If I hear one more person say “You are special” I am going to scream. I am saying this because in Honduras when I was saying goodbye to our contact, his wife said with her best English, “The first time I met you I saw that you are special.” Then last month some random guy at this church stated the same thing when he shook my hand. Then during debrief two friends said the same thing. Part of me was like, “Why is everyone saying this to me?”
Now, this month it has become clear to me why people were stating that comment. It’s because I am so special in my father’s eyes, that he took an orphan and gave her a family. Like the stranger said at the church, I have a voice to teach others about being adopted. Right now if I lived in Ecuador, I would not be on the world race, living in America, or even having this amazing relationship with my Heavenly Father. He took me in and gave me a chance to live in America and understand many things.
He took me out of Ecuador, while I didn’t know my birth parents or anything about my past. He has blocked some things he never wants me to remember for a reason. Being older now I can understand why and I am okay with that because my Daddy has a reason for everything.
Now I am able to share my story that I am adopted, and the fact of not knowing my past or anything is alright. It is my family that has taught me what love really means and looks like by supporting one another. My mother has taught me to be independent, to keep learning new things, and most of all never to give up.
I have a voice to speak to others about how being adopted is not so bad. I am glad that my mom told me I was adopted when I was a little girl, by sharing books and explaining things to me. But if my mother didn’t tell me when I was younger, it would have been harder as I grew older. Granted, I would have known something was up because we definitely have different skin. However, there would be more questions and maybe some trust issues with my family, had they not told me I was adopted at an early age.
I am speaking to those that want to adopt. The main goal is to love the child like it is your own. Showing love is the best connection to all. However, I have learned that some people maybe had tough times with adoption or have heard stories. The main thing is that if it is in your heart to adopt then pray and let the Lord lead you. My family was going to be done with adopting when two children before me fell through and my mom was heartbroken. However, my family took a third chance and now I live in America and am now experiencing the World Race.
