June 1, 2005

Click on pictures to see the full size!
 

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES OF 2005!

They are the first high school graduates of the Southeast region!!

Congratulations to Lei Lei and Pei Pei Graeflin, daughters of David and Sharon.  Lei Lei and Pei Pei will be attending college in Chattanooga this Fall. 

RUSSIAN UPDATE

Children’s Hope International is proud to announce that we are one of the first agencies to be re-accredited by the Russian Federation!

CHI was one of the first agencies accredited in September, 2000 and now we are proud to announce our re-accreditation took place May 18, 2005!!!!  Children’s Hope International has always worked to provide hope, health, and homes to Russian children and since we began working in Russia in 1996, over 1000 children have been placed in forever families.

We want to send our congratulations to all the families who have been waiting so long and to our Moscow team and Russian Representatives who have worked diligently to make this happen so quickly!

CHAPS

We are currently looking for families who would like to volunteer their time and energy in helping to recruit and work with families in your area.  If you are interested in this, please contact Brenda@childrenshopeint.org or Lisal@childrenshopeint.org for more information.

CHAP families have a chance to volunteer in one of two ways:

• Host informational meeting about international adoption in your hometown
• Become a contact person for potential adoptive families of CHI in your area

FISCHER FAMILY, TX (China)

We moved to China in 2000 for a life adventure. We have never regretted it one moment. I am in the 6th year of home schooling our girls. They went to public school for 3 years.

Their Chinese is great. I will be a life time student of Chinese I am sure.

Xiamen is a wonderful community and we even have an International Christian Fellowship for Sunday worship.

Morgan, 11, models for a Japanese brand of kids clothing. Anna has not gotten to model as the competition for her is a million cute Chinese girls.

THE MCLEOD FAMILY, TN (Russia)

THE LEE FAMILY, TN (China)

 We're great and couldn't be happier!  Our Gotcha Day is coming up on May 20 (4 years!) and Virginia
turns 5 on July 17. 

Virginia recently asked me why we adopted her, and I told her it was because we were lonely and needed her.  She responded with wisdom beyond her four years:

”But I was lonely, too.”

THE SITHER FAMILY, KY (China)

I'm in love with my daughter Scout Li Ming.   She's the best thing that's ever happened to me.  So much FUN.  Am wanting another child if I can talk my husband into it. 

THE BREUN FAMILY, LA (China)

I just want to let you know that we are doing great.  Natasha made the smoothest adjustment I could ever have imagined.  Naomi is loving being a big sister and I am getting so much joy from seeing them together.  Thank you for all of your help throughout the adoption process.

THE KRIGEL FAMILY, TN (Russia)

The kids are doing great. Alex is having a great time, and this kid is smart. He has figured out how the digital camera works and loves to go through the pictures all by himself without my help. Spencer has really attached to mom, and he tolerates me holding him. He loves to reach into Belinda's bag and take everything out. He even puts the crayons back into the box when he is done. Alex loves to play ball and color. We brought crayons and kids markers and he draws in the coloring book. Our agency guides Svetlana and Irina are great. They took us around town and have showed us a bit of the town. We went to town yesterday and met another couple and walked around the city a bit. On our fourth night here the Hotel Manager took me to a go cart track. This was like Malibu Grand Prix without liability worries as these carts haul. These things were hot! We have also found a few nice restaurants here. One Russian restaurant called Nostalgia was amazing. Very small but beautiful inside with old pictures, an old Russian atmosphere and a lady playing piano. Later in the week we will go to Park Royal which is a Casino steak house. I have met the manager of the restaurant, a British man named Robert. We have heard about the steaks so we will try it out later. Well it is time to go to the baby home to see the kids now. We do not get the kids till after the 10 day waiting period. Until then we have to visit them. We are lucky to have such a good agency. It seems that others kind of get dropped off at the hotel and have to make their own plans to get to the orphanage. Some folks were not even met at the airport, but our agency has really come through. They are everywhere to meet us, take us to the orphanage, show us around town, and almost anything else we need.

I wanted to say thanks for the class. We are finding ourselves able to read and understand the traffic signs and some other things. Most of the stuff I can read but I do not understand it, but some of the things I have been able to get. I was able to read the info on the screen in the domestic airport like which flight went to Vlad or St. Petersburg and so on, so it helped and I was even able to help another couple going to Vladivostok and could not read the signs so that was nice.

I want to tell you how glad we are that we used CHI. I see other families that were not picked up at the airport by their agency. Lana knew who to call and get them picked up. Others have to find their own way to the orphanage to see their children. Their agency seemed to drop them off at the hotel and did not see them again till it was time for court.

For us everything is just great!!

Thanks again for everything.

THE KALLAS FAMILY, TN (Russia)

THE DUKES/REYNOLDS FAMILY,TN (Nepal)

 
 

All went extremely well, our little girl is fantastic, I love Nepal, and have begun what will likely be a lasting relationship with
Lila and his family.  Thanks for all of your help along the way.

THE JOLLEY FAMILY, TN (Vietnam)

It's so hard to believe that 3 years have gone already. It seems like only yesterday that we were in Vietnam. We can't imagine our lives without him ! He is such a joy to us as well as those he is around. This has been an exciting year for Noah. He potty trained ( believe it or not he trained in 1 day!!), learned his address,phone number ( including Jim's cell number ) and registered for nursery school. THANK YOU doesn't seem to express our grattitude for all you did in bringing our family together. Brenda, you and Childrens Hope will always hold a very special place in our hearts.

 

THE PO FAMILY, FL (China)

FAMILY UPDATE

Alosha, Russia, OK

CHI REUNION PICNIC

Mark your calendar for the CHI Reunion Picnic 2005. July 23^rd :10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Again this year we will gather at Queeny Park in St. Louis for a one day event, for families to share or relive adoption experiences. Over 1000 people joined in the fun last year.  

UPCOMING INFORMATION MEETINGS

UPCOMING EVENTS

A MESSAGE FROM BRENDA BARKER

We are featuring several new families, as well as some of our families we worked with many years ago!  It is such a privilege to be a part of your lives, and watch as your children and families grow!  It is a wonderful time to start an adoption….especially with our Russian accreditation!

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. 

Brenda

 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, AR, MS, TX and LA