Technology and Adoption

I'm amazed by the power of technology.  When I look back to our previous adoptions just a decade ago, things have already changed so much.  Youtube, Facebook, Skype, Blogs,....amazing.

When we adopted Jaci and Kailee, we were given a few paragraphs of information, a medical report, and one to three pictures.  That was it.  However, within minutes of receiving Mei's files, we looked up her orphanage on the internet.  That led us to the Grace/Hope website, a charity organization that supports the orphanage and also places children in foster homes when possible.  Within a few minutes, we spotted a picture of Mei on their website...then another picture...and another!  What a wonderful confirmation that she is our daughter!  

You may have noted in my last post that a child from Desheng was adopted last week.  Through the Desheng orphanage Facebook page, I was given the mom's email address.  I was able to email with the mom this week (power of the internet!).  Their daughter is 3.5 years old, and is actually in the video we have of Mei!  The girls know each other, so perhaps we can use Skype and let the girls "chat" in their native tongue. Wouldn't that be great?  I was also contact this week by a mom that had lunch with Mei and her sister last year, who by the way lives in Finland!  I was suddenly struck with the feeling that the world is not quite as big as it seems!

I've been in touch with three other families that are traveling with us.  One lives just a couple hours away, and they will also be adopting their daughter in Nanning.  It will be great to share this experience, and maintain contact as the girls grow.  The other families live in across the US, but we've been able to share blogs, emails, pictures, etc.  Again, the power of the world wide web.

Sometimes I grow weary of technology, and all the "noise" it produces.  Televisions that are too loud, music playing loudly everywhere, cellphones attached to our hips, etc.  These are the downsides.  But today, I choose to be thankful for technology, and how it is used as a tool to bring adoptive families together.  We're a merry little band of parents, but sometimes scattered across the ends of the earth.  Technology is the tool that brings us together, and one that can also make a positive difference in the life of an orphaned child.