The Challenges of Adoption While Living Overseas
It is not uncommon for overseas Christian workers to add adoption to their busy lives as they serve Christ on the mission fields of the world. Seeing the needs of the orphans up close and being filled with God's love is a recipe that can kick start the adoption process. And yet, adoption while in Christian service abroad, poses a number of challenges not faced when one adopts in their own passport country. So, when we heard of a pastoral care workshop that would address adoption in the expat community, we signed up.
A couple of major take aways from our workshop:
1. You can't know everything there is to know about the background of the child you are adopting. The adoption agency may not tell all and, for sure, they don't know all that child has experienced previous to the child coming to them. Several of our panel of families who had adopted were in for big surprises when they adopted overseas.
2. Family comes first. The Christian worker is a Christian first. The adoptive parents need to be ready to do what ever it takes to insure their adopted child thrives - even if it means returning to their passport country. "If a person doesn't provide for his own, especially for his household, then he is worse than an unbeliever." 1 Timothy 5:8.
We are grateful for these timely workshops that help equip us to advise compassionate servants of God in this wonderful and yet, challenging lifetime commitment. Pray for two families we know in here in Asia who are planning to adopt special needs children. They will need all the wisdom God can give them as they move forward in bringing another child into their families.
Prayer Requests:
1. Pray for an unscheduled trip we need to make to Nepal Monday, Sept. 30 - to support a family that will be returning to their passport country unexpectedly.
2. Pray for Alberta as she navigates through her last course work while on this emergency trip.
3. Pray for our Filipina friend, Glenda, who is seeking a job as a teacher in Vietnam. Pray that the Lord would open doors for employment in the education field and that He would connect her with a supportive Christian community in Ho Chi Minh City.
Serving Christ with You, Steve and Alberta
A couple of major take aways from our workshop:
1. You can't know everything there is to know about the background of the child you are adopting. The adoption agency may not tell all and, for sure, they don't know all that child has experienced previous to the child coming to them. Several of our panel of families who had adopted were in for big surprises when they adopted overseas.
2. Family comes first. The Christian worker is a Christian first. The adoptive parents need to be ready to do what ever it takes to insure their adopted child thrives - even if it means returning to their passport country. "If a person doesn't provide for his own, especially for his household, then he is worse than an unbeliever." 1 Timothy 5:8.
We are grateful for these timely workshops that help equip us to advise compassionate servants of God in this wonderful and yet, challenging lifetime commitment. Pray for two families we know in here in Asia who are planning to adopt special needs children. They will need all the wisdom God can give them as they move forward in bringing another child into their families.
Prayer Requests:
1. Pray for an unscheduled trip we need to make to Nepal Monday, Sept. 30 - to support a family that will be returning to their passport country unexpectedly.
2. Pray for Alberta as she navigates through her last course work while on this emergency trip.
3. Pray for our Filipina friend, Glenda, who is seeking a job as a teacher in Vietnam. Pray that the Lord would open doors for employment in the education field and that He would connect her with a supportive Christian community in Ho Chi Minh City.
Serving Christ with You, Steve and Alberta
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