The Plazaks Adopt

Josh and Sarah have started their greatest adventures yet - adopting from Taiwan! The international adoption process was long and detailed, and it had many, many twists and turns!

Originally, they applied to adopt from China in May of 2020, and submitted their dossier (paperwork) to China by February 2021. By this time, COVID-19 had completely shut down any nexts steps with China - no getting matched and no adoption travel. After much prayer, Josh and Sarah decided to switch to the Taiwan adoption program in the summer of 2021 (because their full adoption process was still up-and-running)! Within a few short weeks of switching programs, they found a brother, Sam (6), and sister, Abby (5), sibling group, and were quickly officially matched with these precious children.

On April 28, 2023, Josh and Sarah arrived in Taiwan to pick up Sam and Abby. After several days of gradual bonding with Abby, they officially took custody of her, and then went to start the gradual bonding process with Sam. After meeting Sam, Josh and Sarah quickly realized that his needs were more profound than had been reported. They worried that they did not have adequate resources at home or funds that would allow Sam live his very best life. Josh and Sarah extended their stay in Taiwan in order to take Sam to doctors in Taiwan and in the US (via Zoom) in order to get a more accurate diagnosis. Once a new diagnosis was received, through finding more resources, conversations with friends, and lots and lots of fervent prayer, Josh and Sarah decided to fully move forward with parenting both Sam and Abby, but because of their initial concerns and hesitation (and because of suggestions given to them by their adoption agency), when the family of four went to board their flight home on May 17th, they found that the children’s visas had been revoked. According to Taiwan, Josh and Sarah were fully Abby and Sam’s legal parents, but they could not fly home with their children.

They immediately contacted congressmen and senators, and started trying to do anything necessary to get the visas reissued. After staying an additional two and a half weeks in Taiwan, with no projected timeline or next steps being provided by the US government, Josh and Sarah were forced to make the heartbreaking decision to assign temporary custody of the children back to the children’s home, so they could return to the US for work and to have more direct access to the government offices with which they needed to advocate.

Currently, they get to have weekly video calls with Abby and Sam, but it is not the same — the children need to come HOME! There has been some progress, but the US government continues to be very vague with the status of the case, and cannot give them an idea of how much longer this will drag out.

Through fundraisers, grants, and generous gifts from family and friends, the Lord blessed Sarah and Josh with over $30,000 toward this adoption. This should have completely covered their costs, but due to the unplanned additional three weeks in-country, the $1,700 a month they’re paying for the children to stay at the children’s home, plus the return trip they’ll need to make to Taiwan when the visas get reissued, they find themselves needing to save and raise a bit more. They are confident in God's call and provision, and have seen Him provide time-and-time again. Any contributions will go directly to their adoption fund, and get them one step closer to holding their precious kiddos! Thank you for your support, whether it be through prayer or finances! Please be sure to follow their adventure on their YouTube channel, AndTheAdventureContinues!