Almost three years ago, Heather and I began praying again about the possibility of adoption. We had adopted our first son, Caleb, from Kazakhstan, and nine months later our second son, Joshua, had come into our family. Overwhelmed by God’s grace, we knew that the Lord was leading us to adopt again, and so we began the process of praying through all the questions.
How should we adopt? Domestically or internationallly? If internationally, which country should we adopt from? Which adoption agency should we work with? How will we finance everything? We were in the middle of downsizing our home, so we wondered: How will we work out the details of the home study? Amidst the various questions in our minds (questions that every family who adopts inevitably wrestles with), we sensed the Lord clearly leading us to adopt internationally, and specifically from Nepal.
The infant mortality rate in Nepal is alarming, the prevalence of poverty is overwhelming, and the number of young girls who are trafficked for sex is devastating. After years of being closed to adoption, Nepal was re-opening with some unique regulations. For example, in order to adopt from Nepal, a family either had to have no children, or their children must have all been of the same gender, in which case a family could adopt a Nepali child of the opposite gender. So, because we had two boys, we were thus eligible to adopt a little girl from Nepal. We were told that the process (in total) would take about a year, and so we began immediately.
After a year of paperwork, fingerprints, physicals, home studies, moving homes, and more paperwork, we had finally completed everything that was necessary on our end to adopt a little girl from Nepal. Meanwhile, things on the Nepali end were slowing down, and due to a variety of different factors associated with a relatively unstable and constantly shifting government, soon Nepal was shut down for adoptions. I was preaching at an adoption conference about a year and a half after our process had begun, and I met an official from the U.S. State Department who, when he found out that we were adopting from Nepal, immediately told us to get out of that process. In his words, “There is no hope for adopting from Nepal right now.”
Our hearts were crushed. I remember Heather and I praying in tears at that conference, wondering what to do next. We had prayed with our boys almost nightly over the last 18 months for “their little sister in Nepal.” We knew (and still know now) that there are innumerable Nepali children without a mother or father to care for them, so why was God, the Father to the fatherless, seemingly closing this door?
We wrestled with these questions over the coming months as the prospects for adoption from Nepal only dimmed. We didn’t want to give up hope, and we knew that the Lord was leading us to adopt. We trusted that our quest to adopt from Nepal was not in vain, yet we wondered if the Lord was now leading us in another direction. And as we prayed, God opened up an avenue for us to keep our paperwork in Nepal (just in case it opened back up) while starting a parallel process of adoption through a special needs program in China.
Consequently, just over a year ago, we began the process again. More paperwork, more fingerprints, more physicals, more home studies, and more waiting. And now, we were praying nightly with our boys for their little sister in Nepal as well as their little brother or sister in China.
We will fill you in on more of the details as the days ahead progress, but suffice to say at this point…this morning, our family (including our boys) is boarding a plane to go to China to adopt the newest member of the Platts. Our travel dates were only confirmed last week, so yesterday we feverishly rushed around trying to get everything ready to go. Yet amidst running way too many last-minute errands and packing way too many fully-loaded suitcases, every once in a while, we found ourselves pausing in awe of a plan that we never would have devised but God most certainly has designed. For next Monday, after three years of praying, longing, preparing, and waiting, as the Lord wills, we will meet our daughter, our boys will meet their sister, and she will meet her family for the very first time.
Posted by Nick Horton (@NickHorton) on November 15, 2011 at 6:24 am
Hooray and Amen! Praise God for His faithfulness, and giving you a heart for the fatherless. I hope the days ahead are full of mercy and love. Safe travels, brother.
Posted by Lauren on November 15, 2011 at 6:28 am
Praying with you! What an exciting time for your family….especially your daughter!
Posted by Yvette Haney on November 15, 2011 at 6:31 am
Congratulations! Saying a prayer for you and your family as you travel and meet your daughter. May the blessings flow…
Posted by Kellie on November 15, 2011 at 6:40 am
Amazing testimony! What a wonderful way to ring in the Thanksgiving holiday!!! Hug and kiss your sweet new daughter for me
Posted by Susan on November 15, 2011 at 6:50 am
Your new daughter is SO beautiful!!! Our prayers and blessings go out to you and your family as you all begin this new adventure! You are such an inspiration to so many…may God richly bless you!
Susan
Posted by Greg lucas on November 15, 2011 at 7:05 am
David,
Nearly five years ago my wife and I boarded that plane to China to adopt our little girl. Our hearts are still as full as they were that day. Praying that you experience the wonders of God’s grace as you go!
Greg
Posted by Tami on November 15, 2011 at 7:06 am
oh, my goodness!!! precious, indeed!!!
excited to follow along! we’ve been on that journey four times!
Posted by missingafrica on November 15, 2011 at 7:07 am
praying for your family and this new season of life
Posted by DawnK on November 15, 2011 at 7:19 am
Praise God! We will be praying for you as we know your excitement and anticipation! We were in your shoes 2 years ago getting our sweet daughter from China! What a blessing she will be to your family!
Enjoy the beauty of China and go to the end at the Great Wall! God’s creation in those mountains is amazing!
Posted by Teresa on November 15, 2011 at 7:34 am
So happy for the five of you!!! Welcome to Xhina adoption. Both of our daughters are home from China
Posted by steve on November 15, 2011 at 7:34 am
10 years ago we made that same journey, our daughter is now almost 15, can’t imagine life without her. Congratulations
Posted by Julie Blauwkamp on November 15, 2011 at 7:41 am
Blessings to you and your family as you make this journey to the beautiful country of China and finally meet your precious daughter!
Posted by Joe Dabrowski on November 15, 2011 at 7:49 am
David,
As a pastor from a smaller town in the heart of Michigan, our passion for these last six years has been to “look beyond ourselves.” On November 25th, we leave for our third trip to China, this time to adopt a little boy – after bringing home two precious daughters – who have changed our lives dramatically, one in 2006 and the other in 2008 [as well as having two biological children of our own]. We never cease to be amazed by our amazing God and what He can do. I pray this trip for your family, once again, will continue to engrain deeper, the passion and compassion for others. I must admit, one of the key reasons we are on this journey again is because I was getting comfortable in life, and I happened to pick up a book titled “Radical,” which once again fueled a great passion for those around me. We pray God’s great blessing upon your journey!
Posted by Laure on November 15, 2011 at 8:01 am
David and Heather and Caleb and Joshua and ? …
I am rejoicing with you all and thanking God for His goodness and perfect timing in your lives.
to begin anything
with our lives
is to be conceived, again,
innocent and vulnerable and possible
in the womb of promise
it is to dream
what has already been dreaming us
like a ship moving
into patient waters that have waited
to carry an enormous weight
weightless.
© 2010 Laure A. Krueger. All Rights Reserved.
May our Lord’s keeping presence bless you on your journey!
Posted by Gene on November 15, 2011 at 8:32 am
You Platt’s continue to lead our faith family by showing us God’s grace, mercy and love. True leadership is “walking the walk” . . . and y’all DO! Can’t wait to meet your new daughter. Love y’all.
Posted by Pam Nelson on November 15, 2011 at 8:44 am
Thanks for the blog update. Praying with you and for you. Don’t worry, she will show you how to raise a daughter! They are a blast too!
Posted by J D on November 15, 2011 at 8:52 am
My husband and I have two beautiful adopted gifts from God. They have been such a blessing and joy in our lives. Wishing you safe travels and all God’s grace, love and guideance as you embark on this wonderful journey.
Posted by Michele Radue Willis on November 15, 2011 at 9:05 am
so excited for you guy and praying daily! I can’t wait to hear more when you guys get there…hug our daughter for us while you’re there!!!
Posted by Brenda Andrew on November 15, 2011 at 9:07 am
Sending prayers from Peachtree City to you and Heather and your family as you begin the journey to meet your sweet girl…..Cannot tell you how much we miss you, Brook Hills, and our amazing B’ham family….So thankful for God’s continued faithfulness to the Platt family!! Promise me you will let me take some pictures of her one day!!! Safe travels and lots of love and prayers ……
Posted by Andrea Thiele on November 15, 2011 at 10:23 am
David and Heather
As a mother of nine (4 Bio and 5 adopted from 3 different countries) I can yell you that it never gets old and the Lord never, as you know, never ceases to amaze us. Of course I had to read through tears, you both have impacted our lives so much. Your daughter is beautiful, and we are praying for yet another journey. Praying Jesus will hem you in and that you and you precious family will attach immediately!
Posted by Anna Leigh Mann on November 15, 2011 at 10:26 am
Will be praying for your family.
Posted by Abigail Berry on November 15, 2011 at 10:34 am
Thank you for posting! This encouragement is just what our little family needed!
Posted by Jamie czeskleba on November 15, 2011 at 11:33 am
Hello Neighbors!!! I am so excited to follow your journey. Christ is alive and well within you, and may He guide your travels to China and back. This is a beautiful time of prayer and Thanksgiving for your family. We are praying as a family for you all. Cannot wait to meet and play in the circle!!! The crepe myrtle needs more climbers…
Posted by Doug on November 15, 2011 at 1:04 pm
I just discovered your blog and look forward to following your journey to China. Congratulations!
My wife and I have 3 incredible kids from China – 2 girls, 6 and 9, and a young man who is 15. They are the delights of my heart.
Posted by Leslee Dockery on November 15, 2011 at 4:33 pm
Congratulations! We have two china sweeties!
Posted by April and Jason Carlisle on November 15, 2011 at 7:57 pm
Praying for you and Heather… praying for safe travels, praying for the boys, praying for God to use y’all while you are in China, praying for all things to go smoothly as you finish all the adoption things that must be done, praying for your sweet baby girl!
Posted by Adam on November 15, 2011 at 9:55 pm
What a touching story. Thanks so much for sharing and letting us have a peek into your journey.
Posted by Linda Flowers on November 15, 2011 at 10:33 pm
Praying God will bless every minute of your trip with His abundant grace. What a gift you are from our gracious Father to our faith family!! Can’t wait to have your precious daughter in the Brook Hills family!
Posted by Donna Houston on November 16, 2011 at 7:36 am
After working with adoption for 11 years, I am amazed at the stories and how God has workied in each family for His Glory! May God continue to be with you on this “Mara Ruth Journey.”
Posted by Teresa M. on November 16, 2011 at 10:05 am
To God be the glory! I’ve followed from afar (Kentucky!), and am so happy for your family and admire the life you are leading. We will follow you to China next week and on Nov 28 will meet our family’s little daughter/sister (she’s a result of studying God’s word through Radical!).
Posted by JJD on November 16, 2011 at 10:49 am
YEAH! We are lifting you guys up and are overjoyed at what you are experiencing right now! We love you guys!
Posted by Jessica (Houston) Finley on November 16, 2011 at 12:21 pm
When you announced this on the Secret Church Simulcast I was thrilled! We are fervently praying for you and your family as your journey through the final days of uniting with Mara Ruth! Adoption is very close to our hearts as our youngest son, Parker, joined our family this summer!!! Praying for the Platts!
Posted by Nancy Lehman on November 16, 2011 at 1:20 pm
We adopted an infant girl from Nepal almost 19 years ago, in 1993. She is a wonderful young lady, studying at college, and hoping to work at an NGO or orphanage in Nepal when she graduates. Nancy
Posted by MBC on November 16, 2011 at 5:48 pm
The Chapman family boarded our plane in March of 2000 to bring the first of our little China princess’s home. Little did we know that our Father would have us return again in 2003 for Stevey Joy, and in 2004 for our precious angel Maria. We pray blessings on your trip, and that you SEE His handiwork everywhere!He has given our family so much hope and Joy in the midst of sudden pain. We stand with you as you travel and are so thrilled for your family. We hope to meet face to face some day soon. Hugs to all, Steven and Mary Beth Chapman
Posted by Brett Hilliard on November 16, 2011 at 7:33 pm
Thrilled for you all. I’m a fellow pastor and adoptive father, serving the Lord in Hong Kong. Let me know if you need any assistance while in Asia. You will possibly pass through Hong Kong and we would be happy to give you pointers, tour you around the city, or provide housing. brett@islandecc.hk
Blessings to you all. Praying for a beautiful and fast bond.
Posted by Sarah Tabb on November 30, 2011 at 5:16 pm
My family will head to Ethiopia in a matter of weeks to pick up my two new sisters. It has also been a very up and down process, at times wondering if it would ever happen. My parents went for the first time to Ethiopia a few weeks ago for the first court date, and hopefully I will get to go with them the second time to pick them up. My heart goes out to you for all the ups and downs and praying through tears. May God bless your family with its newest addition!