Hope for Orphans at Christmas

My mom was adopted in December of 1952 when she was just 3 days old. She has always viewed her adoption into a family who loved God and loved her as God's abundant provision and protection for her life. My grandpa and grandma openly discussed her adoption and the adoption of her siblings from different families. Around the time I was in high school a dream began to form in my heart, the desire to adopt. The Bible says, "God places the orphan into families". He also says, "true religion is to care for the orphan in their distress." Over the years this desire has not diminished but has grown for me. Some days tears and prayers flow like rivers as I think of children sitting, waiting to be loved.
If I could adopt from anywhere I would choose China. Little girls in China are literally thrown away like garbage or even drowned in rivers like unwanted puppies. Realistically, I will never be eligible to adopt from this country. They have 3 prerequisites: husband and wife must be at least 30 years old (this one my husband and I now fulfill), you must own your own home (we live in a home that our church owns so I don't know if that would count), must make a minimum of 30K per year and an addition 25 K per each child you have (this one kills us b/c we would have to make 130 K per year and as a pastor there is no way). So, in light of this we have discussed adopting from Khazakstan or Romania b/c their poilicies are less stringent.
The adoption process for adopting one child from another country ranges between $20,000-$35,000 for everything from preparing your dociet to paying for your flight. I am not writing this blog to discuss whether or not these requirement and fees are just. The plain fact is they are what they are and if I want to adopt I am going to jump through the existing hoops. Now, I do feel daunted and frustrated by the costs as they are a year's wage or more for our family. I have the desire and the mommy skill needed to love and orphan but lack the funding. If I could afford it I would be in the middle of the process today.
It seems like everywhere I turn people are discussing justice for people in poverty, the AIDS crisis, and orphans. Focus on the Family, Family Life Today, Steven Curtis Chapman, and many others are pleading for the people of God to care for orphans. I hope we can be a family who adopts. I hope you and your family will consider adoption or helping someone else who has the dream but may need help to do it.

If you would like to see some pictures of kids waiting to be adopted visit the photolisting at http://www.rainbowkids.org/ But, prepare to have your heart broken.