My Adoption Learning!!

I’ve been thinking a lot about adoption since I’ve been here in Honduras. It seems that it has come to my mind in three main ways. Primarily, because I have been spending so much time with the families here at La Providencia, I have experienced the reality of adopting orphans first hand. Each family here has six children in the home, at least four of whom are adopted. It is amazing to watch how the families work. The parents have a set schedule for the kids and they discipline them in a Godly way to train them to be respectful and obedient. The kids are fed, bathed, clothed, and provided for in every way physically. They are also loved unconditionally and encouraged according to each of their needs. Both sets of parents are Honduran and have committed to serve here at La Providencia for the next sixteen years. Not only have they adopted these children to be a part of their families, they have also adopted a new way of life and have made many sacrifices. Adoption requires a heart that is willing to put others before self and a willingness to change in order to love and accommodate others.

Not only have they adopted these children to be a part of their families, they have also adopted a new way of life and have made many sacrifices. Adoption requires a heart that is willing to put others before self and a willingness to change in order to love and accommodate others. adopting orphans first hand. Each family here has six children in the home, at least four of whom are adopted. It is amazing to watch how the families work. The parents have a set schedule for the kids and they discipline them in a Godly way to train them to be respectful and obedient. The kids are fed, bathed, clothed, and provided for in every way physically. They are also loved unconditionally and encouraged according to each of their needs. Both sets of parents are Honduran and have committed to serve here at La Providencia for the next sixteen years.

Secondly, although I’ve only been here for a couple of weeks, I’ve been adopted here in Honduras! In my last blog I wrote about how slow the pace of life is here. That still holds true except for in one area: relationships. After being here less than a week, I was called to the front of the church where the whole church sang to me for my birthday and prayed for my life. They threw a surprise birthday dinner and have made me feel so loved. Everyone has embraced me with open arms and it has been amazing. The couple that I’m living with call me their “American daughter” because they have “adopted” me and take care of me as if I’m their own child. Even the director of the ministry told the groups that his church has “adopted” me for the month and that is exactly what has happened. The truth is that I know they treat every person this way who comes to serve here for an extended amount of time. It is in their nature to encourage and embrace others before themselves. I can’t explain how blessed I am to be on the receiving end of this “adoption.” Although I’m miles away from my own, I know that I have family here in Honduras—even in less than two weeks!

I think that the most important thing that I’ve learned about adoption is that it’s not humanly. The reason that these friends are able to adopt people into their lives and hearts is because they know that they have been adopted by our Heavenly Father. Ephesians 1:4-6 says: For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. We’ve all been adopted because of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. That’s why the people I’ve encountered here can adopt and love so freely. They understand that they are so freely loved, forgiven, and that we are all children of God.

Adoption is now synonymous with the word “sacrifice” in my mind now because of what I’ve experienced here. I will never forget my adoption here in Honduras because I know that these new friends will always be a part of my family.