Adopted: The Sacrament of Belonging in a Fractured World

Nikondeha, an adopted daughter and the mother of two adopted children from her husband’s homeland of Burundi, presents an elegant primer on adoption. She shares her own experience of being adopted, explaining the effect it had on her upbringing, and discusses how her two children are processing their own adoption stories. Nikondeha and her husband divide their time between Burundi and America and bring rich insights into the international adoption process. Readers will appreciate Nikondeha’s wisdom as she uses Bible stories such as the tale of Moses and Esther as guidance for how to treat family members. In a particularly affecting section, Nikondeha recalls a family gathering where her daughter asked Nikondeha whether the other children present were real cousins, “the blood kind.” The author is pleased when she hears her young daughter’s fierce reaction to Nikondeha telling her the cousins are not blood-related: “No! They’re my cousins because we say so!” Nikondeha persuasively showcases how adoption can bolster families, enlarge love, and affirm faith. (Aug.)