My Latin American friend asked me to pray for her and her husband. They were feeling a tug to adopt a child, but they wanted to be sure it was the right decision. There would be many hurdles. The praying started in 2005. “Coincidentally,” it was the same year their adopted son was born in the mountainous region of an indigenous tribe in Central America. Meanwhile, they and their two other children were living and working far away. Adoption of any child would not even be possible until they moved back to their home country a few years later.
Let’s call him Luis, to give him a little anonymity. I recently met him while visiting my friends. What a delightful 10-year-old he is–full of energy, respectful, conversational, kind-hearted, and very curious about nature’s diverse life. Spiders are a favorite creature to hold and examine and then return to their bushes.
I asked his mother why such a wonderful child would be in an orphanage for so long. She said perhaps it was because he was from an indigenous tribe, or maybe because he was a boy as girls are favored for adoption. She said Luis came to the private orphanage as a toddler, after his feet were injured. He had been brought to a hospital by a relative, who then disappeared.
As Luis grew, surrounded by some eight other orphaned babies and preschoolers, he must have seen many playmates come and then be adopted. I am sure he wondered when it would be his turn to have a daddy and mommy.
His Daddy and Mommy went through the government hurdles to be considered as adoptive parents. After they qualified, they waited until they were called to a social worker’s office and given Luis’s background. After indicating they were still interested they were able to see a picture of him.
At Luis’s orphanage there were three hired caretakers who watched over the children, plus many volunteers who were in and out assisting
them. When Luis met his parents for the first time at age seven, he thought they were volunteers helping him with an animal puzzle. He talked with them a little bit and touched his future mother’s hand. He also thoroughly sniffed both of them, drooled like a baby, and walked like a toddler. His mother said she wondered if they were prepared to meet his needs. But they believed this was God’s will, and they were committed.
There were several other family meetings under the watchful eyes of a caseworker and a psychologist. Luis was able to visit his potential new home, and he met his brother and sister for the first time when they all picked up the children from school. Luis left a toy on the bed in the room he was told would be his very own room. His parents said they thought perhaps he was leaving the toy so he would be sure to return and get it back. The family gave him a picture of themselves, which he kept under his pillow at the orphanage until all the final legal work was completed.
Then the day came when Luis went home with his parents. His mother said he had a huge bag of tattered clothes and broken toys, most of which was eventually thrown away. Luis was daily anxious for two years, asking his mom whether there was enough food for them while she prepared meals. Many simple instructions had to be repeated over and over, but his parents and siblings helped him learn. Love is patient; love is kind.
Most importantly, love is transforming this child. Of course, there will be future difficulties, but I believe God has special plans for Luis because he was placed with such a special family. He is a very special boy.