Adoption...not just for the Infertile

At the Denver Museum of Natural Science

All is well at the Rogé house. These photos are from two weekends ago. We went to the Museum and took in an IMAX film as well. The kids are doing fine and aside from a couple of bugs discovered in the "toilet homework" and a eye exam for Nadia, there hasn't been much drama. Nadia's vision isn't correctable to 20/20 just yet, she is correctable to 20/40 and 20/50, but the doc feels that she may improve since we have started work on the problem. When we saw the kids' files in Ukraine at the SDA, it said that she had a mild astigmatism. The doc said that they should have taken steps then to help her and she wouldn't have this eye problem she has now. The bugs in the other two and Nadia's eyes are good examples of the need that all orphans face on a daily basis, we take good health for granted here in the US. That's why it is important to do all you can do in the life of one or more of these precious children.

You may ask yourself, "what can I do" or "what difference can I make"? I used to wonder the same thing. I am reminded of the story about the child who came upon the beach that was littered with hundreds of starfish. He began throwing them back into the ocean one-by-one. An adult saw him and asked why he was throwing them back when faced with impossible, insurmountable numbers of starfish. "Do you really think you are making a difference?", asked the stranger. "I don't know" said the little boy, "but I made a difference to this one" as he tossed the starfish in his hands.

That's how a person should tackle the insurmountable. When we looked at files at the SDA, we couldn't take all 27 kids we were shown. In our mission trips to Kherson and SB, we couldn't provide for or take all 400-500 kids we met. But we did make a difference to these three. We are making a difference to Rimma and Zina. It's a start. My friend Kari said once that she didn't know why everyone doesn't adopt. I second that! I read an article once that stated if every Christian family adopted just one child, there wouldn't be orphans or orphanages.

Please don't think me a self-righteous or holier-than-thou sort of person. I admit that I have a passion for orphans and most people cannot do adoption for various reasons. I was one of those people. I never thought that I would raise "someone elses" kids, let alone older kids. If we did adoption, it would have to be babies, right! Everyone wants a baby! That was my way of thinking until I met three wonderful kids named Rhya, Luke and Natalie...the Stoesz kids. From there we got involved with Ukraine Orphan Outreach and met Rimma and Zina along with the other 15 terrific kids. The rest is history as outlined in this blog, take a look sometimes.

What I'm getting at is this. If adoption is on your heart and you are struggling with the decision, come be a part of this year's UOO summer camp 2009. We will have eight children attending and no, they aren't babies. We at UOO advocate for the adoption and involvement of older orphans who are just as in need if not more. These are the little ones that have been forgotten. They need someone to care, to love them, to help them. Time is running out for them as they will be leaving the orphanages at the age of 16. The statistics are scary, you've seen them. You don't have to adopt, become a pen-pal and correspond. Let them know that not all adults will let them down as has been so in their short past.

Take a trial run with a youngster by volunteering with Big Brothers, Big Sisters organization. I have been doing this for two years now and it has been a blessing. My "little" has grown into a fine young man of 12 now and I get back as much as i give. He has taught me how to be a father figure to older children and he has a male adult role model in which to seek answers and communicate with.

Foster care and foster-to-adopt here in the US are always in need of willing parents. Heidi and I were undergoing respite foster care training when our dossier took off in Ukraine this past summer. Respite is where you take over for foster families when they need a break, take a vacation or need to attend a serious family situation. We will come back to this once we get Rimma and Zina home.

So there are lots of ways to get involved with the less-fortunate little ones in our world. You can host a day at our camp or just come be a part of the festivities, no strings attached. You can mentor a child or become a foster parent. You can help one of the many missionary teams in Ukraine such as our friend Karen and our friend Becky. Both minister to the orphans of Ukraine. Becky is trying to raise funds for her Orphan home she wants to start, contact her and see what she needs. $300 x 1000 people would buy the home and get it started.

By the way, the two girls I tried to get a family for are still waiting in Boyarka. The two earlier families that were interested are not able to continue at this time. If they were on your heart or if you want to talk about them, let me know. You can see a picture of them on Becky's blog right now. They are pictured on her latest entry. I took them off my blog due to the fact we were adopting at the time and I was advised that it could hinder our adoption of Nadia, Julia & Kole. I have pictures and could send them to trusted families should you ask.

One of my favorite quote sources is Teddy Roosevelt, I love that guy! Here's one for you, it fits in the theme of helping orphans and those less fortunate.

In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing. TR

He also said:

Believe you can and you're halfway there. TR

It seems that Rimma and Zina will come home for three weeks this summer instead of the 10 week-long program that we had requested. Through many rounds with the director, he has chosen to be stalwart in his decision and his three other demands. Thanks to Frontier Horizon for making this possible. We will have to love them up enough in those three weeks to last until Spring/Summer 2010. That is when we are forecasting Zina's availability for our adoption. Rimma's clock is already counting down and we are working hard with the lawyer to secure Zina's court date and registration. There's another opportunity to experience the joy of older Ukrainian children. Come see us when they come home in the month of August!