DANA'S STORY: A Birth Mother's Gift Of Life Prompt's Adoptee's Life-Giving Passion To Save The Unborn

I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU AS ORPHANS   JOHN 14:18

   My adoption story begins before I was born, with a young woman pregnant, afraid, and alone.  Being born just two days before Christmas, I’ve often imagined what it must have been like for her- hearing Christmas music at every turn, with lights, trees, and festive attitudes permeating the atmosphere, and realizing she was a young woman about to lose her baby, a child she’d never see grow up. 
   When I was just about 6 months old, a social worker, who did home visits on my parents until the adoption would become finalized, observed that I was much too quiet, that my eyes were larger than normal, and that something wasn’t quite right. She referred me to a pediatric specialist who agreed and concluded that I had encephalitis and might need to be institutionalized for the rest of my life. Before the doctor did the final brain scan, he informed my parents that there was still time before the adoption was finalized to turn me over to the state, relinquishing all responsibilities of care for this “sick infant.” 

   My dad told him that there was nothing wrong with me, and that I was their daughter. They trusted God to heal me, and when the doctor did the final EEG scan, it was perfectly normal. Not only did I grow up healthy, but learned to read at the age of three, went on to get a Master’s Degree, and did everything the doctors said I’d never do.
   At first, being adopted was no big deal. It was who I was and I didn’t know any difference.  By the time I was three years old, I understood that I grew in “another mommy’s tummy,” but that my mom and dad loved me very much and were blessed that I was their daughter.  I remember sitting on the stairs watching my mom dust the dining room when I was five years old, and just blurted out the question as to why I grew in another mommy’s tummy, and not in hers.  Without hesitation, almost as if my mother had expected this question, I was told that my birth mother couldn’t keep me, but loved me enough to give me a mom and dad who could raise me the way she wanted me to be raised.  We might as well have been talking about the weather, and I thought no more about the subject.

I transferred to a Catholic school in the third grade, the year we were introduced to basic genetics in science.  My teacher gave us the homework assignment to interview our parents about where we inherited certain genetic traits, such as hair and eye color.  I immediately felt like a small, trapped animal with no escape.  I didn’t do the homework as I was too afraid to ask my parents what to do. The next day I straightforwardly told my teacher I didn’t do my homework because I had no answers since I was adopted.  Immediately the entire class burst out laughing. I got into trouble for “creating a disturbance” and was sent out into the hall. From that day forward, for the next four years, I was called reject, loser, told I was too stupid and ugly for my “real” mother to want me, and physically hit by bullies with textbooks on the bus every day.  The way I kept the pain from getting to me was allowing songs we sang in church to run through my head.  It was in those moments I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit so strong that I didn’t notice the pain. 
   At the age of 12, it dawned on me that somewhere in the world was a woman who gave birth to me, a real human being, and that she didn’t know what had become of me.  I felt such compassion for her even then, that I prayed to God that one day I’d find her, and thank her for my life.  She could have had an abortion, but she thought I was worth the pain to give me a life that has been filled with God’s blessings. 

When I began teaching as a career, I used an AOL online adoption site to try to find my birthmother, even know I had no information about her at all.  I did meet birthmothers online who were hurting, and I did my best to bring them comfort and witness to them in the love of God.  Not only did this site lead me to my birthfamily, but anonymous online users donated the money so I could make contact with them. Sadly, my birthmother had died trying to find me four years before I’d found her. She had cancer, but she also had two other daughters, my sisters, and several sisters of her own who I’ve gotten to know and were so happy I’d found them.
I used frequent flyer miles to fly all over the country to minister to the birthmothers responsible for financing my search, and one even came to the Lord when I visited her.  Through my devastation at not finding my birth mother alive, I was able to reach others in her honor, and that helped in the healing process.  Just when I thought I was through the healing process, I discovered that I had been conceived in rape, and no one knew who my birth father was.  Instantly I felt like I was dirty and should have never been born, to the extent that I sat on some rocks overlooking Lake Michigan in Chicago, and thought about jumping into the freezing water and ending the pain. But once again, I felt God with me, and this time He told me to go to England and that He’d meet me there.  I had no idea why He’d say that, when I’d only been to England once before just to visit. But through faith and obedience, I went to England with about $40.00 to my name, got a job, and joined a church where I shared my story for the first time in front of people at a healing service. It was at that church that my assent into women’s ministry had begun. I gave several talks to encourage others and it dawned on me that my life had a special purpose. I knew that God would use everything I’d been through for the good of helping others. That church ultimately led me to the one I’m a part of now.  With much prayer and hard work, I have gotten through to the other side, the healing side, where I feel peace about where I came from, and what my purpose in life is now. I’m in the process of answering my call to ministry, and seeking out those who are hurting in any way, to share God’s love, compassion, and mercy with everyone. 

Because of the gift of life my birth mother gave me all those years ago, I now head the Sanctity of Life ministry at my church. I go to Memphis once a month to counsel women in front of an abortion clinic to choose life over death.  Lives have been saved doing this, and every time I’m out there I see the heart of my dear birth mother and what she went through. That motivates me to keep going, but I've faced some challenges too.  I’ve had the police called on me, have been sworn at, almost hit by a car when a woman coming to have an abortion drove up on the sidewalk and tried to hit us, and have been forced to stand in a pile of garbage near a dumpster and minister from there.  It’s not pretty for sure, but with every baby saved and every mother’s soul touched, it’s worth it all.  Life is a blessing, and I’m so grateful to be a part of it!

( Rain or Shine- Speaking for Life ) Dana's peace-filled presence at abortion centers

allows her to share weekly the beautiful news of LIFE and God's redemptive plan for girls to raise their babies with support and resources or choose the other life-giving beautiful option of adoption )
Dana is a Special Ed teacher in Mississippi.  To contact Dana send her an e-mail at: rejoician72 (at) yahoo.com   When e-mailing her use the @ sign to replace (at )

**Dana welcomes your prayers, encouragement cards, donations of new or like-new women's bibles or new testaments or monetary donations to offset the costs of her Sanctity of Life Ministry through her Christian church. Contact her at the above e-mail for more information and how to send donations.
( Copyright 2014. Permission is needed to reprint this article in its entirety or excerpts- contact Jody Moreen  at  jodymoreen (at )gmail .com.  Use @ sign to replace (at )  )

Angie's Testimony: Adoptee's Disability Transformed to Ability to Serve Children for Christ

                             

    Happy July! I am excited to announce the debut of a new weekly addition to Adoptee's Anchored in Christ called Adoptees: Random Acts of Kindness. The purpose of this regular feature will be to share the testimonies of adopted persons who have embraced and followed Christ in their journeys. Please grab your mug of coffee or cup of tea and join me each week! Be in an attitude of prayer as you read each story. Ask God to nudge your heart into action- whether it be to pray for the person, send a greeting card, share in meeting a need mentioned or in supporting them in funding a specific mission they are involved in. Each week will highlight a different adoptee. and some may involve just prayer and cards for encouragement. Do not be afraid to open your heart and give in some way small or great- and remember that no gift done in God's name is too small. God multiplies the obedience and gifts that we offer in His name. ( And it may just cause you to sacrifice some comfort- maybe forgoing fast food or Starbucks for a day or a week or donating a small portion from your summer garage sale ) It's wonderful that we can make a difference in others lives to encourage them or help them make their dreams come true. If you want to pass this Random Acts of Kindness to others who might participate - share with them this website. Permission is needed to share this feature in any media form in print or online.  

Today I want to introduce to you a lovely adoptee named Angie ( Angela Jenkins ) the daughter of Diane one of my bible study leaders from First Baptist Church in IL. Here is Angela's brief testimony and then her mom's testimony to follow. Be blessed and inspired as you see God's fingerprints in the life of Angie and in the lives of other adoptee's lives in the weeks to come. 

ANGIE'S OWN TESTIMONY: 

 I was put up for adoption as an infant. I was born with spina bifida. Thankfully I was adopted into a loving Christian home. I was adopted into a home with three other adopted children that also had disabilities and my younger brother that did not. I always knew I was different from my parents. They never hid the fact that I was adopted.

   My parents always told me that I can do anything that I push myself to do. I am a very independent person. I have always had a love for children and through out my adult life I have traveled to every continent except Australia and Antarctica on missions trips to work with many different children in different life situations.I am very excited about the chance to go on my first missions trip along side my husband.

    I was blessed with the wonderful surprise of meeting my birth family on national TV on the Tyra Banks talk show. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would get married, but did. I received an unbelievable gift of having my birth and my adoptive fathers walk me down the aisle. 
DIANE'S TESTIMONY OF ANGIE'S LIFE AND ADOPTION:

 This is the very short version of Angela’s story. Jeff and I had two adopted sons, ages 5 and 4, when we decided to pursue adopting a child with special needs. The boys were both from NC, but we had moved to WI, so we began the whole process of applying to adopt, home study, etc. all over again in a new state. We had been beyond fortunate with our two previous adoption experiences; unfortunately, Wisconsin’s system proved to be a bit more cumbersome – and quite a bit less responsive to the goal of meeting children’s needs. I know that many people can probably relate.

The full version of Angela’s story would continue on from here through an absolutely incredible litany of things that “just happened” to occur when and how they did. Sticking to the short version.  I made a call back to Jane our NC caseworker to vent frustration with how things were (not) proceeding in WI. She told me about an infant girl in NC born with spina bifida who “just happened” to need a suitable family as quickly as possible. The baby’s placement had been delayed, as she had been born right as the adoption caseworker in that county had lost her husband to cancer. Our home study was already complete and Jane encouraged me to contact the baby’s caseworker and inquire about having our file sent for consideration. The rest, as they say, is HIS-story.

Raising this little special needs baby girl, on the day-in and day-out basis, was little different from any other baby. She mostly just needed the same things that all babies do and she was absolutely adorable. People would tell me, “If she disappears from your house, you will know where to look.” I’d shake my head and tell them I had heard that same thing from so many baby Angela lovers that I wouldn’t even know where to start.

There were, of course, medical bumps in the road. The first occurred within less than a week, when the initial visit to our doctor resulted in the news that her shunt was not functioning and would require pretty much immediate brain surgery. She was soon a favorite patient at the pediatric spinal disorders clinic at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison. The staff there recommended Angela for the conference brochure.

 (Though as I write this, I remember the neurosurgeon at our first visit saying something to me like, “The adoption isn’t final yet, right? You could still give her back.” Geez. Lucky for him I was raised to be polite. He turned out to be a wonderful doctor, and I forgave him. )

Angela has always been extremely tender-hearted, but especially towards children and God. As a child, Angie would start to cry as soon as worship songs began during church almost every Sunday. It got to be such a common occurrence that Jeff or I would glance down, smilingly nudge one another, hand her a Kleenex, and just keep right on singing.

The other thing Angela has always been is spunky. No surprise there; three brothers may have helped. She participated in the Youth Group at First Baptist Church and attended Wheaton Academy for two years, so she had the chance to go on missions trips through both of those. Heaven knows, she was not going to be left out of anything – teaching VBS or painting or construction, whatever. But children were still her first love. While in high school, she volunteered at a residential school for multiply-disabled children, then enrolled in Early Childhood classes at COD. After that she decided to commit a full 6 months to discipleship training through Youth With A Mission. 

That included a 3-month long outreach trip to Thailand, Burma and Viet Nam working in orphanages, AIDS care, a leprosy clinic, with street children and prostitutes. She did a second class with YWAM (in Switzerland) that focused on Children At Risk around the globe, and included a trip working at orphanages in Rwanda.

She was preparing for a year-long return trip to Rwanda when a guy named Ross very unexpectedly came into her life. This present opportunity with Joni and Friends will allow them to do ministry together for the first time, and that means the world to them. I bet you can guess which of them is nervous, and which merely excited. 

• Angie and her husband Ross who have the opportunity to serve children with disabilities this summer in August with the wonderful organization Joni and Friends. Will you prayerfully consider encouraging them with your prayers, a card of encouragement or a small or significant gift to help them make this dream and reality? Here is the link to donate if God should lead you- thank you! http://www.gofundme.com/a4ei0w

( Copyright 2014-  Permission is needed to reprint this article in part or in it's entirety in any media form- in print or on the internet- Contact Jody at  jodymoreen  ( at sign ) gmail.com )

An Adoptee's Prayer for the Lifelong Journey

Heavenly Father,

As a new day is dawning I ask that you would go before me and light the pathway I should follow. As I have traveled this lifelong adoptee journey my well worn shoes have climbed many hills and valleys along the way. Navigating the roads of my birth and adoptive heritage has been exhilarating and confusing at the same time. I've encountered winding pathways, scenic side roads, lonesome highways, unexpected detours and even road blocks. With each step I have taken you have been with me even though I was not always fully aware of you. Your illuminating presence has lighted the road before me. Your shepherd's staff has guided me to safety and even terrain. Your strong arms have protected and sheltered me in every storm. Your quiet voice has calmed my heart, quieted my fears and dried my tears. At so many crossroads you have lovingly provided kindred spirits, fellow travelers to encourage me, to laugh and cry with me, and to cover me in prayer. As I have strived to merge the roads of my dual heritage you have reminded me that you alone have been my first Father, my perfect parent who has been with me everyday from the very beginning. You have lovingly watched over me from my conception, in the womb, at my birth, at my relinquishment, at my adoption and each and everyday forevermore. I praise you Father for your faithfulness and compassion to me on my daily journey. As I travel onward on this path lead and guide me until my identity finds complete peace and a resting place in you. Then my heart will overflow with gratitude and praise as I stand in awe and comprehend your amazing love. May I then rejoice and forever live to reflect your image and likeness and grace more and more each day. In your precious name I pray, Amen. 

( Copyright 2013 Jody Moreen- This prayer may not be copied or reprinted or used in any media form without permission of the author. Contact jodymoreen at gmail.com )