Why China?

Why China?
There are millions of children all over the world that need loving families. They need a family of their own. The first thing a family decides is where their child may be. Where is God calling you to adopt? Where is your child in this big world? Many of our closest friends have adopted from many countries including the U.S. and all have their amazing adoption stories. God calls different families to different adoption options and I am so thankful for that. God gave us so much love for the Chinese people and that is where He chose to place our babies.

Besides feeling lead to China, we also feel a China adoption is the easiest program in many ways. China tells you what paperwork they want, you gather up the paperwork, your agency mails it for you and then you wait. The Chinese Government logs in your dossier on a special day called Log In Date (LID). Our LID is September 29, 2005. Basically, it's kind of like taking a number and waiting in line for our turn. There is little room for surprises and much less room for a "rollercoaster ride". It's very fair and consistent. It may take over a year to hold your baby but in the end you will hug and kiss your baby. Once they hand that baby to you, she or he is yours forever and nobody can take your baby from you. The adoption is final as soon as you wrap your arms around your baby. When you hit U.S. soil, your baby is a U.S. Citizen. Every baby that we have ever met from China, is healthy, beautiful and very smart. Read about Alaina's "Gotcha Day" when she was forever in our family.

Advantages of a China Adoption
Courtesy of Chinese Children Adoption International

Consistency - In 1999, China surpassed Russia as the international destination from which most U.S. parents adopt their children. China has established a structured system that leaves little room for surprises. Paperwork is predictable and manageable, and CCAI is able to offer concrete information on how to compile your paperwork successfully. Although the journey may seem long, the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) in Beijing processes qualified applicants and matches them with children they desire in a fair, “first-in first-out” manner, for example, whether a family’s income is $50,000 or $500,000, whether they have four children or no children, or whether parents are 30 years old or 55 years old, or whether you are using a small agency or a big one. Child’s Health - Though they are abandoned after birth, these children are wanted while in their mother’s womb. Their parents are most likely hoping that circumstances will allow them to keep and raise their child to adulthood. Therefore, birth mothers take good care of themselves and their unborn child in the hopes that they will have a life-long relationship. Women in China tend to live healthy lifestyles whether they are pregnant or not. Very few Chinese women smoke or drink. Because these children start out with a relatively clean bill of health at birth and have their basic needs met in the orphanage, adopted Chinese children in general tend to be free of long-term physical and emotional issues. (For more information, please see Who Are These Precious Children on the CCAI website.) See video of a birthmother abandoning her child and the emotions she suffers. Also, see the Waiting Children's Program if your heart is leading you to a special needs child. Abandonment - Children placed through China adoption are abandoned children. Because child abandonment is illegal in China, birth parents leave no trace of their identity. During their trip to China, adoptive families receive a certificate of abandonment that proves the biological parents have relinquished their parental rights through abandonment. There is no legal avenue for the birth parents to reclaim custody. Travel - Families travel one time to China, for an average of 14 - 16 days. There is no need for multiple trips and there are seldom circumstances that cause families to stay longer than expected. At least one parent must travel to China to finalize the adoption, but CCAI recommends that both parents make the trip. Accommodations, transportation, and adoption appointments are all finalized before families arrive in China. Families will always be with a CCAI representative who speaks English, Mandarin, and the local dialect of their child’s region. (For more information, please see Typical Adoption Travel Itinerary Outline on the CCAI website or Alaina's travel journal.) Cost – China adoption is widely considered the most affordable adoption program available, and fees and expenses are known well in advance. When working with a reputable agency like CCAI, which has a high standard of financial integrity and professional ethics, families never need to worry about hidden charges or last minute surprises. (For more information, please see Adoption Expenses on the CCAI website.)