The Feser family’s tale is one of God taking two very ordinary and flawed people and giving them an extraordinary calling. When Mike and Julee married in 1990 they created a “yours, mine and ours” kind of family with eight biological children between them. Blessed with their large family, adoption was something that never crossed their minds.
About ten years into their marriage the Lord called them out of their lukewarm faith and began preparing them for a grand adventure. Mike and Julee were quite surprised when they discovered God was asking them to adopt an orphan. As a couple that was almost empty nesters the idea of adopting a child was daunting. Once they decided to obey the Lord and begin an adoption; they became totally jazzed up about the idea of adopting a child! In December of 2001 they found themselves in China adopting a precious toddler girl. Since then they have added nineteen more children through the miracle of adoption. Their children have been adopted from China, South Africa, Ethiopia, Vietnam and the U.S.
The Fesers were experienced parents who had already raised biological children. Because of their experience they felt if they were going to adopt it should be children who for whatever reasons had a harder time finding families. The family is now comprised of children from all over the world who also happen to deal with many kinds of special needs. Some of the issues they deal with are cerebral palsy, HIV+, Hep B, limb differences, cancer, Down Syndrome, Autism, spina bifida, post polio, heart defects, burn scars, etc… These things might sound challenging but the reality is that the special needs are not what defines the Feser children. Each and every child is dearly loved and a blessing to the family.
Mike and Julee now have only fourteen minor children still living at home. They are thrilled to be adopting again. In January, Mike will bring home from China two year old Belen (Penny on Reece’s Rainbow) who has a heart defect and has Down Syndrome ; and eight year old Josie with cerebral palsy. They are also beginning the adoption of Daniel a five year old Down Syndrome boy with heart defects.
Daniel was the foster brother to the girls adopted last year. He desperately needs heart surgery not available to him in his province in China. For the first time the Fesers find themselves needing to fund raise to pay for Daniel’s adoption. They know that God always provides what is needed to do what He says to do. God has shown that the Fesers need help from others in order to bring precious Daniel home to receive life saving heart surgery. Please pray for Daniel and consider donating to the funds needed for his adoption.
5/20/13—LOA RECVD
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at stillwaterjulee.blogspot.com