”Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” - Psalm 37:4

We all know there are many issues and decisions in life, but none greater than the issues of the heart.  The most wonderful truth is that when God made each of us He placed certain desires that help lead us into our destiny.  One of the most basic desires that develops as we mature is that of having children, probably having its roots in the Genesis command to “be fruitful and multiply”.   There are many books, stories, movies and even jokes that warn us of the perils that await those who choose to be a parent, but nothing can deter us once that desire sets itself firmly in our hearts.

Shortly after we were married Mary began to say, “I want a baby” and in April 1987 God gave us a son. Afterward God graciously gave us two more sons.  They are all grown men now, the youngest having graduated high school and endeavoring to make his way through the next stages of adulthood.  Now after parenting for almost 25 years we had been anticipating the ‘empty nest’ where the daily responsibilities become less.  In the years past we had always wanted to have more children (and hopefully a girl!), but no longer being unable to bear we had left the idea far behind.  We had considered adopting, but our desire would have been a Guyanese child and that didn’t seem possible now that we were back living in Virginia.

While in Guyana last August we were approached by one of the families in Moblissa about ‘taking’ one of the children that had been abandoned by the parents.  She and her older siblings had been living with her aged grandparents, but they had become increasingly unable to care for them.  Some of the aunts & uncles had endeavored to help, but they all have several young children of the own and were limited in what they could do.  So after several discussions with all concerned, we met with a lawyer and then the government adoption board, who both encouraged us to pursue the adoption.

At this point I (Bruce) would like to explain the significance of this child.  One of our values in COTN that has become very important to us is that God builds His church & Kingdom through relationships.  I remember shortly after we arrived in Guyana in 1998 while riding in a vehicle I saw an Amerindian (indigenous South American) walking down the road and I said in my heart, “I would like to get to know those people.”  About two months after we began the church in Moblissa, a family showed up on our regular pick up route for Sunday gatherings.  They had been informed by others that a white man would be passing by and would carry them to church.  Being Amerindian they didn’t talk much at first, but after about a month the father approached us with his story.  They were going through a difficult time being recently unemployed and somewhat homeless.  He shared with us that he led the church services at the logging compound where they recently lived and just wanted us to know he was available to assist.  That was thirteen years ago and today he is an elder in the church in Moblissa, a son in the gospel and close friend.  This man is the child’s grandfather.

A few of years ago Mary approached me about her concerns for this man’s grandchildren and that they were struggling to care for them.  At that point we would have been willing to take any and all of them home with us, but in Guyana international adoption is somewhat rare, especially among the Amerindian people who stay to themselves and generally care for their own.  So, being careful as to not get overly involved we helped whenever asked and however we were able.  But I can still remember Mary saying to me more than once, “I love all those children, and I would definitely take that ‘Kamalla’ home with me in a minute!”  This is the child that will be our daughter.

So in summary, God is giving us the desire of our hearts.  Another child.  A girl.  A Guyanese girl.  An Amerindian.  The granddaughter of a spiritual son and friend.  And amazingly, Kamalla.  All from Guyana – only God could do such a thing.  Our adoption home study agency asked us, “How are you able to adopt a child from Guyana?  We’ve never known anyone to adopt from there!”  They assist in the adoption us thousands of children from all over the world, so they know what they are talking about.  My only explanation is that “it’s the Lord’s doing, and marvelous to our eyes.” (Ps. 118:23)  We can only thank Him!

In November, Mary returned to Guyana to spend time with the child and get the paperwork moving there. Since then, the child’s father has signed the necessary papers to begin the adoption (a miracle) and the government adoption board now has their papers ready for our lawyer in Guyana.  We have completed our home study here and are hoping that Mary can return to Guyana soon with the home study documents and to have the first ‘official’ interview with the government adoption board.  Not long after, we should have our immigration paperwork with the US government completed and can return to Guyana again together for the final adoption board meeting.  The final step will be to appear before the Guyana High Court who will issue the adoption decree, which we will take to the US Embassy in Guyana, obtain her passport and take our baby home!

Today I was speaking with Kamalla’s aunt, who at our request so willingly took her into her home to care for until the adoption is complete.  She said the child is doing well and she has been teaching her many practical things about helping around the home.  I felt compelled in my heart to say to her that her service toward the Lord is a seed of a great work God would use her to do.  She said she was in the market the other day and a young child whom she had never met walked up to her, held her by the legs and said, “take me home with you!”  As she looked around for a parent, she realized that her mother was sitting on a stool getting drunk with some men at a nearby beer garden (open air bar).  The breakdown of the family and need for adoptive parenting is global.  We are wondering now what God is saying to us through this adoption, for it also is a seed.

Our heartfelt thanks goes out to those who have stood with us, encouraged us, prayed for us and supported this endeavor financially.  God Himself knows what each of you have done and will bless you accordingly – “whatever a man sows, that will he reap also”.

And again we say, may God bless you!

Bruce and Mary Adams