Update!

Update for the 2011 Summer Tour.

Praise the Lord...ALL of the children have host families!!! NOW to continue to pray that their forever families will be found!!! Please continue to spread the word about these precious children...help them find their forever families!!

Host Family testimony

In the summer of 2009, our family had several things planned.  We were in the adoption process with a second daughter from Taiwan. When we heard about the Taiwan tour and the possibility of hosting our future daughter, we did some scrambling to reschedule our summer plans!  We are so glad we did!  

Paige was six when she arrived at LAX with a dozen other children with yellow backpacks.  When she arrived her face was expressionless and she seemed rather overwhelmed and frightened for the first few days.  Then she began talking, and she talked non-stop for the next week and a half even though we couldn't understand her!  She had fun at the beach, riding bikes, at Vacation Bible School, and at Disneyland. It was hard to put her back on that plane!  During the six months that followed, her adoption process and transition into our family was more comfortable (and less scary!) because she had spent two weeks in our family.  She has now been with us for a year and a half and she is thriving in many ways.  She is full of laughter, affection, and energy and she regularly thanks God for making us a family! 

Past Host Family testimony

Last summer, my husband and I were very blessed to host a 7 year old girl from Taiwan. We heard of the opportunity about a month before the kids were due to come out and there still were not enough homes to host them. We thought this would be an excellent opportunity to bless an orphan, but as our 2 week hosting time marched on, I realized that we were the ones being blessed by this precious guest in our home. When she first came to us, she was very shy and unsure. Of course, it must be very scary to be so young and in a country unfamiliar to yourself. She would cry a little at times during the first two days and would ask for her chaperone, but then an amazing transformation started to take place. As we showered her with love and encouragement, this scared and unsure little girl started to transform into a confident and joyful little thing. We had planned a 4-day trip to Disneyland with my parents and my sister's family before we knew we were hosting. We ended up just bringing her along, which turned out to be the greatest thing for her. It was an excellent way to bond with her. She would want to try different rides, but would be nervous about some of the faster or higher rides. She still wanted to try, and it ended up being an excellent way to earn her trust and bond with her. I would do simple things like hold her hand and give her reassuring smiles to help her get through the rides. Afterwards, she would flash this confident smile as if she had conquered another fear. The days we spent at home were great as well. She would volunteer to help set the table and water the plants. She would test the rules upon occasion, but as she found that the rules were the rules (never with a stern face, but a smile), she would acquiesce and move on. I saw her start to give hugs to my husband by the end of the trip, which was amazing because she was very unsure of men at the beginning. She loved bedtime, with stories and more hugs. She was such a natural fit for our family. She seemed to fill a hole that I hadn't even realized was there. We decided to adopt her and are currently almost through our adoption process. We should be able to bring her home around September. I am completely blown away by how those 2 weeks have changed our lives. I never would have guessed it at the onset. Of course, not all of the families that hosted that summer ended up adopting, but I have to think that if those children end up being adopted in the US that they will be so much better prepared and less anxious about moving to a new country from having the experience of living with a US family those 2 weeks. We were blessed beyond measure by the experience and would definitely encourage other families to step out of their comfort zones and host a child as well. Prepare to be blessed beyond measure!

Jasmine 13 years old

Jasmine is a beautiful twelve year old girl who is said to be gentle and smart and is available for adoption.  She says that she would like a new family who would give her "warmth and caring."  She also said if it were possible to be adopted internationally she would be in favor of it and hoped that she would have some siblings.

The exciting thing about this adoption is that Jasmine is coming to the U.S. in July for a Summer Camp in California.  A family interested in adopting her could actually help with her sponsorship and visit the child as well. 

Jasmine was in a foster family for seven years and is now in an orphanage.  She misses having a "family" and longs for one of her very own. Jasmine gets along well with her peers and does well in school. Her favorite subjects are arts, crafts, sports and computers and she is also involved in a school community club that includes Aboriginal dance. 

Jasmine would be a wonderful addition to any home.  She has the desire to be adopted and also made the cute statement that if she was adopted she would "work on her bad habits as well."  How sweet!!

For more information on Jasmine, please contact: kathy@wiaa.org

Syuan, 8 yrs old & Yun, 7 yrs old

Brother & Sister

Syuan

Nicholas is a happy and curious child. He lives in a foster home with his sister, Natalie.  He and Natalie must be adopted together.  Nicholas is eight years old and attends second grade.  He loves to watch cartoons, play basketball, table tennis, go jogging and shake hula hoops.  Nicholas was born with amblyopia and wore a corrective patch.  He now wears eye glasses which help his vision.

When the child initially came to the foster family, there was concern with some delays.  However it was determined that he has hyperactivity and with the medication of Ritalin, he is able to concentrate and he tests in the moderate range. 

Nicholas' foster mother says he is a mild and obedient child.  She says he will usually take the

initiative to help doing housework. He is filled with curiosity for new things. He loves innovations and likes to try things on his own.  When Nicholas first meets strangers he is quiet and shy but after he becomes more familiar with them, he will show his lively, outgoing and playful side.

Nicholas easily builds relationships with people.  Nicholas likes to share and likes having his picture taken.  Initially Nicholas was hesitant about adoption but after the social worker told him he would be with his sister and could keep in touch with his foster parents after he comes to the United States, he was happy about the prospect. 

Spending two weeks in the United States will be a wonderful experience for Nicholas.


For more information on adopting this precious sibling group, please contact Kate at kate@nightlight.org

Yun

Darling Natalie is all girl!  She is lively and outgoing.  She likes drawing, playing house, playing bamboo dragonflies and running.  Natalie is living in a foster home and must be adopted with her brother Nicholas.  Natalie, like her brother, was also born with amblyopia and has had cover up eye treatment.  Her vision now remains stable.

Natalie's cognitive development is considered normal however the doctor felt the medication Concerta would help with her emotions that are easily affected by her peers.

Natalie's foster mother says that she is caring, thoughtful and warm.  She usually takes the initiative to care for others. She likes hugging and will also assist the foster mother  in doing household chores. Although she is a little more stubborn than her brother, she is very good at expressing her ideas. She easily adapts to the new environment and builds relationships with others.

When the social worker came to visit, cute Natalie showed much excitement and happiness.  She took the initiative to greet, embrace and share candies with the case social worker. The social worker discussed overseas adoption with Natalie and at first she was hesitant like her brother.  When the social worker explained more about the adoption process, she  said she would miss foster mother, but after the case social worker discussed with her that she too could send letters, painting and photos to keep in touch with the foster family, Natalie said she hoped then that she would have a "new father and mother and a place she could live forever. 

We hope you could be that forever family for Natalie and her brother Nicholas.

For more information on adopting this precious sibling group, please contact Kate at kate@nightlight.org

Wei, 8 years old

If you take a look at cute Jonathan's photos, you will know he has lots of personality!  The director of his school says he is outgoing, talkative and sometimes a little bit naughty in class.  However he is also smart and hard working.  The exciting thing about this adoption is that Jonathan is coming to the U.S. in July for a Summer Camp in California.  A family interested in adopting him could actually help with her sponsorship and visit the child as well. 

 

When the social worker paid him a visit recently, he showed friendliness and offered to help prepare fruits, snacks and drinks for the guests.  Jonathan also expressed hopes that someone would play with him especially badminton and cards.  Recently the social worker noticed great improvement especially with his negative language that he sometimes used with others. Like any boy his age, he likes to play with toys and watch TV.  When he does something wrong, he will follow the guidance of his foster mother to correct it.  He wants adults to approve of him and is working through some feelings of abandonment.  He has had quite a bit of instability in his young life and really needs a forever family that he knows will never leave him.  Could you be that family? 

Marisa, 7 yrs. old & Michael, 11 yrs. old

Sister & Brother

Ru

Wei

Michael and Marisa are siblings and are available for adoption.  They are residing in the same foster home and have a very close relationship. 

  

Michael says he wants to be adopted to the U.S. and have a forever family.  He hopes that family would include a big brother that would play sports with him. Michael enjoys helping to care for his little sister and loves her very much.  Michael is said to have a good temper, helps out at the foster home and speaks freely with social worker about his preferences and school life.  He is in the fifth grade and loves all kinds of sports including basketball and riding his bike.  He is usually self motivated when completing his home work and enjoys his one hour of computer time that the foster mother allows when his work is done.

 

Marisa is a sweet and loving little girl who is very close to her brother Michael.   She is living at the same foster home as Michael and gets along well with everyone in the foster family.  She loves to play "hide and seek"  and collect things such as stickers and card games.  She tells the foster mother daily that "she will always love her" and kisses her cheek before bed.  She is described as a lively, cheerful girl and loves painting.  Initially her concentration and understanding were weak but since attending school she has made rapid progress in learning. She is in excellent physical condition according to her foster sister.

Ling, 9 years old

Cute Isabella has the most amazing curly hair!  She was recently placed in a new foster home with several other foster children including her friend from school.  Sadly, she was living with her grandparents but they are older now and can no longer care for her.  Initially it was difficult for her, but after some excellent guidance from her foster mother, her self-care ability is good and she helps with the housework.  She is healthy and has adapted well to her new environment. 

 

Isabella is usually eager to help others, is polite and is dedicated to extra-curricular activities such as cheerleading, judo and swimming lessons.  At times Isabella has been bullied at school so her foster mother has taught her to write her thoughts in her diary every day which has helped her and the mother understand her feelings better.  When meeting people, Isabella is initially shy but usually by the end of the visit, she is very outgoing and may even perform a cheerleading routine for you!

 

When approached about adoption, Isabella was concerned because she was afraid she would forget her maternal great grandparents and is worried about a new language.  The social workers have discussed overseas adoption with her and what it means and she is now accepting and understanding of it.  Even though her visit to the United States will only be two weeks, it will be very helpful for her to see the new country she may be adopted to and to learn a little English while here.  The other nice thing about adopting from this country is that adoptive parents will get to skype on several occasions to further help the transition.

 

For more information on adopting this sweetheart, please contact Kate at kate@nightlight.org