To the staff of A Child Waits Foundation:
We are pleased to inform you that our little girl, Marina
Joy Sullens, arrived home on May 18, 2005 at the age of 13 months. She is truly
our "Joy from across the sea," which is the literal meaning of the
name we have chosen for her. Marina is a traditional Russian name and is also
the name of her birth mother. The name given to her in the baby hospital was
Olga, but we thought that this might be a difficult name to carry through junior
high!
Marina has been blessed. She was the fourth pregnancy, second birth, born prematurely at four pounds by her 23 year old mother. Her story could have turned out very differently; however, she ended up in baby house # 16 in St. Petersburg, a good environment, as orphanages go. This orphanage is also well supported by Western sponsors. Marina had her physical needs met, at any rate. It seems that Marina bonded well with the lady doctor there. She grew and gained steadily, and PCR tests showed that she had not contracted HIV or Hepatitis C. She has hit most major developmental milestones at only a slightly delayed rate. She is walking, babbling, laughing, and already showing strong attachment to her daddy and me.
We have been blessed. For months before we were matched with Marina, our birth children had been praying for a baby sister. Since we were open to any child under four of either sex, we kept cautioning them that it might not be a baby and that it probably would not be a girl. We did not want them to be disappointed, but they were undeterred... and they got exactly what they asked for! We were the third family from our agency to be offered her referral-the other's passing because of her medical history- but we knew the moment we saw her on the video that she was meant to be in our family.
It is two weeks since we picked her up from the orphanage, but we already could not imagine life without her. After two years of paperwork, prayer, sweat and tears, we can hardly believe she is really ours! Her older brothers and sister hover around her, fetching toys, playing peek-a-boo and patty-cake. We watch and try not to cry at the beautiful scene they make. With four children in the home under 6, it is certainly true that our hands are full, but so are our hearts.
Thank you for being a part of this blessing. May God bless you in the work you are doing. When we went to the orphanage to pick Marina up, one care-giver kept urging us, "Take this one too-he is a good boy. Or this one-she looks like you." If only it were that easy! But you are making it possible for families like us, and for that we will always be grateful.
Sincerely,
Jessica Sullens