Nadia

Among the many orphanage donations we brought to Alisa's orphanage today, we donated 2 sets of new crutches.  Crutches at home are around $17.  Crutches in Russia are around $150.  This is extremely cost prohibited for many, including orphanages.  It was a joy to give these and replace the very beat up ones they had. 

This is Nadia.  She was one of the recipiants of new crutches.  We spent some time with her getting her crutches adjusted to fit her just right.  She is a beautiful, beautiful girl with a gentle spirit.  She is 14 and her only special need is that one leg is significantly shorter then the other.  Because of this, she will spend the rest of her life behind insitution walls.  She is in Alisa's orphanage where there HAS NEVER BEEN ONE ADOPTION BEFORE, NEVER!  She seems like an adorable girl who just needs someone to love her unconditionally.  Does anyone know who her parents might be?

Nadia was not who we brought the crutches for, we hadn't met her before this trip.  We actually promised new crutches to a wonderful teenager we met at the orphanage on our last trip.  Her crutches were in horrible condition, literally falling apart.  Her only special need was a unrepaired club foot.  Sadly though when we inquired about her, we discovered she had been transferred to the adult institution.  We were too late.  During our long 5 month wait to return, she had turned 18.  Our promise was left unfulfilled.  A beautiful daughter of God with the best personality has been lost to the world.  Locked away with her broken crutches.  This work is literally about redeeming lives.  More parents are needed.

Let me tell you that adopting from this region is not recommended.  There are 3 trips now that are mandatory, both parents must travel.  It is expensive, it is far away, it is time consuming, it is hard, it takes a year to complete an adoption.  There are many, many reasons why you should not do it.  But look at Nadia's sweet face.  I look at the children at the Oyash orphanage and it breaks my heart.  I want to scream to the world that THEY ARE SO WORTH IT.  THEY DESERVE TO HAVE THE LOVE OF A FAMILY.  They need someone to be willing to pay way too much, take way too many trips, go where no one is willing, be inconvenienced, wait a long time, do way too much paperwork, take off their shirt for medicals, etc, because otherwise they have no future.  THEY ARE WORTH IT.  PLEASE come, PLEASE bring home a child.  PLEASE spread the word about these forgotten children. 

And to my children at home, we must never forget how blessed we are to have the love of a family.  It is family that makes life worth living.  There are so many children without someone who cares deeply about them.  Who have no kisses.  Who have no Christmas or birthdays or things that belong to them.  Who have no one who will love them and be there for them no matter what.  Family is the most important thing in this world.  Those who have a family must never forget how lucky we are.