Inspire, Winter 1999

A lumniProfiles Let The Children Come:Five Stories OfCompassion T he idea of adopting a Chinese child was planted in the heart ofSara Beattie Dixon '84 when she spent a year teaching in China after graduating from Cedarville College. During her time in China,Sara got to know women who were forced to have abortions because ofChina's policy ofone child per family. Many baby girls were being abandoned as the families wanted their one child to be a boy. Sara's heart was greatly touched as she saw these abandoned children. After her year in China,Sara married Scott Dixon'84,and in the succeeding years they became the parents offour children. Ata time when Scott was a youth pastor and also doing full-time graduate work at Michigan State University,Sara saw an article in a Detroit newspaper stating that China was beginning international adoptions. In spite of their financial situation and knowing that the process was long,involved,and expensive,the Dixons began to pray about the possibility of adopting a Chinese baby. Sara and Scott saw God provide in ways they could never have imagined."God did it. He provided," Sara states. God used a number of people to help make it possible,including one anonymous donor who gave a substantial gift toward their expenses. Working through Holt International Children's Services,the Dixons were able to go to China in November 1995 to pick up Ellie, who had been born in March of that year. The whole family,including the Dixon's children, Drew(13),Ben(10), Claire(8),and Seth(6), have adapted well to having Ellie, now four years old, as part of the family. Because the Chinese government requires a two to three week stay before adopted children are taken home,couples must go to China at the time required by the government. "W e felt like we didn't have much to do with it. The Lord worked it out step by step," says Ann Beattie DeLange when asked how the adoption of their daughter,Li Jen,came about. Ann and her husband,Jim '90,the parents ofChris(15),Eric(12), and Alex (7), were able to adopt Li Jen(now age 12)in 1996. When Scott and Sara Dixon were in China,they were asked if they would spend some time with Li Jen.The adoption agency was looking for adoptive parents for this 9-year-old girl and hoped the Dixons could help. Sara Dixon did not immediately think of her sister, Ann. However, when she got off the plane in Michigan,the first thing she said to her sister was,"Ann,I have found a little girl for you." When Ann saw the videos she thought Li Jen was "just adorable," and found she could not get her out of her mind. AsAnn drove home from that trip to Michigan,she thought a great deal about the idea of adoption and thought about what she would say to the Lord if He asked her what she had done with this opportunity. Although the timing seemed very difficult, the Dixons later realized that God's providential timing was perfect. While they were in China with several other couples,they spent some time with the agentfrom Holt and a little girl named Li Jen.The Holt agency was looking for someone to adopt Li Jen and wondered if the Dixons knew anyone who might be interested. Sara was greatly impressed last year when a Cedarville College chapel speaker,Kay Coles James,told her life story and presented her own pro-life stand. She challenged people who are serious about pro-life to consider adoption as part oftheir family planning. Sara likes to take every opportunity to tell the story of thousands of abandoned children and to encourage people to adopt. She is thrilled that"God can use you in ways that you would never have dreamed." The DeLangefamily The Dixonfamily Realizing that what her husband thought was of utmost importance,she asked him what he would think ofchecking out the possibility. His immediate affirmative response was encouraging, and they quickly began the adoption process. Shortly thereafter, a friend handed the DeLanges a check to cover the application fee. This was one of several things that happened which not only encouraged them,but also showed them God's involvement in the whole process. The way that Li Jen has adapted to the family and the way that her brothers have accepted her has been just one of the blessings that the DeLanges have seen through this adoption process. Ann states that, "This has been a great blessing, and all we had to be was willing. God did all the rest." EIor Greg'85 and Joelle Flora Dudrow '90N,the idea of adoption started about eight years ago when Joelle read about the abandoned children in China. Like the other couples,the Dudrows felt they did not have enough money or a big enough house to justify adoption, but when they heard the Dixons tell their story, they felt they were called to consider adoption.As they prayed,they could not get away from the idea that they were to pursue adopting a Chinese child. When they brought nine-month-old Michaela home from China in August 1999,she fit right into their busy schedule from the beginning.They arrived in Springfield on Friday night, and by Saturday morning Michaela had attended her first soccer game. The Dudrows'other three children,Ashley(11),Joey (8), and Ryan(6),love Michaela and have adapted well to having her as a sister. For some reason,the Dudrows were skipped in the match process the first time.The Dudrows were disappointed and even felt they grieved like they had lost a child. However,now they realize that happened because Michaela was the child the Lord wanted for them. Greg and Joelle do not consider what they have done to be a sacrifice. Like other couples,they were willing to take a second mortgage or a home equity loan in order to pay for the adoption."It has been such a blessing to have Michaela in our home," Joelle says."We would be willing to sacrifice more." "N oone was more surprised than I was when everything worked out for our adoption. It has been an object lesson in faith for all of us," states Evan Hellwig'84N. The three Hellwig children had been praying for over a year for the little girl who was to be their sister. Their prayers were answered this past August when Lily (2 1/2)arrived from China to make her home with Evan and Kelly (Herbert)'85 and their three children, Chelsea(8),Jordan(7),and Derrick(5). Kelly has always had a love for orphans and had often felt heartbroken when she saw the plight of so many ofthem. Kelly began to ask herself, "IfI am so heartbroken about orphans,then what am I willing to do?" Although Evan and Kelly had talked about adoption before, Kelly decided to pray about it and not talk about it unless Evan brought it up. When Evan said,"We need to reconsider adopting," Kelly was immediately ready to start the process. The Hellwigs felt they could not meet the financial or housing requirements. Scott Dixon shared that he and his wife had not qualified either,so the Hellwigs decided to go into the adoption process and see what would happen. Although they hadn't considered moving,a message by their pastor convinced them they should move to a place where they would be within their church community.They found a bigger house The Dudrowfamily which was within walking distance of the Dudrows and Rubys,two of the other adopting couples. Opportunities for Evan to earn extra money increased their income,and when they filled out their papers they were actually $300 over the minimum salary. At the time they applied,they were told they would only be able to get a child with special needs,and they were committed to that. With Evan's degree in physical therapy, they felt that they would be better qualified than most to take a child with such needs. When the Chinese government asked if they wanted to apply for a child without special needs,they decided not to change."We were fine with the idea that we might get a child no one else wanted," Evan said. Lily, however,came to their home as a totally healthy little girl. "Adoption,at one time, was a'maybe someday'for us. Now it is a dream come true:' Kelly says. Lily is named for4Celly's grandmother,but the name also comes from Matthew 6:28 Which says "Consider the lilies...." "We did not adopt Lily to complete our family," says Evan."This was bigger than us." The Hellwigs knew they didn't want to face the question,"You said you cared, but what did you do?"Obeying God has brought great blessing to the Hellwig home. The Hellwigfamily T he hardest question for Carl Ruby'83 to answer is"Why did you decide to pursue the adoption ofa Chinese baby?" When Carl heard the adoption presentation of Scott and Sara Dixon at Southgate Baptist Church,he told his wife,Susie(Olson)'86,that he thought this was something they should think about. Susie had already been thinking about it independently,and with that statement she was ready to get started on the paperwork. "The fact that the Dixons had already adopted made it seem as if it could be done," Carl says,"and we couldn't think of any good reason not to try. All of the reasons not to adopt seemed to be selfish." For the Rubys,having friends who had already gone through the process made things much easier. These friends were a great help in working through the bureaucracy and answering questions about the paperwork which Susie often found frustrating."This process speaks to the power offriendships and the influence friends have on each other for eternity," Carl states. Carl relates the adoptions to the principles of missions as he and Susie see this as an opportunity to touch a life on a deep level."I can't help but be reminded of the powerful impact of MIS(Missions Involvement Services)when I think ofthese adoptions. 4WINTER 1999 Sara Dixon,Greg Dudrow,and I all went to China at different times and with different teams, and that is part of what God used to develop an interest in international adoption. MIS opens your eyes to what God is doing all over the world." Like the other couples,the Rubys saw the concerns they had fall away as they saw how God was working."I think," Carl says,"that sometimes God prompts us to do things that take us out of our comfort zone. If we step out on faith, He reveals the rest ofthe plan and provides the resources. On the other hand,if we resist His prompting I think He sometimes sets us aside and quits using us." The Ruby family,including Meagan(9), Kelsey (7),and Erin(5), are looking forward to the arrival oftheir baby in December.