Thoughts of the Birthmother

On Friday August 29th the second Birthmother Interview took place. Nothing is easy. Paulo’s birthmother had to travel three hours from her home and arrived in Guatemala City mid-morning. Our coordinator and her husband accompanied Paulo’s birthmother to the PGN where they had an appointment. They waited with Paulo’s birthmother until approximately 8PM when the interview finally took place. We were closely monitoring the event through our Agency. Shortly after midnight we received a call from our Agency that the interview was complete. Essentially, Paulo’s birthmother chose to have a family from the United States of America, that she has never met, parent the little boy who she carried for nine months. She then stayed the night in Guatemala City before traveling three hours back home.

How humbled we are…

To think of a birthmother that chose to give a baby boy life knowing there was little promise for a better way ahead. She traveled not once, but twice, to Guatemala City, three hours each way. She was more than likely jammed on a public transit bus carrying her few belongings. And each time she had to stay all night in the city. No doubt she had many thoughts about the decision she was making during her lonely ride to the city each time. And to hold this child for the last time in her lap while the interviewers questioned her motives. She held firm to her earlier decision a few months prior. And late into the night when it was all over, she handed the baby boy back to the authorities, touching him for the last time. As she released him she must have been flooded by the finality of her decision. A short ride to the hotel followed by a night’s stay all alone. And she must have awoken the next day to another cramped, and lonely ride back to her hometown where she replayed the event of a day earlier in her mind. And today she is home and back to her routine, whatever it is. Play it forward to the end of her days. How many times in her life will she replay the images of her trip to Guatemala City, and the interview, and the ride home on a noisy, crowded bus; and through the years wondering where this boy is and if he is happy.

We will never fully understand why we were chosen for this. Why not the birthmother? Who are we, Lord?

How humbled we are…

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously. Share with God's people who are in need. –Excerpts from Paul’s letter to the Romans