Summer Issue 2012

Summer 2012

Stronger

Families Healthier Children

OSU and Holt Build Homes in Ethiopia

Celebrating

the 2012 Graduates!

in this issue 4

On the Home Team in Ethiopia

Summer 2012 vol. 54 no. 3 Our Vision A world where every child has a loving and secure home.

In June, 13 Oregon State University student-athletes and two adoptive fathers traveled to Ethiopia with Holt. They came to build houses for families in Holt’s family preservation program. They left having achieved much more than they ever expected.

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Celebrating the 2012 Holt Graduates Read an article by one of the graduates!

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Post Adoption The unexpected ease of older child adoption.

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A little girl in the village of Silti, where in June 13 student-athletes from Oregon State University came to build homes for families in Holt’s family preservation program.

From the Field A Holt adoptive parent travels with the Beavers Without Borders crew.

Dear Readers Two graduates, both from the Philippines, both with very different stories. Isaac Barnes, now 19 years old, was born on a sidewalk outside of a restaurant on January 11, 1993. Abandoned at birth, he was found shortly after and brought into Holt’s care.

At 11 months old, Isaac went to live with a foster family, where he stayed until his 5th birthday—when the Barnes family adopted him and brought him home to the United States. “Isaac was a bundle of energy,” says Karen Barnes. “He smiled all the time.”

Isaac was born with mental disorders. His mother, Karen, tells me that he lives each day to the fullest, and is always kind to others. “I believe that Isaac’s disability enables him to be more understanding and compassionate than most kids his age,” says Karen.

This year, Isaac received his high school diploma. An accomplished artist, Isaac plans to take art classes and seek employment in aviation or ground transportation. “We realize everything is harder for him,” says Karen. “But he never gives up.”

Holt is so proud of Isaac and the rest of our graduating class in the United States.

Josephine is also a recent graduate, though not in the U.S. Josephine is 5-years old and lives in the Phillipines. Last year, her parents could barely afford to feed Josephine, let alone send her to school. But through Holt’s day care program and the support of genH olt I nt e r n at i on a l / Su m m e r 2 01 2

erous sponsors, Josephine’s family is doing well. Josephine started preschool last year, and two months ago, she graduated! “The children are in the day care program for one year,” says Sharon Grant, Holt’s sponsorship coordinator. “They are really able to gain confidence and stabilize their nutrition and health.”

Holt continues to expand our services to children. Today, we can celebrate the accomplishments of our adult adoptees in the United States as well as graduates coming through

In 1955 Harry and Bertha Holt responded to the conviction that God had called them to help children left homeless by the Korean War. Though it took an act of the U.S. Congress, the Holts adopted eight of those children. But they were moved by the desperate plight of other orphaned children in Korea and other countries as well, so they founded Holt International Children’s Services in order to unite homeless children with families who would love them as their own. Today Holt International serves children and families in Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Nepal, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Romania, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine, the United States and Vietnam.

President Phillip A. Littleton Vice-President of International Programs Dan Lauer Vice-President of Finance & Administration Kevin Sweeney Vice-President of Adoption Services Lisa Vertulfo Vice-President of Development Jack Wharfield Vice-President of Policy & External Affairs Susan Soon keum Cox Senior Advisor David Lim Senior Executive Jian Chen Holt International magazine is published quarterly

by Holt International Children’s Services, Inc., a nonprofit, Christian, child welfare organization.

While Holt International is responsible for the content of Holt International magazine, the viewpoints expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the organization.

Creative Services Director Brian Campbell Creative Services Manager Laura Mathews Managing Editor Ashli Keyser Senior Writer Robin Munro Subscription Orders/Inquiries and Address Changes Send all editorial correspondence and changes of address to Holt International magazine, Holt International, P.O. Box 2880, Eugene, OR 97402. We ask for an annual donation of $20 to cover the cost of publication and mailing inside the United States and $40 outside the United States. Holt welcomes the contribution of letters and articles for publication, but assumes no responsibility for return of letters, manuscripts or photos.

Reprint Information Permission from Holt International is required prior to reprinting any portion of Holt International magazine. Please direct reprint requests to editor Ashli Keyser at 541/687.2202 or ashlik@holtinternational.org.

Copyright ©2012 by Holt International Children’s Services, Inc. ISSN 1047-7640

our educational programs in countries like the Philippines, Haiti, Ethiopia and Uganda.

It’s with great joy that we congratulate our graduating class of 2012 – both here and half-way around the world.

2

*name changed

P.O. Box 2880 (1195 City View) Eugene, OR 97402 Ph: 541/687.2202 Fax: 541/683.6175

Ashli Keyser |

Managing Editor

directions Student-Athletes Huddle With Holt A look at our partnership with Beavers Without Borders For the last several months, you may have read about Holt’s part-

Patric and Larry noticed a group of eight young adults sporting

nership with a group called Beavers Without Borders. Holt and this

Oregon State University (OSU) attire. An OSU alum and avid OSU

wonderful organization just returned from a trip to Ethiopia, where

Beaver fan, Patric’s curiosity was piqued. “They didn’t look like a

they built homes for families in Holt’s family preservation program.

football team or anything,” says Patric. “I was wondering why stu-

You can read a great article about this trip starting on page 4.

But first, I would like to share with you how our partnership with this organization began…

Last year, the Slocum Center for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

dents from OSU were in the Frankfurt airport, of all places! I struck up a conversation with one of the young men in the group.”

The man informed Patric that the students were members of “Beavers Without Borders,” an organization of OSU student-athletes

in Eugene, Oregon donated X-ray equipment to the hospital Holt is

who travel to developing countries on service projects. The stu-

building in Shinshicho, Ethiopia. No longer will children and fami-

dents were on their way back from a trip to Macedonia.

lies in the area have to travel great distances to receive the kind of advanced care that the X-ray equipment will provide.

One of the catalysts behind this achievement was Patric Campbell, Holt adoptive parent and property manager for the Slocum building.

“Traveling to Ethiopia to pick up our son, Miles, was an eye-opening experience,” says Patric. “We felt like we should give back to

“Beavers without Borders?” said Patric to the young man. “I’ve heard of that. It’s run by a former football player named Taylor Kavanaugh, right?”

“Yes, it is,” said the young man. “And, I’m Taylor.” Patric, surprised, informed Taylor that he had just returned from Ethiopia with Holt International.

Just as Taylor boarded the plane back to the States, he handed

his country. So, when I found out the Slocum Center was replacing

Patric his card and said: “I believe everything happens for a reason.

their X-ray equipment, I thought about the hospital in Shinshicho

Beavers Without Borders is always looking for new projects, and new

and knew exactly where the old X-ray machines should go. And it

places to travel to. Let’s do lunch sometime.”

worked out.” The donation of the medical equipment — and the

And the rest is history.

blessings it will bring to the people of Shinshicho — is a great story

Last month, a group of 13 Oregon State University athletes, joined

in itself. But it doesn’t end there.

In June, Patric Campbell, Larry Carter, one of Holt’s directors

by Holt staff, traveled to Ethiopia! Today, thanks to the efforts of Holt and this wonderful group of student-athletes, two struggling families

of donor relations, and Holt board member Cindy Davis traveled

in Ethiopia have new roofs over their heads. The Beavers Without

to Ethiopia to tour the Shinshicho hospital. On their way back to

Borders crew returned with wonderful memories and the knowledge

Eugene — at a terminal gate in the Frankfurt, Germany airport —

that they have made a difference in the lives of these families.

Phillip A. Littleton |

President

On the Home Team in Ethiopia

In June, 13 Oregon State University student-athletes and two adoptive fathers traveled to Ethiopia with Holt. They came to build houses for families in Holt’s family preservation program. They left having achieved much more than they ever expected.

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n a van driving south through Ethiopia are four Oregon State University students, a couple Holt staff members, and me. As we turn off the main highway onto a bumpy dirt road, children begin waving and running alongside us. In the background, we can hear the high-pitched “lu lu lu” sound the women of the region make in celebration. When I turn around, I see that two of the students – soft-spoken volleyball player Martie Massey, and Stephanie McGregor, a gymnast with striking blue eyes – are both crying. Crying and smiling, overcome by this welcome.

Here, in a rural, agricultural village called Silti, Stephanie, Martie and 11 other OSU student-athletes have come to build houses for families in Holt’s family preservation program. Although they all play different sports at OSU, this week they are the Beavers Without Borders – a service organization developed by the athletics department of the OSU Beavers.

Over six days, they will construct two homes of mud, straw and eucalyptus for two vulnerable families. They will distribute shoes they brought over in overstuffed duffel bags. And once their work is done, they will play a friendly soccer match against the local team. But as the days unfold, it becomes apparent that these extraordinary young people will accomplish much more than can be listed on an itinerary.

Traveling along with the OSU students are two adoptive fathers, Patric Campbell and Rory Robison. At home in Eugene, Oregon, Patric and Rory live three houses down from one another. In Ethiopia, their sons were born 15 km from each other. Needless to say, they share a special bond. They have come to Silti to help the students build. But more importantly, as fathers who adopted children from communities very much like the one we’re visiting, they bring added context and meaning to this journey we’re on.

ABOVE: A mother and her child help celebrate the students’ arrival.

LEFT: Many of the students were moved to tears by the warm welcome they received from the community. Here, Margo Clinton (right) and Julia Sattler watch the women of Silti dance and sing.

RIGHT: Holt adoptive fathers Patric Campbell (left) and Rory Robison traveled along with the students. Both have adopted a son from Ethiopia.

LEFT: The women of Silti greet the students with singing, dancing and the high-pitched “lu lu lu” sound they make in celebration.

BOTTOM LEFT: Both families to receive new homes are households headed by women.

Zahra Hussen (right) is one of the two recipients.

Welcome to Silti As the community of Silti gathers to welcome us, the crowd swells. The students watch as the local women dance and sing, beating drums and clapping their hands. Margo puts an arm around her teammate Julia, who smiles and places a hand over her heart. Both have tears in their eyes. At first, the students stand at a distance. But very soon, everyone moves in closer, and the students begin to clap along with the music. Several join in the dancing, including two of the boys – Clark Fisher, a dryhumored, good-hearted rower from Southern California, and Josh Andrews, an offensive lineman with massive tattooed arms and a dimpled smile that could charm a hyena. Their attempt at the local dance elicits cheers and laughter.

Even though the students will only build two houses on this trip, it’s clear the whole community supports and appreciates their efforts.

To best serve the communities where we work, Holt always partners with local leaders. In this case, Holt solicited the help of Silti’s leaders to determine which families should receive new homes. Silti is a district that lies within the broader zonal region of Siltie, where Holt has sustained a family preservation program

for the past 2 years – assisting 180 families, including over 600 children. Ultimately, Holt strives to help these families achieve both self-reliance and lasting stability – equipping parents with the tools and resources they need to support their children, and preventing families from separating due to poverty, illness or other hardships. For most, Holt has already provided livestock or start-up funding for a small retail business. Eventually, all families will receive a similar income-generating project. Holt child sponsors have helped to provide their children with school supplies and clothing. And last summer, when the rains came late and affected Silti’s crops, Holt distributed emergency grain to help tide these vulnerable families over.

In short, Holt has already established a strong and trusting relationship with the people of Silti.

This is a point not lost on Rory, who credits Holt’s work in the community for their warm and immediate embrace of the students. “Holt has already impacted this community,” he says.

“Because the people know Holt and the work that’s been done already and the relationships that have already been built, that’s what makes them able to welcome us.” As a Holt adoptive father, Rory already holds a deep understanding of Holt’s work in Ethiopia – not only our efforts to find families for children, but also to help keep families together.

"Ultimately, Holt strives to help these families achieve both self-reliance and lasting stability – equipping parents with the tools and resources they need to support their children, and preventing families from separating due to poverty, illness or other hardships."

Throughout the week, Rory and the Beavers Without Borders will get a rare and immersive look at this program we call “family preservation.” This is particularly apt timing.

In every country, Holt strives to keep children with their birth families before pursuing adoption. But as international adoption continues to decline, family preservation will become an increasing focus for Holt in the coming years.

Rory, a tall and gentle guy with an easy laugh, is keenly aware of the link between international adoption, the students’ efforts here, and Holt’s overall purpose in communities like Silti. “With the changing face of adoption – in this country specifically – there’s an excitement for what can be done with family preservation,” he says. “I think this might be a catalyst for that.”

A Model Home Among the women dancing with the students is Zahra Hussen, whose front yard we are now standing in. She is one of the two women to receive a new home. Zahra has two daughters – Marema, 14, and Shite, almost 5 – and a son, Kedir, who turns 12 in July.

In the late morning on our first day, Zahra stands in front of her old house and watches the students as they begin to build her a new one. Zahra is a serious-looking woman of 47 years, with worry lines on her forehead, wise dark eyes and a proud smile.

The students struggle in their first few attempts to hammer nails and I wonder if that’s a look of concern on Zahra’s face – concern that maybe these Western kids don’t know what they’re doing, especially since most of them are women. In Zahra’s culture, women don’t build houses.

A traditional Muslim community, Silti still holds very strong gender roles. Women cook and clean and tend to the children and the garden. They do hard manual labor every day, and contribute to the building process by carrying water to help cure the mud.

But they never climb up on roofs. They never hammer nails. They never build houses.

“Normally, women don’t do this and it’s really nice to see,” says Zahra.

TOP RIGHT: Gymnast Stephanie McGregor holds eucalyptus boards in place for the local carpenters.

FAR RIGHT: The second house in progress.

Once complete, these homes will serve as a model for the community.

RIGHT: The students brought shoes to distribute to the community. Here, golfer Seshia Telles presents a pair to Zahra’s daughter, Shite.

When Zahra’s husband died ten years ago, she became the sole provider for her three children. She had some land, but needed to borrow her neighbor’s ox to plow it. In exchange, she gave him half her yield at harvest. Food became scarce, and she struggled to support her children.

To help Zahra, Holt provided funding for a sheep and an ox.

The ox gave Zahra her independence, and allowed her to keep the whole produce of her land. The sheep provides milk for the family and when it reproduces, she can sell its offspring.

A new house will significantly improve her family’s living conditions. The biggest change, Zahra tells us, is that her family won’t have to live with their animals. Until now, Zahra and her children have shared their old house – a traditional thatched-roof, oneroom home – with their ox and sheep.

Living with and cooking near animals are two environmental sanitation issues that Holt’s social workers have worked to change in this community. Smoke from cooking causes respiratory problems, and animals expose food to flies and bacteria. The social workers advise families to keep a separate kitchen – away from their animals, and with enough ventilation.

The new house the students are building reinforces this effort.

“Essentially, we’re setting up a model home in this community,” explains Sarah Halfman, Holt’s director of programs for Africa and Haiti. Zahra’s new house will have partitions – giving her three rooms, with one reserved for her animals.

Since Zahra already has a house on her property, she won’t have to give one room of her new one to her animals. She can

use her old one as a barn. But her new house still serves as a model for the c o m mu n it y, demon st r at i ng a more hygienic way for them to coexist with their livestock – protecting the health of their families.

About her new house, Zahra is just beside herself. “I am so thrilled, so happy,” she says. “I’ve never been so happy in my life.”

A Day in the Life

which she carries home for cooking and drinking. She then starts in on the day’s chores. She has little free time.

Marema is just a few years younger than many of the OSU students building her a house, yet her life is dramatically different from theirs. Many of the students are deeply affected by this.

“To see the woman’s house – one dark room with a cow – I start thinking about the little things I take for granted,” says Martie, who hopes to one day go to medical school. “After seeing all this, my motivation and priorities are way more in line.” Martie might like to return to Ethiopia to do her medical residency.

“It makes me sad that just because I was born in the U.S., I have a better standard of living,” says Julia Sattler, a soccer player who also hopes to work in healthcare and international service. “It’s definitely something that I want to do something about.”

Later in the day, I get a chance to talk to Marema – Zahra’s 14-year-old daughter. Marema has a sweet smile and lovely, dark eyes and often giggles and turns away in shyness. For the arrival of the students, she wears a beautiful turquoise and silver headscarve and a shirt of the same color. For the rest of the week, she wears her everyday clothes – often a brown, V-neck sweater provided by Holt, and a tattered brown skirt, ripped at the hem.

Throughout the week, the students develop tremendous respect for the people of Silti. Later in the building process, they help bring water back from a stream – a 15-20 minute walk one way. For a fortunate few, a neighbor lends a donkey to carry the 20-liter bins that others carry in their arms or on their back. “We’re all athletes. We think we’re pretty strong. But nothing compared to the people here,” says Stephanie.

Marema says she’s impressed that young women are helping to build her new house.

While impressed with their strength and self-reliance, the students also marvel at their joy – a joy that pervades the whole community.

She invites me inside her old home, which holds the strong, musky smell of farm animals. It’s dark inside, and takes a minute for my eyes to adjust. Less spacious than some walk-in closets I’ve seen, it’s hard to imagine four people and two animals sharing this room. The walls are burnt black from cooking. There’s no furniture, just a few plastic bags and some sleeping mats neatly folded against the wall. The home has no electricity, no running water and no bathroom.

In the morning, Marema’s first task is to clean the dung the animals left in the house the night before and use it to fertilize the crops. She then walks to a borehole to pump water into a bin,

“They are the most kind, warm, welcoming people I have ever met,” says Margo Clinton, a swimmer who takes breaks to play “tickle monster” with the children.

When asked what is most striking about the community, freshman golfer Lauren Fischer says, “Their happiness – that they can be happy with so little. We can learn from them.”

“These people have so little yet they love their lives and each other,” says Gillian Cooper, an outgoing rower from New Zealand.

After the trip, Gill decided to add public health as a second major to environmental engineering. “This trip really showed me what I want to do with my life,” she says.

Gill is not the only one whose future has been shaped by this experience.

ABOVE: Zahra’s 14-year-old daughter Marema wears a beautiful turquoise headscarve for the students’ arrival.

LEFT: During breaks, the students often played with the local children. Here, Chloe Steinbeck engages a young girl in a handclapping game.

RIGHT: Throughout the week, the students broke cultural barriers, developing a close bond with the community. On their final day, they gathered to take pictures in front of the finished houses.

“These are, hands down, the best people I’ve ever met,” says golfer Seshia Telles, tearing up. “This is what I want to do. I want to come back.”

In Perspective On their last night in Ethiopia, Patric shares his story with the students. Patric is a youthful 30-something with a light-hearted, playful personality – someone you know is just a great dad to his kids. He is also very humble about what he has done for Holt, which is a lot. When Patric and his wife Holly traveled to Ethiopia to pick up their son three years ago, they visited the maternalchild hospital Holt is building in Shinshicho – a very rural, very poor region near their son’s birthplace. “When we got home with Miles, I couldn’t let it go,” Patric says. In Eugene, he began collecting used medical equipment from local hospitals to outfit the health center in Ethiopia – everything from linens and scrubs to an X-ray machine.

An OSU alum, Patric was also the one to suggest that Holt partner with the Beavers Without Borders. This was all his idea.

After dinner, the students gather outside beside a huge bonfire, where Patric begins to tell the story of how he and Holly came to adopt their son, Miles.

“Basically, my son lived his first year here in Ethiopia. He was born to a loving family. He had a mom, a dad and an older sister.

And somewhere within the first six months, his dad passed away,” Patric tells them. Without the support of his father, his family became increasingly impoverished. “And he began to suffer.

Basically, he began to starve. So out of love, his mother brought him to Holt and they put him up for adoption and we came in and adopted him. This whole week and a half, I’ve realized that we’re building two houses for two fatherless families. And it hits home.”

Over the week, the students didn’t just build houses. They shattered cultural barriers, challenged gender roles and built a close bond with a community so very different from theirs. They shared the best of our culture, and left changed by theirs.

But ultimately, as Patric shares, they strengthened two vulnerable families – families very similar to his son’s family. “You [helped them] to get to a place where they don’t have to necessarily be separated,” he says. That, in the end, is what Holt strives to achieve. By the end of the week, the students get that.

“What Holt is doing is amazing,” says Margo. “It makes me want to be a part of it every day.”

Robin Munro |Senior Writer

CONGRATULATIONS!

Class of 2012

Alliger, Caleb

Anderson, Gregory

Anderson, Natalie

Arkanoff, Jacob

Arkanoff, Joshua

Barnes, Isaac

Becker, Shawn

Bennett, Sarah

Bernstrom, Peter

Bissonette, Nathan

Bliss, Shawn

Bloom, Kaelin

Boyer, Emily

Breuer, Emilee

Buek, Tyler

Chadwell, Rachel

Chanter, Christian

Classe, Nathan

Alliger, Caleb—Peoria, AZ; National Honor Society, culinary club, Business Leaders of America, peer buddies, Mt. Zion Lutheran youth group, Boy Scouts, football, track, wresting, top 15% of class, Eagle Scout. Plans to major in marine biology at Glendale Community College, and then Northern Arizona University in Glendale. (Korea) Anderson, Gregory—Point Pleasant Beach, NJ; B.S. in health and physical education from University of Delaware in Newark.

Dean’s List, DAPHERD student leader, health and physical education majors club – treasurer, intramural soccer. Plans to teach health and physical education to children, as well as coach.

(Korea) Anderson, Natalie—La Habra, CA; M.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UCLA. (Korea)

H olt I nt e r n at i on a l / Su m m e r 2 01 2

Arkanoff, Jacob—Brownsburg, IN; academic honors diploma, top 10% of class, top 25 students of Brownsburg High, Chancellor’s scholarship to Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Plans to major in accounting at IUPUI. (Korea) Arkanoff, Joshua—Brownsburg, IN; academic honors diploma.

Plans to major in biomedical engineering at IUPUI in Indianapolis.

(Korea) Barnes, Isaac—Saint Joseph, MO; Plans to attend Missouri Western State University in Saint Joseph. (Philippines) Becker, Shawn—Carlisle, IA; band (3 years), senior homecoming court, senior guy with the most spirit award, Dollars for Scholars award. Plans to major in liberal arts at Des Moines Area Community College. (Korea) Bennett, Sarah—Utica, New York; track, cross country, yearbook staff, photography club, National Honor Society, scholar athlete, Students for Justice and Equality. Plans to major in engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. (China)

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Bernstrom, Peter—Waterloo, IA; varsity basketball, varsity soccer, choir and band. Plans to attend Moody Bible Institute in Spokane, WA. (Korea)

Breuer, Emilee—Minot, ND; Meals on Wheels, AWANA at First Baptist Church. Emilee graduated a year early and is working until she decides what her best course is. (China)

Bissonette, Nathan—Portland, OR; Plans to attend Portland Community College. (Korea)

Buek, Tyler—Delran, NJ; interfaith hospitality network, NJ boys state, minorities in engineering, PTA reflections, swim team cocaptain, tennis, UNICEF, history club, animal lovers club. Plans to major in environmental & biological sciences at Rutgers in New Brunswick, NJ. (Korea)

Bliss, Shawn—Rock Stream, NY; student council treasurer, vice president, Schuyler County youth court, cross country, track, tennis, volleyball club, Xerox award for innovation and information technology, student council activist award, English Regents award, Holt Camp NJ & Holt NJ weekend retreat. Plans to major in psychology at Corning Community College; University of Buffalo in Corning/Buffalo, NY. (Thailand)

Chadwell, Rachel—Rio Rancho, New Mexico; National Honor Society, National Young Leader Conference. Plans to major in business at Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque. (Thailand)

Bloom, Kaelin—East Islip, NY; orchestra, violin, JV & varsity soccer, girls soccer all-league award (2009 & 2010), girls soccer all conference (2009). Plans to major in accounting at Suffolk County Community College in Selden, NY. (Thailand)

Chanter, Christian—Grapevine, TX; National Honor Society, Magna Cum Laude honors, marching, concert & jazz band (trombone), Eagle Scout. Plans to major in communication & business at University of Texas in Austin. (Korea)

Boyer, Emily—Virginia Beach, VA; Plans to major in early childhood education. (China)

Classe, Nathan—Omaha, NE; state powerlifting (2nd place).

Plans to major in criminal justice at University of Nebraska in Omaha. (Korea)

Cohoon, Joshua

Crocker, Ashley

Crocker, Mallory

Crosswhite, Lila

Daigle, Kiera

Dombrowski, Chitra

Faller, Bethany

Ferro, Antonio

Fischer, Adam

Fischer, Ilana

Galvin, Marcus

Gates, Rahuk

Gibbs, Dana

Glezman, Daniel

Glodt, Owen

Goodelman, Morgan

Haas, Laurelin

Hall, Katharine

Harbuck, Hannah

Harlow, Hannah

Cohoon, Joshua—Buffalo, WY; National Honor Society, swimming. Plans to major in criminal justice at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction. (Korea) Crocker, Ashley—Windham, ME; third honor essayist, top ten percent, Emerson College Dean’s scholarship, St. Michael’s book award, Academic All-American, varsity swim team, Southwestern Maine swim official’s scholarship, coach’s award, National & French Honor Society. Plans to major in film at Emerson College in Boston. (Vietnam)

Crosswhite, Lila—Tampa, FL; chorus accompanist, chorus hall of fame, Beta Honor Society, National Honor Society, youth orchestra violist. Plans to major in music composition at The College at Southwestern in Fort Worth, TX. (China)

Gates, Rahuk—West Linn, OR; varsity soccer, track, mock trial, robotics, National Art Honor Society, International Environmental Science Competition, scouting, link crew. Plans to major in environmental architecture at Montana State University in Bozeman.

(India)

Dombrowski, Chitra—Gilman, WI; band, concert choir, show choir, cheerleading, pom-pon squad, history club. Plans to major in creative writing at University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire.

(India)

Gibbs, Dana—Kearney, NE; Plans to major in international studies at University of Nebraska in Kearney. (Korea)

Faller, Bethany—Collierville, TN; B.S. in advertising with minor in art & marketing from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro; MTSU Lightning Dancers dance team, Dean’s list, advertising club, The Orchard Christian Fellowship. Bethany is a development account specialist at Special Kids of Murfreesboro.

She attends Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary Master's program, missions/cross-cultural studies. (Korea) Ferro, Antonio—Plans to study architectural engineering.

(Ecuador) Fischer, Adam—Yorktown Heights, New York; automotive mechanics degree from SUNY Delhi in NY; member of the Auto Club. Works as an auto mechanic. (Korea) Fischer, Ilana—Yorktown Heights, NY; honor roll, high honor roll, Huntersville adoption scholarship. Plans to major in social work and psychology at Buffalo State College. (Korea) Galvin, Marcus—Cherokee, IA; B.S. in apparel merchandising & design from Iowa State University in Ames; Trend magazine executive staff, assistant men’s fashion director, Beta Theta Pi vice president. Plans to apply for careers in fashion industry. (India)

Glezman, Daniel—Piscataway, NJ; B.S. in management from University of Phoenix, graduated with honors. Plans to attend graduate school. (Korea) Glodt, Owen—Boise, ID; plans to major in business & economics at University of Idaho in Moscow. (Korea) Goodelman, Morgan—Las Vegas, NV; Adelson Educational Campus, volleyball, basketball, yearbook, student government.

Plans to major in biology at Chapman University in Orange County. (China) Haas, Laurelin—Muscatine, IA; valedictorian, show & jazz choir, speech and debate, National Honor Society. Plans to major in environmental studies at Iowa State University. (China) Hall, Katharine—San Jose, CA; Plans to attend University of California – Santa Cruz. (Korea) Harbuck, Hannah—Winter Springs, FL; chorus, ladies jazz ensemble, chefs club, Harry Potter club. Plans to major in criminal justice/forensics at Seminole State College in Sanford, FL. (Korea) Harlow, Hannah—Cheyenne, WY; guitar, piano, church activities, Mexico mission trips. Plans to major in ministry at Frontier School of the Bible in La Grange, WY. (Korea)

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H olt I nt e r n at i on a l .o r g

Crocker, Mallory—North Bend, OR; Associate of Applied Science, culinary arts from Southwestern Oregon Community College in Coos Bay, OR; American Culinary Federation, American Culinary Federation student competition team, James Beard Foundation, ACF student competition (1st place, 2nd place in national championship), professional technical award, Zonta club scholarship, SOU Hospitality & Tourism club, Ford scholar. Currently enrolled at SOU, working toward a Bachelor of Applied Science in hospitality, tourism & management. (Korea)

Daigle, Kiera—Edmonds, WA; varsity cross country, art club, photography club, campus ministry award, highest honors, first honors, National Honor Society. Plans to major in biomedical engineering at Washington State University in Pullman, WA. (China)

Hays, Emily

Hazen, Lauren

Hazen, Megan

Hetico, Emma

Hickenbottom, Meli

Hines, Callie

Holm, Kendra

Honnold, Jade

Horton, Karchie

Judy, Kimberly

Karpe, Jordan

Keaslig, Amanda

Keaton, Danielle

Kemp, Parker

Khampapha, Lindsay

Kopacz, Jill

Larabell, Ethan

Layman, Cassidy

Leahy, Deepak

Lucas, Gillian

Hays, Emily—Florence, KY; plans to major in elementary education at Northern Kentucky University in Alexandria. (Korea) Hazen, Lauren—Friday Harbor, WA; varsity sailing, LEO club V.P., secretary, S club-charter member, honor roll, National Honor Society. Plans to major in visual psychology at University of Washington in Seattle. (Korea) Hazen, Megan—Wyckoff, NJ. (Korea) Hetico, Emma—Madison, WI; cross country, varsity soccer – cocaptain 2012, Wisconsin State champions 2012, National Honor Society. Plans to major in diagnostic medical sonography at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston. (China) Hickenbottom, Meli—Friday Harbor, WA; Sailing – Varsity A fleet, LEO club (VP & secretary), S club charter member, honor roll, National Honor Society. Plans to major in visual psychology at University of Washington in Seattle. (Korea) Hines, Callie—Malta, MT; basketball, volleyball, choir, honor roll.

Plans to attend Montana State University in Billings. (Korea) Holm, Kendra—Waterloo, IA; Associate of Arts degree in liberal arts from Hawkeye Community College. Plans to major in early childhood education at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. (India) Honnold, Jade (Class of 2011)—Ankeny, IA; multicultural vision award, football varsity cheerleader letter, varsity tennis letter.

Plans to major in secondary education with a minor in apparel merchandising at Iowa State University in Ames. (Korea) Horton, Karchie—Gainesville, GA; award winning in football, track & wrestling, 3.5 GPA or higher, honor award, volunteers in community, mission work. Plans to major in occupational therapy or physical therapy assistance at Northwestern Tech in Rome, GA. (Romania)

Judy, Kimberly—Richmond, OH; soccer captain, 4-year letter, track, 2-year letter, cheerleader, choir, National Honor Society, Beta club, CLOSE-UP delegate, Academic Achievement president, Spanish Club (treasurer), semi-formal queen, 2nd team soccer (all-state), OVAC 1st team. Plans to major in business at Bethany College in West Virginia. (Thailand) Karpe, Jordan—Little Rock, AR; B.A. in studio art, minor on honors interdisciplinary studies from University of Arkansas in Conway. Summa cum Laude. Plans to pursue a Master’s degree in math education. (Korea) Keaslig, Amanda—Fremont, NE; B.S. in elementary education from Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln; academic achievement award, graduation with distinction. Plans to become an elementary school teacher. (Korea) Keaton, Danielle—Fort Bragg, CA; piano, jazz band. Plans to major in music therapy at Utah State University in Logan. (China) Kemp, Parker—Spring, TX; People to People student ambassador, student ambassador program, Student Leadership University 101 & 201, Honors Student Organization (president), VP of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, music lesson business (piano and guitar). Currently a sophomore at Lonestar College. Plans to complete his Associate's degree and transfer to a university. (Korea) Khampapha, Lindsay—Sarasota, FL; cheerleading (captain), Unity Day leader, Riverview High School ambassador, Jr./Sr. board member, scholar athlete award, NCA All-American cheerleading award, varsity letter & pin. Plans to major in aerospace engineering at University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. (Thailand) Kopacz, Jill—Hampshire, IL; Master’s degree in social work from Aurora University in Illinois; Social Work Association’s vice president and treasurer. (Korea) Larabell, Ethan—Novi, MI; soccer, basketball, spiritual leader award, MIAC all-conference award. Plans to attend Spring Arbor University. (Thailand)

Layman, Cassidy—Loveland, OH; dance team, cheerleader, stuent council school ambassador, adopt-a-class. Plans to attend University of Kentucky in Lexington. (Korea) Leahy, Deepak—Hurt, VA; varsity basketball & soccer, multiple best spirit awards. Deepak will complete an internship with an organic greenhouse and farm, with the goal of one day starting his own greenhouse business. (India) Lucas, Gillian—Holly Springs, NC; dance, medical club, National Technical Honor Society. Plans to major in psychology at High Point University in N.C. (China) Malcom, Stephanie—Blackwood, NJ; varsity bowling – all conference (2 years), varsity golf & soccer, renaissance club, perfect attendance (4 years), most improved student. Plans to major in special education at Camden County College in Blackwood, NJ. (Korea) McClure, Amanda—York, NE; cribbage club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, lights and sounds tech. Crew, National Honor Society, Modern Music Masters, Youth Against Alcohol & Drugs, youth leadership, youth group, varsity soccer & cross country, high distinction honor roll, multiple awards in academic decathlon, National Honor Society, all-state honorable mention in cross country & soccer, band, NSAA honorable mention. Plans to double major in special needs mild/moderate with a minor in spanish at University of Nebraska in Kearney. (Korea)

Malcom, Stephanie

McClure, Amanda

Meyers, Brian

Milecki, Kaycee

Miller, Shiva

Nolan, Barbie

Pavlekovsky, Crimson

Pease, Stephanie

Penco, Kara

Peters, Catherine

Phelan, Bryce

Pilker, Emma

Pollock, Stephen

Pribula, Matthew

Schultz, Madeline

Shaffer, Tristan

Shelton, Sydney

Schroeder, Christopher

Pavlekovsky, Crimson—New Bethlehem, PA; graduated with high honors, RV academic honor society, varsity cheerleading, student council, class vice-president, show, select & concert choir, school plays & musicals (cast), Bible club, 2012 prom queen, reigning Peanut Butter Festival Queen (runner-up), United States Achievement Academy National Fine Arts award, recognized by National Society of High School Honors. Plans to major in graphic design at Robert Morris University in Moon Township, PA. (India)

Spiekermeier, Jacob

Stackhouse Ferriby, Luke

Meyers, Brian—Memphis, TN; mock trial, soccer team, undergraduate rep to Mississippi Political Science Society, 4-year presidential scholarship recipient. Plans to go to law school in a year or two. Will begin work at Glankler Brown law firm in Memphis. (Korea) Milecki, Kaycee—Whiting, NJ; field hockey (captain senior year), math league, student of the month, science (October 2011), student council, NJ STARS program (recipient), lacrosse. Plans to major in fashion marketing & merchandizing at Brookdale Community College in Red Bank, NJ. (Korea) Miller, Hillary (not pictured)—Albert Lea, MN; B.A./B.S. in human resource management and health administration & policy, minor in communications science; student newspaper, CU stars, admissions ambassador, campus tours. Employed by CERNER, a medical IT company in Kansas City, MO. (Korea) Miller, Shiva—Portland, OR; honor roll, National Honor Society, Templeton scholar, Alpine ski racing (letter), cross country & track. Plans to major in engineering & science at University of Washington in Seattle. (India) Nolan, Barbie—Carmichael, CA; volleyball, basketball, soccer. Plans to major in teaching at American River College in Sacramento. (China)

Pease, Stephanie—Valley Springs, CA; B.A. in sociology from California State University – Chico. Plans to work in San Francisco at a sports club, and then go to Korea to teach English. (Korea) Penco, Kara—Washington, WV; school academic letter, 2nd place county-wide poetry contest, broadcast class, Wizard of Oz cast, captain of undefeated colorguard/marching band, freshmen & symphonic band. Plans to major in cosmetology at Paul Mitchell Beauty Academy in Huntsville, AL. (India) Peters, Catherine—Gig Harbor, WA; BFA in musical theatre from Ithaca College in New York. Magna cum Laude. Plans to move to NYC to start career. (Korea)

Pribula, Matthew—Bridgewater, NJ; plans to major in secondary education at Kutztown University in PA. (Korea) Schultz, Madeline—Fargo, ND. (Hong Kong) Shaffer, Tristan—DuBois, PA; rifle team, student ambassador, student of the week, track team, water polo club. Plans to major in forensic crime scene investigation at Hilbert College in Hamburg, N.Y. (Korea) Shelton, Sydney—Scottsville, KY; University of Kentucky cheerleader, Top 25 honors, 2012 ACS Distinguished Young Woman, 2011 Governor’s scholar, ACS basketball homecoming queen, William C Parker scholarship, Big Sister of the Year, DECA, FBLA, FCA, Beta club. Plans to major in integrated strategic communications at University of Kentucky in Lexington. (Korea) Schroeder, Christopher—Worthington, OH; band (trombone, piano), track & cross country (lifetime achievement award), youth group activities, honors diploma, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, scholarships. Plans to attend Denison University in Grangeville, OH. (Korea)

Phelan, Bryce—Salem, OR; degree in worship arts/music from Corban University in Salem, OR. Dean’s list, music scholarship, student government. Plans to become a worship pastor. (Korea)

Spiekermeier, Jacob—Robins, IA; B.A. in media studies from Loras College in Dubuque, IA, cum laude; college TV station director, 2012 Eddy award for best student documentary. Employed by MVP Video Productions in Cedar Rapids. (India)

Pilker, Emma—Nazareth, PA; track & field, cross country, Global Volunteers, French club, Blue Eagle ambassadors, Model UN, National Honor Society (vice president), dance (14 years). Plans to major in international studies at American University in Washington D.C. (Korea)

Stackhouse Ferriby, Luke—Hamden, CT; band (trumpet), cross country, indoor/outdoor track, Rotary award for cross country.

Plans to major in sports management at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT. (Korea)

Pollock, Stephen—Sewell, NJ; Plans to major in fashion merchandising and marketing at Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania. (Korea)

Stangl, Kara

Stewart, Elisabeth

Stiff, Marissa

Valen, Nathaniel

Van der Linden, Grant

VerNisie, Rachel

Warstler, Roj

Weinman, Paula

Yackley, Brielle

Zebrowski, Kristin

Stangl, Kara—Omaha, NE; National Honor Society, National French Language Honor Society, dean’s list, recruitment team, Big Sister, Little Sister representative, various volunteer efforts in the community, Suzuki piano student (12 yrs.), participated in piano concerts. Plans to major in political science at Purdue University in Indiana. (Korea) Stewart, Elisabeth—Loveland, CO; cross country, basketball, track, 4-year letter, all-state first team, all-state honorable mention, team academic achievement certificate – cross country, honor roll, 4.0. Plans to major in health and exercise science at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. (China) Stiff, Marissa—De Forest, WI; National Honor Society, high honors, Wisconsin swimming & diving WISCA academic all-state, soccer, honor athlete, boy’s swim team manager, FBLA, DECA, Spanish club. Plans to major in medical technology at University of Wisconsin in Oshkosh. (China) Valen, Nathaniel—Owatonna, MN; football, wrestling, track.

Plans to attend Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa. (Korea) Van der Linden, Grant—Belmond, IA; outstanding youth volunteer award, church and community volunteering, band (tuba), lifeguard, swimming teacher, piano, cross country & track, top of class, full tuition scholarship. Plans to major in software engineering at Iowa State University (Freshman Honors Program).

(Korea)

Help a

VerNisie, Rachel—Keller, TX; honors band, distinguished achievement program, Gateway Youth & Missions volunteer, Holt fundrasiers, adopt-a-street coordinator. Will attend Tarrant County College for 2 years before transferring to John Brown University in Arkansas, majoring in church leadership & communications. (Korea)

arts award. Plans to major in professional writing and English literature at Taylor University in Upland, IN. (Korea)

Warstler, Roj—Syracuse, IN; soccer, chess, student council, National Honor Society, academic hall of fame. Plans to attend Indiana University in Bloomington. (Thailand)

Zebrowski, Kristin—Eugene, OR; Marist passion varsity dance team, retreat team, National Honor Society, Mr. Spartan pageant benefiting the Children’s Miracle Network (coordinator), Marist scholar (4.0 GPA). Plans to major in psychology at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. (China)

Weinman, Paula—N. Ft. Myers, FL; yearbook editor, band, musical theater, drama, small group leader, Bible study leader, mission trips to New Orleans, national merit commended student, presidential scholar, National Honor Society, English excellences award, world languages excellence award, achievement in the

Child

Yackley, Brielle—Pierre, SD; South Dakota High School Rodeo Queen (2010-2012), 1st runner up National High School Rodeo Queen, honor society, orchestra violin. Plans to major in biology at South Dakota State University in Brookings. (Korea)

Reach Their Graduation Day...

When You Sponsor a Child for $30 a month, you can help provide that child with food, warmth, clothing…and an education!

e for the sponsorship ad back cover

www.holtinternational.org/sponsorship or call 888.355.HOLT

My Second Home Tyler Buek shares his entrance essay for Rutgers University My life experience, by no means unique, is nevertheless

I finally came into my own

different from the norm.

My background as a Korean

during my fourth year at camp.

adoptee has given me a perspective that I think will be a

Not only was I more outgoing,

good fit for Rutgers. Here is my story:

but, at 6 feet tall, I literally

Northwest Airlines Flight #293 arrived at the La Guardia

stood out in the crowd. Being a

Airport at 2:01 p.m., Tuesday December 20, 1994. The

quiet camper in previous years,

flight originated in Seoul, South Korea, carrying a special

I had only made new friends

cargo of seven Korean babies for adoption. I was the sixth

within my cabin and my age

baby placed in the waiting arms of my adoptive parents.

group, but I wanted more out

While I have been so blessed to be part of a loving family, I have also been teased and hurt for being different.

of camp, and I wanted to give more to others.

Comments from friends and strangers made it difficult

At the age of 15, I realized that

to blend into a Caucasian society. My life experiences,

I wanted to help change the

however, have driven and inspired me.

lives of kids at camp, just as my life was changed. I took

Through these challenges, I found a sanctuary, a place of calm where I fit in perfectly. This place, this haven, is my second home. My second home is Holt International Adoptee Camp.

At Holt camp, all my problems seemed to fade away. Camp transformed me. For six days I experienced fun, bonding, understanding and love that changed me forever.

it upon myself to start reaching out to the younger kids, especially the quieter ones. The once shy camper now wanted to be a role model for other campers. Even though I was still young, I knew that I wanted to commit myself to helping shape the future of these children—children struggling with all sorts of issues in their lives.

I believe I can take the life lessons I’ve learned from these experiences, as well as all my enthusiasm, and apply them

I used to be the shy kid — always a follower, never a lead-

to Rutgers. My personality will help me interact with all

er. But after the first week of camp, my perspective shift-

types of diverse students and help me learn more about

ed. It felt amazing to wake up surrounded by people who

everything and everyone. This is why I believe I would

understood my insecurities, and shared my experiences.

benefit from and contribute to Rutgers University.

I never wanted it to end. I knew that once it did, I would have to face the reality of a sometimes hostile world.

As the years passed, something about me changed.

TOP RIGHT: On vacation at Grand Teton National Park, Tyler spotted a little girl named Adele wearing a Holt camp T-shirt.

Adele had attended Holt Camp in Oregon earlier in the summer.

RIGHT: Tyler and a group of guy friends pose for the camera at Holt Camp.

Tyler Buek | Delran, New Jersey

post adoption The Unexpected Ease of Older Child Adoption When Bob and Agnes Wells first adopted in 2002, they — like many families adopting from China at the time — came home with a healthy, infant daughter. Several years later, when they returned to Holt for their second adoption, the wait to adopt a healthy, infant girl had dramatically lengthened. After opening their hearts to special needs adoption, they were matched with a 6-year-old girl with delayed speech. As to be anticipated, they encountered some unknowns in China. And once home, they were again surprised — this time to discover that their second adoption was, in fact, easier than their first!

"All in all, this has been such a positive experience for our family and one I would not trade for the world. Things I had feared about adopting an older child – fighting, screaming, sobbing – did not come to pass."

In 2002, we adopted our older daughter, Jane, from China at the age of nine months. She was a healthy infant, and she made us perfectly happy. When we decided the time was right to increase the size of our family, we chose to adopt again from China. Because our experience had been so positive the first time, we also decided to adopt again through Holt.

H olt I nt e r n at i on a l / Su m m e r 2 01 2

When we began the process the second time, we decided to adopt a 2 to 3-year-old so that there would not be such a great age difference between our two children. As the standard process took longer and longer, we asked for a 3 to 5-year-old girl. We were not open to a child with many disabilities, but we did look into the special needs option and put our names on that list.

We got information about a couple of different children, but felt no pressure to choose any child who was not right for our family.

Finally, after our dossier had been in China for four and a half years, we received a call about the child who would become our second daughter, Margot. She was 6 and a half at the time (Jane was 9 and a half), and her disability was that she had delayed speech and was sometimes difficult to understand.

Other than that, she was perfectly healthy.

We played “catch-up” with the paperwork, some of which had expired, but everyone was really helpful. We traveled to China in late February of 2011. This time, instead of being part of a group of

16

several families, we were the only ones adopting through Holt.

The Holt team in China took very good care of us and was always around when we needed them. We had been given information that Margot had been in foster care, which was true, but we discovered when we met her that it had only been for a short time when she was a baby. The orphanage director said that she left foster care and returned to the orphanage because “it was not a good foster family.” He did not elaborate. I was worried that she would have a difficult time adjusting to living with a family, as is common among children who have grown up in institutions. Margot’s adjustment, however, has been a lot easier than I thought. She is a kind and sweet child. She gives us hugs and kisses. She likes to read and play and snuggle. She does get mad with her parents and fight with her sister, just like any other child.

Since we have been back, Margot has gone to public school. She is in English as a Second Language classes, and her English is getting better every day. We have found through routine testing that she has astigmatism in one eye, so she now wears glasses. Also, she has slight hearing loss in one ear, which may account for the delayed speech. She now wears a hearing aid in that ear, and her speech has become much clearer.

Margot does exhibit some behavior that may have to do with having been in an institution for six years. She is really rough

post adoption with books and toys although she loves them. She and Jane get along, but they also fight like any other sisters. All in all, this has been such a positive experience for our family and one I would not trade for the world.

Things I had feared about adopting an older child – fighting, screaming, sobbing – did not come to pass. Our life is not perfect; it was difficult to bring someone who was school-aged into a family that had been functioning just fine for nine years. I must say that I was very slack when it came to doing research about adopting an older child. I didn’t read many articles or any blogs

Margot was able at 6 and a half to understand and cooperate a lot more than Jane — at 9 months — had been able to when we first adopted her. We sent Margot a letter and photos before we went to pick her up, and when we arrived in China, she understood what was happening and had been prepped for us. With Jane, because she was 9 months old, she could understand that she was being handed to these strange people. But she didn’t know why, and was really upset. Also, because we had adopted once before from China with Holt, we knew more of what to expect — although some things had changed in 9 years!

Margot has brought so much joy to our lives! Right before we left for China, a neighbor of ours who had adopted a baby domestically and then a 3-year-old from Ethiopia said, “The second year is easier than the first!”

If that’s true, we’re in for smooth sailing.

By Agnes Wells | Decatur, Georgia

about it. I just figured that we would pull through and we have.

It must have been so frustrating for her to have such a hard time communicating for all those months, but Margot has come so far. We can understand almost everything she says now and she understands us completely.

During the past year, she has even taught herself how to swim, jump off the diving board, and ride a bicycle!

My husband and I would absolutely recommend adopting an older child to anyone who is thinking about it. It was easier than our first adoption by far. Even though she didn’t speak English,

LEFT: Agnes with Margot TOP RIGHT: The Wells family RIGHT: Jane (left) and Margo with a moose

from the field

LEFT: The Campbell family. Patric and Holly with daughter, Lauryn, and son, Miles.

Going back, Giving back

BELOW: Patric poses with Zahra Hussen, one of the two women to receive a new home during the Beavers Without Borders trip in June.

Three emotional Ethiopia trips for one adoptive dad In June, I took my third trip back to Ethiopia in 3 years. I had not planned to go back this often, but life presented some exciting opportunities.

On our first trip, my wife, Holly, daughter, Lauryn, and I went to adopt our son, Miles. We fell in love with him. At the same time, we felt the heartbreak of a mother who could not physically care for him. In all of this, we grew connected to Ethiopia. While traveling, we toured the Shinshicho clinic. The clinic was close to the birthplace of our son. We learned that Holt was also building a mother and child's hospital on that same site.

Upon arriving home, we couldn’t stop thinking about the hospital. It would serve a region of 250,000 people, including our son’s birthmother and sibling. The medical need was overwhelming and the facilities needed to be larger. We called Larry Carter, one of Holt’s director of donor relations, and asked how we could help.

Fast forward 6 months. I was in a construction meeting at Slocum Orthopedic and Fracture Clinic in Eugene, Oregon, discussing an upgrade to their X-Ray equipment. Slocum had two X-Ray rooms that would need a new home. At that point, I mentioned the Shinshicho hospital in hopes that we could find a way to get the X-Ray rooms there. Larry and I worked for a month, sending plans to the Ethiopian government. Finally, I received a call that about knocked me out of my chair. It was Larry, and he said that not only was the X-Ray equipment approved, but they had also sent an 8-page list of other needed medical items. This led to my second trip, a 7-day whirlwind tour to meet with the hospital engineers, and make sure everyone was on the same page. This trip allowed me to take in my surroundings and get to know Ethiopia’s beauty.

It also came with a twist that set my third trip in motion.

On our flight home, Larry and I arrived in Frankfurt. As we were waiting for our connection, I noticed a group of Oregon State University students that were on our same flight. Being an OSU alumni, I struck up a conversation with the head of the group, Taylor Kavanaugh, and asked what they were doing in Frankfurt.

He explained that they were a group of student-athletes from OSU called Beavers Without Borders and had just finished building a home for a family in Macedonia. I told Taylor about Holt’s projects in Ethiopia and that we should get his group over there to help. We exchanged business cards and promised to get in touch once returning home.

Within a week, we were trying to plan a trip. We presented the opportunity to Holt. A year later, I was going back to Ethiopia with OSU students to build homes for struggling families. In 10 days, this group built two homes, distributed over 300 pairs of shoes to families in need, and toured Shinshicho Medical Center. It was fascinating to see the impact that a group of young adults had on this culture, just by showing that they care enough to show up and help where help is needed. I am both humbled and thankful to have been a part of this team.

For me, these last few years have been an incredible journey. I look back at our decision to go through Holt for our adoption and words cannot express how thankful I am for the choice we made and the unexpected opportunities it has provided. The adoption of our son led us to participate in the building of a hospital, which led us to the Beavers Without Borders project. I would like to think it was all amazing chance encounters, but a larger part of me is starting to believe it is all part of the plan.

By Patric Campbell | Eugene, OR BELOW: The Shinshicho Mother & Child Health Center as of June 2012. Holt completed construction of the foundation and superstructure at the end of 2011.

w a it ing c h il d re n Allie

Bor n 02.01.20 02, Afr ica

to see * Sc an here ation. rm fo in more

These and other children need adoptive families Shelley lady with

Allie is a beautiful young a pleasant and helpful natu re,” say her caregivers. Allie’s parents pass ed away, and since then Allie has been taken care of by a woman unrelated to her. Sadly, this woman passed away last year. “Allie has a harmonious relationship with us,” say her caregivers. They plan on helping Allie improve her writ ing and read ing skills before she goes home to an adoptive family. Allie likes play ing hide and seek and football with her friends.

She will do best in a family who underst ands the impact of being adopted inte rnat ionally and that has prev ious older chil d adoption experience.

Allie

http://holtinternational.org/blog/2012/08/the-b ig-pic tureand-a-grand-little-drawing-help-kevin-find-a-fa mily/ *Allie has a $5,000 Special Bles sings Grant towards her adoption fees

Becket t

* Sc an here to see more information.

Shelley

Beckett

Bor n 07.01.20 01, Chi na

Beckett is a shy boy who is well liked by his peers. Upon coming into care , Beckett was able to tell people his nam e and age.

He was found to have a cong enital hear t defect and received surgery to correct a closure of a PFO (patent fora men ovale) and for a correction of a tetralog y of fallot.

His surgery was successful, but follow up test s have indicated some mild backflow of his tricuspid valve. Now in the four th grade, Beckett enjoys school.

His favorite subject is Chinese. He also enjo ys drawing and listening to music.

Beckett will do best in a patient family that will allow him time to adjust to being a part of a family. He will also need a fam ily that can prov ide him with any ongoing med ical care. *Beckett has a $5000 Special Blessings Grant towards his adoption fees

Bor n 02.05.20 07, Chi na

Shelley, a beautiful 5-year-o ld, has fought hard to be where she is today.

Shelley is well liked by her peer s. Her laugh is contagious. Found during the coldest part of the year, Shelley was nursed back to health by her caregivers and diag nosed with cerebral palsy, with sym ptoms of high muscular tension of all four extremities. She was placed into a foster home in 2007. Physically and deve lopmentally, Shelley has made great strid es, but she remains delayed. She loves to smile for the camera and enjoys lear ning children’s songs. Her foster mot her enco urages her lang uage development. Shel ley can now speak in sentences. She can also walk by herself. Shelley enjoys draw ing with colored pens and play ing with building blocks. Shelley wait s for a fam ily that has access to med ical resources and therapies and understands issues of grie f and loss in children who are fostered. http://holtinternational.org/ blog/2012/08/sta nding -onher-own-shelley-is-ready-to-join-a-f amily/

Kevin

Bor n 09.22.20 03, S.E . Asia

Kev in loves adventure and spic y foods!

Kev in came into care after it was determined that his living situation was unsafe and has lived in a foster fam ily since 2008. Kev in loves school and is currently attending the first grade. “He cheerfully gets himself ready for school in the mor ning,” says his foster family.

Teachers describe Kev in as a bright and responsible boy who does well in his classes. He needs a family knowledgeable about older child adoption issues and that can provide him with any therapy he may need to overcome his emotions rega rding his prev ious living situation. http://holtinternational.org/blog/2012/08/the-b ig-pic tureand-a-grand-little-drawing-help-kevin-find-a-fa mily/

Fo r mo re inf orm ati on on an d oth er waitin g chi ad op tin g the se ldr Mowe r at ­e rinm@ ho ltin en, con tac t Erin ter na tio nal.o rg * Scan here to see more information.

Kevin

ww w. ho lti nter na tio na l.o rg /w ait ing ch ild /p ho to lis tin g

updates

Post Office Box 2880 Eugene, OR 97402

Holt Events

Secret Keeper Girl

The upcoming New Jersey Gala Dinner and Auction on September 29th will raise money for Holt’s special needs adoption fund, helping families overcome the financial barriers that often come with adopting a child with special needs. The event will take place at the Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village at 6:00 PM.

Ministry to Tweens, Promoting Modesty & Helping Children in Need

Change Ser vice Reques ted

And on February 9th in Eugene, Oregon the Hilton Hotel will host Holt’s gala and dinner auction at 5:30 PM.

How can young girls dress with both fashion and modesty? How can parents and daughters avoid conflicts over clothing? How can girls develop a healthy body image and be confident in the face of peer pressure? These are just a few of the topics covered by Secret Keeper Girl in an updated, engaging two-hour presentation for 8 to 12-year-old girls and their moms. The event includes discussions on internal beauty from a biblical standpoint along with upbeat worship. During the program, Secret Keeper Girl speaker Suzy Weibel will discuss her recent trip to Haiti with Holt International, and how Holt’s sponsorship program is changing the lives of children around the world.

Go to holtinternational.org/events for more information and to RSVP, or contact Sandi Mehl at sandim@holtinternational.org.

Go to http://www.secretkeepergirl.com/Tour_Schedule.aspx for the Secret Keeper Girl tour schedule.

In October, the Hilton Portland Executive Tower will host Holt’s 2012 gala and dinner auction benefiting children in India. The event will be held on October 20th at 5:30 PM.

Holt Vision Trips!

Holt recognizes the growing interest among our supporters to see first-hand the work we do overseas. We created Holt vision trips for individuals who have a passion for Holt’s mission and want to learn – and see! – more. Whether you’re a Holt child sponsor, an adoptive parent or adoptee, a Holt donor, or just someone who wishes to see Holt projects up close and personal – these trips are for you!

Holt is planning a vision trip to China this spring!

For more information about this and other Holt trips, go to www.holtinternational.org/tours.

Georgia

October 14 , Mariett Lutheran Ch a—Holt Family Pic nic u w w w.holt rch of the Resurrectio at internatio nal.org/pic n, 3:30 – 6:30 PM nic s/

Iowa

Septembe r 22, Le Le Grand Co Grand —Holt Family Picnic at m w w w.holt munit y Park, 11 AM internatio – 3 PM nal.org/pic nic s/

Nebrask a

Septembe r 2 2, P a p Bellevue B illion — Midwest P um err w w w.holt y Farm – Kickin’ Hors pkin Patch Part y at internatio nal.org/pic e Kafe, 4 PM – 7 PM nic s/

New Jer se

y

Septembe r 29, Prince ton, NJ to benefit Holt ’s speci — Gala and Dinner A uction al Princeton at Forresta needs adoption fun d. Westin l Village, 6 w w w.holt :0 internatio nal.org/eve 0 PM nts/

Oregon

neighbo rhood calenda r

October 20, Portla benefit ch nd —Portland Gala ildren in H Dinner & A olt uct Executive Tower, 5:3 ’s care in India. Hilto ion to n Portland 0 PM February 9, Eugene ­— Gala Dinne 5:30 PM r & Auction at the Hilto n Hotel,

Get the

Inf

o Holt Adopte e Camp — For Holt Ad contact: M optee ich or go to w ael Tessier at michae Camp information w w.holtin ternationa lt@holtinternationa For Holt He l.org l.org/c amp ritage Tou r informati on contact Sara Higgin : s for China tours: sara higgins@h Katy Boga oltinterna rt for Kore tional.org a tours: ka tyb@holtin Courtney Yo ternationa ung for ad l.org ult adopte courtney y@ e tours: holtintern ational.org