God Has Heard: Story of a Maine Adoption
By Roger Nauss
"Ok, Lord. I surrender to you", was my prayer
in our Portland, Maine hotel room that night. "But you realize, God, that
you have to provide the funds since we live on a minister's salary and we don't
even qualify for the minimum income guidelines for adopting a child from China."
God was about to miraculously answer the prayer of an obedient heart. Within
a week my wife Holly had a part time job in a nursing home only three miles
from our home, a job she would have until we completed the adoption process.
The seed for adoption began long ago in Holly's fertile heart since she was
adopted by her parents as a six month old baby. However my heart was fearful.
I was often teased by my family that I was adopted and not a biological part
of the family - not that I had a problem with other people's adoption but I
felt is wasn't for my family.
As my wife and I raised our two daughters, I began to yearn for the day when
our child rearing responsibilities end and we could travel and do some fun things
together. After all, at 47 and 44 years of age we were no longer "spring
chickens", I surmised. Why should we have to once again experience the
terrible twos and the traumatic thirteen's?
One day in spring 2005, Holly read an article in Today's Christian magazine
featuring Stephen Curtis Chapman's family. The Chapman's told about the wonderful
experience and joy of adopting three children from China and urged older parents
to consider providing a loving home to an orphaned child. Through the Shaohannah's
Hope website, she discovered a link for the America World Adoption Association.
Holly browsed the site, clicked the button for seminars and to her surprise
discovered that AWAA was hosting a "Spirit of Adoption" event in Maine!
Timidly, she asked if I was interested in attending a seminar. I responded that
I would only consider adopting through a distinctly Christian organization that
shared the same values that we hold dear.
During the seminar, AWAA first held in Maine, the representative shared from
the Bible God's loving heart for orphans. I began to sense God's warmth in my
soul. God had reached out and adopted me into His forever family. Now He reasoned
with me in my spirit: "Are you so selfish that you are not willing to provide
a loving home for one of my little children just so that you can have your wife
all to yourself? Is that why I saved you? Give me the strength of your years
and raise a child for my glory. I'll take care of your daughters and their personal
needs."
Some people felt that our timing to adopt was bad. We had a daughter struggling
in college and a young teenager experiencing an emotional crisis. A few brazen
critics dared to voice their negative opinions in an attempt to discourage,
dissuade, and even derail us from obeying God. But our daughters cheered us
on and we began to see God perform miracles! HE was the One orchestrating our
adoption and its timing and provision.
Though we pursued the adoption of a healthy child, we were open to consider
a child with special needs. When the March AWAA newsletter arrived, we responded
to the plea for families interested in SN boys. Browsing through the medical
papers on 16 month old Wei Hai, a child with a missing arm, we turned to each
other and said, "Is that all? We can handle that." God had previously
taught us how to care for an elderly, stroke-affected parent with limited mobility.
The adoption process accelerated into high gear as soon as we sent our "Letter
of Intent" for Wei Hai, It also hastened when bills came due. God knew
all along how He was going to provide for our child's homecoming. This "fast
track" shortened the timetable for our adoption fund-raising expenses to
three months! In our own strength, it was impossible, but God is the God of
the unachievable. Additional financial help poured in from family and friends,
including many unexpected sources. God miraculously provided grants through
Shaohannah's Hope and A Child Waits Foundation.
God wonderfully orchestrated all of the particulars of the adoption. Capable
and compassionate AWAA staff helped us wade through the minutiae of documents
and last minute preparations. We thank everyone who participated in our "Miracle
of Adoption".
We named our child "Samuel" (God has heard) after the Old Testament
prophet who was the answer to Hannah's prayer. Sammy is a true joy to have in
our home. Our active, vivacious and inquisitive little boy is quickly bonding
and attaching to each member of the family. He loves swaying to music and likes
to help dad play his guitar. His disability doesn't slow him down. In fact he
quickly adapts and interacts with his environment. He likes to climb, toss balls,
play with the family pets, and is in every respect a normal, energetic toddler.
Please consider adopting a special needs boy or girl; they need a loving and
caring family too.
* Roger and Holly Nauss have two daughters, Alicia (age 20) and Amy (age 15)
in addition to their adopted son Samuel (now age 2)