The Fiegel’s Journey to Adoption

Mike and Brook Fiegel first felt called into fostering in Kansas where they ended up caring for three infants. After relocating, the Fiegel’s also become certified in Ohio, where they were blessed to adopt Peyton, the first little girl they brought into their home. Then, almost as quickly as they felt called into fostering, they sensed God calling them out. To what, they weren’t sure…

The Lord began to speak to Brook when their neighbors adopted a little girl from China. “I felt like God was giving me a heart for adoption, but I was resisting.” On the other hand, Mike’s family had been blessed by the adoption of his older sister, so adopting was something he always felt he would do. Mike and Brook talked about adopting before they were married, but that wasn’t Brook’s intention back then. God, however, often has a way of redirecting our plans when they run contrary to His.

The Lord gave the Fiegel’s a sign while walking on the beach during a vacation. After Mike asked “so, what are we going to do about having children” Brook found a crab that had “China” written on the bottom of it. The crab was a sign from the Lord that he was leading them to adopt from China. Even so, Brook still did not want to give up her easy life but after an acquaintance reminded her that she couldn’t put God off forever she conceded. “Only this one time,” she told God “I’ll be obedient this once. That’s it.”

Brook’s defiance was short lived. Around the same time that Mike and Brook were getting ready to turn their dossier in for China, they volunteered for the first time at A Child’s Hope International packing event. During the pack, they assembled high protein meals to distribute to hungry children in Haiti. Brook had no idea how grave the orphan crisis was until an ACHI leader shared his testimony and heart wrenching videos of orphans that day. She felt convicted “God was saying, “There are so many children out there who need families and you’re just going to adopt this one time?” Throughout the day, Brook also sensed the Lord planting a seed in her heart for Haiti, but He had clearly confirmed their call to adopt from China. Once again, Brook was unsure what God was doing but she was determined to do His will.

One short year later, the Fiegel’s went to China to bring their daughter, Bella, home. They returned a couple years later to adopt Tatum, and then again to pick up Olivia. “I never viewed our girls as orphans.” Mike said. “They were always ours. That channel is just how God introduced them to our family.” Through the years, the couple continued to see sprinklings of Haiti and hoped to eventually adopt a sibling pair. Though there is still uncertainty surrounding Haiti, the Fiegel’s feel blessed beyond measure with the family God has given them and trust that God will continue to shape their family according to His will.

Four daughters later, Brook is grateful for that day at the Hope Factory when her eyes were opened to the reality of the orphan crisis. When she realized God was calling her to be a bigger part of the solution without limiting what He could do through her and her husband.

“At the end of the day, when people see you adopting, they either think you’re crazy or they think you’re something special.” Said Mike “But it’s not us, it’s God who is special. He has allowed us to be part of the story he is writing, and we are grateful. We can’t do this without Him.”