5 things to know before you adopt internationally

We have gone through 3 international adoptions, and we have learned a lot along the way. Before you start, you should know these things.

1. God’s timing is best. CIS lost our first daughter’s paperwork. It’s a story that’s deserving of it’s own post, but know that if her paperwork had not been delayed, then we probably wouldn’t have been able to adopt our second daughter.

2. It’s an emotional roller coaster. Maybe this should have gone first. The highs are when you get the referral and get updates, especially pictures. The lows happen much more often as you sit and wait and wait and wait.

3. Pick a good agency. You have to decide what is right for you, but smaller, accredited agencies produce the same results (a child in your home), but also offer better customer service (in my opinion).

4. Choosing the right country is key. Do you want to travel? Can you travel more than once? What fees are involved? Has the country ratified the Hague Treaty? All these questions are important. Talk to an accredited agency and ask these questions at the very beginning.

5. It’s worth it. All the emotion and all the trouble is swept away when you hold your child for the first time. It will get difficult, but it will be worth it.

I’m going to unpack these in the next few weeks. And if you have other questions about international adoption–before, during, or after–please ask me in the comments. I will glad to help.

Are you interested in adoption?

Christians, we have been taught in Scripture that pure and undefiled religion is taking care of the widows and orphans in their time of need. Today there are over 147 million orphans in the world. That’s 147,000,000 children that don’t have a family.

The biggest reason I hear people say they can’t adopt is because they don’t have the money. I understand that. We used to think the same thing. But once you begin the adoption journey, you will see that God will provide the way through gifts, grants, loans, and other means. And if your family brings in more than $34,000, you are in the top 5% of the richest people in the world. (Check globalrichlist.com if you really want to know.)

If the richest people in the world, who have been told that God wants you to care for the orphans, and have been adopted by God as the ultimate example–if those people won’t adopt, then who will?

I hear people say A LOT: “We’ve thought about adoption, but…” And the sentence usually trails off. Take your first step today.

Foster care, permanent adoption. Domestic, foreign. Infants, toddlers, or teenagers. There is a great need, and you can play your part.

Start by watching this video.