Ep:30 Rebekah Cruz - Their journey of adopting a little boy from China

The Full Life Podcast with Melanie Lynam

Rebekah is a full-time Mum and the Children’s Director at her Church. She lives with her husband Nathan and their 5 children in Brisbane. On today’s episode Rebekah shares with us her story of adopting their 5th child, Zion Tong from China. They said it couldn’t be done, that as Australians it would be too hard to adopt a child from China. Rebekah and Nathan found a loop hole and after a faith-stretching journey they finally have their boy in their arms. We talk about the crazy dreams that started everything and the power of ‘just trying’. Rebekah walks us through every stage of the journey - from meeting Zion, raising money, jumping through hoops to get him, and then the challenges of the first few months of adoption. This is a story of perseverance, overcoming faith and love.

Three years prior to visiting China, Rebecca had dreams about China and babies that had been thrown away. Felt really drawn to China.

“Sometimes we are in a waiting season and those can be really challenging.” “Three years of waiting and believing that if God had a plan that it would happen.”

They had 4 little kids and it didn’t make sense in that season. Her husband Nathan at the time of the dreams wasn’t on the same page yet.

We had always been told from the beginning, you’re Australian, it’s too hard to adopt, you can’t. They were told by the Australian immigration officer that it would be like jumping through rings of fire.

“I just wanna try.” That was their go to for all of those challenging moments - we’ll just try.

“Adopting one child won’t change the world but for that one child the world will change.”

“There were those moments where God was like, “I’ve got it.” Money came in from unexpected places. God continued to confirm so that even though it was stressful, they knew God was in control.

The scripture that Bek says really sums it up is Psalm 139:1-10

“O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.

You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.

You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.

You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!

I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!

If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave,[a] you are there.

If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest ocean

even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.”

“It’s just knowing that God has a plan and in my humanity He’s still able to be strong and help things come to pass.”

“Wow God, you always knew. I think we forget that about God…that He knows the outcome.”

What it was like in the first few weeks after adopting Zion Tong. He wanted to go home. Grieving. How they involved their 4 children in the adoption process.

“He (God) is able to do far more than we can ever imagine.”

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