China. Bulgaria. Colombia. We had narrowed down the countries based on feasibility. Some we didn’t consider because of the length of time we’d have to stay in country to finalize the adoption. Some we left out because they only had specific age children to adopt. The requirements of each country were different, and we had figured and eliminated until we were down to only three. We knew it wasn’t about choosing which country we wanted to travel to or what ethnicity of child we wanted to parent. We knew this calling was given by God, and He had a plan. Finding that plan would have been easier if he had bellowed from the clouds in a booming voice and told us. Or even just sent a piece of paper floating down from Heaven with the country written on it.
While we all know God doesn’t normally spell out His plan for us in the ways I just mentioned, He did end up making it clear as to which country we should choose. And it came in the form of a woman jumping up and down and clapping. It was a new friend of mine, and one morning as we were watching our youngest children toddle and play in an auditorium, we began chatting. I shared with her about our adoption and how we were deciding which country. I mentioned we had narrowed it down to Bulgaria, China, or Colombia. Her face got excited, and she literally jumped and clapped as she told me that we should choose Colombia. You see, I found out that day that my new friend is Colombian. I knew she had an accent and pretty, long black hair, but until that day, I didn’t know where she was from. God didn’t send that note from Heaven, but my new Colombian friend wasn’t happenstance. In fact, she has helped us all during our adoption. When the orphanage asked us to record a song, my friend knew just the right one to learn. When I needed to know anything specific about Bogotá, she asked a family member who still lives there. God’s plans are wonderful, and we can trust He will lead us in His ways.
Miracles: Looking back, I realize God had our Latin American adoption planned all along. I fell in love with the Spanish language in college and minored in it. I continued, for no apparent reason, to practice my Spanish. I frequented Spanish chatrooms designated for language learners. I worked as a Spanish tutor with several different companies. I practiced with friends online. I still send Spanish voice and text messages back and forth to one friend in particular who has patiently helped me learn Spanish for over 10 years now. For no apparent reason. But my love for Spanish and the draw that I’ve had for Latin American culture is not happenstance. That’s because God knew I’d need it. He knew our family would one day be a multicultural family. He put a love for that culture and language in my heart long before I ever knew why. And then He guided our family in his plans. He did that. He is so good.
My next post will tell you about the hardest paperwork we filled out during our adoption process.
Collage: Drawn to Latin America through the years.
Pictures from 2009 trip to Perú.
Bottom right: My Colombian friend 🇨🇴 Eliana Guiselle Wilmoth (middle) and non-Colombian friend 🇺🇲 Meredith Duncan Weber after dinner at a Colombian restaurant in Greensboro.
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