It was August 27, 1973. Gordon Finley was working at a school as a teacher and administrator of a special education program when the phone call came. It was the Baptist Children's home. A baby girl had been born over the weekend and they wanted to know if he and his wife might be interested in adopting her.
They had previously adopted a little boy from this same agency. Nathan, as they had called him, would be two the following month. They had originally wanted to adopt a girl, but when the adoption agency presented them the idea of a little boy, they prayed about it and agreed to take him. Both they and the agency felt it a good idea to have more than one child in the home, so after making Nathan a part of their family, they again applied for another child.
And the opportunity had come.
Gordon called his wife, Bess, from work and they discussed it. There were several things to consider before making a final decision. They were in the process of starting deputation to go to the Philippines as missionaries. Would it be difficult to be on the road visiting churches with a new baby in the family? It could get difficult having two young children at the same time. Would Bess be able to handle it with everything that was going on?
They talked about it and came to a decision. They wanted the little girl. So they called the agency back and said they were interested. Because it was Monday and the work week had already begun, they were not able to make the trip to get the little girl until Friday after work. In the meantime, the baby would be put in foster care.
When Friday afternoon arrived, they made the hour and a half trip from Warsaw, Indiana to Valparaiso. There was excitement and curiosity. What would she look like? Who would she grow up to be?
They would go to the adoption agency office which was located above a shoe store. There they would be handed a six day old baby girl and they would make her theirs.
They named her Lorena Lynn.
And when they all left together, they were family.
An intriguing beginning, looking forward to the rest of the story! ~Bridget~
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