SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — For Gloria Hernandez Padilla and her daughter, Belinda Perez, the ministry of a Texas Baptist adoption agency has come full circle — with adoptee Hernandez Padilla becoming grandmother to another adopted child.
Gloria Hernandez Padilla, one of the first children enrolled at Mexican Baptist Orphans’ Home in San Antonio — the children’s home that grew into Baptist Child & Family Services — is all smiles as she sits with her biological daughter, Belinda, and her two newly adopted grandchildren, Kristen and Luke. (BCFS photo)
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Hernandez Padilla was one of the first residents of Mexican Baptist
Orphans’ Home in San Antonio — a children’s home that grew into the
international human-services agency Baptist Child & Family Services.
She arrived at the home in 1944 at age 5 along with her two sisters, ages 6 and 7. Sixty-six years later, her daughter adopted her own child through BCFS.
Perez was no stranger to the idea of foster care and adoption. Her mother’s passion for caring for children without a home always had been part of her life.
“My brother and I grew up going to visit the children living at the BCFS campus,” Perez said. “My mom spent 31 years teaching in San Antonio Independent School District and serving at Calvary Mexican Baptist Church, encouraging everyone she came in contact with to go out to the campus and love on the children living there.”
But last year, Perez began to consider building her own family through adoption. One day, she said, it was so clear, as though God was sending her a message to open her heart and home to a child in need.
She and her husband, Robert, met with Child Protective Services, and then turned to BCFS for help in navigating their way through the foster-care and adoption process.
On March 18, they finalized their adoption of 4-year old Kristen and 3-year old Luke. At the courthouse, Padilla and a dozen other family members and friends beamed with joy as mom and dad raised their right hands and swore to always love and care for their new son and daughter. As soon as the judge closed their case, hugs and kisses were given all around.
“You can just feel the love Belinda and Robert have for the children,” said Teresa Berkley, BCFS director of adoptions. “And without a doubt, the feeling is mutual.”
Kristen smiled and said, “Mommy says we’re going to stay now forever!”
Wrapping her arms around her new grandson and granddaughter, Padilla’s eyes filled with tears.
“We are part of the generations of BCFS, and BCFS is now part of the generations of my family,” she said.
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Krista Piferrer writes for Baptist Child & Family Services.