Mike Smith:
This week, we’ll be talking about homeschooling internationally adopted children. My guest today is Alicia Ahlers, a homeschool mom of 12 children. Alicia and her husband Glenn adopted five of the children from Liberia. Thank you for joining me on the program, Alicia.

Alicia Ahlers:
Thank you, Mike, for having me.

Mike:
Alicia, when you adopted your children, they were all over the age of 12. Now, what advice would you give to homeschooling parents just beginning the adoption process?

Alicia:
Well, Mike, two foundational things that helped prepare us was preparing ourselves for ministry and investing in our own education about the children that were being referred to us. International adoption and homeschooling are both some of the most exciting, rewarding, and challenging experiences we’ve ever faced. Adopting older children internationally literally brings the mission field into your home. Finding out everything you can about your children, their country, and culture before they come home to you will be invaluable. And the number one thing that we did to prepare us more than anything, was preparing ourselves for ministry. We have to see our jobs as homeschooling parents as representing God’s love to and for our children daily without hypocrisy.

Mike:
Well, thank you, Alicia. And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.