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Caring for and serving families in Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama,
Mississippi, |
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Florida,Texas, and Louisiana
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Operation Hope Kids Arrive in Nashville
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Operation Hope 2002 in Nashville, TN
By Tanya Yurlova, CHI Operation Hope Coordinator
Finally, the day we
have been waiting for with such joy and impatience has arrived. On July 5,
late in the evening, after a long and exhausting trip, our eight Operation
Hope children from Smolensk Region in Russia and their guardian arrived in
Nashville airport. They hadn’t slept for almost two days and, in spite of
that, they were still very polite, considerate and well behaved. The group
spent the night at Brenda’s home and woke up early the next day, ready for
the swimming pool! We also enjoyed jumping on the trampoline, swinging,
building with legos, coloring, and breakfast!
All the children
memorized the letters their host families sent them, and would tell each
other and us about them. So, when the families started coming, one by one,
to meet their long-awaited children, the kids not only recognized them but
also remembered the names and every little detail the families shared with
them in their letters. As the children left with their host families to
begin their new adventure in America, we, in our hearts, hoped that
everything would work out and that these beautiful and smart children
would find their happiness and their bright future, which only a loving
family can provide.
Last year,
Children’s Hope International hosted three Operation Hope groups – 22
children in Nashville, Seattle and Kansas City. As a result of this
program, 20 children were spoken for by families. In 2002, CHI will host
46 children with Operation Hope being held in Chicago, Kansas City,
Nashville, Portland, OR, St. Louis, Little Rock, New York and Seattle. We
hope that we will be able to find families for each and every child who
came here this year as part of Operation Hope. As for our “magnificent
eight” of Nashville, they are doing really well and we sincerely hope
that, by the time they leave on July 26, we can say to all of them: “See
you soon!”
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Many Wonderful Children Still Wait For Families
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Please know that there are many older waiting children in all of the
countries we work in, including sibling groups. If you are interested in our
Wonderful Waiting Children, please email
brenda@childrenshopeint.org . I would love to answer any of your
questions.
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We are so
happy to announce that we will be hosting our Russian Staff from Moscow,
Lyudmila Kochergina, CHI Operations Director in Russia, Sophia Zubo, Moscow
Coordinator and Interpreter, and Ksyusha Krivoruchko, Moscow Interpreter.
We will have a reception at our offices on Monday, August 5th at
our offices, from 3-5 PM! For more details, please email
ondrea@childrenshopeint.org.
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Walk for Hope & Fall Family Picnic
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On
Saturday, September 14, 2002, Children’s Hope International’s Brentwood
office will host our first “Walk for Hope.” Monies raised through this Walk
will benefit the Children’s Hope International Foundation, which provides
humanitarian relief to children in orphanages by providing foster care,
clothing, toys, nutritional supplements and medical supplies. The goal of
this year’s Walk is to raise money for the establishment of a Medical Vision
Clinic in Kakinada, India. The Kakinada Medical Vision Clinic will fill a
void that currently exists in the area by providing reasonable and adequate
medical and ophthalmologic care to the homeless, the widowed and the
orphaned. Through diagnostic, ophthalmologic care, other medical
evaluations can be made accurately. It is through this type of care that
the Clinic will help save the children of Kakinada. It is through this
Clinic that we will continue to fulfill our mission of… Homes. Health. Hope.
For Children. Won’t you join us on September 14, at 9:00 AM, to “Walk for
Hope” for the children of Kakinada?!
Immediately following the “Walk for Hope”, you are invited to attend our
Fall Family Picnic! There will be lots of activities for the children and
this will be a good time to socialize with area families who are associated
with Children’s Hope. Please join us for food, fun, face painting, and
fellowship, immediately following the walk.
1. How
can you help?
We need
many volunteers for the day of the walk, to assist with registration and
other activities planned for the day.
2. How
can you join the walk?
Everyone
is encouraged to sign up to walk! In the next few weeks, you will be
receiving a registration form. Simply complete the form and return it to
the Children’s Hope office, along with your $15.00 (per adult)/$5.00 (per
child) registration fee. If you are unable to walk, your personal,
tax-deductible donation is also appreciated! Be sure to spread the word.
Everyone is invited to “Walk for Hope”; so encourage all your friends,
neighbors, co-workers and families to join us. You can also collect
tax-deductible donations from friends who would like to sponsor you in the
“Walk for Hope”. (Look for more information to follow in the mail!)
3.
When?
Saturday,
September 14, 2002
4.
Where?
River
Park – at the intersection of Concord Road and Knox Valley Drive (bordering
the YMCA Soccer Fields and across the street from the Brentwood Library),
Brentwood, TN.
5.
What time?
9:00
Check-In
10:00
Walk – The walk begins at the shelter near the trailhead and continues
through River Park to Crockett Park. We encourage you to bring strollers,
joggers, bikes and wagons for the children.
11:00-2:00 Family Social and Children’s Party – Plan to stick around after
the Walk for more fun with Children’s Hope Families and Friends.
Please
call Ondrea Harrison at 615-309-8109, or e-mail
Ondrea@childrenshopeint.org, if you would like to volunteer or have any
questions about the Walk. We hope to see you there! |
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Upcoming Information Meetings
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Please join
us for free information meetings: |
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August 13, Brentwood
Offices 6:30-8:30 PM
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September 10, Brentwood
Offices 6:30-8:30 PM
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September 21, Houston,
TX (Resolve Conference)
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September 28, Atlanta,
GA
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Vietnamese Reception
Vietnamese Coordinator Thuy from Vietnam and Nicky from our STL office will
also be visiting us on August 6-8th. We will also host a
reception for them as well! This is Thuy’s first trip to the US and she
cannot wait to see all the children! It will be wonderful for those of you
waiting in our Vietnam program as well to meet Thuy who will take care of
you while you are in Vietnam, as well as Nicky, from our ST. Louis Staff.
Please plan to join us! For more details, please email
ondrea@childrenshopeint.org. Reception is Wednesday, August 7 at 3-5 PM
at our offices.
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August 10 Dossier Class 8:00-10:00 AM Children’s Hope |
Travel Class 10:00-11:59 AM Children’s Hope |
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Pre-Adoption #2
12:30-6:00 PM Woodmont Hills Church of Christ |
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August
19 Home Study Group 6:30 –8:30
PM Children’s Hope |
September 14 Dossier Class 8:00-10:00 AM Children’s Hope |
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Travel
Class 10:00-11:59 AM
Children’s Hope |
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Pre-Adoption #2
12:390-6:00 PM Woodmont Hills Church of Christ |
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September 16
Home Study Group 6:30 –8:30 PM
Children’s Hope |
A
Message From Brenda Barker
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Wow! I can’t believe that Summer has flown by and school starts in just a
couple of weeks! I hope you have had a wonderful summer of fun, relaxation,
vacations, and special shared memories! Of course, now that the crazy days
of summer are winding down, this may be a great time to start back up on
your adoption dreams! Give us a call if you are ready to get started on an
adoption, or of course, if we can help you in any way! Hope to see lots of
you at the upcoming receptions as well as the Walk for Hope!
We
don't want to burden you with a lot of information, but we do want to help
you if you are looking for a way to adopt. If not, please let us know and we
will regretfully remove your name from our newsletter. E-mail me at my
address below with any question you have. I would love to hear from you.
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Southeastern U.S.
Brenda Barker,
Director
7003 Chadwick Dr. Suite 350
Brentwood, TN 37027
615-309-8109 Fax: 615-309-8483
Brenda@ChildrensHope.com
Also serving the following
states: TN, KY, GA, AL, MS, FL, TX and LA |
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