Bolivia
Her name is Maria and today her adoption is official. She has been living with her new family for the month, but they have returned to the orphanage today to celebrate her finally being part of the family. When she walks in, tottling on the unstead legs of a 3 year old, and sees the Tia's (Aunt's) who work at the orphanage, her face blooms in the biggest smile I've ever seen. After hugging each one of them, she begins chasing her fellow orphans around and hugging on them as well, her curls bouncing behind her as she runs to the next child. It is one of the most precious things I have ever seen.
As my team and I sit eating cheesy bread and watching the kids hit a giant pinata Maria's new parents have provided, I feel immensly blessed to be witnessing this day. I also begin to be curious about the adoption process. Marc, our contact, is sitting next to me with his own newborn on his lap, and so I ask him about it. This couple, he tells me, is from Spain. They've had to be in the country for a couple months, not only to meet and get to know Maria, but also because the paperwork process takes quite a while. Birth certificates have been known to get lost, among other issues. And sometimes paperwork has to be resubmitted several times.
They didn't choose Maria, he tells me, although it's clear they adore her. In Bolivia, you can specify the orphanage you would like to adopt from and an age range and they may or may not take your wishes into consideration. If you know the child however, they will not allow you to adopt them at all. Carmilla, whose 10, would be adopted tomorrow if that were not the case. Marc tells me that there is an American couple that she exchanges letters with. They send her clothing and gifts and would love to adopt her, but are not allowed to "pick" her. I find this immensly sad. She will probably never have parents, because couples rarely choose to adopt older kids, and there is a couple out there who wants her and cannot have her. They have told her, however, that when she turns 18, she is always welcome to come to America and live with them. I suppose the law was enacted for the same reason Estaban has not been adopted. He's 8 years old and is behind. I'm not sure what is wrong with him, only that Marc informs me he is "slow" and has just started learning to read. He's been assigned parents twice, but when they've found out about his disabilities they rejected him. This kid, who always has a smile on his face, is not wanted. It breaks my heart.
And so I sit, watching little Maria with her new parents… the joy in all three of their faces. And I have so much hope for their future. I wish them blessing, upon blessing. Yet, as they leave, it is the faces of the children who remain that have stolen my heart… 3 year old Gonzy, as Rikki swings him around and around and he laughs uproariously. 10 year old Soy, as she hugs on Nathan and calls him Uncle Tim. 6 year old Bonita, as she does crazy things to Allison's hair. and 4 year old Antonio, as he leads me to a good spot, tells me to sit and then climbs onto my lap, for no other purpose than to lay his head against my chest and watch the others play. I have no idea what I would do with a 4 year old, but I would honestly, in this moment, adopt him if I could. These children already have such a pull on my heart…. I can't imagine the wreck I'm going to be when I have to leave.
