Yet Another Adventure

After returning home from our first Amazing Race, we spent some time relaxing enjoying our new addition. There are no words to describe how Isaac has completely turned our world upside down. He is an amazing little boy with a wonderful sense of humor and incredible affinity for things with wheels and wagons. As we were finishing up our last post-placement visit with our case worker she looked at us all and said, "I will see you again soon!" I guess she knew something that we didn't at the time. She knew that our hearts still had room for more.
Today I write to tell you about our call to join the Amazing Race again. Travis says that as soon as we landed in Dallas on the way home from getting Isaac that I was ready to adopt again. I will say that he is probably right. I had to convince myself to just enjoy our hilarious little man and not worry with what God had in store for our family. Late this summer after much prayer and discussion we decided it was time to at least send an email to see what our options were for adopting again.
Really there were a few options for us, Korea which already had my heart, China, or domestic adoption. We would jump on a plane to Korea again in a minute if it had not been for the changes made in the process since adopting Isaac. You now have to travel to Korea multiple times and stay for up to two weeks at a time. With two children at home, this option did not seem like the best one for our family. China did not feel right to us either. That only left domestic adoption, which would take forever, or so we thought. Turns out our agency has been working with a lawyer out of Arkansas to perform private adoptions with a people group from the Marshall Islands. She told us that the process was fairly quick in adoption terms and instructed us to call to find out more. We began to pray about where God had in mind for us, realizing that my email to check on options had quickly turned our hearts toward readiness! After a little more research and help from Travis' cousin and his wife, this is what we know about our upcoming adoption.
The Marshall Islands is part of a larger group of islands referred to as Micronesia located in the Pacific ocean about midway between Hawaii and Australia.
Back in 1940s and 50s the United States conducted nuclear testing on certain islands within the Marshall Islands which caused those areas to be uninhabitable. Thus, the remaining islands became overpopulated with very little opportunity for work. Since America caused so much destruction in the Marshall Islands they formed an agreement which allowed Marshallese people to travel in and around the United States without a VISA and no restriction on length of stay.
Since then Marshallese have been migrating from their homeland to the United States since the 1980s in hopes of earning money, educating their children, and seeking medical care. The second largest population of Marshallese are residing in Springdale, Arkansas. Most are working in the chicken industry for Tyson Chicken. This culture does not believe in birth control.  However, they do believe in adoption. Many of the children are being born into families or cohabitation situations  where they are unable to provide and care for their children. Marshallese women have also been subjected to various forms of sex trafficking. There seems to be a growing need for families to adopt these babies that are being born into impoverished situations. Most of these birth mothers care about their children and want to see them placed with a family who will love them and provide for them. This is a culture who has a love for children and celebrates them, many on the island never make it to their first birthday because of poverty or illness. We are absolutly blown away by this opportunity, to minister to this people group and to bring another amazing child into our home.
Anna and Isaac are also excited, though Isaac has no idea what he is getting into. When you ask if he wants a boy or girl he just says, "I want a baby!" Anna on the other hand has quite a lot to say about this adoption. She has not only declared that she wants a baby sister but has also proclaimed that she should have naming rights!
We are currently in the process of gathering funds. We were blessed this week with the ability to completely pay off our first adoption loan, just in time to get a second! We will be doing our best to raise money which will include a raffle for a signed UK basketball, a yard sale and anything else we might be able to come up with. We appreciate any help you can give us but more than anything covet your prayers as we journey on. We have learned that adoption is quite the roller coaster ride and want to be ready for whatever comes our way!

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and truth."
                                                                                                                1 John 3:17-18

And the race begins....