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ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
 Waiting
Across the Sea
Children's Hope mom knows that's where her
daughter waits...Across the Sea in China.
 Final
Arrival
A son
home from Kazakhstan.
 Kids
Corner
Mother's Day
Coloring Card Edition
BLOG OF THE MONTH:
 Conversations
with Taylor
From the
mouth of a 3-year-old.
DEVELOPMENT AID:
 Garage
Sale
Reminder! Clear
Out Your Garage to Bring Hope to an Orphan
 Hand
in Hand
Together, We Can Bring Hope to a Graduating Orphan's Future
PROGRAM
UPDATES:
 China
May Day Brings May “Flowers” to 15 Families Across the Nation
 Colombia
Colombia Sibling Groups Placed Quickly in Loving Homes
 Ethiopia
House of Hope Future Transition Home for Children’s Hope Referrals
 Kazakhstan
Girls Bring Smiles to Five New Mothers
 Russia
Russia Awaiting Accreditation
 Vietnam
Seven Families will Celebrate Mother’s Day in Vietnam
Request a
copy of our Adoption
All Guide to see which program
is right for
your family.
Help the lives of
orphans
by sponsoring a child today!
Get your church
involved with orphan sponsorship and international adoption.
Read more of our
wonderful
family stories and submit your own.
Our Accreditations
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Ben and I had been
on a mission trip to Russia a few years ago, where we worked in
many different orphanages. We had said right then....if we can't
have kids, we'll adopt. Well, it ended up taking longer to get
pregnant than we had hoped. Then shortly after we did finally
get pregnant, I miscarried. We were heart broken over our loss.
It was a few weeks
after that time when we were driving down the road that I said
to Ben, "Why do we have to wait 'til we know if we can or can't
have kids in order to adopt?" It kind of hit both of us, and we
immediately started checking into agencies. We knew that
adoption was what God had planned for us. There was a little boy
out there who needed us. We then came to realize that if we
wouldn't have miscarried, we would not have thought of adoption
at that time. We knew that God had a plan. I was so excited; I
could hardly sleep at night. It was like I was pregnant all over
again.
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Andrew at referral, before adoption |
So the paper chase
began, and we just kept praying for the little cutie that was
waiting for us in Russia. When our referral call finally came,
we were both beside ourselves with joy!!!
Our journey to see
our little sweetheart was amazing. When I first saw him, all I
could think was how tiny he was. He looked more like a baby than
a 17-month-old. He was just adorable. We both fell in love with
him right away. All he wanted for us to do was to hold him and
cuddle him--we, of course, gladly obliged!!!!
The medical
we got was also filled with lots of Russian diagnoses.
The Russian medical stated: "prenatal encephalopathy,
syndrome of delay of static-motor functions development,
delay of psycho speech development, hypotrophy of 2nd
degree, progressive period, synechia of foreskin,
rickets of 2nd degree, remain effects, post-vaccine
allergy." |
We still knew right
away that he was the one for us. We knew that he needed us. We
consulted with some trusted medical professionals and felt very
comfortable with our decision.
The goodbye was
horrible, but knowing that we had to leave in order to come back
made it like a step in the process to check off. Four and a half
months later, we finally got to go back to bring our little
cutie home.
But when we first
saw him on our second trip, both of us were shocked. He was even
skinnier than before, and really looked like he had given up. He
was just like a rag doll. When we would lift his arm up, it
would drop down as if totally lifeless. It really broke our
hearts. He hardly smiled, and just wanted to be held. They kept
saying to us how serious he was. We were so thankful that we
were actually going to be able to bring him home this trip.
Well, the day
finally arrived that we got to pick up little Andrew from the
baby home. There really was an immediate change. Soon after we
got to the hotel, he started smiling and laughing. It was
amazing to see. By the time we got to Moscow, he was like a
different kid. We could hardly get him to sit still. It was
almost like he had been cooped up for so long that now he wanted
to take in EVERYTHING. It was too cute!!
 Now that we've been
home for 6 weeks with Andrew, we just look back in amazement. It
is like God performed a miracle right before our eyes! Upon
arrival to the U.S., we took Andrew to the doctor for a thorough
evaluation and received a "clean bill of health". He is now such
a happy child, full of life and humor. He makes us laugh all the
time with all the faces he makes and the cute things he does. He
is definitely not serious anymore! His whole countenance has
changed, and he has gained over five pounds since we've been
home. Within two weeks, he started walking and then running. We
are praising the Lord for His goodness to us. He gave us an
amazing gift in our little Andrew.
The story isn't
quite finished yet...we found out that I'm pregnant!!! God knew
exactly that we needed Andrew, and that Andrew needed us. It all
had to happen this way. God is good ALL the time!!!
~Christina Wagner
for the Wagner family, TX
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Christina and
Benjamin Wagner adopted Andrew Wagner on July 6, 2006 from
Vladivostok. Now after nearly a year home, Andrew is a
strapping young boy with continuing spirit and
personality...and he's still making faces, making his
parents laugh. |
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