THE PAPER CHASE

Dear Russia Families,

Things are up and rolling in the Russia program!! And so is the paper chase J

We have informed all our families about the document change in our email updates. We wanted to reiterate the changes in the documents one more time.

Based on the feedback that our representatives have been getting as they have been submitting families’ documents for registration, we felt the need to make some changes to the initial list of Registration Documents that families will submit in order to be registered in a particular region. The wording on some of the documents has been changed in order to better meet the specifications of the Ministry of Education.

To help you with the document preparation, we have created a website so that you can download the templates to personalize it. Please use the templates on the following website from now on whenever you are updating documents, in order to make sure you have the most recent version.

Here is the link: http://docs.childrenshope.net/

You should be able to open the website by just clicking on the link above. If you experience any problems, copy the URL above and paste it directly to your browser. If you experience any problems, please let your consultant know.

We know all of you are at different stages in terms of being assigned to a region and updating your registration documents. Based on the stage you are currently at in the process, here is how you should use the above link for documents.

If you know you are already registered in a region or if you have already been matched with a referral:

You can just ignore this!

If you have recently submitted updated registration documents to the St. Louis office or if your new documents are apostilled and on their way to us:

There are only two documents that will need to be added at this time. These are the new versions of the Parent Consular Registration Letter and the Home Study Agency Consular Registration Letter (two originals of each). Please complete these as soon as possible and send them to us to forward on to Russia. Please don’t worry about changing any other templates or adding anything else at this time. Our representatives in each region have been contacting us regarding each individual family if they determine something additional is needed for your specific registration.  

If you are working on registration documents and have not yet apostilled them:

Please follow the new list (follow the above link) instead of the one I previously given to you. Please use all the new templates instead of the ones that were previously sent. Note that the regions of Tver and Moscow Region (not to be confused with Moscow City) have a slightly different list to follow.

If you have not yet been contacted about updating your registration documents for a particular region:

Your adoption consultant will be contacting you soon with that information, so just hang onto the list for now.

As always, if you have specific questions about how this change pertains to your family’s particular situation, please do not hesitate to contact your adoption consultant in the St. Louis Office.

: : The Russia Team

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RUSSIA ADOPTION: SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST?

I would describe my experience with international adoption as a “survival of the fittest” which encompassed the mind, body and soul.  As my challenges through the adoption process grew, reading the bible daily and devotionals became part of the groundwork that got me through.  I had read a quote from one of my daily devotionals and it put things into perspective for me; “If you are truly recognizing your Lord, you have no business being concerned about how and where He engineers your circumstances.  Be reckless immediately totally unrestrained and willing to risk everything by casting your all upon Him”.  Through the challenges of the adoption process I was humbled beyond measure and every care was cast upon the Lord.

My initial visit to Tver Russia was in May, 2007 and I met my 2 year old daughter, Catherine, for the first time.  I received immediate news that I would return to Russia in July in order to finalize the adoption however a week before the trip the hearing was postponed and subsequently six more trips were postponed at the last minute due to some sort of governmental shake-up that had affected the adoption court hearings in Tver.  Several families including myself were put through the most difficult test of our lives.  For me the cancelled trips crushed me leaving me lifeless and numb and questioning God’s purpose for me and Catherine. 

(Catherine before)

During the darkest days the times I let go and dare say give-in (not give up), miracles appeared and blessings manifested.  More importantly the love of God shined through other people in my circle of life and I left His work to be done through Arati, my angel at CHI St. Louis, my CHI facilitators in Russia and all the other angels (family and friends) that prayed for Catherine and me and inspired me.

For a long time all signs indicated that the adoption of my daughter would not come to pass however in October I took my 2nd trip to Tver and was called back in November for my 3rd and final trip.  During November I was in Russia an entire month – three weeks in Tver and a week in Moscow.  Finally, my prayers were answered and I was heading home December 16th with my daughter Catherine.Catherine had been diagnosed with “significant” developmental delays and when I first met her she wasn’t walking or speaking - her developmental level was that of a 15 month old child versus a 2.5 year old toddler.  I knew her situation from the beginning and was prepared to get her in with a therapist upon our return.  Now that we have been home only a month I have seen tremendous improvement in Catherine.  She is laughing all the time, walking, climbing stairs, eating everything in site and she is now babbling.  She hasn’t spoken any words just yet, but she will.  I look at my little princess and thank God everyday for her presence in my life. 

The extent of the challenges that I went through was unusual and I thank God for giving me patience and strength to get through the process.  As a single mom there were many days when I wasn’t sure I could make it but God had blessed me with a wonderful group of people that were always routing for me and Catherine.  To my friends at CHI (USA and Russia) and my dear family and friends that encouraged me through the process and to all of those professionals who dropped what they were doing in order to meet the demands of the courts and to help me bring Catherine home “THANK YOU” – I truly could not have done this without you and know that all of you are a God send and angels on this earth!  

: : Ida Wozniak-Rood

Catherine’s Mama

Ida Adopted Catherine Elaina from Tver, Russia November 2007.

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WHAT TO DO WHILE WAITING

Many families relate that the "Waiting" during the process is indeed the hardest part of the adoption process. While researching "Things to do While you Wait", we came upon some great lists and resources, too numerous to list here. So, we've come up with our own Top 10 list! These are not all-encompassing and are not in any particular order. We strongly encourage you to read the accompanying articles to get a fuller picture and get some more great ideas. This lists issues that we feel are some of the most important, and sometimes the most overlooked!

If you have a job, keep working until you are invited for your second trip/court hearing. If you don't have a current job, think about getting a part-time job (to help with those adoption costs) or volunteer at a local charity/hospital to help keep your mind focused on other things.
Provide resources for grandparents and other relatives and friends who will be visiting after your child comes home so they are more aware of international adoption issues and how they can help.
Read child development books and research early intervention programs available through your local school district.
Explore child care options. Many childcare facilities have waitlists.
Write a journal for your child about your thoughts, feelings and experiences during this long and thought-filled time. This is also a good time to start a Lifebook for your child.
Take a Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) course and childcare classes at the local hospitals. Many hospitals have special courses just for baby and child CPR and Heimlich maneuver. These often include other child safety issues and concerns.
Learn to speak some basic words in your child's birth language. For instance- I love you, hello, and thank you would be a good start.
Meet with families that have made the journey before you and/or attend adoption support groups in your area. Many families love to give tips of what to expect to prepare you for your journey.
Subscribe to adoption and parenting magazines.
Make a list of questions to ask your child's caregivers. Some things to consider: favorite foods and drinks, sleep habits, favorite toys, blankets and activities, napping habits, general likes and dislikes, and bath routine.
Blogs: For those of you who are tech savvy, you may already know all about Blogs. Blogs are an online journey/diary where individuals can share their daily stories or exciting events with friends and family. Over the past year, families have been sharing their ups and downs of their adoption journey with their family and friends on internet Blogs. Blogs can be publicly open or password protected. Different sites work different ways. As an agency, CHI suggests that families select a Blog spot that is password protected. Families can then share their username and password with friends and family members still ensuring that their adoption information is kept confidential and shared only with parties the family gives permission to. The IT department at CHI report that in the distant future, there will be a website blog spot program for CHI families to use to share their adoption journey! We will definitely publish this once the CHI blog site is established. In the meantime, perhaps the following sites can be of some service to you as you embark on one of the most fulfilling journeys of your lives....the journey to your children!
www.journeytome.com

www.blogger.com/start

www.travelpod.com

Some of the great books and sites that we found as resources were:

The Complete Book of International Adoption: A Step by Step Guide to Finding your Child by Dawn Davenport
39 Things to Do While You Wait, by Martha Osborne

http://www.adopting.org/adoptions/the-joy-of-waiting-waiting-to-adopt,2.html

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RUSSIAN SOUP SHCHI

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WHO'S WHO RUSSIA TEAM featuring Pam Harmon

We are pleased to welcome Pam Harmon to our team. She joined our team on Jan 7, 2008. Welcome Aboard Pam! Here is what she says about herself:

It is my privilege to have joined Children’s Hope International this month as an Adoption Consultant for the Russian Program. I first became familiar with CHI in 2002 when my husband Doug and I felt God had led us down a long road to international adoption.   After exploring programs offered by several adoption agencies, we knew CHI was the right one for us.  We were drawn to adopt through CHI because we were impressed with the dedication, integrity and compassion exhibited by the staff.  I was drawn to work here because of the life changing joy CHI brought to my life through adoption.

Since meeting our first daughter Lili in Urumqi, China in March, 2003, life has not been the same. The months spent completing documents followed by the long, silent (sometimes agonizing) wait quickly blurred into a faint memory the moment I held Lili in my arms.   All the planning, praying, and yearning, changed from hope to reality in a single moment. I instantly felt a love I did not know I was capable of feeling. 

After a couple of years, Doug and I felt a longing to bring another child into our family so we made a second adoption journey.  We met our daughter Lucie in Guangzhou, China and brought her home a few days before Christmas in 2005.  She was exactly what was missing from our family and our lives.   Today I look at our two beautiful daughters and marvel at how God was able to create a family from people living on two different sides of the world.  Adoption truly is a miracle unlike any other.

I believe God uses the people of Children’s Hope International to create the miracle of adoption.  In the few weeks I have been here I’ve seen dedicated people giving whatever it takes to serve this mission. After having spent many years as a manager in Customer Relations and Sales in the corporate world, I am grateful to now have this opportunity to work with CHI and feel blessed to also be a part of that mission.

: : Pam Harmon

 Adoption Consultant, Russia Program

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DECEMBER FAMILIES

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