Last Fall I was able to accompany my parents on a two-week trip to China to adopt my new little sister. It has been a hard journey, and it didn’t end when we got off the plane in Omaha, Nebraska. But it has been wonderful, and I am grateful that I was able to come on the China trip.
It was exciting, fun, and I learned a lot. But I was homesick before the end of the first week.
Adoption is a beautiful picture of God’s love and our own salvation story. Our story especially represents this, as we left our home and traveled to where our child was to bring her home.
I have been wondering this year if Jesus thought about Home as much as I did. I have been thinking about the culture-shock, and wondering if His experience was close to mine.
Now, obviously I am not trying to say that China is inferior to the U.S. like earth is inferior to heaven. But going there did take me out of my ‘zone’, and I think I better understand the way God adopted us now—kind of.

“He sat in the garden alone, grieved beneath the weight I feel right now times the Universe.” –Shannon Martin

I cannot really imagine what Jesus did for us. I have been wondering this year if Jesus thought about Home as much as I did. And writing this has brought me to the conclusion—he probably thought about it more. And being around children who have never experienced this kind of love before and don’t know how to except it, has only made me realize what love is. What it means to love unconditionally.
Adoption is a perfect representation of our spiritual adoption—but that does not make adoptive parents and siblings heroes. If there is one definite thing I have learned during this journey, it is how incompetent I am. How lost. How broken. . .
Without my Savior.

“In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ.”
-Ephesians 1:4b-5a

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My name is Hanna Rothfuss.  I am 14 and in eighth grade.  I have lived in the suburbs of Omaha, Nebraska for my whole life.  My interests are reading and writing, mainly about fantasy and orphan care–often adoption.  I have four siblings, two of which are adopted.  I’m a homeschooler and a child of God.  I pray that all my writing is encouraging, empowering, and brings glory to Him.

You can read more of Hanna’s writing on her blog: Taking My Time.

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We’re building the nest this month!

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