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Isaak
By James Robert Krull
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We met our sixth grandchild on a Saturday in April, 2009. He arrived at Columbus International Airport at 3:25 in the afternoon following a trip that took 24 hours and covered half the world.
My son, Jon, and his wife, Kristin, began the adoption process more than a year earlier, in February, 2008, before Isaak was even born. His birth on July 24, 2008 in Kazakhstan, came just one day after Jon and Kristin celebrated their third anniversary.
Isaak's birth mother did not list a father on the birth certificate. She even listed a false address, making it impossible for authorities to locate her. I rejoice because she did not abort her baby, and gave him to an orphanage which provided excellent care for him the first eight months of his life.
Isaak's arrival in Columbus was a joyous occasion. It was the culmination of an adoption process that was prayed for by dozens of believers, including people from our church, Maranatha Baptist, and from Madison Christian School where Jon teaches music.
There were only six people at the airport to meet the new family. This was an intentional restraint to prevent overwhelming our new eight-month-old family member. All four of Isaak's grandparents were present, as well as his great grandmother and uncle.
Isaak was taken home to gradually meet other family members and friends over the days that followed his arrival. First he met Jack, Jon and Kristin's hundred-pound Labrador. Aunts, uncles and cousins were introduced to him a few at a time.
Jon and Kristin were chosen to be the parents by Isaak himself. On their first visit to the orphanage in Kazakhstan, Isaak immediately bonded with his parents-to-be. But Jon and Kristin were not allowed to see Isaak for about three weeks while authorities took care of legal issues, both here in the States and in Kazakhstan.
During that three-week period Jon and Kristin returned home to the States. Many, including myself, prayed that the time of separation would not cause a feeling of abandonment in Isaak that would then have to be overcome by his adopted parents. I personally prayed that God would plant the knowledge of His provision deep in Isaak's heart so that he would have peace in the knowledge that he is deeply loved.
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God answered our prayers. Isaak has adopted well to his new home, family, church and friends.
My wife told me she thought adoption was harder on Kristin than physically giving birth to a child. Two long flights to the other side of the world, more than six weeks in a country where neither spoke a word of the language along with interviews, investigations, background checks and many other aspects of the procedures, all took their toll.
But we are excited about what God has done. I know that God has a purpose for His own glory in the sacrifices of my son and daughter-in-law. And I know they are facing their parenting of Isaak with joy.
And so are Isaak's grandparents.
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Text and photos Copyright © 2009, James Robert Krull, All Rights Reserved. - 2
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