Winter 2009 Vol. 51 No. 1
Korea Gift Team
Dear Readers Because of the caring and commitment of so many faithful supporters, Holt International helped a great number of children in 2008. In this issue of Holt International magazine Holt’s new CEO, Kim S. Brown, offers his personal appreciation to Holt supporters and families who provided care for children and enabled them to have families of their own. Kim was appointed by Holt’s board of directors at their fall 2008 meeting, and this is his first Directions column. Kim has a long history with Holt and adoption. He himself was adopted from Korea in the early years of international adoption. Kim and his wife, Lori, adopted two children from Korea through Holt International, and so he has a strong connection with all members of the “Holt family.” Gary Gamer continues to advance the work of Holt International, now as Holt’s Chief Operating Officer. Many nonprofit organizations are facing difficult and uncertain times, but because of your commitment to the children, Holt continues to give orphaned, abandoned and vulnerable children the security and caring they need. However, we are controlling costs with an aim to keep our programs as strong as possible. Because of this, we will publish Holt International magazine in a 16-page format for this and the following editions. While we apologize for limiting the number of adoptive family and child stories we can publish in this reduced format, we’re glad to keep the needs of children first. Many of the stories that would have appeared in this magazine are still being carried in Holt’s online offerings—our e-newsletter and blog. Please visit Holt’s website and follow the links to subscribe. It’s a great way to stay in touch and get a regular dose of these inspiring stories. Finally, I want to thank Alice Evans, our managing editor who will be leaving Holt for another position after this issue is published. Alice’s compassion for the children came through strong in the feature stories and photos she contributed. She also worked with many families to bring out the depth of messages that would touch our families and supporters.
—John Aeby, Editor
CONTENTS
2008 KOREA GIFT TEAM The Gift of Pure Christmas Joy
The team hosted a party at the historic Ilsan Center, honored foster mothers and escorted four children to their adoptive parents.
A Korean Adoptee Shares His Music
ADOPTING FROM THAILAND And It May Not Be Easy
DEPARTMENTS
Directions Around the Globe Family Tree From the Family Update Neighborhood Calendar Waiting Child
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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. CEO Kim S. Brown COO Gary N. Gamer Senior Vice-President of Marketing & Development Phillip A. Littleton Vice-President of Public Policy & Advocacy Susan Soon-keum Cox Vice-President of Finance & Administration Kevin Sweeney Vice-President of Adoption Services Lisa Vertulfo Vice-President of Program Development Robin Mauney Board of Directors Chair Will C. Dantzler Vice-Chair Jeffrey B. Saddington President Emeritus Dr. David H. Kim Secretary Claire A. Noland Members Andrew R. Bailey, Julia K. Banta, James D. Barfoot, Rebecca C. Brandt, Dean Bruns, Lawrence R. Cahill, Wilma R. Cheney, Cynthia G. Davis, Rosser B. Edwards, William E. Fitzgerald, Kim A. Hanson, Karen A. Howze, Kenneth T. Matsuura, Joseph P. Matturro, Richard J. Salko, Francis W. Wankowicz 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. Editor John Aeby Managing Editor Alice Evans Graphics Brian Campbell, Alice Evans, Chloe Goldbloom 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.
California Office 1555 River Park Drive, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95815 Ph: 916/487.4658 Fax: 916/487.7068 california@holtinternational.org
Kailani Marson, 2, was adopted from Thailand by Rebecca and Ben Marson—Washington state.
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Our Vision Holt International is dedicated to carrying out God’s plan for every child to have a permanent, loving family.
Arkansas Office 25 Whispering Drive, Edgemont, AR 72044 Ph/Fax: 501/723.4444 arkansas@holtinternational.org
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Performing and speaking at Winter Jam concerts, Kim Deardorff wins sponsors for children.
Holt International Children’s Services P.O. Box 2880 (1195 City View) Eugene, OR 97402 Ph: 541/687.2202 Fax: 541/683.6175
Reprint Information Permission from Holt International is required prior to reprinting any portion of Holt International magazine. Please direct reprint requests to editor John Aeby at 541/687.2202 or johna@holtinternational.org.
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LIVING OUT GOD’S PURPOSE
Winter 2009 vol. 51 no. 1
Midwest Office Serving Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota 10685 Bedford Ave., Suite 300, Omaha, NE 68134 Ph: 402/934.5031 Fax: 402/934.5034 midwestbranch@holtinternational.org Missouri Office/Kansas Office 203 Huntington Rd., Kansas City, MO 64113 Ph: 816/822.2169 Fax: 816/523.8379 122 W. 5th St., Garnett, KS 66032 missouri@holtinternational.org New Jersey Office 340 Scotch Rd. (2nd Floor), Trenton, NJ 08628 Ph: 609/882.4972 Fax: 609/883.2398 newjersey@holtinternational.org Oregon/ SW Washington Office (serving Oregon and SW Washington) Capitol Plaza 9320 SW Barbur Blvd., Suite 280, Portland, OR 97219 Ph: 503/244.2440 Fax: 503/245.2498 oregon@holtinternational.org WA Ph: 360/448.2200 Copyright ©2009 by Holt International Children’s Services, Inc. ISSN 1047-7640 ACCREDITED BY
COUNCIL ON ACCREDITATION
directions
Making These Lights Shine Committed to ethical practices, Holt puts the needs of children first
by Kim S. Brown CEO, Holt International At the 33rd anniversary of Kaisahang Buhay Foundation, Holt’s partner agency in the Philippines, these children dressed in traditional clothes and performed a dance for those in attendance. They are from a daycare program funded by Holt and KBF.
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I am deeply grateful for all of Holt’s supporters, families and friends. You came through in many ways to change the lives of orphaned, abandoned and vulnerable children. Though this past year ended with a lot of discouraging news around our country, because of your gifts, prayers and reaching out, many children now have parents who call them, “my child.” You helped make a profound difference in the lives of hurting children. A couple of newspapers recently published articles critical of international adoption. I want to assure you that Holt’s work bears almost no resemblance to the adoptions termed “baby selling” mentioned by these articles. The articles failed to recognize that there are agencies that put the needs of children first. Holt and these other fine organizations are committed to ethical practices that include protections for the rights of birth parents as well as the best interests of each child. The articles also didn’t acknowledge the efforts of many countries to safeguard their children with appropriate adoption regulations. Because of Holt’s commitment to ethical adoption practice, the countries where we work are good examples of governments trying their best to protect children, birth parents and adoptive parents. At Holt, we want to help those who need families the most. Nearly 60 percent of the children Holt placed with adoptive parents in the United States in 2008 had some kind of medical condition or special need, or they were older or
in sibling groups. For most of these children Holt reduced fees or applied grants from our Special Needs Adoption Fund, to ensure that finances were never a barrier between a child and the family they needed. Also, a large portion of Holt’s annual budget is aimed at programs to keep children with birth parents and encourage domestic adoption. We focus our efforts on the best interests of the child, not on supplying babies to wealthy families in the West. When I see the Holt staff arrive at the office these dark winter mornings, I think of some of the children I’ve heard about recently, and I know what brings us all (including you) to work together. It’s seeing children who truly need the love and security of a family brought into a place of being loved and nurtured. Each story, each child helped, is a bright light, and you participated in making these lights shine. It is a privilege for all of us to serve and help homeless children. Every one is a precious gift with incredible potential. We only encourage the possibilities hidden within each child. And in the end, we ourselves are better for having helped children in need. Now as we enter into this new year, let’s reach out to children who still need our help. The difficult times that affect us will likely affect vulnerable children even more. But with each child we touch, we kindle another light. ■ www.holtinternational.org 3
The Gift of Pure Christmas... Every December volunteers on Holt’s Korea Gift Team deliver gifts and host celebrations for children in care, foster mothers and caregivers. Here are some of the 2008 team’s experiences in their own words.
To Be Part of the Joy by Debbie Dunham Brush Prairie, Washington
Ilsan Christmas Party When we walked into the gymnasium, the level of excitement increased dramatically. Residents were already gathered around their family tables, Christmas music blaring from the speaker system. Housemothers, staff and dozens of volunteers milled around helping to ensure that each person was able to enjoy the party food. Volunteers maneuvered wheelchairs, helped with feeding those not able to feed themselves and provided additional company around the tables. Later, after the official party was over, we all prepared for a group picture: wheel-
chairs in front of the stage, the rest of us behind the wheelchairs or up on the stage. As I got in place for the photo, random hands reached out to touch me; people tried to get my attention, to smile at me, hug me, sometimes even to kiss me on the cheek. I realized that, in anticipation of this trip, I had been hungering for this moment, hungering to be part of this excitement, this love, this joy. I, who had helped supply the simple gifts distributed earlier, had just received the greatest gift—the gift of pure Christmas joy.
Honoring Foster Mothers When we were waiting for our first Koreanborn child to come home, we worried about the care she was receiving away from us. Was anybody holding her, rocking her?
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Yesterday, we attended the 40th annual celebration for foster mothers who care for babies waiting to go home to their adoptive families. The celebration honored women who have given 5–30 years of service as foster mothers as well as a handful who are retiring, having reached their 65th birthdays. On my first trip to Korea, while I waited to meet my son, I watched as foster mothers, babies on their backs, came into the clinic waiting area. Caring
Where We Met Our Daughter
Revealing My Past
“I started to recognize the neighborhood of the Holt office, and that is when the tears started today... As you travel through Seoul, many neighborhoods look the same with small shops, narrow streets, and neon-lighted signs. But when I saw the brown building coming up ahead, I knew this was the place. The Holt administrative offices have now moved a few blocks down the street, so we only slowed a bit and drove by the office. This is where we were matched with our girl. This is where we found our way on a cold night in February 2003 and lay awake all night in our room unable to sleep because we knew we were about to meet her. This is the building where we met her for the first time and where she was put into our arms forever. I was looking forward to seeing this place for sure, but I wasn’t really prepared for how ‘connected’ I felt and how emotional I would be.”
Holt International Family Recruitment Specialist Sally Dougherty was adopted from Korea through Holt but had never searched for her birth family. Before traveling, Sally met with a Holt social worker to look at her records. What she read was entirely consistent with what she’d always been told. Abandoned soon after birth at Masan City Hall near Pusan and taken to an orphanage, she was given the name Park, Boo-min and adopted by her family in the United States at 9½ months old.
—Sara Tubbs / Delmar, Iowa
Sara Tubbs celebrates at the Ilsan party. The children are wearing sweaters and hats knitted by a Holt donor.
Was she experiencing any love? Would she be able to cuddle and love us? Well, we needn’t have worried. We quickly learned that it is customary for foster mothers here to carry babies constantly. Our daughter not only welcomed our human touch, she expected to be held all of the time. She had been well-fed in both body and soul.
—Sally Dougherty / Holt Family Recruitment Specialist
“I’ve always felt disconnected in every way from the baby that my adoption papers reference. The explanation is very common in intercountry adoption, and to me, it has always felt generic if not possibly made up. I only ever felt connected to the baby I once was when my story reached the point when my parents said, ‘And a woman carried you off the plane in San Francisco and handed you to us….’” In Korea, Sally received the same information from a
For volunteer opportunities at Ilsan Center, see holtinternational.org/korea/ilsan
From left: Sally Dougherty (right) and an Ilsan worker cuddle with Min-kee, ZKR OLYHV DW ,OVDQ &HQWHU s 7ZR Gift Team members are reunited with WKHLU IRVWHU PRWKHUV s 7KH ,OVDQ Choir performs at the foster mother luncheon.
for these babies is not just a job, though they do it 24/7 with very little in monetary compensation; it’s obviously a passion. It’s my observation that they do this job, give their love because they see it as their part in helping these babies survive and thrive while they wait to go home to their new families—they are a bridge of love from the birth family to the adoptive family. Two of our team members, girls ages 11 and 12, had the opportunity to meet with their former foster mothers for the first time since leaving Korea as infants. As soon as there was a short break in the program, the older girl made her way in the crowded room to the place where her foster family waited. She greeted her foster mother and handed over her gift, but it wasn’t the gift in her hand that held meaning, it was the gift of that engulfing, mutual hug.
A Monumental Decision Yesterday, we visited an unwed mothers’ shelter. After a small party we sat quietly and let the young women ask us—adoptees, parents of birth children and adoptive parents—questions that are tugging at their hearts. Many of the women were crying; they are making a monumental decision:
to try to parent their child or to relinquish their child for adoption. As we all sat waiting to see if any would have the courage to speak, many of them rubbed their bellies. It was a clear sign that, even before birth, they love their babies and are trying to take care of them. Finally one young woman spoke up, then another. The theme of the questions was: “Will my baby be loved?” As we parents and adoptees tried to answer their questions, we also shed tears—tears of joy when we told of our love, tears of gratitude when we tried to explain how much we honor our own or our children’s birth mothers, tears of sadness as we saw how hard this process is for these young women. When we left I asked our team leader, with hope, if this process is therapeutic for the young women and he assured me that it helps them in part of the process to make the decisions they must make. I realized it was therapeutic for me, too. I would love to be able to reassure my children’s birth mothers that their children are, in fact, loved; that they are growing up to be wonderful, caring and loved individuals. I will probably never have the opportunity to say these things to any of them directly,
social worker at Holt Children’s Services of Korea (HCS). Seeking more information, the social worker then contacted the City Hall offices near where Sally was found as an abandoned baby. “As we walked up the hill, the cell phone of our HCS staff host rang. Ms. Seol from HCS’s Post Adoption Services was calling to tell me that Masan City Hall had returned her call for more information on my birth history. She proceeded to tell me what she’d learned. I’d never in my life been stunned to the point of paralysis until that moment. I heard only pieces of what she was telling me, and those pieces barely made sense. Ms. Seol, perhaps understanding my shock, kindly told me the information again. I understood a bit more the second time around, but it still didn’t seem real. I asked her to e-mail me the same information she was telling me. I hung up the phone and nearly went to pieces right there on the hill at the foot of Harry and Grandma’s grave.... “The Gift Team returned to our hotel fairly early in the evening, but I was unusually exhausted. I dreaded
but I could say it to these women; I could attempt to reassure them. My hope is that there were other adoptive parents sharing their own stories of love when our children’s birth mothers were making this decision. My hope is that they had an opportunity to shed tears like this; that they had the chance to gain some reassurance.
The Journey Home: Escorting a Child to her new family We were privileged to escort four babies to their new families in the United States, and I got to take one, a little girl. When we arrived at our final destination, I saw her new parents! They were easy to spot— Dad held a video camera and Mom held a sign with the baby’s Korean name written both in English and the Korean alphabet. I have been in those parents’ shoes, and I know the level of joy and excitement they were feeling. My heart burst as I shared in this experience. I felt so privileged to hold this beautiful baby girl in my arms and be part of her story; I felt privileged to have this small part in making these parents’ dream come true. I handed the baby to her mother and watched as a family was formed. ■
spending the evening alone in my room and knew the news I’d received about my birth history was affecting me emotionally. The e-mail said that ‘a woman who had labor pains visited Boo Min Clinic in Masan City and a baby girl was born by her. However, soon after the baby was born, the woman disappeared so the nurses took care of the baby for about 20 days, but the woman never showed up again. The clinic staff asked that the baby be placed at an orphanage through Masan City Hall….’ “It still sends chills up my spine to read the information and to say it out loud. I’ve only known this information for a week, but already it feels like my story in a way that the one I’d believed for 30 years never did—it’s like the tune to a song you heard long ago, forgot that you’d heard, but remember perfectly and completely, every single note, when you hear it again for the first time. To some, it may be just another tidbit of information, another fact, or perhaps an interesting twist. To me, it is all I have of my past that remains beyond my grasp.”
More stories from the Gift Team at holtinternational.org/blog/?cat=47
Sally Dougherty reviews her adoption file prior to her journey.
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20 Minutes at Jeonju Babies’ Home It seems that much of my life right now is broken up into 20minute pieces. My workday at Montclair Elementary School is all about 20-minute chunks. Twenty minutes to drive to work, 20 minutes with each of my students, 20 minutes to drive home. Twenty minutes to cook dinner, 20 minutes to eat. I can handle anything for 20 minutes. Or so I thought. I’ll probably never know her name. I had just finished playing Santa for the kids at the Jeonju Babies’ Home, a highlight of our 2008 Korea Gift Team trip. After 20 minutes in the red suit (clearly made for the skinny Korean Santa, not the full-figured American one), I was relaxing on the floor in the main playroom. Children were scurrying around excitedly, stopping by to show me a new toy or shove a rice cookie in my face. It was a good moment for me, still buzzing with the joy of handing out presents, watching the children happily devouring their sugar-laden treats and doing their best to destroy the toys we had so carefully picked out for them. In other words, a typical Christmas scene from anywhere around the world. And then, suddenly, she was there. She just plopped down beside me, little bare toes pointed at the ceiling. She was about 4 years old, with a mouth full of cookies and a new book in her hand. She looked at me, smiled, said something in cookie-garbled Korean, and pointed at the bears on the cover of the book. In my job, I work with students learning English as a second language. So, it is not unusual for me to be faced with a child who speaks a language I don’t understand. And her message was pretty clear: “Read me this book.” Well, since I don’t speak any Korean, I just started “reading” the story in English. Fortunately, the story was “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” so I could just tell the story as I remembered it and try to match the pictures in the book. My new friend was an enthusiastic audience, spewing cookie crumbs as she learned to count (One…two…three bowls of porridge…) and identify the characters (Papa Bear, Mama Bear, Baby Bear). We repeated the story several times as she inched closer, cuddling up to my side. Her English got better, too, and soon she was putting up fingers for one…two…three… and pointing at the correct bears to go with their names. When someone passed around some oranges, she peeled hers carefully, handed me the book with a comment that I took to mean, “Don’t lose our place” and carried the orange peels to a bowl on a table. When she came back, she slammed herself firmly into my lap, leaned her head back into my chest and grinned at me, a trickle of orange juice running out of the corner of her mouth. It was at this point that I began to realize the trouble I was in. I was exhausted and still not sleeping well after the time change. We were on the third day of the emotional roller coaster that is the Korea Christmas trip, having already met my daughter’s foster mother on day one and spent day
Top: Randy Wallace shares the story of the three bears with a little girl. Bottom: Children enjoy oranges and other foods and gifts at the Jeonju party.
two with the residents of the Holt Ilsan Center. And, while I don’t make any claims to being Superman, little Korean girls have always been my Kryptonite, starting with my own daughter and continuing through every other one I’ve met since. I should have known better. I should have stayed detached. But, there I was, staring down into those big, dark eyes, and I was lost. All I wanted was to stay like that, holding her, protecting her from whatever painful situation brought her into the care of Holt Korea. I wanted the moment to last forever. But, moments don’t last forever. In my life, they seem to last about 20 minutes. When Mr. Hwang, our Korean travel guru, arrived with the bad news (“Time to get on the bus.”) my little friend was distracted enough to stand up and wander over to the new, plastic play structure our team had bought for the Jeonju facility. I tried to use the opportunity to make my goodbye as painless (for me) as possible, so I gathered my stuff and waved as I headed off down the hallway to join other members of the group. But, as I stood waiting, I felt a tug on my leg. I looked down to see her smiling up at me. “Papa Bear,” she said. “Bo-bo.” (Bo-bo is Korean for kiss.) I hugged her gently, kissed her on the cheek, and then could not bear to watch as she trotted back down the hall to the playroom, seemingly unburdened by the huge chunk of my heart she carried with her. Our 20 minutes were up. I’m sure her memories of me have faded. Kids move on so quickly, and she is surrounded by the love of Mrs. Song and the staff at Jeonju. Soon, she will be with a family again, either her birth family or a new adoptive home. But, somewhere deep inside, I hope she will remember that for 20 minutes on a cold, December day she was safe and warm in the arms of a total stranger who loved her unconditionally. As for me, I learned a great lesson in Jeonju that day. I often complain that 20 minutes is not enough time for me to really do much for my students. So many of them have such tremendous needs, and I often feel overwhelmed and useless. It seems I just get started with them, and our time is gone. But, maybe, 20 minutes does matter. Maybe just by being there, supporting them, loving them, I make a difference. I hope so. In 20 minutes, a tiny Korean girl learned a few words of English. In that same 20 minutes, a bond formed that is strong enough to make a grown man tear up when he thinks of her. Twenty minutes can change a life. —Randy Wallace / Omaha, Nebraska
For information on the 2009 Korea Gift Team, e-mail Debbie Francis at dfrancis@holtinternational.org
Globe In the care of loving childcare workers at the Nepal Child Conservation Home, children spend hours on the roof each day soaking in vitamin D from warm sunshine.
Nepal Holt International recently received its license to facilitate intercountry adoptions from the Himalayan nation of Nepal. More than half the children in care in Nepal have lost one or both parents. Through the support of Holt sponsors, Holt was able to bring in a physician, improve nutrition and increase the number of caregivers at the Nepal Child Conservation Home, a familybased childcare center in Kathmandu.
Christmas Parties Children celebrated the holidays in Holtsupported programs in Haiti, Ethiopia, China, Korea, the Philippines and many other countries. Holt Romania Foundation held parties in several villages and cities for hundreds of children in Holt sponsor-
Ukraine: Children visited a mini-zoo.
ship. Children sang carols, danced, recited Christmas poems for Santa Claus and enjoyed dolls, toy cars and other gifts. Holt staff from Families for Children Program in Ukraine took 23 children to visit an ostrich farm and mini-zoo in a picturesque village near a forest. Santa gave away presents, and the children received a hot meal and played outdoor games. Children in orphanages, foster homes and poor families often get left out of year-end holidays because the resources simply are not available.
Guatemala Holt International is one of five organizations chosen to receive funding in the amount of $630,000 from an anonymous foundation to bring improvements to the child welfare system in Guatemala. Over the next three years, Holt will: (1) work to stop the flow of children into institutions by strengthening and preserving birth families; (2) help move children out of institutions and into family-like care by providing kinship and foster care, working with families to develop skills and resources to better care for their children, and developing an effective domestic adoption program as an alternative to institutionalization; (3) prepare children remaining in institutions for a productive, independent adult life through life skills training and transitional living programs; and (4) work to develop the capacity of community-based systems to effectively implement child welfare services among diverse populations in both urban and rural settings.
Philippines Children from a Holt-supported daycare program performed a traditional dance to help celebrate the 33rd anniversary of Holt’s partner agency in the Philippines, the Kaisahang Buhay Foundation.
Haiti Holt recently distributed food and other items to more than 200 families through Fanmi Ansanm, the Holt-supported family preservation program in Haiti. Mike Noah, Holt’s director of social services for Haiti, was on hand to help distribute goods to one group of 50 families. These families with young chilBoys get ready to perform dren suffered great a dance in the Philippines. hardship following hurricanes in the late summer season of 2008 and “were grateful for this assistance,” Noah said. ■
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sponsorship
A Chance to Live Out God’s Purpose Adopted through Holt International from Korea—pianist Kim Deardorff is touring with the Christian group NewSong to raise money for children in Holt sponsorship
Kim Deardorff was found abandoned and taken into care by Holt Children’s Services of Korea. A few months later his adoptive parents received him at Holt’s Ilsan Center.
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One day in Seoul, Korea, a newborn baby boy was found in the garbage and taken to Holt in the hopes that his life could be saved. He was soon adopted and raised in Michigan by his parents along with his sister, who is also adopted from Korea. Over 40 years later, this same boy, now a grown man, lives a healthy and happy life of service to others. Kim Deardorff has a profound adoption story and exceptional talent for music. He is a self-taught pianist, composer, and recording artist. His musical skills have afforded him the opportunity to travel the world, working for Fortune 500 companies like Walt Disney, the Discovery Channel, the Kennedy Space Center, Universal Studios and many others, but Kim
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considers his most recent opportunity to be the most meaningful. Kim is currently touring with the Christian music group, NewSong, sharing his adoption story from center stage for the purpose of raising up new sponsors for children in Holt’s care. “Never does a day go by that I don’t feel God’s hand guiding my life knowing that I was rescued from an impossible, helpless situation,” Kim says. “It has always been a dream of mine to work with the organization that saved me and gave me a chance to live out God’s purpose for my life. Every time a child gets sponsored I feel like I am getting sponsored all over again and as part of the Holt family I am honored to speak on behalf of my little ‘brothers and
sisters!’ My message each night is: ‘No matter where or how you start out in life, God has a purpose and plan for everyone.’ Out of all the wonderful things I have been privileged to do throughout my career, this is by far the most exciting and most rewarding thing I have ever been a part of.” Kim and NewSong have a rigorous tour schedule lined up through March, and Holt needs as many volunteers as possible to attend the concerts to help new child sponsors sign up. Visit the Holt website to see where Kim and NewSong will be and sign up to volunteer at holtinternational.org/ volunteer/concert.shtml. To learn more about Kim Deardorff and see his video, visit his website at mystorykim.com. ■
family tree
Kolin Schell, 7 (Korea)—Sylvania, Ohio
Spencer LeMarr, 7 months (South Korea)—Purcellville, Va.
Benji, 6, and Chloe Shireman, 3 (both from Thailand)— Glasgow, Ky.
Lauren, 7, and Brock Brez, 6 (both from South Korea)—Pennington, N.J.
Send your photos to Family Tree! Mail original color prints to: Holt International magazine P.O. Box 2880 Eugene, OR 97402
Jonah Larson, 10 months (Ethiopia)—La Crosse, Wis.
Blake Tinder, 3 (South Korea)—Audubon, Iowa
Anya Grewal, 20 months (India)— Boston, Mass.
Jessie Martins, 6 (Vietnam)—Sierra Vista, Ariz.
Alexa, 7 (China), and Drew Kuske, 4 (South Korea)—Rapid City, S.D.
or upload digital photos at holtinternational.org/submissions
Dax, 6 (Philippines) with his parents, Paul and Teri Dailey— Mansfield, Ga.
www.holtinternational.org
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from the family
Allergies and Headaches Many orphaned and abandoned children suffer malnutrition, infections, and other compromises to health before adoption. Here is one family who helped their child face the challenges. We adopted Sumithra from India shortly before her 9th birthday. She had lived in several orphanages, a remand home and with Christian missionarSumithra Smeenge ies. Some provided good care and nutrition, some did not. We are not certain that malnutrition was an issue, but she has had health issues, and the tools we learned to help her deal with them could be helpful to others. Degame with her mom, Emily Bristow.
A Daughter from Ethiopia Degame (day-gam-ee) was born April 17, 2008, in southern Ethiopia. Her birth mother was not able to care for her, but she had a plan for her beautiful little girl. She placed her in warm, cozy blankets where someone was sure to find her. A lovely woman was hurrying to do her morning chores and heard Degame’s cries. She scooped her up and brought her to a care center for children. Degame was only 2 days old. She stayed in the care center until she was strong enough to travel to Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. Meanwhile, Scott and I had decided almost a year earlier that we wanted to adopt our third child. We already had two beautiful children, Sophi, 7, and Sawyer, 3. When we got matched with Degame, we cried many tears of joy. We hung her picture up all over the house for everyone to see. We practiced saying her name and were overwhelmed to find out that it meant, “to be found.” Sophi and Sawyer helped get Degame’s room all ready. Sophi even painted our bathroom piping hot pink. On August 6, Scott and I flew to Addis to bring Degame home. When we met Degame, she stared at us for a long time. She was only 3 months old, but she seemed to know that we were there to give her love. I was smiling and crying when I picked her up. Scott peered at her over my shoulder. Degame seemed to know we were welcoming her to the family. Degame has been home with us in California for several months now. She has already experienced many things for someone who is only 7 months old. Her birth country is far away, but we are teaching her to remember where she came from. We want her to love both her old country and her new country. Every time I see her bright eyes smiling at me, I am reminded of the amazing journey our baby took to be part of her new family. — Emily Bristow / Napa, California 10
Winter 2009
About a year ago she had two seizures. Both were frightening, and an MRI revealed a white spot on her brain. She had been having more frequent headaches and allergy symptoms as well. As a result of her seizures she showed a loss of memory and an inability to finish sentences. So we kicked into high gear, seeing specialists, alerting prayer partners, asking advice and exploring various paths. To date we are not sure what the white spot was, but it is possible, even likely, that it was a parasite she picked up in her childhood that moved to the brain. The brain surrounded it with edema and killed it. It is possible that her symptoms had nothing to do with the spot, but we do not know this and no doctor has been able to decide this for certain. One friend prayed that we would have wisdom, and we realized that both seizures followed exposure to potential allergens. We took her to an allergy doctor, who found that she was allergic to several external allergens: dust mites, pollen, dander, mold and some perfumes. Sumithra began a series of sublingual drops that made a marked improvement in her allergies. The headaches, coughing and sneezing subsided. But the doctor also suggested that we run tests on possible dietary allergens. We found that sugar triggered an immediate headache. Since then we have removed sugars from our home, except in the occasional all natural ice cream, which she eats only a little of. Instead of sugar we use sucanat, rice syrup and maple syrup, all of which she uses in small doses. Food color, corn syrup, boxed cereals, and instant anything all went out the window. We also began grinding our own flour daily and making our daily bread from scratch, as 90 percent of the vitamins from flour evaporate within 78 hours of grinding. As most of these are a balance of the vitamin Bs, and since B is an important source of help to brain and nerve function, we have found this to be a healthy switch for the whole family as well. We also ferment our own beverages now, getting lactose fermentation and acidopholis in natural forms, which boost the immune system. Providentially, we met a woman who had a daughter with seizures and headaches who was seeing a chiropractitioner who was also a kinesiologist. He located pressure points on Sumithra‘s skull and massaged these. We saw a marked difference in Sumithra’s communication skills after each session. Finally, we put her in ballet and started piano lessons. Both activities work on brain muscles that require coordination. One year later we note with thankfulness that Sumithra rarely has a headache, her allergies are much less and she is regaining her ability to learn and communicate. She has not had a seizure for 10 months. We are thankful for praying friends, God’s guidance in leading us to the right specialists, and practical steps we could take as a family that have helped her. Although her struggles may be related to malnutrition and/or poverty-induced exposure to parasites early on, we note an improved immune system, lack of headaches, and a child with much more cheerful energy within the context of one year’s worth of dietary changes. And this has helped our entire family. —Melike Smeenge / Holland, Michigan
A Long, Beautiful History
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While serving as Christian missionaries in Mongolia, the Fields adopted a little girl whose name means “Delight.” An excerpt from their adoption announcement.
by Krista and Jeremy Fields / Darhan, Mongolia There is a long and beautiful history of adoption in Mongolia. Actually we chose the name Eden, which means Even today it is quite common for aunts and uncles, or even grand- “delight,” long before we were ever matched parents, to adopt their nieces and nephews and bring them up as with our daughter. It was a great sign of God’s their own children. I could probably name off the top of my head faithfulness to learn that our baby girl’s name a half-dozen friends who have adopted or been adopted. But was Bayasaa, the Mongolian word for “delight.” Mongolians almost never give their children to strangers. As comFrom the beginning of time God loved His mon as interfamily adoption is here, there remains a strong aversion children. On the day that they were born He to children who have no family ties. In Buddhist tradition these prepared for them a host of sights and scents children, who have been cut off from family and society, are assumed and wonders—the greatest surprise party ever! to be reaping the results of their own former evil deeds (negative And he placed them in an abundant garden karma). They are getting what they must deserve, and it would be called Delight... Eden. Then follows a tragic bad luck to interfere. So what do they think about someone who story of treachery, separation, and pain. The would wade into this dangerous situation and love a child they have children became lost—lonely orphans and warno responsibility to care for? Almost every day we hear someone ring tribes—and because of their evil deeds it refer to our daughter as “lucky.” In one great reversal of fortune she was impossible for them ever to return home has gone from being a child of the worst “bad luck” possible to one or experience peace. The Father God’s situ- Eden, Krista, Zeke, Isaiah of the “luckiest” children in the world—part of a rich and powerful ation was equally difficult... should he strike and Jeremy Fields family that loves her very much (that would be us). It is an impos- down his loved ones with the sword or should sible leap, beyond imagination! One of the foundational beliefs of he destroy His very own nature—the laws of harmony and justice Buddhism is that there is no escape from karma... from the results by which He made the universe? If He were to give up either His of either the good or the bad energies you have caused in your life. infinite love or His holy power, then He would no longer be worthy And yet, in the act of adoption, we have just shown to everyone with of His children’s affection and respect. But, praise God, He provided eyes to see and ears to hear that a way exists. The forces of evil are an impossible way. A way to save us from our lostness and bring cheated and the laws of the universe overcome... simply because a us back into His Glory—adoption. Romans 8 teaches: For this is child was adopted. the hope by which we live, that God brought us forth in Delight With great pleasure we introduce you to our daughter, Eden Glory Fields. As with our boys, and in the tradition of the faithful saints of old, we chose a name that reflects our hope and joy in the Lord.
Meet Our Son Nathan
(Eden) and intends us for Glory. He is seeking us out one by one and making us family again. God bless you and shine upon you, our daughter and our delight! ■ amount of strength and love to meet his needs. And a boy! What an incredible surprise!
Ron and I were waiting for our We received a referral for Nate within three healthy baby girl, like many other weeks from submitting the paperwork. Ron and families adopting from China. We are I reviewed his extensive medical records and an older couple, 46 and 50 respecphotos while eating a Chinese takeout dinner. tively, and we were hopeful to add Liu Qizhou, 15 months old, repaired cleft lip, to our family soon. My 21-year-old bright-eyed and full of gumption. Was this our daughter was also anxiously anticichild? We were searching for a sign. Lo and pating the arrival of a baby sister. In behold, we opened a fortune cookie and read: the beginning of 2008 we contacted “Your ability to love will help a child in need.” our social worker and found out that The journey to Nathan has been full of anticiwe might be waiting another two pation and unknowns. He is healing well from years! She asked if we were willing to palate surgery that took place in September, and consider adopting a chld with a minor Nathan with his mom, Melinda Richards. now that he is 2, we are all immersed in the endless flowing energy medical need. And would we be open to a boy? from our forever son. Certainly, our path to Nathan has led us to a Our decision to pursue adoption through Holt’s China Child of true celebration of gratitude. Promise option was guided by yet another pull at our heartstrings. We had the means, access to top medical care, and just the right
—Melinda Richards / Sacramento, California
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from the family
And It May Not Be Easy No one ever said it would be easy, but what if it’s a whole lot harder than you think? This excerpt from the blog of a couple details their struggles to help their little strongwilled girl through her cycle of grief.
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by April Cao / Monterey, California
Prim’s adoption was finalized in June! Praise God that it’s finally over. Really. Three years and finally we’ll be completely finished. She’s ours forever and ever. Amen to that, right? Parenting this little girl has not been easy and because of that I hesitated to blog because of a fear of discouraging others who have taken an interest in our story. I felt that I couldn’t write it and fake it, and I couldn’t really say what I was feeling. Because let’s be honest—who wants to hear it? First, let me confess that this idea alone was just terribly self-centered of me. I placed too much importance on myself and my experience and should have given everyone who has supported our family throughout the past few years much more credit. I really and truly thought that my struggles with Prim would discourage someone from wanting to adopt—especially a toddler—and figured that just not talking about it at all was easier. So... here I go. An update on our life. The past year has been one of the most difficult of my life in so many ways. Before we traveled to get Prim, the anticipation was nothing like that of having a child biologically. I was nervous and excited and could only hope for a miracle when we met our little girl. I knew the transition would be very difficult for her. But I could not have been prepared for the grief and anguish she has experie n c e d over the past year.
For Hung, our son and me, coming home meant we were able to breathe again. Thailand was great but emotional and exhausting and we needed to be on sure footing again to be able to start concentrating on piecing our family together. Home felt like the place we needed to be to begin our life together. Weeks went by and Hung became impatient with Prim and her tantrums. The constant crying, the endless nights and screaming were taking their toll on everyone. Gabe was frustrated that he had to share mom and dad with a one-girl-wreckingmachine and in a moment of utter frustration cried and screamed for us to bring her back. Our lives were unrecognizable and all I could do was hold my son and cry with him. I felt like I was holding our family together by a thin, invisible thread. On the outside we looked fine and Prim looked content—well adjusted even. Everyone commented on how happy she seemed and how beautiful she is and how she seemed to thrive on our attention, and all I could do was smile because what I really wanted to do was hide beneath my covers and cry. All I could think was that I had failed my daughter. I took her away from the foster family she had been living in, which was the only family she knew, and in doing so caused her so much pain and heartache. The nights were endless. She resisted sleeping and screamed for hours. She temper tantrummed without ceasing, hit and slapped us, and defied all our rules. Sure, we were consistent. But what had worked for Gabriel was not working for her, and we were at a standstill. We saw a family therapist often to make sure we were using all the necessary tools to help her adjust
$ERYH 3ULP YLVLWV WKH EHDFK IRU WKH ILUVW WLPH s /HIW 7KH HQWLUH family—April and Hung with children Prim and Gabriel, Christmas 2008.
and still it seemed to go on. I doubted myself as a mother, Hung doubted himself as a father, and in the beginning Gabriel resented his sister just for being there. As the months went by, many things became easier as Prim began to see where she fit into our family. Yet other aspects of our relationship became more difficult. Everything finally came to a head in May after a trip to Arizona for my cousin’s wedding. It was our first time staying in a hotel since being in Bangkok, and on top of that, Prim met my parents and many other relatives for the first time. I will never forget the look of fear on Prim’s face when we were in my parents’ hotel room. When it was time to leave and go to our own room, Prim instinctively thought that we were going to leave her with my parents. It brought back all of the fear and anxiety she had experienced after separating from her foster family, and she cried and cried until finally falling asleep in my arms. She had been home for eight months and these feelings of insecurity and fear still lay below the surface for her. By the time my parents went home, Prim’s nights were as bad if not worse than they had been when she first came home. She began slapping me across the face when I sent her to timeout and lashing out physically when she didn’t get her way. I felt like we had taken 10 steps backwards. Prim is a very strong-willed little girl, and these complicated emotional issues only added to a personality that was demanding on a good day. After humble prayer and some much needed counsel from friends who share our faith and values, we decided to take a discipline route that did not come naturally to me. The tantrums and nighttime rages made it clear to Hung and me that our
little girl needed clearer boundaries than what we had been giving her. At every turn she began to test us. Were we going to leave her? Would we go away? But most importantly, would we still love her after the storm passed? She pushed and pushed and pushed, and our job was to discipline her in love and hold her even longer afterwards. It has taken some time, but we immediately noticed a subtle change. She seemed more peaceful. She smiled easier and laughed harder. After a few weeks she still pushed, but there was no longer anger behind it. The angst, the fear and pain that drove her were replaced by laughter, playfulness and joy. She finally seems happy to me, with a peace in her eyes that gives me so much joy and contentment. She takes one look at me and says, “I love you, Mommy!” and she is enthusiastic and curious about her whole world. Every morning she asks about Daddy and wants to know where her brother is. We are finally her entire world, and I feel like we’ve earned it. I look into the face of my daughter, and I see resilience that I do not have. She left everything she knew: family, language, country and food. She fought and grieved for a loss that could not be explained to her and somehow, some way, she has learned to overcome. She has allowed us to love her and in doing so has made us better people and better parents. My daughter has a fire in her that I cannot take credit for, and after one year I finally understand that that is okay. One day, when she is old enough, I hope she will understand that the beginning of her life did shape her but will not define her. I pray that she grows to be a woman after God’s own heart and an example to those who have experienced heartache. I know for Hung and myself that as more time passes and we reflect on this first year we will realize the blessing that came with the storm. We understand that holding her tight through these times was our gift to her when we very easily could have let her go. It would have been so easy to emotionally walk away, but we stayed the course and for that I am grateful. This past year I feel like we have fought for our daughter’s heart, and our reward is so generously reflected in her eyes and smile. What a gift she is, this beautiful Thai girl. Adopting may not be for everyone, but it was for us. It doesn’t matter how our children came to us, they are ours and we are theirs. We are a forever family. ■
Paul Schied (middle row, second from right) with his mom, Kathye (back row, middle) and dad, Larry (front center) and brothers, sisters and other family members.
A Much-Loved Son, Brother, Uncle... Tangible reminders from the life of Paul Schied were lovingly collected and placed around the house—a toy truck, a fishing pole, a folder with adoption papers. Mementos of a lifetime cut short at 35 years. Relatives and friends gathered in Paul’s honor at his parents’ home, shared stories and picked up the reminders of Paul as if sensing the hands that once held them. They watched the photo/slide show and remembered the gentle soul who was part of their lives, part of their family. Paul died last November of an aggessive form of cancer originating in the lymph system. Seven months after symptoms appeared he was gone, but during those days, the Schied family fought for him and with him. As much as they could, they made the most of the time they had. Paul’s mother, Kathye, had worked at Holt International until she retired a few years ago. She served as a volunteer for a long time before quietly joining the staff. She seemed to me to be kind, hardworking and rather meek. However, my first real encounter with Kathye dispelled my misconceptions. I was part of a work group developing a post adoption services for adoptees and their families. Kathye was invited to talk to us about her two boys adopted from Korea and about raising them in a small town/rural community. I don’t recall details of her story, but I will never forget hearing how she took on the school board, administration and teachers who were discriminating against her boys and ignoring some students’ inappropriate behavior. The shy persona disguised a fearless mother tiger. Her formidable courage and tenacity changed her community. At Holt, Kathye’s personal crusade was to organize and archive the thousands of adoption files. Long before Paul’s cancer, she recognized the immense value of the information in those files, as scant as it sometimes is. To Kathye those files represented a sacred connection to the life of each child placed by Holt. Fortunately even in Holt’s earliest years, the commitment to keeping accurate records seemed a well-entrenched value. A key to each child’s personal history could hinge on a few notes jotted down after a child came into care. Holt recognized the importance of this information though many orphanages and institutions that sent children to Holt did not. Doctors hoped that someone with an identical tissue match could provide life-saving bone marrow for Paul. The best hope was a full sibling. After that a close relative. The chances for a match decrease as you widen the circle to nationality and race. Paul’s orphanage had recorded only a few clues about his coming into care, but Holt International and Holt Children’s Services of Korea pursued the long shot, publishing Paul’s story in hopes some relative would come forward. No results. On the day Paul passed away, the family received a letter indicating that a possible bone marrow match had been found among the general registry. Paul’s situation revealed that a match from someone other than birth family is possible and that there is great value in adoptees joining a bone marrow registry. Because so few Koreans have registered, the associated fees for Asian adoptees to be tested can sometimes be waived. Some enemies even a mother tiger cannot defeat. But one thing remains for sure. In the Schieds, Paul had found and known the depth of love possible within a family. For more information on joining a bone marrow registry, see www.marrow.org. —John Aeby, Director of Communications
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update ed by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. More about the program online at studentambassadors.org.
A Committed Friend
Participants in the 2007 China Family Tour
Heritage Tours A few spots are still available for adoptive families wanting to participate in one of three heritage tours to China in 2009: June 23–July 7; July 7–21; and October 11–22. More information and a preliminary application are available at holtinternational.org/ tours or by contacting Lisle Veach in the China Program at lislev@holtinternational. org. Besides plenty of fun and educational activities, Holt’s tours to China pay particular attention to the orphanage and foster family visit experience for adoptees, wherever that’s possible. Korea: The 2009 Korea tour group will travel June 22 –July 4. Visit holtinternational. org/tours for more information.
Student Ambassador Parker Kemp, 14, was recently appointed as a 2009 People to People Student Ambassador and will travel to London and Paris to represent the United States in June 2009. Adopted from Korea in 1996 by Pamela and Mitch Kemp of Spring, Texas, Parker is one of 40 students chosen from among 500 who were interviewed. His sister, Hope, was also adopted from Korea. The student ambassador program was start14
Winter 2009
Five-year-old Isaac remembers friends and fun times at the orphanage in China that he left two years ago when he was adopted. Melissa, his mom, said Isaac recognizes how much more he has now, Isaac LeCompte. and he often worries about the children who remain at the orphanage. “He asked to mail toys to all his friends in Hefei,” she said. “I explained that it would be very expensive to mail toys to China, so he asked to send money.” Isaac went through his toys and clothes and picked out items for a garage sale to raise money. He also encouraged his sisters, dad and mom to do the same. Together, at Isaac’s behest, they raised $150 for the children. “Isaac wishes for his friends, his foster family and the orphanage staff to know that he remembers them, loves them and prays that they are well,” said his mom.
Winter Jam Did you know that the Christian performing group NewSong promotes children in Holt sponsorship at its many concerts? The latest venue includes the largest Christian music event of the year, Winter Jam, which features NewSong and many other Christian artists. If you would like to volunteer at a 2009 Winter Jam concert to find sponsors for children in Holt care overseas, go to: holtinternational.org/artists. To keep up on the latest information for 2009 Winter Jam events, go to: jamtour.com
Graduate Photos Holt Graduates: Deadline for photos of Holt adoptees who are graduating from high school and college is September 1, 2009, for the Fall issue of the magazine. For a Graduate Submission Form, go online to holtinternational.org/gradsubmissions. Parker Kemp
Holt Events Holt’s Colors of Hope dinner auction to benefit homeless and at-risk children in Ethiopia will be held March 28 at La Vista Embassy Suites in Omaha, Nebraska. See holtinternational.org/events for more information, or call (800) 451-0732.
In Memory March 26, 1972–Sept. 25, 2008 Tammee Ra Wallace, 36, of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, passed away in September surrounded by her family. Born in Seoul, South Korea, she was adopted through Holt in 1975, the third child of Jerry and Rita Wallace. Tammee earned a B.A. in advertising from Marquette University and worked in maga- Tammee Ra Wallace zine advertising, political research and communication, Internet development for children and as a public relations representative for health care. She is survived by her parents, four brothers and many other relatives. July 7, 1990–Sept. 27, 2008 Nathaniel Ruel Neahring of Nehalem, Oregon, passed away after an automobile accident. Born in Manila, the Philippines, he was adopted through Holt at 21 months by Steve and Lynda Neahring and homeschooled through junior high. A young man who loved his friends, he graduated in 2007 from Sunrise Christian School in Manzanita. Nathan loved to Nathaniel Neahring ride his skateboard and played drums, guitar, piano and trumpet and sang. A member of the worship team and youth group at his church, he served one year with the Civil Air Patrol and worked on his family’s dairy farm. He is survived by his parents, sister and four brothers and many other relatives. ■
Neighborhood Calendar
Holt’s descriptions of waiting children are based on information available to Holt from caregivers and medical personnel in the child’s country of origin. Holt cannot guarantee the accuracy of these descriptions or that the medical and psychological diagnoses published here are correct and complete.
Arkansas March 7—Quarterly Family Recruitment followed by Family Support Meeting in North Little Rock at 1 p.m. and 2–4 p.m. respectively. Contact Branch Office at (501) 723-4444 or lynns@ holtinternational.org for details and to RSVP.
Michael
California August 2–6—Holt Adoptee Camp in Dobbins for adoptees 9–16 years old. Contact: Steve Kalb at (541) 687-2202 or stevek@holtinternational.org
*Brittany’s Hope grants are available for nine months from their granting date, which varies by child. Find out more at brittanyshope. org
Nebraska February 12—Open House at the Midwest office in Omaha from 4–6 p.m. All families and children are welcome! If you would like, bring an unframed 5 x 7 photo of your child(ren) to help us redecorate our office. Contact: (402) 9345031 or midwestbranch@holtinternational.org March 28—Holt Colors of Hope Dinner Auction to benefit homeless and at-risk children in Ethiopia, at La Vista Embassy Suites in Omaha. Contact: Monica Wilton, Holt Events Manager, at monicaw@holtinternational.org July 26–30—Holt Adoptee Camp in Ashland for adoptees 9–16 years old. Contact: Steve Kalb at (541) 687-2202 or stevek@holtinternational.org
New Jersey April 4—Annual Holt Dinner Auction sponsored by parent groups as a fundraiser for Holt International. Contact: New Jersey Branch at (609) 882-4972. August 9–13—Holt Adoptee Camp in Starlight, PA for adoptees 9–16 years old. Contact: Steve Kalb at (541) 687-2202 or stevek@ holtinternational.org
Oregon May 8—Holt Colors of Hope Dinner Auction to benefit homeless and at-risk children in Ethiopia, at Valley River Inn in Eugene. Contact: Monica Wilton, Holt Events Manager, at monicaw@holtinternational.org July 19–23—Holt Adoptee Camp in Corbett for adoptees 9–16 years old. Contact: Steve Kalb at (541) 687-2202 or stevek@holtinternational.org
Texas February 22—Holt Tea & Silent Auction to benefit homeless and at-risk children in Ethiopia, at Paradise Cove in Southlake. Contact: Monica Wilton, Holt Events Manager, at monicaw@ holtinternational.org
Towie and Lowie
Laxmi and Ratan
Waiting Children Special needs, special blessings
These children, and many others you can view on Holt’s website, need adoptive families. They may have various challenges such as medical conditions, or they may simply be older or in sibling groups, but they have so much to offer the family who makes them their own son or daughter. Interested in a Waiting Child? Contact Holt’s Waiting Child Program at 541-687-2202. View a photolisting of other waiting children or apply online: holtinternational.org/ waitingchild
Towie and Lowie
Born in the Philippines, 6/4/01 and 1/25/00 These handsome brothers have been in care since April 2004. Both are described as energetic and love to jump, run and play with their favorite toys. They relate well with other children and can express their needs well. Both boys are excited for their future life overseas. The younger brother is said to have below average intellectual functioning, and both are reported to have poor fine motor skills. Both boys appear to be in good health. *They have a $7,500 grant available from Brittany’s Hope.
Laxmi and Ratan
Born in India, 12/5/05 and 4/15/03 This brother and sister have been in care since August 2006. Both of them greatly enjoy attention from their caregivers. Ratan is reported
to have cerebral palsy, mental retardation and microcephaly. He was recently described as making overall improvement in most areas. His caregivers report that he is able to express his needs and enjoys listening to music. His younger sister was underweight when she was admitted. In a recent update, she was reported to be typically developing physically and mentally and to be enthusiastic and talkative. *They have a $10,000 grant available from Brittany’s Hope.
Michael
Born in China, 3/15/00 Found at about 2 years old, Michael is a “genetic dwarf.” A healthy boy with a good imagination, he likes to draw and is shy but does warm up to people. His communication is good, and he has many friends. *Michael has a $5,000 “Special Blessings” grant available through Holt.
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China  Child  of  Promise  Option Children with minor and correctable conditions are available for an expedited adoption process. s &DQ FXW LQ KDOI WKH WLPH RI WKH VWDQGDUG SURFHVV s (OLJLELOLW\ FULWHULD FDQ EH PRUH IOH[LEOH s %RWK ER\V DQG JLUOV QHHG IDPLOLHV ZLWK D JUHDWHU QHHG RI families for boys. s &RQWDFW +ROW VWDII WR JHW VWDUWHG RU
Fill out or amend a Holt “Minor/Correctable Conditions Checklist� available online: holtinternational.org/china and return it to Holt International. View photos of children adopted through Holt’s China Child of Promise option at
www.holtinternational.org/china/photos Examples of minor and correctable conditions include: cleft lip/palate, heart issues, orthopedic issues, etc.
It’s now online! Holt’s China Moon newsletter brings you heartwarming stories of families adopting children from China. Go to: holtinternational.org/china/chinamoon
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