There was one morning in China when Chris and I were sitting outside the hotel room with Alyssa (and enjoying every moment with her) and watching the 2 four year olds playing, laughing, talking and just simply enjoying being "four"! I leaned over to Chris and said "If we ever adopt again, I want to adopt that age". Chris just looked at me and said "Yeah, but that's never going to happen".
So, for 3 years the "waiting children" were on my heart and I prayed (and pleaded!!) God would move Chris' heart to adopt again. Over the 3 years we received updates from different families in our travel group and would see updated pictures...all the children were thriving in their new families and the 4 year olds who couldn't speak any English at all when they were adopted were top of their class and adjusting amazingly well!
When Chris and I finally were at a place where we could start the adoption process again we immediately knew we would go through the "Waiting Child" program from China. We had talked about adopting an "older child" between the ages of 3-5. When we approached the Province of PEI, we were told the waiting Child program had changed and PEI families wouldn't be able to adopt through it as they had before (but that's another long story and post!!). This meant LONG waits (up to 3 + years!) and we really felt we were being led to a child now. Not really knowing what God had planned for us, we decided to begin the adoption process for a child from Ethiopia. We requested a 3 year old, knowing by the time she came home she would be close to 4 years old.
We formed an Adoption Coalition to find solutions to adoption issues on PEI. I was asked to be the spokesperson and gladly accepted. Our first MAJOR issue was China's Waiting Child program. Who knew I would be fighting for my own child when we began our letter campaign, media stories and meeting with the government!!
We learned about a precious 4 year old boy named Liu YangJun on January 7, 2008. He was in the Waiting Child Program from China. On January 8, 2007, our Adoption Coalition's hard work paid off and the Province of PEI confirmed they WOULD allow families to proceed with this program and allow families to be matched by agencies (getting rid of that 3+ year wait!). On January 11, Chris and I committed to adopting our little "Evan" who was born with a cleft lip and palate (both repaired now). After 3 years of prayers and a burden placed on my heart for waiting children, we would be bringing home our new son!
What is the Waiting Child Program
Children from China with minor, correctible medical needs available for adoption. Both male & female children between the ages of 9 months - 13 years are available. The most common need is cleft lip and/or palate. Some others would be birthmarks, missing finger/toes, missing limbs, club foot, Hep B, minor heart (VSD), hearing loss, etc....
Why the Waiting Child Program
Each and every child is amazingly special and precious. All children long to have a family to call their own. All children need the nurture and care of loving parents, extended families and their communities.
Some people have a misconception that a "perfect"' child is a child without special needs. I have talked with many many families who immediately say "oh no, we don't want a special needs child!". First and foremost, these are children who need the love of a family. Secondly, their "special needs" are manageable, correctible and minor. I'm quite sure those people I've talked with would not consider their biological child "special needs" if they were born with a cleft lip or had a birth mark or had club feet. There may be some extra medical attention needed for their child but they would be overall healthy, well adjusted, capable, smart and loving children. And so are the children in the Waiting Child Program. It is amazing how children thrive with the one-on-one care and love of parents.
It saddens me to know people will think my child is "less" somehow because he found his way to us through the Waiting Child Program. I imagine he will be full of spunk and life, ready to take on the world, eager to rumble & tumble with his big brothers, excited to share his days at kindergarten with his sister, will anxiously wait to throw his arms around his daddy when he gets home from work and will always be ready with the biggest smile ever! How could this little boy be "special needs"? Well, he IS! He is amazingly special and he has many needs that we are more than thankful to share with him!
Not flesh of my flesh
Nor bone of my bone
But still, miraculously, my own
Never forget for a single minute
You didn't grow under my heart,
but in it
Please feel free to contact me anytime to talk about the children available through the Waiting Child Program. It is our dream that each special child can find their own forever family!!
Canadian Agencies to conact for the Waiting Child Program
Family Outreach International
http://familyoutreach.com/
Tollfree # 1-866-789-8677
This is the agency we used for both our adoptions and they are FANTASTIC! I highly recommend them!!!
Children's Bridge
http://childrensbridge.com/
Phone #613-226-2112
U.S. Agencies to contact for the Waiting Child Program
Small World Adoptions
http://www.swa.net/
Children's Hope International
http://childrenshope.net
www.waitingchild.org - has a great list of agencies
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