By Dr. David Balla

     I will never forget the phone call from our adoption agency telling us the news of our first daughter.  My wife and I were just finishing up dinner when the call came in.  The adoption process had taken about 10 months, and the time had finally arrived.  We had a baby girl.  

     In our panic we drove to a local book store, purchased a map of China and a small dictionary and hurried back home.  Where in China? We located it on the map.  We tried translating her name into English.  After the excitement dropped a little, we realized that we never finished dessert from dinner.  Nowadays, our children being 6 and 4 years old, refuse to move from the dinner table without any dessert.  But on this day, dessert was put away.  This was more important.  

    Times may have changed, but our enthusiasm for learning more about the Chinese culture hasn't.  The reason I mention this is because there are many parents in today's world who are just like us, looking for connections with Asia, so we can help our children learn more about their heritage. In 2002 China led the way with orphans coming to the United States with 5,053 children.  South Korea had 1,779, Vietnam had 766, Indian had 466, Cambodia had 254, and the  Philippians had 221. Over 8,500 families had a similar experience as my wife and I had, and continue to seek more information about the native culture of their children.

    Here is where the churches with members of Asian heritage can play an important part.  With a lot of these adoptive families seeking some cultural experience, the Asian Christianity communities can reach out to these families by opening their ethnic celebrations to the community. As these celebrations naturally take place, the adoptive community will wish to be involved. Remember that the adoptive family went to a great effort in the adoption process, and may also make a great effort in welcoming their child(ren) to their new home.

    An example would be a Chinese Christian community that celebrates the New Year at church with a dinner, games, activities, socialization, and so on.  Ask the local, “Families with Children from China (F.C.C.)” www.fwcc.org to place advertisement in their newsletter welcoming the adoption community.  Don't forget to mention this to the local international adoption agencies, who will also be strongly interested in promoting cultural events, in countries where they travel to adopt, for people seeking to adopt and to provide educational opportunities for those who have adopted. who have already adopted.     

     Please remember that the adoptive family may only speak English and may be a little hesitant, so make sure there are greeters. Also include crafts, songs, coloring pages, dancing, and especially story time—retelling the purpose of the celebration so that children of all ages will understand. Think of it as Vacation Bible School, with an emphasis on a cultural celebration.  

     Again, the adoptive family went to a great effort in the adoption process, and may also make a great effort in having their child(ren) be accepted into their culture and  their new home. Don't forget to invite them to Church and Sunday School, where their child(ren) can be welcomed, nurtured, and accepted.

LISAA (Lutherans In Support of Asian Adoption), a program of CAME, is proud to feature Dr. David Balla’s article in this issue. Additional articles regarding Asian adoptions, adoptees and adoptive families will be featured in future issues of Building Bridges. For more information about LISAA, please contact Co-Directors Theresa Shaltanis and Veronica Johann at LISAA@cameministries.org. And pray for the many children in need, like these parentless children in Vietnam pictured below, who may be adopted by wonderful Lutheran families. With our support, these families will care for the children’s special needs and share the Gospel with them.     

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