As we celebrate the coming of Christmas and the advent of the Baby Jesus arriving in our earthly realm I wanted to share some fantastic news from Brother Keith and Sister Melody who lead our Chicago branch of the LIGHT!
Keith and Melody just returned from China after successfully adopting their new son, Joshua, to be a part of their existing family of Grace, Kara and Nathan.
The thing is, Joshua is 13 years old already.
In China once a child in an orphanage turns 14, the government no longer allows them in the orphanage and they are released to the streets to fend for themselves. This pretty much ensures a life of hopelessness in a manual labor job as what 14 year olds do you know of who are ready to face the real world all be themselves?
Well, Keith and Melody were moved with compassion by Joshua’s plight and were resolved to make a difference. They found out about Joshua’s story when friends who worked with an adoption agency in China had brought Joshua to Chicago last year to allow families who had been contemplating adoption to meet real, live potential adoptees.
I’m happy to report that, after a year long process, a very expensive investment (in the tens of thousands!), a harrowing 2-week trip to China (including detention in trying to get from the mainland to Hong Kong) that Keith and Melody have returned with their new son!
We, in the LIGHT!, are happy that God has answered our prayers to bring Keith, Melody and Joshua home safely and we look forward to meeting them all live shortly this Christmas.
Welcome to our family, Joshua! All of us here at the LIGHT! love you! =)