Preparing for
Juan David didn’t require as much work since he and David would share a room.
They liked the same things and would likely share many of them (bunk beds, soccer
balls and equipment, toys and games). Plus we didn’t want to do much
pre-shopping for Juan David, already a pre-teen. We wanted to give him more of
a choice in what we purchased for him. His top bunk awaited his arrival, we
planned to put him on a soccer team right away, and half a closet full of
donated clothes waited for him.
Juan David knew our plan to adopt him all along. We rarely ever
discussed it, and I found it hard to not slip up and say something as the time
got closer. Since Viviana knew I’d visit someday and bring her presents, I
accidentally carried the same conversation over into one of my phone calls with
him. He quickly closed up after he heard
me say the word visit. I wondered if it made him think we’d changed our minds. He
didn’t want a visitor. He wanted a family.
I sensed his attitude from the start of our phone call relationship. He
didn’t mind talking, but he stayed pretty closed off until I mentioned being in
the process to try to adopt him (specifically what they told me I could tell
him). His whole mood changed after that, and he talked openly and freely,
almost as if he needed a purpose for our conversations. He wasn’t going to let
just anybody in.
In our
following conversation, we talked heart to heart, and I told him the truth. I
knew deep down that I didn't make the wisest choice by having that
conversation. On the other hand, knowing his age, I knew I needed to speak
honestly with him. I needed him to know he could trust me. (I didn’t consider
how such a conversation might come back to haunt me later.)
Our phone calls felt more fun and lighthearted from that moment on, helping
me convince myself I’d made the right choice. We compared information about our
countries and cultures a lot.
“What month do you celebrate Valentine’s Day in your country? What
month do you start school? When does your school year end? What do you do at
Halloween? Does David dress up? Do you wear a costume?” He loved learning about
our holidays, our educational system, and about the way we do things here in
the States. I enjoyed having him teach me all about his own culture in
Colombia, too.
That summer held so many ups and downs. On one particular Sunday, our
teaching pastor preached a special sermon on adoption. Our Adoption Ministry at
the church set up a booth for anyone to find out more about the ministry after
the service, plus to advertise an upcoming mini-conference later in the summer to
help anyone learn how to start an adoption process. Mike and I volunteered at
the booth at our campus for all three services. I couldn’t think of a more wonderful
way to use our waiting time than to encourage and inspire other couples to look
into adoption too.
During the
service, the media team played a slideshow with pictures of many adoptive
families in the church, as well as pictures of those in the process. Some
couples held up a flag of the country they planned to adopt from and a big
question mark.
For our picture, the three of us held up a picture of Juan David and
Viviana, looking at them with a longing in our eyes. The slide show brought
tears to my eyes every time I watched it. One day soon our family picture would
indeed be complete. We would have more than a picture to hold—we’d have two children
to hold in our arms and give hugs and kisses to every night.
After the final service, we met up with some friends for lunch. I
probably glowed for hours after such an inspiring morning. As we left the
restaurant a little while later, we all spotted a truck in the adjacent parking
lot with puppies for sale.
“Please, please, please, please,
please can we go see them?” David begged, tugging on my arm. I’m not a dog person,
but I complied. I’m still not sure how this happened, but one precious little
pup completely captured my heart.
Still reflecting over the morning service, Viviana dominated my
thoughts. She wanted a dog. She loved dogs. She even asked me send her
host family’s dog to her in the mail because she loved it so much during her
summer stay. She squealed every time she heard my neighbor’s dog bark through
the phone.
Before I knew it, I reached for the cash in my pocket and walked away
with a dog.
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