Making A Difference In The Lives Of Orphans

My daughter and I have been talking about adopting a foster child for over two years now. After recently under going surgery for fibroid tumors, she has accepted that she can never be a birth mother. At this time in her life, she has made a decision to not get married again. Yet, she wants to have a family of her own. So I decided to do some research on adoption for single mothers.

In doing my research, I found the most amazing story about a woman in North Carolina who spearheaded a movement that resulted in (45) boys from Liberia being given new lives by individuals in her community. I was so affected by the story that I wanted to share it with you.

In 2003, a woman by the name of Lysa Terkeurst and her two daughters attended a performance by a boys choir from an orphanage in Liberia, West Africa, a country in the midst of a (14) year civil war. She reports that as the boys sang, God spoke to her heart and said, "Lisa, two of these boys are yours." She later said that she had not gone to the concert for a major life change but expected only to enjoy a concert.

"Sometimes when we least expect it, God speaks to our heart in ways we don't understand and gently nudges us to do a certain thing, to help some one...to be a blessing to someone.... to get out of our comfort zones."

I refer to this nudge as "the call." When we obey and answer "the call," we bring joy and light to our own souls as well as to those that we reach out and touch. We, in turn, receive immeasurable blessings and abundance. We change the world."

Lysa shared what God had said with her daughters and they managed to meet two of the members of the choir. Of this experience she said, "They just wrapped their arms around me and gave me a big hug and they just called me mom."

Coincidence? Were the boys accustomed to calling all females mom? I was unable to find the answer to that question. Only the boys know the answer to that one. Lysa believed that their calling her "mom" was validation that it was God's will that she adopt the boys and raise them as her own. I believe the same as Lysa as there are no coincidences in our lives....just nudges from God and our intuition, a gift from God.

Lysa's was so convicted that God wanted her to adopt the boys that she called her husband who listened to her story over the phone and agreed to adopt the boys. Her close friend Gina and her husband Rob had two adopted children of their own but were skeptical about her decision. However, after hearing the boys choir sing and meeting the two boys, they too were smitten with them. They decided to adopt Robert, another Liberian Choir orphan.

Gina described the effect the boy's singing had on her, "As they started to sing, I just realized there is a strength in them that resonates with me," she said. Soon, three other of Lysa's friends adopted Liberian orphans. One couple adopted six.

By 2009, a total of (44) boys from Liberia had been adopted by Lysa's friends and neighbors in the North Carolina community. One family, the Schwag-Hearts has adopted (11) children from the orphanage.

Mind you now, these are individuals... every day kind of people, not celebrities or wealthy people....not agencies or businesses.....just people with spare bed rooms and big hearts. In June of 2009, (10) of the orphans graduated high school. Some chose to go to college. Others found jobs in the community. The following is a video spotlighting Jackson, who was adopted by our heroine Lysa and her husband Art who is now (24) and a college student.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/495770

Some Adoption Facts

• Today there are1.5 million adopted children in America.

• Approximately 60% of all Americans have a personal connection to adoption. The Adoption Institute's Public Opinion Benchmark survey found in (1997) that 58% of Americans knew someone who has been adopted, has an adopted child,or has given up a child for adoption.

• There are 150,000 children in America waiting to be adopted.

• Many adults in America believe that in order to adopt a child you have to have lots of money or own a big home.

You do not have to have a six figure income or own your home in order to adopt a child. You simply need to have a stable income and home environment and show that you can adequately provide for a child or children if you plan to adopt more than one.

• Many individuals believe that you have a squeeky clean record in order to adopt a child.

It is a no brainer that you if you are a convicted felon you will, in all probability not be able to adopt a child. However, misdemeaners are considered on a case by case basis. The most important thing is that you do not have a record involving the abuse of a child. Any behaviors that might put a child at risk for harm are evaluated and may keep you from adopting, i.e.,history of alcohol or drug addiction, DWIs, domestic violence, excessive speeding or tickets for reckless driving.

I served as an In-home Therapist for approximately (8) years working with foster children and their potential adoptive parents during their transition period. I recall one male who admitted that his greatest fear was that the adoption would not go through because of his petty theft conviction for stealing a pack of cards from WalMart when he was age 17. Once we got over that hurdle, he was fine and started to participate more in therapy sessions and expressed that he was excited about the pending adoptions.

There are still some private adoption agencies that charge exorbitant fees, but even that practice is improving. Going the foster care route is the most economical as you receive a small stipend to help with the child's expenses and other perks until the adoption is legal.

So, if you would like to share your home and life with a child that needs love and a home, adoption may just be a fit for you.

Though this article focused on adoptees from Liberia or international adoptions, there are thousands of children right here in America waiting for a good and loving home. If you do not want to go the foster care route and are on a limited budget, international adoptions may be the right way for you. Love does not have a color, race, or creed. It just is. Lysa has already served as an example for you to follow. Start by listening for "the call." Answer it unwaveringly and with your whole heart. You can make a difference and change the world!

The movement that sparked a community in North Carolina to open up their hearts and homes began with ONE VOICE. That voice was Lysa Terkeurst who had the courage to heed "the call" and in doing so made a gigantic difference in the lives of hundreds of orphans throughout Liberia. Many other lives, perhaps thousands were also impacted as several organizations took over the mantel and set up procedures for American families to adopt children from war torn Liberia. Lysa's story is special and teaches us all that we too can spark a movement to help our brothers and sisters who are in need. Love is such a simple but immensely rewarding thing to give and.....it's FREE! It's already within us, spilling over and waiting for us to use and share it.<a

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