I Was Once an Orphan

UNICEF states that there are 153 million orphans worldwide.

I can’t imagine my life growing up without a family, yet so many children will never have that experience. I have children of my own; I can see how they depend on Beth and I to love them, care for them, and to teach them the things they need to survive and become healthy, thriving adults. No one wants to be alone. We were created to be in family and community.

It is a scary world out there. I believe all people want to be loved and accepted, but this is especially true of children. Children need the attention and example of their parents. I can personally attest to this.

I was once an orphan. Somehow, for reasons I may never know, I found myself abandoned on the street in Daegu, South Korea. I was not yet 3 years old. It was a traumatic event that deeply affected my life well into adulthood. I was found crying, confused, and scared. Law enforcement placed me into an orphanage, where my parents never came for me. My identity was a total mystery. I was truly alone and terrified.

Thankfully, and I mean a HUGE thankfully, someone wanted me. That person was my mom, Suzy Paschal, thousands of miles away in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Looking back now, I can say she is my hero. She was committed in loving me, raising me, and giving me the opportunity to heal and thrive. She was God’s instrument to bring me to where I am today and who I am as a person.

No child wants to be homeless. Every child wants a loving family. They want parents who will be there for them. This is the passion that fuels me to adopt. I love pouring my life into my family. I strive to be the best husband and father I can. My hope is to become the father of an orphan who needs a father. I am excited to meet the child that God has for us and to someday connect with him or her on a deep level because of our common past as orphans. I know the power and importance of adoption because I lived it.

Our family can change the life and course of one orphan and give them the opportunity to find love in a family. I invite you to pray with us during this journey and join us in our fundraising efforts, if you are led. This is an exciting time and a blessed opportunity for our family! Thank you for being a part of it!