God, Are You Sure?
The Bade Family & FamilyBuilder Fund in Action
Our family is a bit out of the ordinary. We get stares and questions wherever we go. In November of 2006 we were a family of nine. After a long struggle with infertility, God brought seven children into our family over 16 years--through the gift of adoption. We are all different shades, sizes and cultures. Life was full that November in 2006. So why mess with a good thing?
We learned God is not satisfied with the status quo! He began to move in our hearts again as we saw the devastating photos coming out of Africa. We met children who had come to the U.S. from this ravaged land and wondered if God would call us, again, to defend the defenseless.
We contacted CWA and soon found ourselves praying over a photo from an orphanage in Ethiopia. Two little siblings about elementary school age needed a home. God moved us to accept them and begin our paperwork. Almost immediately we were overcome with the big question everyone has, “How are we going to pay for this?” We applied for grants and prayed a lot.
We are so very grateful to the Christian World Foundation FamilyBuilder Fund for granting us funds to apply to our Ethiopian Adoption costs. In April 2007, the two children who were waiting for us in Ethiopia saw their younger sibling brought in to their care center as well. We were contacted about this child immediately.
We wondered, “God, are You sure we can do this? Oh, and by the way, where is the extra money coming for this third child?”
Humbly, we praise God for all HE has done over this past year. Our church, family and friends rallied around us to make this adoption possible! Our three youngest children are from Ethiopia and arrived home August 5, 2007. Every day I am amazed at how God is using us to parent and minister to these little ones. There are struggles, but because of grants and those who fund them, financial issues did not keep us from reaching across the Atlantic and bringing three more little ones into the fold.
Our family remains, not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of God!
To learn more about CWF’s FamilyBuilder Fund and to donate, click here »
 Interview with CWA Staff Member Nancy Brown
Nancy Brown has worked in CWA’s Charleston office since 2003. She is a Case Manager for Guatemala and has developed family education programs.
What was your background before CWA?
I was born and raised in Athens, Georgia. I went to college in Birmingham, Alabama at Samford University where I earned a degree in Psychology. From there, I went to graduate school at Georgia State University in Atlanta and earned a Masters degree in Community Counseling. After graduate school I worked for the Department of Mental Health in Charleston, SC as a counselor for children and families. During my last year at Mental Health I was in the role of Adoption Preservation Specialist for the state. Then I moved to Virginia for a short time where I worked as the assistant director of a crisis pregnancy center.
What led you to CWA?
Through my work in different areas regarding adoption, I became aware of how many adoptive parents were not prepared for their adoption. Their hearts were in the right place, but they needed more information about the adoption process and about issues adoptive children and families face. I realized I had a passion for adoption and I contacted CWA hoping there might be an opportunity to help educate adoptive parents. Tomilee Harding responded to me and my relationship with CWA began. I was so happy to move back to Charleston and work for CWA. One of my first projects was starting the Abroad & Back parent education workshops.
What is your favorite part of working for CWA?
One of my favorite times in my job is talking to families after their children are home and hearing the children in the background. Even if they are screaming for a bottle or having a crying fit, it is precious music to my ears! Adoptive parents’ voices also sound different after their children are home. I can hear the joy and love pervading in their homes--it comes through in the tone of their voices! The analogy of adoption as an illustration of God’s love for his children is often mentioned when referring to adoption. The wonderful part of this job is constantly seeing parents fall in love with the children who they are adopting. Before they meet them, before they even know their names, there is love and possession. It is overwhelming and deep. And then God reminds me that He loves us in that same way ... adopted and treasured completely.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
The most challenging aspect of working in the realm of international adoption is not having solid answers for parents when they are hurting. The process can be painful for adoptive parents as they wait for their child. I want to tell them something that will make them feel better, but many times we simply don’t have the answers they want to hear. This is part of the process. I always pray for God to give parents patience and peace as their adoption is processed.
How has international travel with CWA shaped your view of the world?
My travels to Guatemala have given me a much wider perspective on the world. Meeting the people there and feeling their love and friendliness always leaves a powerful impression on me. The poverty in Central America can be overwhelmingly sad. When taking off and landing at the Guatemala City airport one can look down and see the homes built with mud on the side of the banks just outside the city. The poverty and hardship is real and near. This helped me realize the importance of CWA’s work there.
Tell us about your family.
My parents still live in Athens, Georgia. I visit them as often as I can. And when I am there during the fall, I have to go to a football game and cheer on the Georgia Bulldogs. I have a sister, brother-in-law and a precious little niece and nephew living in Virginia. I love any time that I get to spend with them.
What is your favorite free time activity?
I love going to the beach, shopping and spending time with friends. When I really want to relax, I treat myself to a pedicure and whatever the special drink of the month is at Starbucks. I have wonderful friends and a great church too.
What is your prayer for CWA?
That we can bring home more children into loving homes. At this time, I am specifically praying for the future of adoptions between Guatemala and the Untied States. There are so many orphans in the world, which is a tremendous burden, but also a tremendous opportunity. I pray God will continue to give CWA the strength and resources to fulfill His mission.
 CWA Board Member Profile: Jim Izant
Jim Izant is a graduate of Youngstown State University. He spent 25 years in the banking profession focusing both on private banking and commercial loans. He owned and operated a bank for 13 years and then retired at age 40 due to changes in the banking industry. “There was an opportunity to sell our bank and we decided it was the right time,” comments Jim. When he retired, he moved from Warren, OH to Hilton Head, SC. “We had vacationed in Hilton Head and decided it would be a great place to live. It was an escape from the damp cold of the Midwest.” Jim resides in Hilton Head with his wife Natalie, son, Robert (13 years old) and Chloe (age 5) whom they adopted from China.
Jim’s father was a third-generation banker and passed on values such as integrity, honesty and hard work. “I grew up among bankers,” says Jim. “I worked for the competition and for the family bank, all along gaining experience. I was a mail boy, a teller, and worked just about every job in the bank. By age 24, I had worked my way up to the position of Executive Vice-President. I also have an interest in marketing and planning promotions. This proved valuable over the years.”
Jim first started thinking about adoption after retirement. “One day, when my son was in first grade, he came home from school and said his friend Jack had a baby sister who was Chinese,” describes Jim. “Robert said he wanted a baby sister just like Jack’s! I was surprised and really had not considered adoption in the past. I guess I had heard too many painful stories about birth parents coming back to claim their children years after the adoption was complete. I was hesitant to pursue adoption.”
Jim’s wife Natalie and son Robert talked to Jack’s parents and learned that Jack’s sister was adopted from China through CWA. Robert and Natalie encouraged Jim to meet Katie (Jack’s sister) and research CWA. “Natalie and Robert plotted and schemed--they were determined to convince me to adopt,” quips Jim. “Everything we heard about CWA was positive. It took me about a year to be convinced that we were being led to adopt. Natalie and Robert’s perseverance really made a difference in our lives.”
The Izant’s adoption process was not easy. While working on their dossier, Jim became ill. “I started feeling weak and went to the doctor,” says Jim. “Eventually I was diagnosed with a viral infection in my heart. After no other treatment worked, I had a heart transplant. Then, the day we got our referral with information about Chloe, China entered the SARS crisis and the country was shut down. The SARS crises delayed our adoption an additional 4 months. We brought Chloe home just six months after my heart transplant. When I think back over our adoption experience, we faced a number of difficult challenges, yet, we overcame them, with God’s help.”
Jim became involved with CWA after his adoption when he saw the need to help orphans across the world. Bob and Tomilee Harding asked Jim to serve on CWA’s Board, and he accepted. “I had worked with charitable organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America and the Genealogical Society,” notes Jim. “So it was a good fit for me to serve on CWA’s Board. Once I saw the incredible need to help orphans, I wanted to give back.”
When asked what excites him about CWA’s work, Jim says, “I love seeing children with their families after their adoption is complete. Seeing the children’s smiling faces is a very tangible result of CWA’s work. When I meet other CWA parents at reunions and events, it is gratifying to see the difference God has made in their lives through CWA. This drives me to continue my work on CWA’s Board.”
“Everyone needs to be aware about the orphan crises around the world,” Jim adds. “One hundred forty million orphans linger without parents. CWA’s history of humanitarian aid is the foundation for future efforts, such as our work in Acacia Village in Ethiopia. Both adoption and humanitarian aid make a tremendous difference in the lives of children. CWA has a special mission and I’m proud to be a part of this important work.”
|
