by Morgan Sutter correspondent
David and Larissa Green have experienced everything from international missions to stateside local church ministry since they graduated from Moody in 2005 with degrees in world missions and evangelism (for David) and Bible (for Larissa). In the midst of it all, God laid adoption on their hearts, and their hope is to be an encouragement to the Christian community in considering foster care.
After graduation, the Greens served as English teachers in East Asia with SEND International for one year, then moved to Plevna, Kansas, where David serves as a pastor for Plevna Community Bible Church.
In 2007, Larissa suffered from a life-threatening infection and underwent major surgery which made it unlikely that she and David would ever have biological children. Instead of giving up plans for a family, David and Larissa decided to foster children. ?We became foster parents with the hope of adopting, but it was a huge step of faith,? they said. In foster care, adoption is never a guaranteed outcome, and the Greens? faith was tested but did not waver even after they were forced to send two children back to their birth mother.
In late 2010, David and Larissa received two more foster children. Daniel Edward (Danny) was 2 ? and Emily Helena (Emmy) was just three days old. The children came into their home at the same time and were both born in a nearby town, but were not biological siblings. ?We did not expect to keep Danny ? when he became available to adopt it was a big surprise,? Larissa said.
Plans were also made for Emmy?s adoption, but they were interrupted briefly when it was thought that Emmy would return to her biological father. ?This was a dark and very scary time for us,? the Greens explained, ?but we thank the Lord that the truth about her birth dad?s behavior became known, and she also became available.?
The state terminated the rights of both Danny?s and Emmy?s birthparents in late 2011. Both adoptions were finalized on April 23, 2012. Because Emmy and Danny were adopted through foster care, the Greens did not have to pay for their adoption. Instead, they actually received financial support.
?If anyone is interested in adopting, please consider foster care! It has a ?bad rap,? but it is truly one of the best ways to care for children who desperately need love,? Larissa said. ?It is also very likely that you will be able to adopt a child someday without incurring debt.?
The Greens, still licensed to do foster care, just received an eight-month-old girl named Mari. She will be with them for an undetermined amount of time. David continues to serve as a pastor at PCBC while Larissa stays at home with their kids. She is currently home schooling Danny and remains active in the women?s and children?s ministries at church. Larissa also writes about foster care and adoption on her blog, http://houseofgreen.wordpress.com/. For now, they say they are learning all they can about parenting God?s way, while remaining active in ministry to their community.
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