Waiting Children - Latvia Edition

These are some of the children who were here as a part of our Winter orphan hosting program. Their host parents are not in the position to consider being a forever family or were not intending to be such. Their commitment was to host the child, love them, share Christ's love and advocate for them to others. Keep in mind Latvia requires a minimum age gap between parent and child of 18 years for BOTH parents!! Ukraine only requires 16 and it only needs to be met by one parent. With the exception of this first little one, all the kids are from Latvia. To read about some of our Ukrainian kiddos please click here, For a complete listing of available kids please click  here. Password is winterhosting.

Vitaly

Update: Vitaly has a family!!!

Vitaly is a happy 11 year-old boy from Ukraine. He is a wonderful and energetic child who loves to help around the house, listen to music, play musical instruments, sing, and eat (especially bananas)! His favorite color is yellow, and he loves to play outside and visit new places. We have been hosting him for the last 3 weeks, and he has adapted very quickly to his life in America, bonding well with adults and children. Vitaly speaks both Russian and Ukrainian, and is quickly learning some English words as well. His favorite school subject is math. He has a medical condition, but strictly follows his medicine schedule and seems very healthy and active. We would love to help Vitaly find his forever family! For more information on Vitaly contact his host mom Erica at: ericaraemanz@gmail.com.

Edgars

LAST CHANCE - Age 15 (turns 16 in August)

For an update on Edgars please click: here.

Edgars came to us with a smile on his face. From the moment we met him at the gate, he radiated an openness and an incredible warmth – he was obviously a little nervous, but from the beginning he trusted us with his whole heart. One of the first things he ever said was, “Thank you for choosing me.” Edgars immediately began to display a strong desire for physical connectedness with our whole family – he hugged our 4-year-old daughter for airport photos, he stood next to me with his head on my shoulder reading his translated welcome letter. Edgars has bonded well with all members of our family, though it has been clear throughout that he desires a mother above all else in life. During the first two weeks, Edgars resisted developing a deep relationship with my husband but he is now seeing the value in having a healthy relationship with a father. Edgars is incredibly gentle and patient with small children, and he would do beautifully with siblings of any age or gender, or as an only child. He takes the role of big brother very seriously and enjoys helping out – he is always happy to hold a hand in the grocery store, buckle car seats, or comfort his “small” sister or brother when they get a bump. He has a deep need to connect with others and is appropriately affectionate. Edgars is respectful of property, asks before taking things, has excellent manners (please/thank you with a smile) and he is good with animals. He follows family rules and we have never had an instance where discipline was necessary. Honesty is of upmost importance to Edgars – it means a lot to him that others trust him. He reacts in an age appropriate way to negative situations, though he will do most anything to avoid conflict. Edgars has been in the system since age 2 and has no relatives or siblings. Truly there is no reason that he should be the loving, well-adjusted boy that he is, except by the grace of God. I pray constantly that my sweet boy is given the opportunity to become a permanent member of a loving, supportive, gentle Christian family – because he deserves nothing less. Edgars will bring an abundance of joy to the forever family that awaits him. Writing this absolutely breaks my heart because this child has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. I want everyone reading this to know that Edgars has done nothing at all to deter us from adopting him - we are ineligible (we have a minimum age issue).  For more information on Edgars please click here for his full bio or contact his host mom, Morgan at: mdavisca@hotmail.com.

Vlad

Unfortunately we have learned that Vlad is not clear for adoption. He will however likely be offered for winter hosting! 

Vlad is from Latvia and will turn 13 shortly. He is a wonderful kid! We have not had any problems while he's been here. He was very shy when we picked him up at the airport, for about a day, and after that he's been very comfortable with us. He will try any food, although he may not like it, he's at least willing to give it a try. He had fun roller skating, ice skating and sledding and went to an indoor waterpark.  He also helped bake cookies. He seems to be very compliant and once he knew what the rules of the house were and what was expected of him, he was happy to follow.  He is sweet and loving. He always wanted to know where Dad was, and loved spending time with him doing whatever. He really seemed to thrive under that attention from my husband.  He got along well with all the children ages 2-25, though he didn’t pay much attention to our 2 and 4 year old. I can't stress enough what a great boy he is. He would do well in any family. He had fun throwing the football and playing Wii with our 25 year old son. He rode bikes and scooters and drew pictures with our daughters who are 11 and 10. He loved playing the Wii, K’nex and building with blocks with our son who is 7. He’s a great kid who is up for anything but he’s bullied a lot in the orphanage and we’re praying like crazy we can find his family! One thing he does not like is having his picture taken. No matter what he's doing, as soon as the camera comes out he gets his serious face on. For more information on Vlad contact his host mom Kris: kris.haase@gmail.com.

Viktors

Update: Viktors has a family!! They will be hosting him this summer with the intent to adopt! Praise the Lord!!

Viktors is an easy-going and laid back 11 year old from Latvia . His English gets better each week. He is opening up more every day. He bonds easily with all family members, does well with younger children & same age children. He is patient and caring with pets, interacts well with parents. Viktors is an amazing young man. Our family was so blessed to have him for 4 weeks. He was easy, laid back, and up for anything. He is very social and loves to be around people. He loved us spending time with family friends and got along well with every single person he came in contact with. He is active and loves all things boy. He loves to ride bikes, play sports, and do anything outside. He is eager to try anything. He has no problem at all bonding. He is easily affectionate and bonded well will everyone in our family, including our children. I particularly recommend him to be hosted by a family looking to adopt. Viktors would really come alive with a loving family and he is available for adoption. He would do well in a family with any age children - younger, same age, older, etc. could go on and on about this child.  I loved him before he physically entered our lives.  I loved him the moment I laid eyes on him.  He will always hold a place in my heart.  The time we had with him truly blessed our family. This boy just doesn’t seem like your typical orphan child.  He had some of the orphan behaviors at the beginning, but so mild compared to some children.  The amazing thing about this boy is that 3 weeks of time and love pretty much erased those behavior patterns.  I know they will return when he returns to Latvia.  But the point is that in a loving family environment, he would develop into quite a young man.  And it wouldn’t take long. Something that really struck me about Viktors is how easily he could bond and how affectionate he could be.  He never pulled back when we would touch him or hug him.  He is so open to love. Our hearts desire is to see Viktors placed in a family that will love and cherish him.  We want to see him provided with opportunities to thrive.  I know God has a plan for him and we are trusting in God’s perfect timing. For more information about Viktors please contact his host mom Renee at: reneerobinson12@gmail.com or check out their family blog: http://barefootwalks.com/.

Maija
Update: Maija has a family!!! 

  

I would like to share our journey with Maija this Christmas season. From the very first evening, she has been polite, helpful, open, and mature. She has been very respectful from the very beginning to now. My  5 and 6 year old children are a challenge. Maija was great with them! She has been very patient and attentive with them.  They love watching movies together! Maija is well spoken in three languages. She speaks Latvian, Russian, and English. We are amazed at how well she communicates in English verbally and in written language. We think she has a God given talent in languages.  She has been able to bond with all members of the family. Maija easily bonds with young as well as older. She is able to speak to adults, making eye contact and expression. She thrives when with peers her age or older. Maija is very mature for her age.  She is very knowledgeable about American movies, TV, and music. She says she prefers all things in English.  She has shared openly about her life and her struggles and disappointments. She has shared openly her desire to be adopted (even though she feels it is too late for her). She wants a future for herself and she doesn't believe it is in Latvia. She has been through a lot! She is a survivor. She does not see herself as a kid, but a young woman who must strike out on her own and take care of herself simply because there is no one whom she can count on. She needs to be a kid again, a 15 year old. She needs to feel safe and taken care of. She needs to find a family who is ready to love her with open arms.  Maija is very self-conscious about her weight and her body. She needs a family who will love her regardless - unconditionally. She is a beautiful young lady and we know God has big plans for her life. We have tried to plant a seed and share the gospel with her. As you can see from her picture, she does have some piercings. Please don't let this fool you. She is a very sweet young lady. She was very respectful the entire time she was with us. In fact, she had no problem taking them out when we asked her to. She removed them when coming to school with me and at church. This is something all the children in her area seem to wear. We pray every day for her heart to be open to the love of Christ and to the hope of a forever family. Could this family be you? Please feel free to contact the Zingelmann family if you have any questions: audrasusan@hotmail.com . We are more than happy to answer any and all questions!

Sasha

Sasha is a loving, sweet/affectionate and active 6 year old little boy from Latvia. He has mild Cerebral Palsy causing bit of mental delay and ADHD. Physically he is in perfect condition-not slowed down in a physical sense and very athletic (We were told he had surgery when he was younger). Mentally- he is at a preschool or starting Kindergarten level (which is only a year or two behind in education.) And he has the capacity to learn and catch up fast.  His CP mainly has caused him to have mild hyperactivity (and mild ADHD) but not to the sense where he is out of control by any means. He is perfect at church, in a restaurant etc. He has about a 20 min max of doing anything and gets "bored" easily if not assigned a task or toy to play with or an activity to complete. With proper medication and schooling he could be "caught up" and a very good student. He strives for obedience and praise but has not been exposed to much life outside of the orphanage so he learned a lot and improved daily in his host home. He is intelligent and loves puzzles, art, and athletics and is picking up English fast.  He bonds well with all ages and genders of children but would not be ideal in a family with more than one younger child because of the initial attention he would require.  He gets overstimulated in large groups of children and has no tolerance for any food or drinkssugar. He is very flexible to any setting, not picky and does not pout or throw tantrums.  He is a very happy and fun boy who loves to talk about and learn about Jesus. If you’d like to learn more about Sasha please email his host mom Jessica: jessicagoodwyn99@hotmail.com

Armands

Armands bonds easily with all family members & others, and does well with same age children. He interacts well with parents, has generally even moods, and exhibits appropriate reactions to negative situations/answers. He is happy most of the time, respectful of other's property, and asks for things before taking. He is honest and follows family's general rules. Armands is a sweet boy with a calm disposition. He eats just about everything but loves waffles, pizza, and Pepsi. He and our 11 year old son have been inseparable. He likes to play cards and Wii. He learned to ride a bike this winter which took persistence from him as his legs are weak. He is very polite and says, "thank you" after every meal. He gives great hugs and kisses host mom on the cheek. We have only seen him unhappy once, and that was at the eye doctor's office and we didn't have any way to communicate. He quickly snapped out of it when we left the office. He did not want to ride the carousel, but He loved laser tag with the family. He would do well in a family with any age children. You can learn more about our hosting experience at http://www.raisinglittlemen.blogspot.com/ or contact his host mom Debbie: tech9798@yahoo.com.

Sianda

Sianda recently turned 12 and is from Latvia. She bonds easily with all family members & others, and does well with children of all ages. She is patient and caring with pets, interacts well with parents, and has generally even moods. Though she pouts at times, she exhibits appropriate reactions to negative situations/ answers, and is happy most of the time. She is respectful of her own & other's property, and asks for things before taking. She tries to learn/use English, follows family's general rules, is helpful, and willing to try new things.  Sianda is full of life! She is beautiful inside and out. She is bright, personable, artistically talented and just an all-around great kid. She is very adaptable. She sometimes get moody (as do most pre-teen girls, but she is very expressive and kind. She loves animals and gets along really well with children of both genders and within a couple of years older and younger. She is willing to try new things and is very outgoing. Her English is very good and she definitely has her own opinions! Great girl all around! She would probably do best in a family with similar age children. For more information on Sianda please contact her host mom, Jennifer at: jennifermanta@yahoo.com.

Laura and Nikita

Laura and Nikita are adorable 7 year old Latvian twins.

Laura says that she was born first and it is believable. She is a leader and keeps her brother straight. She is shy at first, but once you get to know her, she will keep you laughing. Laura loves to tell funny stories (even if you don't understand a word she is saying). Taking care of the family dogs was Laura's assigned chore during hosting and she has completed it with joy and kindness. She "rescued" a 15 pound cat many times from an 8 pound dog and always kept an eye out to make sure he was safe. Riding bikes is one of Laura's favorite things to do. She also loves to cuddle and often strokes her host mother's hair at bedtime. Laura bonds easily and would be great in a family with children her same age, older, or much younger. Her smile is contagious!!

Nikita is kind, loving, athletic and smart. He says that he loves school and is a very good reader. He often looks to Laura for approval and takes care of her when she is hurt or upset. When he received a $20 gift card, Nikita shopped first for his 2 friends and then for himself. He always offers to share his food or toys. Nikita wants to be a big boy, but when it gets down to it, he loves to cuddle and gives many hugs and kisses. He often tells his host mother, "Love you!!" Nikita is a rough and tumble kind of boy and would make a great American football player. He loves music (the louder the better) and is a great break dancer. Nikita would do great in a family with children his same age, older or much younger. He is a great kid!! Laura and Nikita have 2 older brothers that are 10 and 11 years old and it's likely that all four will have to be adopted together.  For more information please contact their host mom Heather at: phhillips4jesus@gmail.com. here

Gundvalds

Gunvalds is a wonderful boy who has been lots of fun to have in our home.  His English ability is very good, and he was easy to communicate with.  He has a younger brother named Muntis who was originally being hosted by us as well, however Muntis requires constant one-on-one attention and the brothers are not close with one another, so Muntis was transferred to another host family. It is not clear if Gundvalds can be adopted without also adopting his brother Muntis.  Gunvalds is much more comfortable with women.  He was very guarded around Tim, and often misread things Tim said (we quickly realized that gentle teasing was not understood, though I could get away with this).  He took correction well; though there were often outbursts, these were more cultural (think arguing with an Italian!), than blatant disobedience.  He appears to be quite innocent concerning life in general; he loved watching children’s movies at our house.  The original Disney animated Robin Hood was one of his favorites.  Having a large family, we stick pretty close to home; by no means was Gunvalds entertained by us, but he loved his time here and was never bored.  He loved board games, playing outside, and looking at animal books in the evening.  Toward the end of his stay, I asked him what his favorite thing was that he had done.  He thought about it while I mentioned several highlights, and his answer was, "Being in a family." He needs a dad who is patient, kind, and willing to invest a lot of time and love.  Tim took off the first two weeks Gunvalds was here.  Granted, we were dealing with Muntis, but Gunvalds never warmed up to him.  However, we have seen progress in his relationship with Tim his last week with us.  It is small, but for Gunvalds this is huge, and we know he has the potential to bond well with everyone in a family. With the hours Tim works, and the family size and ages that we currently have, we feel Gunvalds would do best in a smaller family where more time could be focused on him exclusively.  We will be praying that someone is able to host him again; he truly is a great boy who deserves a family of his own. For more information on Gundvalds please contact his host mom, Holly at: Schoepplers@hughes.net.

Rolands

Rolands is a sweet 15 year old boy that was presented as a talented artist - and he is! He is also so much more. This young man is polite, easy-going, and able to amuse himself. He was willing to help with household chores. He was eager to try new things, including activities like riding a horse. We fed him Thai, Indian, Creole, and multiple types of American food. If he didn't like a specific food, he was polite and ate some anyway. He did admit hamburgers and pizza were his favorites, but he also loved fresh food such as salads and fruits. He is very bright and gets 8s in school in Latvia, but modestly points out it isn't a top rated school. He got along well with all visitors, though he is shy at first. He has a super sweet smile and a good sense of humor. Rolands speaks very understandable English. He is able to read even more, and participated in reading a devotional we were going through daily with our church, with a little help on some words. He is very willing to learn. He greatly enjoyed visiting the Dallas Art Museum, riding a rollercoaster, and family activities at home. He jumped in when I had a flat tire and changed it, then told me it was his first time changing a tire. Such a cute smile on that one! He is not hyperactive or inappropriate, and would do well in a family with any age children, or as an only child. He was able to take correction (rarely needed) without resentment. Rolands is in a good foster home in Latvia, and it is obvious that he knows how to love others. I have other adopted teens and I wish I could switch out for this guy! For more information please contact Lynn at: lffitzgerald@yahoo.com.

Aleksanders

Aleksanders is an energetic Latvian boy who will turn 15 at the end of January. "Sasha" as he prefers to be called, loves to be busy swimming, playing basketball or volleyball. Sasha has been an absolute joy to have in our home. Sasha has lived in the orphanage from the age of 3 and recently lost an 18 year old brother to a work related accident. Sasha lives at a boarding school where he works hard at his studies and hopes to become a builder. On holidays, Sasha goes back to the orphanage, where he sleeps in a room with 9 other boys. Besides Latvian, Sasha speaks Russian and excellent English. He loves computer games, music, radio controlled cars and helicopters and animals. Sasha fell in love with our dogs and cats during hosting. Sasha is great with younger children or those very close to his age. He has a really great heart. On several occasions we observed him being extra kind to little children. When he was little, Sasha had a lisp and was in speech classes. We think he is extra sensitive to protect little children from bullies because of this. Sasha wants to be adopted by a forever family and would love to grow up in the United States. Please help us find him his perfect home. For more information on Sasha contact: charla_ricciardi@hotmail.com

Arturs, Alekss, Aina and Dmitrijs

These little Latvians were hosted by Dzintars' soon to be Aunt and Uncle and they are in need of a forever home!! You really need to head over to Stacy's blog and read about their time here. It wasn't without it's challenges but God used them ALL for good! This family added these four to the four kiddos they already had at home to make a total of 8 little ones these past four weeks! That's quite a full house!

Are any of these cuties yours??? Stay tuned for more Ukrainian kiddos soon! Please share this post so we can find homes for all these sweet ones! An orphanage is no place for a child to grow up. They need a mom and dad to love them, hug them and take care of them!

"No one has ever shown me family, spent money on me, or loved me." 

That's a direct quote from a 14 year old boy being hosted in Illinois this Christmas! It breaks my heart and I hope it breaks yours too!

If you'd like to host a child this summer our pre-application is now up and running. Filling out the pre-application does not commit you to summer hosting, it only puts your contact information in the hands of your regional coordinator. It also allows you to access the photolisting when it becomes available! Click here to fill out the pre-application!