A Family For Vanya?

This is Vanya. He is a 15 year old boy being hosted here for the summer through Project 143, and he would like a family!

If you are anything like me there is no way that you could even fathom having been alone at the age of 15. No parents to guide you, no one who truly loves you and cares about what happens to you. I can't even imagine what I would have felt like during those very difficult teen years had I been all alone in this world.

Well, Vanya is alone and he has been for a long time. You see, Vanya is a what they call a true orphan meaning he was not just given up at the orphanage by parents who couldn't care for him.... He has no parents. They both passed away when he was very young. From a woman who lost her own mother at 19, that was hard enough, but to be a small child, even more heartbreaking.

We have had the pleasure of hosting Vanya for the past few weeks and will host him until the end of August when he returns home. He is a very quiet boy who has taken some time to warm up to us.  I truly feel he is being cautious, reserved, too afraid of getting his hopes up then his heart broken.

When he first came to us he was unsure about adoption.  In fact, he was almost against it for sure.  He loves his country, which is understandable! He feels like the only life he has ever known has been pretty ok. So he was reluctant to consider something new.

We had a good conversation with him after he was here for a few days. We talked frankly about his life and his options, and what his life would look like in the future following both scenarios- adoption into a family or aging out into a trade school. I prayed that God would give me the right words to say to this impressionable young boy during the short time he was here and that he would know we truly care about him and his future, even though we just met.

You see, since Vanya is 15 he will be aging out soon. Very soon.  This precious boy turns 16 this November which means he has very little time to find a committed family and for them to get going on their paperwork. He needs to be officially committed to with USCIS before that birthday.

That is no easy task, but we serve a mighty God and we know that through Him all things are possible!  We know that His eye is on this boy and we pray He is guiding us in our influence on Him so that he might grow to know more about our Lord and trust Him with the plans for his life.

So a little more about Vanya.......

He is smart! He knows way more English than he cares to let on. ;)
He is respectful... Holds the door, clears his plate after each meal.
He is quiet... He takes his time getting to know you.  He is a bit of an introvert until he is comfortable, but he has done great in our family with our ten kids!
He is quite the athlete!  Plays soccer very well, is on the soccer team at his school, as well as track and field and wrestling.  He loves the trampoline, swimming, riding bikes and doing flips!
He is a master of UNO. :)
He loves music of all kinds
He loves cake, chocolate and ice cream.... And fish!

I ask that you search your heart and see if you have room in it for an amazing teenager like Vanya.  He deserves a chance, a home, a family.  Please feel free to contact me for more information either by posting a comment on this blog, or at jurowe@vnet.net  Thank you!

More Updates.....

Life is zooming right along, like usual.  School days are fast approaching and precious time is left of those lazy days of summer. 

We have seen ball games, gone to the pool, eaten popsicles, ice cream cones and slushies galore!  We have gone to movies and visited friends and gone camping. So much has been done yet it still seems like it has gone by in the blink of an eye, like it always does.

Our kids were also fortunate enough to be able to attend camp again this summer.  They consider it the best week of the entire year!! They had an AWESOME time at FC Carolina Camp, as they always do, making new friends, playing games and learning more of God's Word. 

Their theme this year was Saved To Serve.  How appropriate.  Exactly what we always strive to teach our children... serve others before thinking of yourself.  I am thankful they got to spend that week immersed in this valuable lesson.

Here are just a few pics of the amazing time they had!

 

 

The theme for the week

Crossfit!

Three legged race

Duck Dynasty themed banquet! 

Good friends full of happy smiles  :)

Fun and games

Gideon is a great rock climber!




And in the meantime we have been getting some updates on our other soon-to-be son across the ocean!  It is a blessing to hear a little bit about what he has been up to this summer and to be able to check in on him and see he is ok.  One of our friends is at his orphanage adopting three- yes three!- teenage sons and has been kind enough to deliver a little goodie bag to him from us and take many pictures too.  Here are a few!

He was quite happy to get the bag of treats , letter and pictures we sent him!

Getting hugs that I can't wait to give!!

Hanging out on the soccer field playing a little ball



We are still moving right along with all of our adoption paperwork.  It is almost done!  Praying that things continue to go smoothly and stay full speed ahead!

 

In the meantime, we are grateful for these updates.  We can see that his foot is feeling much better, and we are reaffirmed in knowing that he is happy we are coming for him.

Soon sweet boy, very soon!

 

However, we are quick to remember that he is still being transferred from his orphanage to a trade school at the end of this month, so please keep the prayers coming for his safety and his emotional well being until we get there for him.

 

And if you feel lead to help us along on our journey we would be so very grateful!!!  There are now TWO links on the top right of this blog where you can donate straight to our adoption fund. One is through our FSP on Reece's Rainbow, and another is on the You Caring site.  Either way the funds will go towards bringing our boy home, and you will have our most sincere thanks!!