Many couples without biological children have chosen adoption as a way to build their families. We had the pleasure of walking with Ty and Rachel through the arduous journey of adopting internationally.
Their oldest daughter and middle son had their beginnings in one of our orphanages in Ethiopia.
Later, when international adoptions closed in Ethiopia, their youngest came to them via China.
Adoption is not for the faint of heart, and we watched Ty and Rachel courageously step up to adoption despite some fear and trepidation. They embody the scripture from James that makes many of us cringe… “Count it all joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
They, like most adoptive parents, encountered a myriad of trials in the process of adopting internationally. But throughout the journey, we watched this young couple become stronger in their faith and stronger in their marriage. We watched them persevere.
Rachel’s heart is now turning to prospective adoptive parents who are caught in the Covid-19 limbo… for how long? “A few (way more than a few!!) moments in our adoption journey I questioned God’s timing. I questioned if parenthood was really worth all the pain, worry, anxiety, uncertainty. But look at these three faces! I AM SO GRATEFUL! And I can even say I am grateful for God’s timing.”
She goes on to say, “It’s a crazy season; so much room for despair and depression… all of which I battle each day. I cannot imagine how prospective adoptive parents must feel right now. All the troubles we went through pale in comparison to this. But please, if anyone needs a word of encouragement, reach out to me.”
Ty and Rachel expressed their gratitude to us, “You were the catalyst, our strength, our hope when there seemed none.” They also remind us of the benefit of quarantine… “We compare the requirements of this pandemic to ‘cocooning’ and are grateful for the additional opportunity, amongst the pain and chaos of the world, to focus on the three gifts God miraculously has blessed us with.”