The Children of Cite Soleil

I saw this video on my friend, Courtney's blog. In the last month or so, since we have been fully immersed in this adoption idea, I have been saying that I think this adoption is bigger than our two girls. I feel that we are being drawn to Africa. I am not sure exactly what that means or could mean to us as a family, but I know that we have been pulled out of our comfort zone.

Our oldest is asking us if we are going to open an orphanage next - and he's serious! You can't see these images and videos and not be touched. But it is more than that. I have always had a heart for kids, and I travelled to Europe twice while I was young - once solo. I love travel and adventure. Ray wants to build a house for someone less fortunate one day. Maybe our family will go to Africa. Maybe we will build little houses for families living under cardboard shelters. Trust me the seed is already planted!

Our kids think the idea is awesome - except for one. He is a little nervous about being so far from home. *smile*. That sounds like a whole lot better way to spend our 'middle aged' years than lounging around in our super comfortable lifestyles!

When you see this video and you realize how much *you can do* - how can you not do *something*!?

And one more thing. People have asked us why we don't adopt a local child. There are many - over a 1100 in our province alone - waiting for a home. We used to say that it was because our hearts were drawn to Ethiopia.

Our answer now? Well, our answer has changed. Now we can honestly say it is because any child in Canada has a better chance of living than a child in a third world country. In Haiti, for example, there are children eating dirt cakes, just to stop the gnawing hunger in their tummies! They are washing in the same water they use for their bathroom. They don't have any other choice. That country is poverty stricken, beyond our comprehension! Now we know we are adopting from Ethiopia because those children do not have a chance!

Ethiopia is the 5th poorest country in the world!! Canada is near the top of the 170+ countries. Our idea of poverty and the rest of the world's are vastly different!! Canadians have welfare and government programs, child tax benefits and government assisted daycares, foodbanks and soup kitchens.