Recently, our International Adoption Team at Christian Adoption Services had the incredible opportunity to travel to the Philippines ahead of our 2025 Child Hosting Program to learn more about the children and advocate for their futures. We are excited to share about Carly’s experience during her time there!
"Lord, my prayer was for you to open my heart and open my eyes to who you truly are and you have done that and so much more."
When I was extended the invitation to join our International Team here at Christian Adoption Services (CAS) to aid families who are adopting through the Philippines, I didn’t quite understand the Lord’s reasoning, or how I could be of true service. However, I knew I needed to posture my heart in the position of His will because He is worthy of my trust and my service through and through.
Since joining this team, I have had the opportunity to help families and children while also hearing some of the most life changing stories, both seamless journeys and stressful ones as well. No matter the situation, I have found that the Lord always has a plan, especially when adoption is involved, and that His timing is more perfect than anything we could ever imagine.
Earlier this year, I found that once again the Lord presented me with an opportunity I never thought would fall across my path. The opportunity was to play a larger role in our Child Hosting Program by traveling to the Philippines to meet some of the children we are advocating for in person.
This meant that not only was I going to be given the chance to explore the beautiful country of the Philippines, but I also would be meeting some of the most humble, honoring, and faithful children in the world. It was a responsibility I told myself I
was unworthy of holding and unqualified to conduct which meant when I got there, that I needed to do all that I could to support these children in the way that they deserve.
As a team, our mission was to meet the children selected for the Hosting Program, along with their care staff, and try to see the children for who they really are rather than only having the black and white perspective gained from information in their file. My specific task would be to speak with each child’s Caretaker or House Parent, along with their Social Worker.
My first meeting was with a young girl’s Caretaker who lived in an all-girls Child Caring Agency. It seems as though the Caretaker was excitedly awaiting us to arrive s o she could speak to the character of this young girl. Yes, there may have been a language barrier, but non-verbal expressions go a long way. The Caretaker was sweet and soft spoken, but used her emotions to convey her honest opinions and experiences during the interview. The Caretaker told me how sweet, funny, and talented this young girl was. She said that most people didn’t know how artistic she is, and that she is known in their Child Caring Agency for selling commissioned pieces of her work to fellow people in the community at the young age of 14.
Since this Caretaker spent so much time with this young girl she was able to share that she dreams of being a Chef or a Baker and that although she will join in on fun with the rest of the girls in the agency and be extroverted at times, she really is a bookworm who is often found curled up on her bed with a good book.
She told me how this young girl works hard in school and has never had a bad day, and each night she participates in praying to the Lord for a “forever family”. I found out about how caring, fun, loving and affectionate this young girl is towards others. During this meeting with her Caretaker I couldn’t help but remind myself that this young girl, one of many children who I will have the honor of meeting, is real. She is tangible, bright, and her spirit is alive and well! She is not just a name on a piece of paper with a file of a few short pages to describe her. No, she is unique, and beautiful, and she was distinctly hand carved and designed by the Lord.
I reflected on the fact that there is a purpose for her life far greater than I can even begin to comprehend; and then, there’s me. There is this team. There is CAS. There are families out there, right now, who could show her the love, support, and guidance she needs to live the most lovely and abundant life possible. This first interaction, this first encounter, was so powerful, and only the beginning of what was in store.
After the meeting with the Caretaker and Social Worker, I got to join in on this young girl’s assessment the rest of the team was conducting. She had the biggest smile on her face as she showed us some of her paintings that were on display, and at the end, when we were praying for her and her future, I held back tears with the utmost gratitude for even being given the opportunity to be introduced to her.
Her story is just one story. There are so many more stories and children who are just as worthy of attention, focus, and advocacy. Through my time in the Philippines I had the chance to see the Lord through each Caretaker, Social Worker, and Child.
In situations and circumstances that the typical person would look at or experience and think that there is loneliness or abandonment, I have now seen that the Lord is there and always present. He is active and working all things for His glory. The Lord is good, and He is purposeful. He knew these interactions would happen before I dreamed of the possibility and I believe that the mission we were granted not only provided us the opportunity to meet children in need of Christian Families, but to also be introduced to the Lord’s children who would be considered a true gift for any family to have within their unit.
I now find myself more grateful than ever to be in the position I am; to support families along their adoption journey and to help find these kiddos their forever families. I pray that my time in the Philippines with these kids holds an everlasting impact on my life, perspective, and faith.
Have you ever considered opening your home to a child who dreams of a family? Our Child Hosting Program offers you the chance to meet incredible children. Through hosting, you have the opportunity to provide love, connection, and hope to a child in need. Your home could be the place where their journey to a forever family begins. To learn more, visit https://www.christianadopt.org/child-hosting-program.
-Written by Carly Patterson, International Adoption Caseworker - Christian Adoption Services