Family Building Blocks

Charles and Dawn Milem always knew they wanted to build their family through the miracle
of adoption. Married in their late 30s, the couple was unsure if they would be able to have a
biological child, so adoption was an obvious choice. However, by the time the Milems had
reached their fourth wedding anniversary, Dawn was pregnant with their third child,
Christian. Still, the call to adopt was very strong within this family.

Originally, Dawn and Charles were considering adopting a child from the Ukraine when
Dawn found out she was pregnant with Christian. They quickly decided to revisit the idea of
adopting when Christian turned three years old.

In February 2006, the Milems started the long and arduous process to adopt a child from
China through Holt International, since Ukraine had a hold on adoptions. It was September
when the proper paperwork was submitted to the China Center for Adoption Affairs, and two
weeks later, the Milems got their first peek at the newest member of the family.

Dawn Milem recalls the first time she saw their new little girl’s picture. “My heart was
pounding as I looked and thought ‘Are you my new daughter?’ I was emotionally involved
with her from the first peek! Charles, on the other hand was much more reluctant. He
wanted more information before we proceeded. I realized we shouldn't jump in purely on my
emotion and relied very heavily on my husband's more analytical viewpoint.”

Family Building Blocks by Jeff Hendrix

Qi Jai Jun, or as the Milems named her,
Corrianna Grace (Corrie), was abandoned at
the age of 8 months in HuBei Province,
China. She was placed in foster care until she
could be assigned to an adoption agency. At
about 11 months old, Corrie suffered left side
facial paralysis and deafness in her left ear as
a result of a high fever. She recovered and
was placed with Holt International, ready to
meet her new family.

The process for the Milems was very
emotional. Dawn claims that the period
between seeing a photo and actually getting
the official approval that Corrie was theirs was
quite difficult. “The months we spent waiting
for additional information were hard. We
believed Corrie was our daughter, but so
many questions were unanswered, and the
wait was long. Finally, after getting the
approval, we had to wait six more emotional
months before we could go get her.” In June
of 2007, the Milems made the long trip to
bring Corrie home.

“Overall”, Dawn recalls, “we experienced so many emotions during the adoption process—
everything from fear to happiness to exhaustion, but we got through it knowing it was all part
of God’s plan.”

It is very easy to forget these children are so precious and important to God. According to
C. Thomas Davis, in his book, Fields of the Fatherless, “If you searched the Bible from front
to back, you’d find many issues close to God’s heart. But you would also notice three
groups of people that come up again and again. They appear so many times, in fact, that
you have to conclude that God mentions them purposely to make sure they are at the top of
our priority list. These groups are widows, strangers, and orphans!”

Deuteronomy 24:19 reinforces God’s love and devotion to these three groups: When you
are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for
the alien, the fatherless, and the widow, so that the Lord your God bless you in all the work
of your hands.

God has commanded that we take care of those in need and the entire model of adoption
parallels with what we believe as Christians. Anyone who has placed their trust in Jesus has
been adopted into God’s family.

So what can we do as Christians to help these children and promote the issue of adoption?

According to Family Life’s Hope for Orphans program, there are ten ways we as Christians
can support the orphan or waiting child:

1)        Give them a forever family—Give a child a home through international, domestic,
or         foster care adoption.
2)        Pray for them.
3)        Speak up for them—Be a child’s advocate and ask family or friends to adopt the child.
4)        Give them what they need—Donate items to an orphanage.
5)        Support those who support them—Help local foster families with chores
6)        Provide them a safe place—Become a foster parent.
7)        Go visit them—Go on a mission trip to an orphanage.
8)        Give sacrificially to them—Support reputable orphan care organizations.
9)        Mobilize your church for them—Launch an adoption ministry.
10)      Cheer them on—Sponsor a child financially and with letter writing.

If you decide to make the move to adopt, it is essential to gather as much information as
possible. Numerous resources are available through local adoption services or on the
Internet. Some local churches even offer adoption ministries. Talk to others who have
adopted and learn from their experiences. A decision based on good information and prayer
is an excellent way to move through the adoption process, leading you one step closer to
building your family through adoption just as the Milems did.

Today, Corrie Milem is a healthy and active three-year-old. Dawn says she has transitioned
well into the Milem family and is bright, spirited, and curious. “We just knew she was meant
to be in our family. God has always known that Corrie was going to be a Milem, and He let us
come along for the ride.”

The Milem Family enjoying spring break.
They are: (l to r) Charles, Charlie, Dawn,
Catherine, Christian, and Corrie.