A special adoption journey

International adoption is neither new nor rare. It seems like everyone knows someone who has adopted a child from another country. But how many people would consider adopting a special needs child even though they already have three children of their own? Probably not many. Yet the Countrymans did just that.

Tina and Steve Countryman are a couple blessed with three healthy children: Abby, 12, Luke, 10 and Zeke, 7. They are not only busy with their own children, they also have their hands full with over 50 Hmong teenagers in the St. Paul Urban Ministry that the couple leads. The family resides in St. Paul, but attend Woodbury Church of Christ.

The Countryman’s ties to Asia go back to the time from 1991 to 1996 when they were missionaries in Thailand. Abby and Luke Countryman were born there. They all have a big heart of love for the Asian people. They also feel a strong desire to help a child in need of a loving home and to share their love with those less fortunate. This led them to adopting a girl from China. Her name is Phoebe.

The idea became clear in the summer of 2004. They contacted a national adoption agency. But it didn’t work out, because they didn't meet the financial requirements.

Steve and Tina didn’t give up. They kept praying and seeking God’s help.

Then in the spring of 2005, they heard about a different adoption agency, All God's Children International. They approached this agency with their request to adopt a healthy girl from China. The agency was willing to give it a try. It asked Chinese officials if adoption was possible even though financial requirement was not met. When these officials agreed, they took that as God's clear direction for them.

They began their paperwork process by the end of the summer. In December 2005, the adoption took a new twist when the agency asked them if they would be willing to adopt a special needs girl who had been diagnosed with congenital small eyeballs.

After much talking and praying they agreed. Travel dates were March 3 to 17. It was a very emotional experience for them.

One of their most unforgettable moments came when they visited the orphanage where Phoebe lived. It was the Yanping District Children's Welfare Institute in Fujian Province, China.

To physically stand among the children at the orphanage, to reach out and stroke their faces, hold their hands and know how much they needed a home, was really hard to take in. They wished they could bring them all home, but all they could do was to try to just touch each child, talk to each one in their bed and say a silent prayer that someday each of the children would find a home and could leave the orphanage just like Phoebe did. God brought comfort in walking through the gates at the end with Phoebe in their arms, knowing that Phoebe didn't have to sleep there any more.

While the hard part of the trip was seeing all the kids at the orphanage, a different perspective presented itself a few days later at the American consulate in Guangzhou. A group of people with adopted children gathered to finish their paperwork for the children to go to the United States. They were all beaming.

Though there were many more still left behind, it was encouraging to see all these kids being placed in families who want and love them.

Back in the United States, Phoebe has been checked by two eye doctors. She was diagnosed with bilateral blepharophimosis syndrome, which has to do with the eyelids themselves. She had her first eye surgery on Aug. 30. Later in life, doctors will perform more involved surgery.

The family received two grants to cover the costs of the adoption, one from Shaohannah's Hope and one from LYDIA Fund. Likewise, the Countryman’s church family at Woodbury Church of Christ provided lots of prayer and support.

Their adoption journal can be viewed online at http://www.myladybugjournal.com/files/Countryman/countrymanHOME.html


[Originally published in Woodbury Bulletin on 9/13/2006]