INCREDIBLE JOURNEY
Our personal story started one year ago. Housing sales
were booming in our area. It was a great time to build our nest egg for the
future. Being self-employed, it was our chance to downsize and bank our retirement
purse. The house was up for sale for 5 months and it did not sell. We offered
it as a host home for Kidsave International Summer Miracles Program. It is a
program that brings orphans to the USA on a six week visa for a vacation. This
is with the hope that they may find a forever family (adoptive family). The
chance of adoption in their country is usually 5%, with this program in our
country, it is 95%. The program was one of the most rewarding and life changing
things we have ever done.
In our hearts, we were then challenged to do something we have never thought
of or had an inkling to do. We were on a mission to adopt two little orphans
and save them from the despair they would grow up in. After the departure of
our precious little orphan, Kristina, who did receive her forever family, we
started our process of adoption. The funds to adopt varied from agency to agency
and we knew it would be expensive and did not know where and if it was going
to be a happy ending.
We created an art piece that we designed, produced and used as a fund raiser.
We feel diligent in our efforts that we must work to gain funding, not just
ask for donations.
With faith, family and friends, this uncertain path started to take shape. The
steps were closer to reality than we could ever imagine. One day at a time our
Orphan Star Project rolled into a booming effort to bring orphans to the USA.
The Orphan Stars are sold in a retail store, Archives A.D. in Rochester, with
the owners donating the full proceeds for the adoption. Young adults from different
backgrounds have stepped in and are networking to sell Orphan Stars in schools,
churches and neighborhoods. The enthusiasm of these wonderful people doesn't
stop there. They are walking the journey and wanting to know the girls personally
and asked to visit after their arrival. These precious little girls across the
world have no idea of the circle of forever family and friends that wait here
for their arrival.
When we stop and look at our weariness of working later
at night to create the Orphan Stars. It becomes so clear the feelings of gratitude.
We feel honored that we will be able to cherish and save these two little lives.
Our friends and family have truly shared this journey, jumping in and cheering
our stars on and explaining our plight. We are so grateful and cannot thank
them enough.
We have included some pictures of the girls in the orphanage in Uralsk and some from over the past year. A marked difference has taken place. We are grateful and truly blessed by A Child Waits Foundation's part in our miracle. Without your help this would not have been possible.
David and Joeann Staugaard
