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Our Story
Posted
April 30, 2007
In the spring of 2006 Ray and I received an email from our friend Misty that she had forwarded to us to send on to another person who had requested information about adopting a deaf child. When we received the information we had forgotten about that request and thought the email was meant for us. The email said they were looking for a home for a little deaf Chinese girl; her name is Feng Xue Juan. We both knew right away that God was calling us to adopt this little girl. Ray asked me to contact the adoption agency right away. When I did, we found out that someone had already decided to adopt her. Our family prayed for her and asked God to give her a good home.
A few weeks later we were contacted by the adoption agency saying that she was available once again as that family had decided that adopting a deaf child was going to be too difficult. We rejoiced and knew that God had answered our prayers!
It took us some time to finish up our paperwork and get the deposit money ready to send. During this time the agency thought that we had changed our mind because they had not heard from us. They were just about to send back the paperwork on this little girl to China marked as "unadoptable", when they received our paperwork. Then the long process began.
Mountains of paperwork, blood checks, shots, background checks, home study and so on and so on. Then the fund raising began. Friends and family from all over got involved in helping us to raise the money to "Bring Emily Home". The long wait for our approval, referral and travel permission reminded us of the 9 months we wait during a pregnancy, only without an actual end date!
During this time we were able to contact the orphanage through www.blessedkids.com. We sent Emily a photo album with our pictures in it and a teddy bear that she will be able to bring with her when she leaves there. We also sent two disposable cameras which they used to take pictures of Emily and send to us. This was such a blessing as the only pictures we had of Emily to this date were over 1 1/2 years old.
We were also able to find out from the orphanage director that Emily is profoundly deaf in both ears, she has not been taught any sign language as there is no one that knows it in their area, and that she uses a few "home signs" to communicate. Emily is now 3 1/2 years old, with very little language. We hope to bring her home soon so we can begin to teach her language.
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