Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Though adoption is not completely out of the question

New Horizons for Children Inc. (NHFC) is the largest, faith-based host program for facilitating orphan hosting in the U.S. Since 2002, more than 3,500 orphans have been hosted through their ministry. In recent years most of their orphans have come from the eastern European countries of Latvia and Ukraine.
After learning about the Christian-based orphan host program, John and Sue Ann Cloar decided they would like to host an orphan themselves. After they applied for and met the qualifications for hosting, they were matched with a 16-year-old Ukrainian boy named Sosha, who came to live with them in December 2015. This allows orphans the chance to experience an American Christmas with a loving host family.
Friday, Jan. 16, 2016, the day before he was to fly back to his country of origin, the Cloars requested the State Gazette interview Sosha to learn about him and his views of America. Due to privacy issues last names cannot be used. Sosha answered a few questions about his visit to the U.S. A Russian interpreter was also on hand to facilitate the interview.
Sosha was asked about what he liked about America, the people he'd met, and things he'd experienced while here. Though very shy at first, he began to lighten up and replied: "I like Americans and ducks. Duck tastes really good!" referring to a meal provided by the family and some local duck hunters. He also said he would like to live here someday. Sosha's favorite sport is soccer and he loves dogs, cats and animals in general. He really liked going to Safari Park in Alamo, Tenn. and seeing all the animals they had. He was also very excited by the American pro-wrestler John Cena.
(Photo)
Host mother Sue Ann Cloar and Sosha.
In his country, Sosha said: "We are only required to complete the ninth grade, but I have kept taking classes and am in the 10th grade now." His classmates at the orphanage call him "Chipmunk" and when not in class, his job is making bricks. For the Cloars, their biggest surprise was how quickly Sosha learned to use the iPads and iPhones they provided him with, even though it was his first time getting to try them.
According to the NHFC website, without intervention, upon leaving the orphanage, 60 percent of girls will end up in prostitution, 70 percent of boys will be on the streets or in jail, and 15 percent will commit suicide within the first two years out on their own.
In late 2012, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a bill that prohibits Russian children from being adopted by American citizens, due to cases of abuse that have been caused by American adoptive parents. Russia's proposed plans to compensate for the loss of American adoptions are to encourage domestic adoptions, boost aid to foster families, facilitating adoption procedures, and raising benefits for foster children.
NHFC provides families the unique opportunity to share love with orphans for a four- to five-week visit during the summer and around Christmas. They work with orphanages and foster homes in the Eastern European countries of Latvia and Ukraine to bring the school-aged children to the U.S. to stay with Christian host families. This can be a life-changing experience for the orphans who have never been a part of a loving, functional family. And at their age, 7-18 years old, they are the least likely candidates to ever be adopted; most believe they are unwanted and have no hope of ever knowing life in a real family.
(Photo)
John Cloar, Sosha, and Paris, the family dog.
In their four- to five-week visit, host families teach these children English, life skills, and about the love of God. By the end of the child's visit, most host families are eternally grateful for the blessings they have received in ministering to these precious lives. It brings the mission field right to your own home, neighborhood, and church. Twice a year, a mission's team of staff and volunteers travels to Eastern Europe and goes into selected orphanages. Together with the orphanage director and caregivers, the team works through an interview process to determine which children should participate in the next hosting program. The team will talk with each child, take a photo or two and watch them as they interact with other children, team members and caregivers. They search for children who appear to have a "resilience factor" in their lives that helps them to overcome past obstacles and difficulties.
A few days after Sosha's departure Sue Ann Cloar had this to say:
"We sent Sosha home this past Saturday. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done. The airport scene was full of tears and sobbing and desperate clinging! I had no idea it would be so hard. I knew I'd be upset, but he took it hard, too, and that made it that much more difficult to watch him walk away with his chaperone."
Though adoption is not completely out of the question, it is probably not going to be an option due to all the restrictions concerning overseas adoptees. The Cloars are hoping Sosha can return this summer for another monthlong visit. Sue Ann added: "I love him so much! When I think about him, I think of Fivel Mousekewitz in 'An American Tail' where he's 'somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight.' Of course, I'm also hoping that we'll be reunited in some way, shape or form: 'somewhere out there, out where dreams come true.' We are hoping other families in the area might be interested in hosting, too. I knew hosting was good idea, but I had no idea just how much I'd grow to love him!"

 http://www.stategazette.com/story/2271888.html

No comments:

Post a Comment