Philippines?

The past few weeks have been interesting. I’ll try to summarize briefly.

I’ve been hearing more and more about rising problems with the Chinese adoption system. Apparently, this country is continuing to accept dossiers while wait times grow and grow. Some people believe that it will shut down overnight, leaving parents who have invested many thousands of dollars without a child.

We are torn about what to do. We have certainly been drawn to Asia, but God never told us that China is the country in Asia we should pursue. And we don’t want to waste money on a process that is futile when children are in need.

So, we opened our hands and started praying. We explored Taiwan’s program, which is supposed to be moving a little more effectively. And we also explored something I hadn’t really considered until Dad mentioned it on the phone... the Philippines.

I’m not sure why we hadn’t considered it. Bobby went to the Philippines last year, and fell in LOVE with the children. Many of the street children live in heartbreaking poverty, yet their smiles still lit up the dirty streets. Bobby kept saying while he was there that he, “Just wanted to bring some of these kids home.”

Also, our church has a significant Filipino population. This would be nice local support for a child to have, I think.

Bobby is heading back to Asia in August. He might make another stop in the Philippines. (The church there is having a 90th anniversary.) It will be interesting to see what happens.

So... are we being led toward the Philippines? It would be wonderful to bring home one child from the Philippines AND one from China. For now, we are praying awfully hard for God to show us where the children He has planned for us are living.

It’s hard to wait. It’s confusing. I’m trying to trust the Father who know what’s best.