This is Alona. She is our Ukrainian daughter's very best friend. She is 15 years old until the end of June. In four and a half months, she needs to find a forever family or be forever alone. Unfortunately she is in an orphanage in Crimea and for some reason that area has been withdrawn from hosting programs. I am trying to find out the why's and who it affects. But for now we know it affect's this orphanage, where we spent so much time in November and December. There are such precious children there for whom we wanted to facilitate a hosting program for in the Raleigh area this summer. Without hosting programs, these children have little chance of being found. Only families already in the adoption process in Ukraine have a very small chance of being shown their pictures during the referral interview upon arriving in Kiev. They are typically only shown pictures of a few children that fit their specific description. Without hosting programs, we would not have found Liza. We had no plans to adopt in Ukraine before July 22nd of last year. As of today, we've been home with our new 16 year old daughter for 5 and a 1/2 weeks. So we know miracles can and do happen every day.
Please pray for God to open the hearts of a family for Alona.
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| They may be teenagers, but they are just babies at heart who want the childhood they never had. |
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| Trying to be happy for Liza as she flipped through pictures of her new home, knowing she'd be left behind. |
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| Alona's new Lilla Rose hair clip the way Liza styled her hair |
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| Alona's bed is the one nearest the white curtains. They are toddler sized beds with about a foot of walking space between them, with as many as possible crammed in the space. |
So for now, we wanted to put Alona's story out there to help find her a forever family. Alona is a tender and quiet girl, but friendly and well spoken. She smiles a lot. She is popular among the other kids and has lots of friends, including our Liza, who adores her.
I found your blog through a post on Facebook from Christa Wells. Our family is involved in a ministry that does hosting of Ukrainian orphans at a camp here in Alabama, and in May 2012 the group was from Crimea. Could you email me at loveandtots3 at gmail and give me some more info about Alona's orphanage and region? I would love to share with some families we know.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog through a post on Facebook from Christa Wells. Our family is involved in a ministry that does hosting of Ukrainian orphans at a camp here in Alabama, and in May 2012 the group was from Crimea. Could you email me at loveandtots3 at gmail and give me some more info about Alona's orphanage and region? I would love to share with some families we know.
ReplyDeleteI will be praying for Alona to find a family. So heartbreaking when these children age out and can no longer have a hope of parents of their own. My oldest daughter from China had an older best friend who is now past 14, China's cut-off age. I so wish I could have brought her home, such a kind and loving girl to the babies but no one to mother her. God bless you for giving your older girls a home and parents of their own.
ReplyDeleteLove and Miss you Reagan my sweet sweet friend! Hope all is well, and not too busy for you! Praying for your new journey as I know it will find you well, and loving on those who may not have ever gotten the chance otherwise! Much<3forya! Heather B.
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