Adoption

When we were dating and starting to feel that our relationship was heading towards marriage, we had a conversation about kids.  After all, it’s good to know before getting married if the other person has always wanted ten children!  We found out that we were both quite seriously interested in adoption, particularly international adoption.  We didn’t decide anything for certain that day, but wondered that if perhaps God was calling us to pursue adoption in our future.

We wanted to wait at least two years before having any children, so didn’t actively do much regarding adoption when we were first married.  Occasionally, though, we did some reading online about adoption and talked about it.  When it became apparent that the idea of us adopting was growing stronger in both of us and that we were increasingly feeling pulled to pursue it, we started doing some research in earnest.  We decided we’d like to try to have one biological child first, and then adopt our second, provided everything works out with the adoption process.

Since it’s likely that you have a few questions, we have a little FAQ section below.  If you have a question which is not answered in it, please feel free to e-mail us and ask!

What country will you be adopting from?

Because we are US citizens but live in Tanzania, our situation is a bit complicated.  Long story short, after some research, it quickly became apparent that adopting from Tanzania was our best option.  It would be extremely difficult and expensive to adopt from a country other than Tanzania while we are residents of Tanzania and, although there are fairly strict rules about non-Tanzanians adopting from Tanzania, we are some of the few who qualify.  There are certainly many orphans here in need of loving parents.  So, Tanzania it is!

Does adoption cost a lot?

Adoption, particularly international adoption, certainly can cost a lot.  The system in Tanzania is a bit different from countries which have a lot of children being adopted internationally, however.  Here in Tanzania there is no charge for the child and no payment to the government.  We do have to pay International Social Services at one point and will have a few legal costs to finalize the adoption.  We’ve been told by others who have been through the process that the final grand total will be about $2,500 US, which is probably less than what it would cost to have a biological child.

Will you get to choose if you adopt a boy or girl?

Yes!  In fact, we’ve already been required to choose!  On the very first little form we filled out to indicate we were interested in becoming approved as potential parents, we had to state which gender of child we wanted.  We wrote that we’d like a boy, since we both have only sisters, and Andrew really wants at least one son in our family.

How old will the child be when you adopt him?

On the form we filled out we said “less than two years.”  In Tanzania, in order for a child to be eligible for adoption, he/she must have an official certificate of abandonment, which requires six months of the police searching for the child’s family to get, so our hoped for “as young as possible” will probably turn out to be about nine or ten months old.

Where will you get the child?

We will be adopting a child out of an orphanage.  We’re not sure which orphanage, but the two that seem most likely both have good reputations and are a reasonable driving distance away.

How long does the process take and what is involved?

We’ve been told that it might be two to three years before everything is complete.  Adoption is typically a long process and government offices in Tanzania don’t have a reputation for speed.  At this point we’ve done some of the initial local steps.  After finishing paperwork here in Musoma, everything will be sent to the head commissioner in Dar es Salaam (big city on the other side of the country).  At that point, International Social Services will check on family references and things in the States.  The Dar commissioner is the one who will say if we’re approved as potential parents or not.  If we’re approved, we then foster the child for six months, at which point there will be more interviews, paperwork, and legal stuff.  Then the child will be officially ours!  After filing some forms with the US government, the child can become an American citizen the next time we’re in the States.  If this sounds like it will take a long time, you’re right!  But we know this - you will recall that we’d like this little boy to be our second child, and our first isn’t even born yet!

Are you concerned about the possible challenges of raising an adopted child?

We’re aware of what some of the potential difficulties might be.  Raising a child of any sort sounds like a big challenge to us, to be quite honest!  We’ve been encouraged by positive reports from families who have adopted children from East Africa.  Because we live in Tanzania and are adopting a Tanzanian child, we’ll be able to avoid some of the common problems with international adoption (not having a language in common, the child experiencing major climate change, etc.).  But we know the experience of raising an adopted child is bound to have its rough points and hope that you will join us in prayer as we embark on this adventure!