ESTELLE and GERARD for the Deutsch family — VA
Bill and Val have been married for 24 years and have raised four children. Three are no longer living at home and their youngest is in her last year of high school. For many years, they were sure that their quiver was full. The thought of adoption crossed Val’s mind at times – especially when she saw other families with their adopted children. But it did not seem to be the right season, and Bill did not share in her enthusiasm In addition, adoption always felt out of reach due to the enormous costs involved.
Last year, God placed a strong burden on Bill and Val’s hearts to pursue adoption. In particular, He convinced them that it was time to open their home to older orphans. Through Reece’s Rainbow, they learned about the dangers faced by young people who “age out” of an orphanage and determined to do what they could to rescue some.
Seeking to be faithful to God’s call, they pursued the adoption of two young people from Russia. However, the Lord moves in ways we never fully understand. The day after their homestudy was completed, the Russian Parliament voted to ban all American adoptions. They waited and prayed for a time, to see if the ban would be reversed, or if some exception would be made for children with special needs.
Eventually, they realized that the clock was running out for children in other parts of the world. With the doors closed in Russia, they are now seeking to adopt Estelle and Gerard from Eastern Europe and looking forward the the day they will join their beautiful daughters.
God has shown Bill and Val, in unexpected and at times painful ways, just how great the need is among older orphans. They are open to his leading and are willing to bring others back with them when they travel to the Eastern Europe. They also continue to pray for their dear Russian children, and hope that one day they may all be united.
5/9/13—HOME STUDY COMPLETE
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at http://adoptingdeutsches.blogspot.com/
