Thank you for all of your sweet comments from yesterday's post. I really do appreciate it. Anonymous/Beth Ann, thank you for leaving your name. I think that is great that you have found 5 of your sweet kids in the US. However, I really don't feel the need to argue about God's calling to our family, so I will just leave it at the fact that our family was called to China, and THAT is why we have adopted from there. You could make your argument about "bringing 4 children home from China is keeping 4 children from coming home from the US" for any adoption from any country. I can't say enough that God has called us to China, and that is where we have found our precious ones. It's not the open adoptions keeping us from the US, it is simply that our hearts--and my siblings-- are in China. When we bring Grace home, we will have completed 4 adoptions in 4 years for 4 kids with "medical needs." I think it is great when people adopt from anywhere! No matter where kids are from, they all deserve a chance at a FUTURE, and chance to know a God that loves and created them! They all deserve a Mommy and Daddy to tuck them in at night. Your 5 kids did, my 4 siblings did. Where they are FROM doesn't matter. What matters is that between our families NINE of the 147 million orphans have found love and LIFE. I don't feel like I need to explain myself anymore, so I will just let these 4 pictures, my 4 amazing siblings, do the talking for me...
AnnaClaire Chenhui, 4 years old, adopted at 13 months from Hunan, China
Katherine MeiLing, 2.5 years old, adopted at 19 months from Jiangxi, China
Charles Dashan, 4 years old, waiting in Chongqing, China
Grace TongJiao, 10 years old, waiting in Jiangsu, China 
16 comments:
They are beautiful! And I just have to say...there are children ALL over the world needing a forever family...not just the US. Are we to ignore the ones in other places and just focus on the ones here in the US? So that other children are left without a family to tuck them in at night, so that *ONLY* US children are taken care of? No, I do not believe so. Beth Ann, you may be felt to adopt from the US, and help some children there. Emily and her family are being called to China, to help children there.
I believe God has called us to help the least of these, not just the ones within our own borders. I also believe that God wants all orphans to have a family, not just US born orphans. Just as one person may be called to preach or minister on Main Street USA another may be called to Russia, China, Africa, or Korea. People who love children and want all orphans to have a home don't care where they are from or what ethnicity they are. I have several cousins adopted from the US and one (so far) daughter adopted from China. They are all God's children and they all deserve a forever family.
Emily, well written. I appreciate your maturity in addressing the comment posted in a way that is honoring to everyone. Well done, girl.
Kelly
Your maturity and ability to express yourself amazes me. Very well said. We never have to apologize for the Call of God on our lives.
ALL children need and deserve a home...ALL of them. Just like the song red, and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight.
Are children in other countries more deserving? Maybe not, but the need is greater than here in the US. Thankfully we have parents like yours who are not racist.
I have never commented before, but I read your blog daily. I wanted to express what an amazing young woman you are. Your parents must be so proud of you. As the mother of a teenager, I wanted to say how rare it is to find someone your age with such a unselfish, giving, loving heart. God Bless you and your beautiful family, all 9 of you!
Emily,
You inspire me:) You have such grace and poise and way to sick it back to that friendly commenter with your eloquent words!
Blessings for 2 in 2010!!! Ashley
"Jesus loves the little children, ALL the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world!"
Praise God that children all over the world are finding homes. We need to continue to pray and continue to work so that every child, regardless of gender, nationality, age and medical needs has a forever family. We are commanded in His word to do so. Not everyone is called to adopt but we are all called to "look after the orphan".
Em, I am so proud of you. You my dear are making a difference for the Kingdom! I know that the Lord has used you in mighty ways and that He will continue to do so the rest of your life!
It is an honor to know you and your family and I can't wait to welcome Charlie and Grace home!
Praise our Lord that 9 beautiful children have their forever family! God is so good!
Ya know... Charlie is going to need a bro at home!
I'm just sayin!
;-)
sorry Pam- I just can't help myself! After all what's better than 9... 10!! You all better order another set of those bunk beds in wood tone! And I better go before I am banned from your blog!
Great job Emily in handling a tough situation! You did it with maturity and Grace (pun intended)!
"Thankfully we have parents like yours who are not racist."
Nor am I. My children are african american, biracial, and latino. All from the US.
I'm not saying to ignore children in other parts of the world. I just think people should look in their home countries first, as to better keep the children directly connected to their heritage.
My choice. You don't have to agree with it.
Beth Ann
San Antonio, TX
BOY, I am late on this little conversation. I once had someone ask me this question, I only asked back, "gee, you pick which country Jesus loves the people/children more?"
As far as heritage, you have to know that most feel GOD CALLED THEM to the place they adopted, and if you can respect that, then you also have to know that when the children are with and where GOD wants them, it is the BEST place for them.
I really "DISLIKE" when people need to tell you where and how you should hear from GOD! Because really, that is what it comes down to. GOD loves all orphans, not just the ones here in the USA. He loves the orphans EVERYWHERE!
My compliments Emily on handling this so well!!!
Well said Emily....very well said.
Beth Ann clearly doesn't get it. You see, for me at least, I don't see boundary lines anymore. In fact, I think God must cringe at the attitude of many Americans (myself included a few years ago) that we are better than other countries, that somehow we are above everyone else. To God, the world is just that: the world not this country or that. More importantly, I just can't follow Beth Ann's line of thinking.
It is not our place to question what decisions others make in regards to adopting children from here or there. I would never, ever question whether someone was led to adopt from the US foster care system. I just don't understand for the life of me why those who adopt from the US foster care system seem to have a grudge against those who adopt from China????
I'm going back to stand on the solid rock of God's word:
Isaiah 40:12-13
"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?
Who has understood the mind [d] of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor?"
I'm sorry Beth Ann, but unless you are African American, Latina, and biracial, you have "taken them from their heritage". In case you haven't noticed, America has every race imaginable within its borders including Asians. Only an African American family can truly raise a child to fully appreciate what it is like to be African American and the same is true for Latino, and Asian children. Does that mean that because of that we leave those children as orphans? Of course not. You said yourself that your children are of a different race than yourself and by your own definition, you are depriving them of their heritage. But, you have given them a family and I am sure that you do all you can to ensure that they experience as much of their heritage as they can. That is what we are all trying to do and we feel a calling by God to adopt from China. What I don't understand is why you would want to question someone's decision. Why not question all the people who have the means and have not adopted a single orphan from the US or elsewhere?
Emily - I wish at 35 I had the control you have at your young age to say what you need to say without really getting hurtful - your parents have raised you well!!!...BUT I DO NOT! This "comment" has been a topic of conversation in our family - including extended in recent days! I am totally shocked that anyone would question anyone else bringing home children to their forever family. No, we did not look in the US for our children...they were not here!! And I guess I see it as being ONE WORLD not just ONE COUNTRY we live in. I do not see my son as any different then anyone else in our community though he was not born in this country. Everyone is entitled to their opinion....their view...BUT WHO ARE THEY TO QUESTION ANOTHER PERSONS? And Keri - I believe 100% your last sentence in your last comment!!
Wow, I was just admiring the beautiful photos of your siblings, and picked up on the message and what is happening here. I agree with most of the comments, but especially Keri's...especially when she said:
"What I don't understand is why you would want to question someone's decision. Why not question all the people who have the means and have not adopted a single orphan from the US or elsewhere?"
...EXACTLY! Seriously, I don't understand people like that. I SO appreciate their heart for adoption... but it urks me that they are so JUDGEMENTAL about where those children should come from. We personally started our journey in the US. Decided against adopting a baby, as we have been blessed with two biological children of our own, and we didn't want to take that opportunity from someone else (most likely unable to have children of their own) that has been waiting on one of the many LONG waiting lists here in the US for a domestic baby adoption. We also checked into adopting older children from the foster program, but learned some things that just didn't fit with our family, and also interviewed families that have done it...both good and not-so-good outcomes. We prayed about it and did NOT feel peace at this time in our lives. But the KEY here is that we PRAYED about it. And eventually the place we were led to was CHINA. And believe me, we have heard our share of 'why not in the US?' ...sometimes just a genuine question, and other times back with a tone. In any case, it is NO one's call but our own. When the Father leads you in a certain direction, you follow in faith and obedience. So I'm SO grateful for those who foster and/or adopt right here in the states, as Lord knows there is a need. But He has also called us outside of our borders, and far be it for ANYONE else to judge 'why?'
No explanation necessary. It's simple. Because that's where WE were called, and that's where our daughter is!
<><
Post a Comment