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May 12, 2008
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Happy Anniversary! Children’s Hope Ethiopia Program Celebrates First Year
April 3, 2008
 One full year ago on April 3, 2007, Children’s Hope International became licensed to work in Ethiopia for the purpose of adoption and humanitarian aid - upholding our mission to provide “Homes, health and hope for children in need." Twenty-eight orphaned children of Ethiopia were united with their forever families this year and the program touched the lives of 218 additional orphaned children through orphan sponsorship and skills training/education programs.
 "We are looking forward to many more great years in Ethiopia. I pray that the work there and the aid that we are able to provide through our Development Aid Department continues to grow and get better and better with each passing year," says Program Director Sharon Turner.
Our Ethiopia US staff celebrated in St. Louis by providing a modified Ethiopian coffee ceremony, with popcorn and Ethiopian bread – and much rejoicing. Happy Anniversary to the Ethiopia Program!
Pictured on left: Erin Tilley, adoption social worker; Toni Lynch, adoption consultant; Sharon Turner, program director; Roxanne Wang, dossier review specialist.
A Big File of Paperwork Creates a New Family
March 11, 2008
 
After a lot of paperwork – which made up one of Children’s Hope largest family files to date – the Piaseckis have a new family member. Mary and Tim finalized their adoption of Anya in February 2008 in Russia. The happy family came to visit their favorite social work Janiece Wieschhaus in the St. Louis office, to share how great Anya is doing in her new home. Congratulations to this family!
Eleven Families Adopting from China Celebrate – Referrals!
 February 4, 2008
Thuy and David Smith of St. Louis, MO, along with 10 additional Children's Hope families adopting from China celebrated Monday, February 4, as their referral day. These eleven families saw pictures and reviewed medical information on their new child for the first time.
Each family was matched with one of 9 beautiful little girls and 2 handsome little boys from the Gansu, Guangdong, and Jilin provinces and Tianjin City. These infants range in age from 7 - 15 months and 24 - 28 months.
Parents travel to China approximately 8 weeks after their referral day to complete their Chinese adoptions. Congratulations to these families!
As soon as Thuy and David received their referral, the two year wait didn’t seem so long after all. The couple is pictured here with China Dossier Specialist Roxanne Wang.
A St. Louis Airport Homecoming Brings New Siblings Together
February 11, 2008
Thirteen children came home from Ethiopia this February, their parents having completed their international adoptions overseas. One of them was Isabella. When Chris and Leigh came into the St. Louis airport on February 11, they were welcomed by Isabella's new grandmothers, visiting from Illinois and Colorado, and one very excited brother Julian. Happy homecoming and happy Valentine's Day, to this united family!
 Families Home Share with Prospective Parents
January 15, 2008
Every third Sunday of the month, the St. Louis office hosts an information meeting for prospective parents, featuring both Program Directors armed with country information and parents who have walked in the very shoes these families seek to fill. Coming in from their home in Illinois, Jonah and Andrea Cope encouraged these families’ aspirations to adopt internationally. With them were 17-month-old Lilia from Russia and their son Caleb. The Copes finalized Lilia's adoption in August 2007.
Fifty Children’s Hope Staff Members are Adoptive Families, Too
January 1, 2008
 Before she left for Vietnam, Gloria Akers became anxious. Flight plans, itineraries, and thoughts of entertaining her new 4-year-old son – all rose to the surface as the days passed heading towards her departure. After many months of waiting, her wait abruptly stopped. Her travel approval meant she would be soon finalizing her adoption of Cameron – the little boy whose picture was framed and viewed daily in her office at Children’s Hope International. For 13 years Gloria has served Children’s Hope families. On December 21, she now also serves her household as a new mom. We wish all the best for this new family!
With Cameron home, 50 Children’s Hope Staff members are now parents to 94 children through international adoption. As adoptive moms and dads, they hope for orphaned children worldwide to find their families, too.
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A Three Hour Drive for a Girl Who Will Take Them around the World
December 31, 2007
 
Susan Osborn looks at a map of China with new eyes. With adoption social worker Julia Wheeler-Jenkins and Leslie Broome of the St. Louis - China Team, they find Susan’s new daughter’s birth province. Susan and her husband William drove 3½ hours from northern Illinois to receive their China referral in person in our St. Louis office on December 31, 2007. Their 16-month-old daughter awaits their arrival in the Guizhou province, a less common province of referrals for Children’s Hope families. The family, and five additional Children’s Hope families who received referrals on New Year’s Eve, will travel to complete their Chinese adoption in approximately 8 weeks.
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Christmas Wonder
December 21, 2007
While visiting the St. Louis Children’s Hope International office, 4-year-old Alex Braley of Kansas peered into the windows of several staff decorated gingerbread houses. Alex was adopted from Kaliningrad, Russia, by proud parents Caroline and Randy in January 2004. The family is currently adopting again through Children’s Hope. Thank you for visiting, Alex!
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Santa Brunch 2007
December 1, 2007
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These two cuties were two of the 200 people singing seasonal favorites during the Children’s Hope Christmas Party at the Kirkwood Community Center on Saturday.
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After a cookie or two, the children headed to the craft table to make a festive tambourine.
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A long line of children waited for that special time with Santa to finalize their Christmas requests.
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A Long Awaited Day
November 6, 2007
Ten China families across the nation celebrated their Referral Day yesterday after waiting 23 long months from the day their paperwork was registered in China. In St. Louis, we were happy to share this day with three of our families! Now in approximately 8 weeks, these families will travel to complete their adoption and unite with their daughters.
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| Adoption Social Worker Rebecca Davis shares a special moment with her family Sandy and Jeanne Weltman as they look on photos of their new daughter for the first time. | Proud mama and papa Lisa and Joel Anderson of St. Peters posed for their first family photo! |
A Puppy or an Apple? Visiting Doesn’t Require a Prop!
October 2007
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Holly Sparks of Weldon Spring, Missouri, visited the Children’s Hope main office this October with her new puppy, Emily. Holly received three shots and a puppy in one day. One makes up for the other, anyway! Parents David and Elizabeth adopted Holly’s sister Hope through Children’s Hope China Program in April 2001, Holly in September 2003, and are currently in the process for the girls’ sister.
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On Halloween, Kim Zottarella visited Children's Hope St. Louis office with a very interesting guest—Snow White (a.k.a. 5-year-old daughter Allie).
Kim and her husband Tim adopted Allie from China in August 2003. (Pictured with China Team's Leslie Broome and Toni Lynch.)
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Welcoming Mamush Home!
September 24, 2007
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Program Director Sharon Turner, Adoption Counselor Julia Wheeler, Executive Director Dwyatt Gantt with Mamush, and Jenni and James Rogal. Dwyatt and doting mother Jenni are entertained by Mamush.
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A little boy with a long name, 5-month-old Mamush Samuel David Abera Rogal is a special boy that shares a special new history with Children’s Hope. His adoptive parents Jenni and James were one of our three pioneer families for the Ethiopia program. Their visit to the Children’s Hope office on September 20 brought out many smiles. From our director to our social workers to our program staff—a big congratulations on your adoption, Mamush!
Families Newly Home Visit Those That Made Their Adoptions Possible
8/30/07
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On their way to a family reunion in Illinois, Dana Ramsey dropped in to see her adoption consultant, Karen Carnesciali, with son David in tow. Nineteen-month-old David was adopted from Russia and arrived in the States in mid-July. He now calls Lee’s Summit, Missouri, home. (left to right) Karen Carnesciali with David and Dana
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“This process was so great!” says mom Renee Sattazahn. “Anyone waiting now to adopt—the wait is so well worth it!” Renee, just two weeks after finalizing her adoption of Lily in China, is still in awe of her young daughter. Pictured: Lily plays with her social worker Rebecca Davis.
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Two weeks ago, Micah made Children’s Hope history as the first child adopted through Children’s Hope Ethiopia program. This 6-month-old will call St. Louis his home, with parents Stacie and Kevin, and their three dogs. We consider this family a part of Children’s Hope family, too. Pictured: Micah, held by Executive Director Dwyatt Gantt.
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Waiting Families Enjoy Chinese Cuisine
June 6, 2007
Referral Day Brings Joy to 17 China Families Nationwide, 3 from St. Louis!
June 6, 2007
 
Happy tears flow as Sam Fiorello and Rebecca Messbarger of St. Louis receive the referral for their new 8-month-old daughter from Chongqing City, China. Their Children's Hope social worker, Christina Ortwein (L), gives them the medical information on their child. There were 17 Children’s Hope families who, for the first time, saw photos of the orphan in China who was assigned to them to adopt. All families will travel to finalize their Chinese adoption in about eight weeks.
St. Louis Russia Families Reunite
June 6, 2007
Melyssa Frederick, adoptive mother and former social worker for the Russia Program, enjoys her evening picnic with daughters Nora and Katerina. Katerina, Melyssa and David’s eldest daughter, was adopted through Children’s Hope from Russia in March 2004. The family joined other St. Louis Russia families and Children’s Hope staff in St. Louis’ Forest Park to reunite and to kindle new friendships. The group cooked out and played games until nightfall Friday, June 1. Children’s Hope is excited for all our programs and families from every state to come together, July 14 for our nationwide Reunion Picnic!
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Mother and Child Adopted from Vietnam
May 15, 2007
Tami Herman smiles broadly while watching her new daughter passed from aunt to uncle to grandparent on arrival home from their adoption trip to Vietnam, May 15. Little 6-month-old Olivia, receives kisses and hugs while traveling through the arms of her new family. Tami and her husband Jason finalized Olivia’s adoption from Kien Giang Province almost 33 years after Tami was escorted from Vietnam to the same St. Louis airport to be adopted by her Missouri parents. Now she has the opportunity to experience the joy of adoption herself.
“When it came time for me to adopt, it was a natural to adopt from Vietnam,” Tami said.
The Hermans were one of the seven Children’s Hope families returning from Vietnam this week.
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Maggie Hettinger gives Panda a ride all over the St. Louis office with Adoption Consultant Pam Bischoff. This giggling girl from the November 2006 China Waiting Children list will visit St. Louis Shriner’s Hospital today, for a fitting for her prosthetic hand. Maggie has been home in Overland Park, KS with parents Joey and James since March.
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Jefferson City Family Travels to Receive China Referral
May 3, 2007
Karen and Ron Miller from Jefferson City drove into St. Louis today to receive their referral firsthand. Daughter Reagan, 3, already has a name picked out for her little sister, Little Little Tiny Baby Ryan's Wiggles (named after Reagan's favorite restaurant). The younger sister, with this fortunate nickname, will join her family from the Jiangxi province in approximately 8 weeks.
Referrals Received by Three St. Louis China Families
May 1, 2007
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Set to travel together in just 8 short weeks, the Hogan's (left), the Yarborough's (right), and the Geistler's (pictured in the Latest News), showed a host of smiles and joyous tears when they welcomed in their referrals. All three families will bring home a 6-7-month-old girl from the Jiangxi Province after completing their Chinese adoption. Their wait time was approximately 18 months.
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Latin America Families Join to Celebrate
April 28, 2007
 
Children's Hope families from the St. Louis area came together to celebrate their Colombian and Guatemalan adoptions at Faust Park this past Saturday. Fellowship and food mingled with climbing rock walls, riding the carousel, and making new friends.
Left: Kara Martinson shows off to her brother, only one of her many siblings! Kara was adopted from Guatemala in December 2000 and sister Aubreigh was adopted in Sepember 2002 through Children's Hope. Blessed with such beautiful girls, Linda and Alan went on to adopt three more children to complete their loving family.
Right: Cindy Skinner holds her children close. Daughter Kate was adopted from Guatemala in October 2003. "She is going to be somebody!" prides Cindy. "You can tell just looking at her. She is talented in everything she does."
China Families Waiting to Cook
April 12, 2007
Jeff Gao, Children’s Hope graphic designer, demonstrates how to make Chinese dumplings
for the 34 people who joined the China “Waiting Family” get together in St. Louis.
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