Sunday, April 19, 2009

We've been away on a little family vacation. I've got lots of photos to share but they are on John's laptop and I'm not quite sure how to retrieve them. I'll figure it out and post soon.

Meanwhile, we are back, and there is something that is bugging me and I want to vent about it here.

Apparently there are people who are quite adamant that adoptive families should stick to adopting from their own country and not pursue international adoption. Their reasoning? "There are plenty of kids right here in our own backyard who need families, why 'waste' your time and money traveling across the world to get one." I recently read a couple of blog comments over this and I realized that some people are just downright mean and ugly about it! I've heard the same "argument" about missionaries...that there are plenty of unsaved people right here in our own country. Why should people be asking for support going to foreign countries to share the gospel.

Honestly this mentality doesn't even make sense to me! Are these people saying that only U.S. born children are worthy of having families? And only U.S. residents worthy of hearing the gospel? Yes, there are many children here in the U.S. who are waiting for families, and there are many, many more in foreign countries, who are also waiting for families. While we were in Ukraine, our facilitator told us Ukrainians do not adopt. So what then is supposed to happen to the orphans of the countries where people do not adopt their own kids?

EVERY kid should have a family no matter where they were born!!! (I'll get off my soapbox now)......

Photos coming soon of a little bald Ukrainian girl enjoying her first time at an amusement park.....

14 comments:

Arizona mom to eight said...

Amen Charissa,I do understand that as well, our homestudy SW said the same thing to us about domestic adoption, honestly, if I were not called to adopt the girls, I am not sure we would have adopted, we specifically wanted to adopt daughters with Down syndrome becuase of their future in Ukraine and Estonia. It is so hard to get folks to understand the undeniable call.

junglemama said...

Preach it Sista!

Anonymous said...

I totally agree. When I tell people about wanting an orphanage in the Ukraine a lot of them tell me the same thing, that it is pointless to go to another country and I should just stay here in the U.S. I don't understand how people can possibly think that way ! It is sad. But oh well, who cares what they think ! We know what is right ! =] LOVE YOU !
Heather

amyl4 said...

This frustrates me to no end!
God's children are everywhere, not just in the U.S.
I can't wait to see pictures of Ava at the park!:)
Amy

Jennifer said...

Oh, how I hate hearing this over and over!!!! Especially when people know the choice we've made, why do they feel the need to say that?! I think I especially hate it when it's posed as a friendly "question" with that ring of condemnation to it! Thanks for your post and for the opportunity for me to vent as well! Hope you had a great vacation!

Mandy said...

I hear you girl :)
My comment back is that "you can't control where God leads you or when he's going to call."

Anonymous said...

All children deserve a family, and a child is a child and not a nationality, but....

I don't think they realize how very difficult domestic adoptions are. Their are long waiting lines for children onder 7. Long waiting lines for DS babies.

-I am white, single, and middle aged and I am just making it income wise. I called around and no one would even consider me.

-When I got off the plane the baby was mine. I don't have possibly years fostering to adopt and not getting my child, she is mine now.

-Years down the road I will never have a birth family change their mind and have my child taken away

-My child could have easily died in the third world conditions she was in. I am sure foster children in the US have a better chance.

and there are many many other reasons

Amy...who wanted 4. said...

Anonyomous mentioned all the points we talked about when we chose to adopt from Russia.

I also am tired of the comments.
I do not even answer anymore.
People can be just plain nosey and RUDE.
Good post Charissa!!!

Anonymous said...

You said it, sister! Don't you just want to ask how many kids they've adopted, period. Because if they've adopted, either Domestic or International, they understand usually. If they haven't, they shouldn't be casting stones.

Jan

Cammie Heflin said...

Wow! I can't imagine people saying that aren't we ALL God's people??? Ugh! People often ask me where Addy is from and they seem shocked when I say Minnesota!!!

Now on a happier note, you do realize that I MUST give you a major hard time for being an hour away from me and we didn't meet!!! We will THIS SUMMER I GUARANTEE!!! I HAVE TO MEET ALL OF YOUR FAMILY, ESPECIALLY OUR BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BALD UKRANIAN!!!

Tim Rovenstine said...

Every country has it's rules, and every culture it's values. In Mexico it is very difficult for even Mexicans to adopt their own, much less from another country.

Anonymous said...

oh. my. that makes me sad!

auntie to 1 ukrainian adopted 2 yr old boy and soon-to-be auntie to a lil ukrainian 3-4 yr old girl...

Larsen Family said...

I totally agree. God calls you to adopt where he wants you to, period!!!

That's all I'll say on this subject.

Stefanie and Bill said...

I wonder what "those people" have done to further the Kingdom and care for the children that God calls ALL Christians to care for. Afterall, orphans are so near and dear to God's heart regardless of what Country they are in. It clearly shows the ignorance of people because the destiny of DS and special needs is an institution and many times death in Ukraine and other places. If they saw the "before" pictures of Ava, I could not imagine how they could muster up such ignorant words. Thank God for people like you whom traveled to Ukraine.