Adoption is at the heart of the Gospel

SECUNDA – Adoption is at the heart of the Gospel.

This is the earnest belief of Ms Elmarie Murdoch, the main speaker at the Secunda Baptist Church’s women’s tea on Sunday, 25 March.

She and her husband, Andrew, live in Hartebeespoort where they are raising their seven adopted children.

“We are not blood heirs to the throne of God, yet He spiritually adopted us and now we are His children. It works the same with adopting children. They might not be blood, but I love them as though they came from my own womb.

“We initially did not want children, but eventually after being married for some time, we changed our minds. We tried for a long time, but found out that we are both infertile.”

The couple opted for adoption. As they waited for the slight possibility of finding a white baby to adopt, their yearning became more intense.

“We soon said we would settle for any baby. After all, God made one race, the human race. We might be of different skin colour, but we are all humans.”

Also read: Support World Adoption Day

Ami was born in 1998. The Murdochs were able to hold this little coloured girl within 30 minutes after her birth. Ami is now 20 years old.

“She grew up in a normal family, although we did struggle with things such as controlling her hair! A few years later, we wanted a little sister for Ami and that was when baby Evie came along,” Ms Murdoch said.

A few years later the Murdochs decided to adopt again, but this time it was a boy and girl twin toddlers.

“It was very difficult in the beginning because they were disrespectful, distant, and that cuteness factor that a little baby has, was not so much there anymore. We could also not speak nor understand Zulu. It was then that we realised just how much love we had to give. We also realised that the kids were missing their younger half-brother.”

Logan was born with foetal alcohol syndrome and was in foster care. The couple had to enter into a legal battle to adopt him.

The Murdochs adopted Tori about five years ago when she was six months old. Friends later told them of Amoré, a nine-year-old whose parents died and her much older half-brothers refused to take her in.

Ami accompanied her mother to the event on Sunday. She said theirs is just a normal family.

“We love and fight like blood siblings. We do not look alike, but even our extended family knows we are my mom’s kids. There is nothing sad about being adopted, so do not pity us. Some say that we are being robbed of our culture, but I disagree. I am adopted into a Christian home. I know my identity and who I am in Christ.”

Ms Estelle Coetzer from Janelle Huis in Evander, Ms Elsie Schwarz from Cosmos Children’s Home in Kriel and Ms Zanele Maseko from Abasizikazi Home-based Care were each given a few minutes to explain what it is that they are doing daily.

Ms Coetzer said the biggest immediate need for her kids is chicken. Ms Schwarz said although there is always a need somewhere, God supplies. They always need toiletries and a biscuit and cooldrink would be a wonderful treat.

Ms Maseko said the home-based care centre is in dire need of surgical gloves and adult and baby diapers. They also need toiletries.