Vladivostok, Russia

Hello again,

We have received several emails in response to our adoption journey and appreciate our community of friends and family so much at this time. Each letter of support and encouragement has brought tears to my eyes. I felt a need to clarify something that I realize some of you had not known before. When we began this journey, both Victor and I felt we would be open to adopting a child with a physical disability. We put that in our home study. We were not surprised to find that our first referral was indeed a child with a limb deficiency.

We have been disappointed in the other referrals, but not so in the case of Elena. She actually exceeds our expectations in many ways.

No adoption begins with a pleasant story. A child is available for adoption only after tragedy, sickness, poverty, substance abuse or some other negative issue impacts the mother. When the social worker told us of her family background, we were very moved and felt a certain working of God's hand in her life. We are told her family is quite poor, but they absolutely do not abuse alcohol nor other substances, and they had a certain dignity about them that commanded respect. They were reluctant to place her for adoption, and continue to ask the social worker if she will get adopted.

We have not made our final decision yet because we are still waiting for another medical report, but if we choose to adopt her, we are quite sure we will be getting a wonderful daughter.

Blessings, Carina