PENSACOLA - November is National Adoption Month, and the subject of adoption can be very intimidating for those new to the process.

In an effort to help sort through the possibilities, we look at *one option for those who might be interested in intercountry adoptions...

Here is Channel Three's Jim Carmack.

I want to introduce you to Johnny Carr from Bethany Christian Services. Bethany is the largest adoption agency in the country, and has recently opened an office here in Pensacola. If you are considering intercountry adoption, he has a few things you may need to know.

Johnny Carr/Bethany Christian Services
"The first step is they have to get a home study from their state, in our case the state of Florida has to approve you to be able to adopt a child. The second step is they have to go through immigration services because the US has to allow the child to come into the United States through immigration. And then thirdly, the sending country has to allow you to adopt a child from that country.

Now meet Johnny Carr... This time as a husband and father of four.

"This is my wife Beth, and this is Heather, and Jared, and James and Xiaoli. James and Xiaoli were both adopted from China and they are actually both deaf."

Johnny and Beth's goal was to adopt a deaf child, no matter where they were from.

"The first child we found was a picture of James, he was 4 years old at the time and he had been abandoned at about 2 years old. The day we walked into his orphanage it just honestly changed our life. We had no idea what life was like, especially the kind of life he came from. And being there and being a part of that just really changed our life, it changed our focus..."

"James, what's happening in those pictures?" "Meeting Mom and Dad for the first time."

"And Xiaoli, we went back to adopt her in 2007. Adopting her at 6 years old, we were concerned about how she would mesh into the family and how she would fit in, but everything has just been picture perfect with it."

"This is my family!"

Beth says the adoptions will have a lasting impact on Heather and Jared as well.

"They get adoption. It's not something that we sat down and taught them. // They caught it. And I believe they will both adopt when they are older, because to them James and Xiaoli are as much a brother and sister as they are to each other. We're family."

(JOHNNY)
"We can't imagine them not being part of our family now. It's just, it's impossible to think about them not being here and not being with us.

There are so many kids out there in need, there are so many kids that need a home, that need a mom and a dad, and to see families that can really step out and open their homes up and take these children in, to give them a loving family is just a wonderful thing to see."

Because of their experience, Johnny says he would definitely recommend using an adoption agency instead of trying it on your own. If you'd like more information, you can contact Bethany Christian Services at bethany.org

Tomorrow we'll meet a family who adopted from the local foster care system, but not in a way you might expect.
Adoption Part I