We've had so many wonderful responses to our news - that we are adopting a Bulgarian special-needs orphan! It is so nice to feel so loved and supported by our friends and family as we move along this difficult (yet joyful!) path.
As we have received a few surprised looks and comments when we say that we are adopting from Bulgaria, I thought I would share a little about the country (as some of us aren't quite sure if we could point it out on a map) and a little about the orphans there.
First of all here is where it is:
"Great," you say, "Now I know exactly where it is - it's in Europe! But aren't all European countries fairly prosperous? Don't they have fairly extensive social programs taking care of their orphans?"
I would say that this assumption is true for most European countries... most are not open to international adoption because all of their orphans are either adopted within their countries or exist in a fairly stable foster care system similar to the United States. But when we consider many Eastern European countries, this is not the case.
Bulgaria is actually the poorest nation in Europe. While conditions improved when the country joined the European Union (EU) in 2007, people there are generally four times poorer than the average EU citizen. Why? In addition to the general economic downturn that most of Europe has been experiencing for years, Eastern European countries have yet to fully recover from communism. In addition, corruption and political unrest in Bulgaria have discouraged/prevented many investors, local or international, to develop the potential of the region.
OK, enough of the dry details - let's get to some fun stuff! Here is travel video (Bulgaria in a minute!):
When Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007, the sad state of its care of orphans was revealed. The BBC actually did an expose documentary called "Bulgaria's Abandoned Children". Warning - this contains very disturbing images. Do not watch this unless you have a thick skin or heart that you want to be broken. In fact, I expressly forbid those who have super tender hearts (you know who you are!) to watch this. It will disgust you, make you cry, and haunt you for a long time.
But Bulgaria took action in response to the international outcry. When the BBC did a follow-up in 2009, "Bulgaria's Abandoned Children, Revisited", (same warning as above applies) much had improved and continues to improve. Abandoned children, especially healthy, young ones, are being adopted into homes both in Bulgaria and abroad. Orphanages are being reformed to meet basic needs and to provide more interaction and education. The children have lost the look of walking skeletons and now have "Grannies" (local retired women) come and play with them for hours at a time.
Here is a happy video all can watch:
The future is grim for these orphans. If they are not adopted, they are released from the orphanage when they come of age at 18 years. Some commit suicide before they reach this day. The majority of these orphans end up on the street, involved in crime and prostitution. This is the future for the healthy ones... the disabled face a far worser fate. Medical care may or may not be provided for many of the special-needs orphans as the technology and/or funds are not available for many surgeries/treatments, or even preventative care in the orphanages. If disabled children are not adopted, they are sent to care facilities where they will live the rest of their lives, often confined to a bed. These institutions are scary, scary places where care is very minimal and even brutal by our standards.
So when we say the words "rescue" and "save" when we are talking about our upcoming adoption, we mean it. I know it is not quite politically correct, but we don't know how else to express that our child will live a completely different (wonderfully different) life in our home and family than it would if we left the child in the orphanage. We feel that we are called by God to reach out and scoop a little child out of abandonment and neglect, so similar to the way He rescued us and placed us in His loving family!
Psalm 68:6 - God sets the lonely in families.
Love to you all!
Ian and Mel
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