the powers-that-be, we could do no more than wait for a placement referral matching us with the children we’d dreamed about.

In September 2007 we received a regular update from our cooperating agency which included, as they always did, photos of and accompanying information on "waiting children", those kids who for some (usually medical) reason may be more difficult to adopt because of the special care they might require, care that potential adoptive parents may not feel fit to provide. Nearly two-year old Debabu and his six-month old sister Zufan were two waiting children in the update, and we didn’t hesitate to request a match with them.

On October 10 we received word that we’d be been approved to adopt Debabu and Zufan, our patience had been rewarded, we’d been chosen to be their parents. Then on December 28 we were given our travel date of January 17 when we’d fly to Ethiopia to meet and bring home our new son and daughter. After a year and a half of working through the adoption process, we finally met Debabu and Zufan on January 19, 2008, at Horizon House in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia .

We returned to Tucson after a week in Africa, and we’ve since settled-in well. Whatever made our son and daughter waiting children escapes us; Debabu and Zufan are healthy and happy, and we couldn’t be more grateful. Our son and daughter are growing beyond imagining. We met Zufan with barely three teeth—now she has a mouthful; Debabu had barely size five feet—now he’s almost out of size seven shoes.

Throughout the entire process we were blessed with dedicated family, friends, and colleagues who helped us materially by donating their time and effort collecting cell phones and printer cartridges for recycling and offering their used items and labor to our yard sales (both efforts to raise funds toward our adoption costs), and who, most importantly, bolstered us spiritually by giving freely and generously their moral and prayer support. We couldn’t have brought home our children without the everyone’s efforts, even the least of any one, and we’re happy to know that Debabu and Zufan will grow up well-loved.

There are plenty of children in the world who need love and who need parents who are willing and capable of giving that love. We initially sought information and direction with social workers from Commonwealth Adoptions (the agency through which we completed did our initial home-study), but we eventually adopted through Wide Horizons for Children . Both agencies are wonderful, and they serve children well. Among its notable qualities, Wide Horizons always tries to keep families together when at all possible, offers sponsorship opportunities those that have the means to help a family and children, and leaves adoption as a last resort for the children in its care.

We’re happy to share information, resources, and experience with those interested in adoption. The process is arduous and lengthy, and certainly it’s not for every couple, but it’s helped us fulfill our ultimately selfish desire to be parents and it’s allowed us to serve and love two amazing and beautiful children. Our family now stretches across the ocean to Ethiopia, a country that welcomed us and offered us two of her most precious gifts.

God is good, and He’s blessed us beyond our prayers.

- Rob, Rebecca, Debabu, and Zufan