Children's Hope International E-Newsletter

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

The Other Family
One Family Heeds God?s Voice for Another

DEVELOPMENT AID:

Development Aid
Run for Hope, Run for
Children, Run for Life

BLOG OF THE MONTH:

Blog of the Month
More Paperwork?!
- In Photos

PARENT-TO-PARENT:

Parent-to-Parent
Syncing a ?Special? Family Takes Teamwork

KIDS CORNER:

Kids Corner
Festival Kites to Celebrate
Your Adoption

Children's Hope
Easter Party 2008

PROGRAM UPDATES:

	China Children, Long Awaiting Parents, Find Forever Homes through Waiting Children Program
	Colombia Safe Travels into a Nation Just Out of Turbulent Times
	Ethiopia Eight Families See Referrals for their Ethiopian Child
	Russia Spring Showers Bring a Flood of Travel for Happy Russia Families
	Vietnam New Parents Join Large and Excited Travel Groups to Complete Their Vietnamese Adoptions

Request a copy of our Adoption
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 ministry.

Our Accreditations

KAZAKHSTAN PROGRAM UPDATES

Families Meeting to Bond with Their Sons

Children?s Hope International?s Kazakhstan program has one family just home from their first trip?s bonding period, two couples currently in Almaty City for their first trip of their required three for the region, and a family waiting to travel on their first trip after just receiving their travel dates over the weekend. Our waiting family travels on April 6. All four of these families are traveling to adopt boys.

We wish our traveling families smooth and safe travels, and a quick return to Kazakhstan for their second trips.

Russian or Kazakh Language?
Many families ask whether their child will be hearing Russian or Kazakh language in the Baby Home. The answer is: it depends. For further explanation, read this recent BBC article, ?Kazakhstan?s Search for Its Identity?.

Visit by Children's Hope Foundation in Kazakhstan Chief Representative

We were so pleased to have as our guest Chief Representative of Children?s Hope Foundation in Kazakhstan, Mrs. Bayan Ussipbayeva. Seven local families joined us to meet Bayan at a reception in St. Louis this March, to view an informational presentation Bayan had prepared, and have their questions answered. It was a wonderful opportunity for both our families and Bayan and we are so glad everyone took the time to join us.

Estimated Waiting Time
Our estimated waiting time remains at 24 months or more for families who submitted their dossier after January 2008. For those families who submitted before then, the estimated wait is on a case by case basis, depending on when the dossier was submitted and what the referral request is. Our staff in Kazakhstan is currently in negotiations to begin working in several new regions, which would increase the amount of adoptions that we can complete this year

From hanging out with the ?lions? at the San Diego Wild Animal Park, to chilling with the fish at Scripps Aquarium, to driving an old car at the car museum ? little Ben is an experienced young man!

?We are doing well and continually adjusting to life as a family,? says mom Julie Woods. ?Everyday brings a new adventure and far more laughter than we were previously used to!?

Julie and her husband Aaron adopted their 2-year-old lion tamer/driver from Kazakhstan in December 2007.

If you would like to share your thoughts, experiences or stories about your adoption, email: Jennifer.Newcomb@ChildrensHope.net We would love to post your family pictures!