Encouraging E-Mails

We recieved this e-mail from Tricia's Aunt today. It was very encouraging, yet saddening to read. (Is "saddening" a word?) Rita and Merle work with Impact North ministries in Canada. (Rita, I hope this is OK)... I wanted to share this for a couple of reasons. First of all, so that you might pray for what God is doing in Canada. Second of all, that we might pray that God would cause the governments to soften their position on "white" people adopting Native children.

Dear Kyle and Tricia,
Thanks for including us in your mass email!:) We are behind you all the way in your adoption plans and procedures. I enjoyed reading your blog, too and will keep checking in on it from time to time. I wish I could connect you with some of the needy kids in this area. However, for some time now it's been extremely difficult for native kids to be adopted to anyone in the States or to "white" parents.

Today Merle and I plan to fly up to Pikangikum to visit Colleen, our single missionary up there. Then tomorrow we want to fly further north to visit the Lyndaker's at Poplar Hill. At both places I hope to connect with some of the young girls that I've cared for out here in R.L while they were in Child and Family Services care. There is so much sadness in these communities as well as pain, grief, heartache, etc., etc.
Take care,
Rita

It's amazing how laws and policies are built to make these children only adoptable by other Native Americans. While I respect the government's desire to make sure these kids are adopted from within their own culture, the sad reality is that there are more adoptable Native American children than there are available Native American homes willing and/or able to adopt.

It's extremely frustrating knowing that a "no home is better than a non-Native home" attitude is held by the very ones who are supposed to protect and serve these kids. I know that whoever we adopt, there will be a culture adjustment, both by Tricia and I, and by the child. We may end up adopting a child from Arizona or North Carolina or somewhere else, and those are vastly different cultures than even here in Wisconsin. Then they will have to get used to Tricia's family culture, and hanging out with all those Amish people. :) Heritage will change, and will evolve. But, what is most important in my mind is that these kids have good homes. That transcends culture. Or it should.