Russia Adoption Blog

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We are pleased to announce the creation of a new Eastern Europe blog.  We look forward to sharing relevant information on Albania, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Russia, and Ukraine, as well as general regional, travel, and adoption education resources.  Please note that the Eastern Europe blog replaces individual country blogs as of this posting.

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It is hard to believe that we are already over 6 months into 2009 and Bethany Christian Services would like to give you an update on families who have used our services in order to obtain a home study to adopt a child or children from Russia.

On area we would like to update is regarding the need for amended home studies including the official diagnosis of the child required by the US Embassy in Moscow. We have completed several amended home studies and the process has gone smoothly up to this point.
 
Over the last 6 months, 28 children came home to their forever families:
16 children were older
5 sets of siblings
12 were under 5 years of age (9 of them were under 3 years of age)
 
Currently there are 3 families in Russia for court dates and there are 4 families who have made their first trip and have an official referral.

In addition to providing home studies for families desiring to adopt internationally, we have programs in several countries including Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Ethiopia, Haiti, Hong Kong, Philippines, South Korea, etc. In many of these countries we want to make you aware that currently we have close to 300 waiting children from various countries. These children may be school age or a sibling group. Some children have medical, physical, or developmental challenges ranging from minor to significant. We know that many children with similar needs are waiting in Russia. In some countries children with special needs have little or no value in their country of origin. They are children of God. It is His passion to have these precious children raised in loving families.

One of the advantages of accepting a waiting child is there is no referral wait time. You will be able to skip that step in your adoption process.
Some of the children have grants already attached to them. Some countries reduce their fees. There are also other financial opportunities for the waiting children.

Won't you consider a waiting child?

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As a member organization of JCICS (http://www.jcics.org), BCS would like to share JCICS hosted webinars for prospective adoptive families, adoptive families, adoptees and adoption professionals.  Joint Council has gathered some of the most renowned adoption experts who will present various adoption related topics in a webinar education series.  Click here (http://www.jcics.org/Webinar.htm) for a link to the JCICS Webinar series schedule.
 
Webinars will occur on the first Tuesday and the first Thursday of each month at 7 PM EST for the remainder of 2009.  Registration has begun and participants will gain access through submitting a fee of $10 per webinar. What a great opportunity to hear directly from adoption experts and to pose questions to these experienced professionals.  For detailed information, including the webinar
schedule go to http://www.jcics.org/Webinar.htm.

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June 12 marks Russia Day throughout the country.  The day was first recognized in 1990 when The First Congress of Peoples Deputies named it, "Day of the adoption of the Declaration of Sovereignty of the Russian Federation.” Exactly one year later, Boris Yeltsen was elected the first President of the Russian Federation.  In February of 2002 it was officially renamed Russia Day and enjoyed as a day off for citizens throughout Russia.

Being one of the country’s newest holidays, its customs are still evolving, but in 2003, President Vladimir Putin declared that it was a tribute to "the historic choice that the Russian people conscientiously made at the start of the 1990s.”  That year saw the first military “fly over” in Red Square and featured parades complete with people dressed in soldier’s uniforms from past centuries.

Individual communities celebrate with local flair.  Highlighting Russia’s diverse ethnic and cultural richness, many towns observe with customary dance and traditional dress.  Although just recently celebrated, many citizens look at this holiday as a way to honor Russia’s past, present and future.

Submitted by Hal Molhoek

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This year, Mother's Day is Sunday, May 10th... HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL MOTHER'S AND ALL MOTHER'S-TO-BE!                                 ..... although not officially on the calendar as a holiday, did you know the Saturday before Mother's Day is celebrated among the adoption community as "Birth-Mother's Day?" A "BirthMother/First Mother" is the name given to a woman who conceives and biologically gives birth to a child who is relinquished or placed for adoption. The adoption constellation involves many people (extended family, support, etc), but the triad consists of three points.  The three-points of the triad are: the child, the Adoptive Mother (or Adoptive Family) and the BirthMother (or BirthFamily), in no particular order.  Without one of these "points" the triad would not exist.  The relationship among the three sides is inter-related and inter-dependent.  All three sides of the triangle are of equal length.  All three should be celebrated equally!  Many Christians believe that as we are all God's adopted children, this adoption triad metaphor reflects the Trinity of our Father. What are some ways that we as adoptive families can honor our child's BirthMother?  Internationally adopted children with little to no information about their BirthFamily oftentimes "fantasize" about where they come from and who their BirthFamily is.  In adoptive families that openly discuss the child's birth-country, BirthParents, and birth-culture, the children as adults report having a more positive self-esteem and self-worth.  Some parents encourage their children to write a letter to their BirthMom/BirthDad on these special days or even their own birthdays.  What is most important to remember is that each child has their own feelings about their BirthParents.  As Adoptive Parents, the best we can do is provide a safe and open place for discussion. Different ways to "honor" or "celebrate" birthparents: -Light a candle on special days. -Say a prayer for them. -Make a special page in the child's Lifebook to celebrate the BirthParent(s). -Write a letter to your child's BirthParent(s) and put it aside to share with your child later. -Write a letter/make a card jointly with your child for the BirthParent(s). -Read age appropriate books together. -Talk about what the BirthParents may look like. -Celebrate unique talents that the child may have... and attribute them to the BirthParent(s). Some adoptive families may not be comfortable talking about the child's BirthFamily or adoption.  Your child will perceive this level of being uncomfortable and may learn to be ashamed or fearful of the discussion.  In order to build a healthy relationship that is based on trust, it is important to be open with your child about their adoption.  If these discussions are open and supported from the beginning, your child will grow to learn that their adoption is celebrated, not hidden.  Your child will be proud to be adopted and will be able to honor their BirthParent's with Thanksgiving! The book I Wish for You a Beautiful Life (Yeong & Yeong Book Company; ISBN 0-9638472-3-6) is a compilation of letters from Korean BirthMother's to their relinquished children.  Each letter is very unique and provides a glimpse of the different cultures and emotions that this choice has created, related to separation and detachment that a BirthMother may experience and/or express in writing. As a Mother (whether through birth or adoption) of a child... whether your child is with you, with God, living in Russia or yet to be born... Bethany Christian Services and the Russia Team wish you a warm and loving "Happy Mother's Day."  We also keep in prayer the BirthMother's that give Life to these precious children and love them enough to want for them, what they cannot provide.  These women too, should be celebrated, honored, and given Thanksgiving.  Their struggles and choices are immeasurable and we may never know them, but we do know them in our hearts.  We pray that they are safe, loved and at Peace.   *In this Blog Post, we use the term "BirthMother" to refer to the woman who conceived and birthed the child whom was then adopted.  There are other terms such as: "First Mother" or "Biological Mother" or "Genetic Mother" to name a few.  The PC world of language and adoption is sensitive and we mean no offense to any particular term mentioned or not mentioned.

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May 1 Marks Labor Day

Many countries throughout the world celebrate Labor Day on May 1, a holiday that has a special significance in European countries that dates back centuries.  May Day, as it is sometimes called, traditionally was a festive event welcoming the coming of spring and in some countries held religious importance.

In recent decades, it has changed to take on a different tenor honoring the achievements of workers including parades, ceremonies and patriotic oriented events.  The celebration has also been used to promote social change including advocating eight hour work days and increasing vacation time for citizens.  Recent years some countries have seen a rise in protests from people concerned with rising food and fuel prices.

Submitted by Hal Molhoek

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April 19 marks the day of Orthodox Easter celebrated throughout Eastern Europe, with customs that have been observed for centuries.  Referred to as Pascha in most countries, it is considered the most important religious holiday of the year, often more significant and sacred than Christmas.  Orthodox Easter is celebrated later than that in the West, (typically one week) and follows the Julian calendar as opposed to the West which follows the Gregorian calendar.  

The weeks leading up to Easter are usually quite solemn leading up to the celebrations of the Easter weekend when the atmosphere is quite festive.  Special foods, desserts, and brightly colored eggs are part of the custom as the parishioners greet each other with the words, “He has risen.”

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It’s not too much of a stretch to say that in Russia, people take laughter very seriously.  Fool Day (the day of laughter) is celebrated April 1, not unlike America’s April Fool’s Day but with a bit of Russian flair.

“The Russia Journal” an independent, English language web news daily from Russia, publishes a “top ten” list of creative, somtimes outragous pranks perptraded by citizens.  One harmless stunt making the list is a telephone prank where people call the Durov Animal Theater and ask, "Hi, do you need a talking horse?" Without waiting for a reply, continue with, "Please, please, don’t hang up! It’s really hard to dial with a hoof."  A bit silly perhaps, but the Russian people have increasing used this day to celebrate their fun and prankish side.

At times, it is difficult to discern fact from fiction.  Newspapers from around the county have reported genuine stories on April 1st which has resulted in a flood of calls asking if the stories are indeed true.  For more on how April Fool’s Day is celebrated, click here.

Submitted by:  Hal Molhoek

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