Bring Home Vika!
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I set up this page for my sister and her family who is trying hard to raise enough money to adopt a special gal. Please take a minute to read the story below and see if God would have you be a part of an amazing story. A story of love that has continued over a 2 year seperation and thousands of miles apart. Here is Rachael's story....
Brandon and I have felt the pull to adopt for probably about the last 8 years or so. We just were uncertain of when it would happen or how because lets be honest, adopting is expensive. Almost to the point that hurdle seems insurmountable. Two years ago an announcement was made in church that Nightlight Christian Adoptions was bringing a group of children over from several different orphanages from a country called Kyrgyzstan. There was a need for host families to host the children while they sang at area churches. The agency brings over groups to showcase the fact that they are wonderful, normal children. Yes they are older but nothing to be fearful of. They are loving and just desire a home with a family. Immediately Brandon and I knew we wanted to host a couple of children. We were paired with Vika (Vee-kuh) and one other young lady. The language barrier made it a little challenging, but we found ways to communicate fairly effectively. Throughout the week, we just fell in love with her. We spent the week doing all kinds of firsts with these girls. Brandon taught them how to ride a bike, they came in the kitchen and snuck food while I cooked, we took them swimming at a huge pool and just spent time loving on two children who so desperately needed it.These two girls were so hungry for affection. They especially clung to Brandon as there are not really any Father figures in their life. Vika especially would spend every moment she could holding his hand or sitting close to him on the couch. She was so easy to love, she fit right into our family like she was the missing piece. As the week drew to a close I felt like I was sending back MY child to the orphanage. How could I put this child on a plane and never see her again? I went into their room the night before they left in an effort to help them pack all of their new treasures into the tiny bags they had brought. It was pointless, I could not even get Vika's things put into her bag before I sank to my knees in tears. I was heartbroken at the thought of her leaving. She came over to me, sat beside me, wrapped her arms around me and we sat and cried together. Vika spent the entire evening sitting at the kitchen table painstakingly trying to translate a letter to us before she left. Using our google translator she wrote a note saying," Mom and Dad you are the best mom and dad, I love you. Please never forget me, I will never forget you." We wrote her little notes to and put together a photo album of her week with us for her to take home with her. Putting her on that plane was very hard. During the next week our family came to the decision that we wanted to adopt her. We called the agency to let them know and received some bad news. The country had closed adoptions due to corruption in the government. Due to its instability they were uncertain whether it would ever open again. What? we were certain this was what God was asking us to do! There was nothing we could do but hope and pray that someday we could reconnect with her. It hurt.
During the past two years we have continued to talk about and pray for Vika. There would be days she would all of the sudden come to my mind and I would just pray fervently for her safety. In that country when a child turns 16 they are sent out on their own, essentially ousted out of the orphanage with no family and no connections, expected to survive on their own. Knowing she was 12 or 13 when we met her, Brandon and I often talked about hoping that if we could not adopt her, we could find her at 16 and bring her over to the USA.
Then out of the blue about a month ago we received an email from the agency alerting us to the fact that the country was reopened and adoption was now possible! We prayed as a family, making sure that this was still what God would have us to do. All 4 of us felt strongly that Vika was ours, she is supposed to be part of our family. So we began the process! Almost $40,000 in adoption fees seems insurmountable. But we are confident that God will provide and bring her home to us. Please be praying with us that we will be able to raise the funds and be awarded grants as we move forward in this process. Also a huge prayer is also that the country remains stable and open as we try to get her out and get her home!
Thank you all for your outpouring of love and support- Brandon and I so are thankful for it! We are humbled and grateful for the friends and family that are surrounding us with prayer and encouragement as we start this journey!
Brandon and I have felt the pull to adopt for probably about the last 8 years or so. We just were uncertain of when it would happen or how because lets be honest, adopting is expensive. Almost to the point that hurdle seems insurmountable. Two years ago an announcement was made in church that Nightlight Christian Adoptions was bringing a group of children over from several different orphanages from a country called Kyrgyzstan. There was a need for host families to host the children while they sang at area churches. The agency brings over groups to showcase the fact that they are wonderful, normal children. Yes they are older but nothing to be fearful of. They are loving and just desire a home with a family. Immediately Brandon and I knew we wanted to host a couple of children. We were paired with Vika (Vee-kuh) and one other young lady. The language barrier made it a little challenging, but we found ways to communicate fairly effectively. Throughout the week, we just fell in love with her. We spent the week doing all kinds of firsts with these girls. Brandon taught them how to ride a bike, they came in the kitchen and snuck food while I cooked, we took them swimming at a huge pool and just spent time loving on two children who so desperately needed it.These two girls were so hungry for affection. They especially clung to Brandon as there are not really any Father figures in their life. Vika especially would spend every moment she could holding his hand or sitting close to him on the couch. She was so easy to love, she fit right into our family like she was the missing piece. As the week drew to a close I felt like I was sending back MY child to the orphanage. How could I put this child on a plane and never see her again? I went into their room the night before they left in an effort to help them pack all of their new treasures into the tiny bags they had brought. It was pointless, I could not even get Vika's things put into her bag before I sank to my knees in tears. I was heartbroken at the thought of her leaving. She came over to me, sat beside me, wrapped her arms around me and we sat and cried together. Vika spent the entire evening sitting at the kitchen table painstakingly trying to translate a letter to us before she left. Using our google translator she wrote a note saying," Mom and Dad you are the best mom and dad, I love you. Please never forget me, I will never forget you." We wrote her little notes to and put together a photo album of her week with us for her to take home with her. Putting her on that plane was very hard. During the next week our family came to the decision that we wanted to adopt her. We called the agency to let them know and received some bad news. The country had closed adoptions due to corruption in the government. Due to its instability they were uncertain whether it would ever open again. What? we were certain this was what God was asking us to do! There was nothing we could do but hope and pray that someday we could reconnect with her. It hurt.
During the past two years we have continued to talk about and pray for Vika. There would be days she would all of the sudden come to my mind and I would just pray fervently for her safety. In that country when a child turns 16 they are sent out on their own, essentially ousted out of the orphanage with no family and no connections, expected to survive on their own. Knowing she was 12 or 13 when we met her, Brandon and I often talked about hoping that if we could not adopt her, we could find her at 16 and bring her over to the USA.
Then out of the blue about a month ago we received an email from the agency alerting us to the fact that the country was reopened and adoption was now possible! We prayed as a family, making sure that this was still what God would have us to do. All 4 of us felt strongly that Vika was ours, she is supposed to be part of our family. So we began the process! Almost $40,000 in adoption fees seems insurmountable. But we are confident that God will provide and bring her home to us. Please be praying with us that we will be able to raise the funds and be awarded grants as we move forward in this process. Also a huge prayer is also that the country remains stable and open as we try to get her out and get her home!
Thank you all for your outpouring of love and support- Brandon and I so are thankful for it! We are humbled and grateful for the friends and family that are surrounding us with prayer and encouragement as we start this journey!
Organizer
Christy Olson Inion
Organizer
Circle, MT
