Korean Orphan Adopting Korean Orphan
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A Korean Orphan Adopting a Korean Orphan
Paul and Bethany Paschal and their three children are in the process of adopting a child from Korea through the same agency that Paul was adopted through 38 years ago!
Can you imagine being abandoned as a toddler? Being found alone, on the street, and finally taken to an orphanage…no known name, birth date, or family? This was the beginning of Paul’s journey. After a few months of no one looking for him or claiming this small child, he was placed with a foster mother and made available for adoption. Eight months later, Paul flew to the United States to be adopted by Jim and Suzy Paschal. Fortunately, Suzy was also Korean, so she looked like him and could speak to him in a language he understood. This must have been a comfort for him in such a new place. A year later, the Paschals also adopted a baby girl from Korea - now Paul had a little sister.
Paul grew up in the small town of Ponca City, Oklahoma. Though he was a gifted athlete and stand-out student, his childhood and adolescence were challenging. Dealing with the trauma of abandonment and rejection, Paul often felt lonely and depressed. It would take many years for him to confront and heal from his complicated past.
Meanwhile, Bethany’s childhood was quite different. She was the firstborn of Keith and Kathy McClintock, who happened to be high school sweethearts. She was raised in a Christian home in Lima, Ohio. Beth had a life-threatening condition as a 4 month old baby in which she had to be sent to a Children's Hospital over an hour away via Life Flight - which was terrifying for all of us! I know because I was there…I am her dad’s sister, Aunt Barb. Fortunately, it was resolved quickly and she was monitored for a period of time, but was then fine!
Beth grew up with a huge, loving family! She had all four of her grandparents until just the past few years. She had very close relationships with each of them. She has many aunts, uncles, and COUSINS! She knows her family history well and she treasures it very much.
As God would have it, both Beth and Paul ended up at Grace College in Indiana. Beth, because of her upbringing, wanted to attend a Christian college; Paul, because of their track program. Long story short…they met, he pursued, she resisted, he pursued, she gave in…and they are now celebrating 16 years of marriage! As a couple they have served God throughout their marriage, working for Teens For Christ, in camp ministry, and now Paul is a pastor in Rockford, MI. They have three beautiful, rambunctious children: Kierney will be 9 in July and the twins, Oren and Thatcher, are 7. Now they want to add to this lovely family by giving another child the opportunity to be a part of it. They are going to bring home a child from Korea, just like Paul came all those years ago. It is especially exciting because this will also be Paul’s first time to return to Korea. What a special time this will be for him, individually, and for the Paschals as a family!
They had first considered the Foster to Adopt program within their home state of Michigan, but unfortunately, it takes years to go through the process, so Beth reached out to the same agency in which Paul was adopted thru and they were more than happy to work with them.
But I was SHOCKED when Beth explained to me that it would cost around $45,000 for International adoption! There are fees for the Agency in America and fees for the Agency in Korea, fees for translating, fees for the Home Study, fees for the two trips they will have to take to Korea, once they are assigned a child Beth & Paul are responsible for all of their medical expenses from then on, even though it could be several months until they are actually able to bring their child home! And the funds needed are due as Paul & Beth move through the process...the first of which is due when the Home Study is completed, which is in process. This is a deserving family and more than that...a deserving Korean child!!! Your support will be a blessing and we will be very grateful! Together we can do anything!!
Please check out Beth’s blog for more detailed information and stories about the Paschal's adoption journey! Bethany Paschal Blog
Below is a breakdown on the adoption costs:
Application, pre-adoption education, agency fees, approval of home study: $8,500
Home study: $2,500
Document prep/authentication, translation: $775
Match with child, child's expenses: $19,600
Travel expense (2 round trip flights, lodging): $10,000
Post-adoption expense: $2,800
Miscellaneous: this includes visas, co-pays for the Paschal's physcials, psych evals, blood tests, fingerprinting, background checks, domestic and international document shipping.
Paul and Bethany Paschal and their three children are in the process of adopting a child from Korea through the same agency that Paul was adopted through 38 years ago!
Can you imagine being abandoned as a toddler? Being found alone, on the street, and finally taken to an orphanage…no known name, birth date, or family? This was the beginning of Paul’s journey. After a few months of no one looking for him or claiming this small child, he was placed with a foster mother and made available for adoption. Eight months later, Paul flew to the United States to be adopted by Jim and Suzy Paschal. Fortunately, Suzy was also Korean, so she looked like him and could speak to him in a language he understood. This must have been a comfort for him in such a new place. A year later, the Paschals also adopted a baby girl from Korea - now Paul had a little sister.
Paul grew up in the small town of Ponca City, Oklahoma. Though he was a gifted athlete and stand-out student, his childhood and adolescence were challenging. Dealing with the trauma of abandonment and rejection, Paul often felt lonely and depressed. It would take many years for him to confront and heal from his complicated past.
Meanwhile, Bethany’s childhood was quite different. She was the firstborn of Keith and Kathy McClintock, who happened to be high school sweethearts. She was raised in a Christian home in Lima, Ohio. Beth had a life-threatening condition as a 4 month old baby in which she had to be sent to a Children's Hospital over an hour away via Life Flight - which was terrifying for all of us! I know because I was there…I am her dad’s sister, Aunt Barb. Fortunately, it was resolved quickly and she was monitored for a period of time, but was then fine!
Beth grew up with a huge, loving family! She had all four of her grandparents until just the past few years. She had very close relationships with each of them. She has many aunts, uncles, and COUSINS! She knows her family history well and she treasures it very much.
As God would have it, both Beth and Paul ended up at Grace College in Indiana. Beth, because of her upbringing, wanted to attend a Christian college; Paul, because of their track program. Long story short…they met, he pursued, she resisted, he pursued, she gave in…and they are now celebrating 16 years of marriage! As a couple they have served God throughout their marriage, working for Teens For Christ, in camp ministry, and now Paul is a pastor in Rockford, MI. They have three beautiful, rambunctious children: Kierney will be 9 in July and the twins, Oren and Thatcher, are 7. Now they want to add to this lovely family by giving another child the opportunity to be a part of it. They are going to bring home a child from Korea, just like Paul came all those years ago. It is especially exciting because this will also be Paul’s first time to return to Korea. What a special time this will be for him, individually, and for the Paschals as a family!
They had first considered the Foster to Adopt program within their home state of Michigan, but unfortunately, it takes years to go through the process, so Beth reached out to the same agency in which Paul was adopted thru and they were more than happy to work with them.
But I was SHOCKED when Beth explained to me that it would cost around $45,000 for International adoption! There are fees for the Agency in America and fees for the Agency in Korea, fees for translating, fees for the Home Study, fees for the two trips they will have to take to Korea, once they are assigned a child Beth & Paul are responsible for all of their medical expenses from then on, even though it could be several months until they are actually able to bring their child home! And the funds needed are due as Paul & Beth move through the process...the first of which is due when the Home Study is completed, which is in process. This is a deserving family and more than that...a deserving Korean child!!! Your support will be a blessing and we will be very grateful! Together we can do anything!!
Please check out Beth’s blog for more detailed information and stories about the Paschal's adoption journey! Bethany Paschal Blog
Below is a breakdown on the adoption costs:
Application, pre-adoption education, agency fees, approval of home study: $8,500
Home study: $2,500
Document prep/authentication, translation: $775
Match with child, child's expenses: $19,600
Travel expense (2 round trip flights, lodging): $10,000
Post-adoption expense: $2,800
Miscellaneous: this includes visas, co-pays for the Paschal's physcials, psych evals, blood tests, fingerprinting, background checks, domestic and international document shipping.
Organizer and beneficiary
Barbara Wetzel
Organizer
Gowen, MI
Beth Paschal
Beneficiary