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A Brighter Day

For Children

Spring 2012 vol. 54 no. 2

Our VisionA world where every child has a loving and secure home.

In 1955 Harry and Bertha Holt responded to the conviction that God had called them to help children left homeless by the Korean War. Though it took an act of the U.S. Congress, the Holts adopted eight of those children. But they were moved by the desperate plight of other orphaned children in Korea and other countries as well, so they founded Holt International Children’s Services in order to unite homeless children with families who would love them as their own. Today Holt International serves children and families in Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Nepal, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Romania, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine, the United States and Vietnam.

President & CEOPhillip A. LittletonVice-President of International Programs Dan LauerVice-President of Finance & Administration Kevin SweeneyVice-President of Adoption Services Lisa VertulfoVice-President of Development Jack WharfieldVice-President of Policy & External Affairs Susan Soon-keum CoxSenior AdvisorDavid LimSenior ExecutiveJian Chen

Holt International magazine is published quarterly by Holt International Children’s Services, Inc., a nonprofit, Christian, child welfare organization. While Holt International is responsible for the content of Holt International magazine, the viewpoints expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the organization.

Creative Services Director Brian CampbellCreative Services Manager Laura Mathews Managing Editor Ashli KeyserSenior Writer Robin Munro

Subscription Orders/Inquiries and Address ChangesSend all editorial correspondence and changes of address to Holt International magazine, Holt International, P.O. Box 2880, Eugene, OR 97402. We ask for an annual donation of $20 to cover the cost of publication and mailing inside the United States and $40 outside the United States. Holt welcomes the contribution of letters and articles for publication, but assumes no responsibility for return of letters, manuscripts or photos.

Reprint InformationPermission from Holt International is required prior to reprinting any portion of Holt International magazine. Please direct reprint requests to editor Ashli Keyser at 541/687.2202 or ashlik@holtinternational.org.

Copyright ©2012 by Holt International Children’s Services, Inc. ISSN 1047-7640

in this issue

FRONT COVER: Generous child sponsors provide services for 300 children in six Holt-supported day care centers in the Philippines.

P.O. Box 2880 (1195 City View) Eugene, OR 97402 Ph: 541/687.2202 Fax: 541/683.6175

Dear Readers

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Last year, 561 children were placed through Holt with families in the United States.

More than ever, families welcomed children with special needs into their homes and their

hearts. Many older children also found loving families.

Nick and Mary Leigh Brown brought their sons, Bates and Brodie, home from Korea in

2010 and 2011. Both boys also have special needs.

To help advocate for other children with special needs, Mary Leigh Brown regularly posts

blogs about the children on Holt’s photolisting (at someshadesofbrown.com.) “I'm slowly

realizing that God hasn't called us to adopt them all, although don’t think for a second that

I wouldn’t try,” says Mary Leigh. “Instead, God has called us to advocate for these children

to have families.”

To everyone who has shared one of Holt's or Mary Leigh's waiting child stories on

Facebook, at your church or on your blog, we owe you a great deal of gratitude. Thank you

for helping us share the stories of these amazing children.

In March, the Brown family continued their service to children by volunteering at a

Winter Jam concert in Chattanooga, offering concertgoers the chance to sponsor a child in

Holt’s care for $30 a month. “We absolutely love Holt and love the mission that Harry and

Bertha started so many years ago,” says Mary Leigh. “We [were] honored to help Holt in such

a small way. They made us a family and it was the very least we can do to give back.” At

the end of the night, over 140 concertgoers had made the commitment to sponsor a child.

The Browns are the true definition of Holt ambassadors – sharing Holt’s mission, and

helping children receive the care they need and the families they deserve. Mary Leigh

Brown’s efforts on behalf of Holt International are to be commended.

We send a special thank you out to all of Holt’s amazing volunteers and ambassadors

who inspire us every day. You are the hands and feet of this organization, the voices of the

voiceless, and the bridge of love for every child who continues to wait.

To become a Holt Ambassador, go to www.holtinternational.org/ambassadors/.

Ashli Keyser | Managing Editor

4 Annual ReportSummary of 2011

6 A Brighter Day for ChildrenBack from a recent trip to the Philippines, Jenni-

fer Goette, Holt’s director of programs for South

and Southeast Asia, shares about her meaning-

ful visits with two once-struggling families in

Holt’s family preservation program.

12 From the Family16 Adoptees Today

18 Updates/Neighborhood Calendar

19 Waiting Children

directions

P.O. Box 2880 (1195 City View) Eugene, OR 97402 Ph: 541/687.2202 Fax: 541/683.6175

I want to take a moment to offer an enthusiastic "Welcome" to

all of our new Holt child sponsors. It’s a blessing to have you on

board with us as esteemed members of our extended Holt family –

helping us change the lives of orphaned and abandoned children.

Not only are you bringing a smile to the face of your sponsored

child, but we truly believe that you are answering God’s call to

nurture, protect and love His little ones!

Late last year, I had the privilege of seeing – and hearing! –

James 1:27 (…to look after orphans) in action at a Winter Jam West

Coast concert in Portland, Oregon. What an amazing moment, to

see Christian band NewSong share Holt’s message and the need

for child sponsorship with thousands of people. Even more amaz-

ing, to watch as one by one, individuals stepped up to answer the

call and help a child in need.

Whether you support a child before they go home to a family in

the United States or help a child remain with their birth family –

you are making a difference!

Each year, we publish an annual report summary of Holt’s

services for children. In 2011, Holt helped thousands of children

through adoption and other efforts. As you look over our annual

report summary, please realize that this would not have been

possible without our devoted foster mothers, caregivers and other

compassionate people like you. You, the sponsors and generous

supporters, make this work possible. Because of the support and

involvement of so many in the extended “Holt family,” we are able

to provide these services.

You are just as much a part of these numbers – a part of the

children served – as the employees. Each number reflects a child

in family preservation, a child in a care center or with a foster

family – a child you have helped through your generous giving.

You have taken hold of Holt’s mission and the children, and for

this, I am truly grateful.

Phillip Littleton | President & CEO

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Welcome to the Family!Holt Child Sponsors — joining our mission, changing children’s lives

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Family PreservationAround the world, Holt works to keep families together.

Through nutritional, educational and medical support – as

well as microloans for small businesses and vocational train-

ing – we help struggling families become stable, self-reliant

and equipped to care for their children. Last year, Holt signif-

icantly expanded many of our family preservation programs.

Throughout the year, many families also successfully exited

the program. By the end of 2011, every one of the original

360 families in Ethiopia family preservation had graduated.

While in Thailand, China, Haiti, the Philippines and Uganda,

Holt helped thousands more children to stay in the loving

care of their birth families.

Foster CareRather than institutional care, Holt strives to place chil-

dren waiting for permanent families in a more attentive,

family-like environment. In many countries, such as China

and Korea, Holt has introduced model foster care programs

designed to nurture children’s growth and development while

Holt works to find them adoptive families.

NutritionWith proper nutrition, the health of children in care can

dramatically improve – often giving them the strength to

rejoin their families or join an adoptive family. Last year, Holt

partnered with the government of Vietnam to strengthen day

care programs for children in several low-income communi-

ties. While children participate in learning activities, their

parents receive education in child nutrition. In countries

such as Vietnam, Cambodia and Ethiopia, Holt also provides

livestock for families in our family preservation programs –

providing both constant nutrition and the basis for a small

family business.

Medical CareBasic medical care is critical to the health and wellbeing of

families and children. All children in the care of our part-

ners overseas receive vaccinations and other routine medical

care. More and more, children we support and seek homes

for also have medical conditions that require surgery or other

involved care. Last September, Holt assumed management of

the Ping An Medical Foster Home – or “Peace House” – provid-

ing before-and-after care for orphaned and abandoned chil-

dren in China who come to Beijing for medical treatment. As

their health improves, many of these children will go on to

join adoptive families in China or the U.S.

EducationHolt’s educational support includes vocational training for

parents, sponsorship for children to attend school, and also

parenting classes to help families raise strong, healthy chil-

dren. Last year in India, educational sponsorship helped

cover the cost of books, fees, uniforms and supplies needed

for 370 children to attend school – most of them girls. While

in Haiti, Holt began a school and student-based sponsorship

program – keeping 300 at-risk children in school, and working

with educators to monitor their health and wellbeing.

Domestic AdoptionCircumstances sometimes make it impossible to reunite

children with their birth families. For these children, we first

try to place them with lov-

ing families in their birth

country. Giving children

the opportunity to grow up

in their birth country and

culture is central to an ethi-

cal system of adoption, and

2011 Annual Report

A Partnership for the ChildrenThe partnership between Holt and its supporters changes children’s lives. We at Holt recognize that we serve as the hands and feet of very caring and generous people. We strive to use our financial resources effectively and efficiently, and maintain an open and transparent relationship with our donors. Every year, Holt undergoes an audit performed by an independent ac-counting firm. The charts are based upon the report of Moss Adams. A complete audit report is available and gladly provided upon request. The downloadable version is also available on our website at holtinternational.org

SOURCES OF REVENUE 2011 2010 Contributions & Grants $13,433,811 $12,168,450

Adoption & Related Service Fees 10,379,161 11,269,639

Other Revenue 66,376 14,890

Investment Gains/(Losses) (285,160) 632,767

Total Revenue $23,594,188 $24,085,746

OPERATING EXPENSES Program Services $17,589,712 $17,851,206

Management & General 2,369,636 2,241,976

Fundraising 4,312,237 3,847,777

Total Operating Expenses 24,271,585 23,940,959

2011 financial highlights

we have long promoted it in the countries where we work.

Because of recurring social stigmas, however, domestic – or

in-country – adoption has been slow to develop. But as cul-

tures grow and change, many more children have in recent

years found the loving families they deserve through domes-

tic adoption.

International AdoptionIn recent years, the profile of children needing homes

through international adoption – and coming home to fami-

lies – has changed. In many of the countries where Holt

works, growing economies are giving birth families the

resources to care for their children. As domestic adoption

also becomes more socially accepted, orphaned and aban-

doned children are increasingly finding adoptive families in

their birth countries. Most of the children adopted domesti-

cally are healthy, infant girls. As a result, children who once

waited longer than others to find families – children with

special healthcare needs, older children, and boys – are now

first in line for international adoption

Programs for Children with Special NeedsHolt has for many years made extra effort to find loving

homes for children with special needs, and supported in-

country programs that help them develop to their fullest

potential. Last year, Holt initiated a special program to pro-

mote adoption of older children in the Philippines. (Learn

more about this program on pg. 10)

Post Adoption ServicesHolt offers a range of services to address the continuing

needs of adoptees, adoptive parents and birth parents – from

counseling for families and assistance with birth searches

to heritage tours and adoptee camps. In 2011, Holt Adoptee

Camp expanded from four to six locations – adding camps in

Wisconsin and Georgia – and served 559 children. The Post

Adoption Services Department at Holt helps adoptees regard-

less of agency affiliation and last year, provided services for

over 3,900 adoptees and families – many of them not previ-

ously associated with Holt.

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Back from a recent trip to the Philippines, Jennifer Goette, Holt’s director of programs for South and Southeast Asia, shares about her meaningful visits with two once-struggling families in Holt’s fam-ily preservation program. Through day care services and donations provided by generous monthly sponsors, children in the Philippines have been given hope for the future. Once only a program to support children going home to families in the United States, Holt’s child sponsorship program has broadened to include support for children remaining with their families.

Manila, Philippines -- Nestled down a narrow street, in a tightly packed community of tiny houses, is the

Escopa 2 day care center. Escopa 2, one of six Kaisahang Buhay Foundation (KBF) day care centers, is an

oasis in the midst of a bustling neighborhood. The outside of the building is awash with color. The inside

is clean and cool, providing a safe and comfortable space for 25 children in the morning session who jump

with delight at seeing a visitor. I am entertained with songs and dances while the children stomp, cheer and

mime the lyrics to their favorite songs. Their bright faces are eager with enthusiasm and hope. These are

some of the new faces of Holt’s child sponsorship program.

RIGHT: Children in low-income commu-nities of Metro Manila receive nutritious

meals, medical assistance and learn-ing activities at six Kaisahang Buhay

Foundation (KBF) day care centers. Established by Holt in 1976, KBF has

grown to become a recognized leader in child welfare services.

FAR RIGHT: “Because of KBF’s day care program, my three oldest children have

been able to learn how to write and color,” says Naty Jasmen, who, like many of the parents receiving support, volun-

teers at the center. Funds committed by generous sponsors help children at the centers receive much-needed services.

A Brighter Day For ChildrenThe New Face of Holt’s Child Sponsorship Program

Years ago, most of the children in Holt’s sponsorship program

were orphaned and abandoned children who were in the process

of intercountry adoption. As Holt’s work has expanded to impact

the lives of more children, greater emphasis has been placed on

keeping vulnerable families together. In the Philippines, Holt’s

sponsorship program has expanded to support 300 children from

impoverished communities with access to stimulating activities,

social interaction and a nutritious meal at their local day care

center.

Behind each face and each shy smile is the story of a fam-

ily surviving despite the odds. I recently met two extraordinary

families during my visit to the Philippines. They are convinced

that access to day care services has been the key to keeping their

family together.

Just around the corner from Escopa 2 day care center, the six-

member Jasmen family occupies a small, two-room house. Naty

Jasmen and her husband, Rodolfo, are working hard to put food on

the table and meet the basic needs of their four children. Rodolfo

is currently unemployed, but manages to find some seasonal

work planting and gardening at the local cemetery. Naty is the

primary caregiver, earning income by selling rice cakes in the

neighborhood.

Naty, like many parents, volunteers at the day care center once

each week for three hours – doing whatever it takes to keep the

center clean and provide the children with a mid-day meal. Her

5-year-old twin boys attend day care regularly and are thriv-

ing. Naty proudly mentions that her eldest daughter used

to attend day care and is now a healthy, well-adjusted first

grader. “Because of KBF’s day care program, my three oldest

children have been able to learn how to write and color,”

says Naty. “They enjoy spending time with other children

and have become more socially independent.”

When I ask Naty about how her family

has been impacted by day care servic-

es, big tears well up in her soft brown

eyes. “My family does not have the

financial resources we need,” she

says. “The support has allowed my

family to stay together, even after

the death of one of my children.

I am not sure what would have

happened without this sup-

port.”

Naty's powerful story

is reflected many times

over in the sentiments

and experiences of the

other families that bene-

fit from Holt sponsorship.

Many families participating

in KBF's day care program

have often experienced hardship, hunger and unemployment,

but now they have hope and the promise of a better life for their

children.

Another family I meet has a completely different, but equally

poignant story. They live within walking distance from the day

care center, in a small, three-room house where seven people

share a bedroom. I am impressed by Rosalina Bello, the mother

of four children, who speaks in clear, measured English about her

two children with special needs.

Although her 15-year-old

daughter is able to attend

special education

classes, her 12-year-

old daughter has a

seizure disorder

and cerebral palsy

and must be

cared for around

the clock at

home. Rosalina

explains that it’s

difficult to

8

devote individualized time and attention to her other two chil-

dren. Her husband works on a commission basis as an auto

mechanic, which does not provide benefits and brings in barely

enough money each month to cover all the family's needs.

Their youngest child, a bright, 4-year-old girl who regularly

attends KBF day care, sits quietly next to her mother and sister.

She pulls a few worn copies of children's books off the otherwise

bare shelf to show me what she is learning at school. “Having a

good day care teacher helps a lot. I have no time at home to devote

to her, but she is very patient and studies on her own,” explains

Rosalina. “She is already learning to read and is the best student

in her class.”

Rosalina's life - and the life of her family - has been difficult,

but she is optimistic about the future for her youngest daughter.

“It has been such a big help to have the day care program for my

daughter,” she tells me. “It has given her chances in life I never

thought she would have.”

As the scope and reach of Holt's child sponsorship program has

expanded, we can celebrate victories that are not limited to the

number of children placed with adoptive families in the United

States. We can also celebrate victories that are measured by the

number of children who remain with their birth families, the

number of children who complete basic education, and the num-

ber of children who grow into healthy young adults. We can open

our eyes and our hearts to recognize that a stable, loving family

– whether a birth family or adoptive family – is the key to giving

each child the best start in life.

Jennifer Goette | Director of Programs for South and

Southeast Asia

ABOVE: Children in Holt-supported KBF day care. Currently, 300 children

attending the day care centers receive sponsorship support.

RIGHT: Rosalina Bello with her 12-year-old daughter.

Safe shelter ~ Medical care ~ Nutritious food

Attentive and loving nurture from trained caregivers

And the hope of a permanent family

We want you back! The children continue to need your support!

Have yousponsored

a child in the past?

Safe shelter ~ Medical care ~ Nutritious food

Attentive and loving nurture from trained caregivers

And the hope of a permanent family

What your sponsorship commitment makes possible for a child in need:

To renew your sponsorship commitment, or to become a sponsor for the first time, visit www.holtinternational.org/sponsorship or call 888.355.HOLT

www.holtinternational.org/sponsorship or call 888.355.HOLT

QR code for the sponsorship ad on the back cover

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around the globe

EthiopiaIn June, 13 Oregon State University (OSU) athletes – volunteers with OSU’s Beavers Without Borders – will travel

with Holt staff to Siltie, Ethiopia, where they will build homes for struggling families in Holt’s family preservation

program . Initiated by former OSU football player Taylor Kavanaugh, Beavers Without Borders is an organization

that gives OSU athletes the opportunity to travel to developing countries to help families in need.

“The students really take ownership of their experience. It’s very powerful,” says Taylor. “It’s been a great suc-

cess, and we hope to bring it to other schools in the future. We look forward to this trip with Holt.”

ThailandFunds for Thailand flood relief efforts have supported evacuation centers, supplies and supply distribution for

affected families. In March, volunteer engineers began the second phase of response by conducting an evalua-

tion of destroyed and damaged homes. In May, they will begin to repair 20 homes for birth and foster families

affected by the flooding.

PhilippinesHolt will lead a second group of volunteer ambassadors to the Philippines this fall. Last April, Holt sent six

enthusiastic individuals to the Philippines to meet and get to know 11 older children waiting for families. Upon

their return to the United States, the ambassadors shared the children’s stories, hoping to find families for each

one. To date, 6 of the 11 children have been matched with families. While this group of ambassadors will

continue their efforts to find homes for the remaining 5 children they met, the second group of ambassadors

traveling this fall will meet a different group of children and advocate for their adoption upon returning home

to the United States.

LEFT: A group of student athletes from Oregon State University will travel to Ethiopia in June to build houses similar to this for struggling families.

ABOVE: Children in Holt’s family preser-vation program in Ethiopia.

FROM FAR LEFT: Holt Sahathai Foundation (HSF) provided temporary care for foster fam-ilies and children displaced by the flooding.

FridgeFridgeFridge

[1] Luke Williams ,23 months, and best friend, Sarah Reece, 22 months

(both from Ethiopia) — Broomfield, CO

[2] Lily Cushing, 7 (Thailand) — Monroe, CT

[3] Jaxon, 11, and Brielle Yackley, 16 ( Both from Korea) — Pierre, SD

[4] Knox Beard (Korea) — Ironton, MO

[5] Gianna, 8, and Daisy Kennedy, 3 (Both from China) — Denver, PA

[6] Jet Kirsch, 2 (Korea) — Pikesville, MD

[7] Priya Morgan, 5, and Sarina Lee, 3 (Both from India) — Frankfort, KY

[8] Rogette, 16, and Jurane Lizer, 12 (Both from Haiti) — Reinbeck, IA

Mail original color prints to:

Holt International magazine

P.O. Box 2880, Eugene, OR 97402

or upload digital photos at holtinternational.org/submissions

[1]

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from the family

A few weeks ago, we helped at the Holt sponsorship table at

Winter Jam in Chattanooga, Tennessee. As I stood at the table

and looked over the rows of faces of precious children who needed

sponsors, my heart skipped a beat. These children weren’t just

faces in the crowd to me anymore; each one of them were fear-

fully and wonderfully made with a plan and purpose. Many of

them were waiting on their forever families to find them. They

were longing for a place called “home.” These children were just

like my boys once were….waiting. As I helped people find a child

to sponsor and thanked them for their commitment, I knew that

lives were being changed and hearts were being moved.

When we got home from the event, I hugged my little boys a

bit tighter and was so thankful that they found their way home.

I also wondered if they had been sponsored. While they waited,

did someone step up and say they would love our children across

an ocean and help provide for them until we could bring them

home? The next day, I contacted Holt and inquired about this,

and indeed, our Bates had been part of the Holt sponsorship pro-

gram.

I got chills. Somewhere, someone has loved our little boy.

Before we knew him, before we longed to bring him home and

before he was in our arms, someone in the United States had loved

him. Our Bates wasn’t a face in the sea of orphans. He wasn’t just

another face on a packet. He was someone. Bates’ sponsors didn’t

just sponsor a child, they sponsored our child. What a blessing

this news was for our family.

We wrote Bates’ sponsors a letter, telling them all about our

son. The once 2-pound, delayed and very sick little boy they spon-

sored is now a running, jumping and energetic 3-year-old. We told

his sponsors about his love for Mickey Mouse, and his momma.

We told them about his favorite foods and his sweet and compas-

sionate spirit. We, too, attempted to put into words our gratitude

Not Just a FaceFresh from her volunteer experience at a Winter Jam concert, an adoptive mother learns of the extraordinary kindness and generosity of Holt sponsors — including those who helped her son come home to his family

from the family

for their sponsorship of our son. But how do you put into adequate

words a "thank you" to someone who stood in the gap for you?

How do you thank someone who helped provide a heart surgery

that your son desperately needed? How do you thank a complete

stranger for loving your son in a way you couldn’t at the time?

It is the same struggle we’ve had so many times over the last

few years. How do you thank all the people who made such a dif-

ference in his life? How can you put into words your gratitude for

his birthparents, social workers, foster family and all the other

people who’ve helped this beloved child?

And then I realized something. All of these wonderful people

act not for the "thank you." They act out of the generosity of their

hearts and because acting lifts their spirits. Bates’ sponsors are

more names and faces and stories that we will add to the long list

of people that we tell Bates about as we put him to bed at night.

The long list of people that we are honored to call “family.”

Sponsorship is now a piece of Bates’ story. Sponsorship is now

intertwined with our family story. And for this, we are forever

grateful.

Mary Leigh Brown | Murfreesboro, Tennessee

LEFT: The Brown family, yellow smocks and all, volunteer at a Winter Jam concert in Chattanooga. In total, 9,542 concergoers signed up to sponsor a child during the 2011 Winter Jam run!

RIGHT: Once a face on a picture folder, Bates Brown encouraged others to help children in need, just as he was helped through sponsorship support.

Until You Name Us A story of adoption from an older sister’s perspective

“I luff you,” he tells me, quietly. I love the sound of him saying it.

I grab him and squeeze him tightly, whispering “I love you” back.

Happiness washes over me; he is actually home.

My brother, Elijah Shu Bo Akin, arrived home from China on

December 29, 2011, but we started the process to adopt in July

2010. The following 17 months were filled with wondering, pray-

ing and hoping, waiting, and even frustration. The road of adop-

tion is hard, but absolutely priceless.

Before our adoption, I didn’t connect faces with the orphan

crisis or feel compelled to pray often for individual waiting chil-

dren. I didn’t want to volunteer to help in an orphanage. But

when my mom recounted her tour of Eli's orphanage, my heart

was broken.

My brother was born with a heart defect: VSD, which basically

means he had a hole in his heart. While we don’t know for sure

why his birth parents abandoned him, by putting the pieces of

Eli’s story together we can get a glimpse into their hearts. They

didn’t abandon him until he was five months old. We believe that

they kept him as long as they could until they knew he needed

help, help they couldn’t afford. So, they lovingly put him in a box

and left him in a hospital stairwell. They risked a lot to leave him

in such a public location, as it is illegal to abandon children in

China. But Eli’s parents knew he needed help and put him in the

best place possible, a place where he would receive life-saving sur-

gery, and eventually, a forever family. We think of them often and

what, out of sacrifice, they parted with: an amazing little boy.

Eli’s

s t o r y c r e -

ates a beautiful image, a picture

of how God loves us. He knows us by n a m e ,

we whom the world has abandoned, we who have a disease in our

hearts, a hole that only Jesus can fill. We need surgery, and we

can’t afford it. He chooses us, plucks us out of spiritual poverty,

and provides life-giving grace and unconditional love. And we are

waiting for Him to come, get us, and take us home. I know that

day, just like the day Eli came home, will be sheer joy.

Ellen Akin | Louisville, Kentucky

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ABOVE: Ellen and brother, Elijah

RIGHT: From left to right: Tyler, Sam, Ellen, Abby, and Elijah

from the family

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from the family

An Outgoing and Happy BoyJacob needs a family

On December 18, 2001, at 2 days old, a little boy was found

abandoned at a hospital in one of China’s southernmost prov-

inces. Whoever left behind this newborn baby first dressed him

all in green and carefully bundled him in a bright red quilt. After a

failed attempt to find his birth parents, the police transferred him

to the local social welfare institute. Here, he remained for the first

six years of his life – growing into “an outgoing and happy boy.”

In 2004, Jacob* received surgery for a cleft lip. He recovered

well, and quickly began to develop his speech. Two years later,

at nearly 6 years old, Jacob joined a foster family with five foster

siblings – including four sisters, and one brother. This suited Jacob

well, as he loves playing with other children and always eagerly

participates in group activities. Without help, he struggles a bit in

school, but is also described as industrious and respectful of his

teachers.

Jacob, his social workers write, is “loved by parents, teachers

and classmates” alike.

In the four years since he entered foster care, Jacob has seen

three of his foster siblings join adoptive families. He still keeps in

contact with one of his sisters – who joined a family in the U.S.

– via Skype. This former foster sister describes Jacob as a funny

boy who enjoys telling jokes and watching the Power Rangers on

TV. She says he was quite close to his foster brother – sometimes

sleeping in the same bunk, where they talked in confidence. He

would definitely love joining a family with siblings.

Jacob’s foster parents want to see all the children in their care

join loving, adoptive families. To help prepare them for adoption,

they ask to be called “Auntie” and “Uncle” instead of “Mom” and

“Dad.” But although Jacob has learned not to view them as parents,

in their care he has learned what it means to be part of a family

– spending holidays with foster grandparents, aunts and uncles,

helping in the garden and kitchen, and sharing in all the closeness

and joy of family.

Jacob most needs a family who can provide him with any

follow-up medical care he may need and who will be open to

him maintaining contact with his foster siblings, if possible.

Preferably, Jacob can join a family who has experience parenting

past his age and understands the issues surrounding older child

adoption and its impact on behavior and development.

To learn more about Jacob, please contact Erin Mower at erinm@holtinternational.org

*names have been changed

DOB: December 16, 2001 / Guangdong Province, China

adoptees today

When the Tide Rolls InAn adoptee’s story about diving deeper and embracing two cultures

I took a running start. Then, with all my might, I launched it

towards the sea. "It" was a bottle. All glass, corked. And rolled

tightly inside it – a scroll of paper bearing instructions for the

finder to return it via post with indication of how far it had trav-

eled. My 12-year-old mind was enchanted by the idea of a message

in a bottle. Mysterious, quixotic. I knew I had to send one.

The salted air whipped my hair around

my face as I struggled to keep the bottle

in sight. It bobbed on the surface of

the Pacific, nearly swallowed by

the frothing waves that threat-

ened to drag it into indigo

depths. There are four prevail-

ing currents that constitute the

Northern Pacific Gyre and dom-

inate the largest ocean on Earth:

the Kuroshio, the North Pacific,

the California, and the North

Equatorial. They connect in

a clockwise pattern, joining

the Asian Coast with that

of America. I watched the

California current sweep

my bottle away, not turn-

ing my back until I could

only identify it when the

sun peeked through the

gray-blanketed sky and gave it away. A tiny token of reflected

light.

Where would it go? I crossed my fingers and hoped for China.

I hadn't seen China in almost a dozen years. At three months

old I was abandoned at a police station, parentless in Nanning, a

city of almost six million. Three months later I was adopted and

came to the United States. Whatever happens in the future, my

blank biological family tree precedes me, as if my own roots have

been washed away.

Growing up, questions of where I fit in engulfed me. Among my

friends I stood out as the only Asian, easily identifiable in pictures

as short, dark-skinned, and black-haired in a sea of fair-skinned

blonds and brunettes. They spoke of family histories and tradi-

tions and, strangest of all to me, things that "run in their families,"

like an aptitude for sports, or being susceptible to a certain illness,

or reaching a certain height. My future, not just my ancestry, was

unfathomable, which only made me even more of an outcast.

And yet, I fit in with other Asians even less. I grew to expect

the inevitable shock when Chinese people found out that I did

not speak Chinese, or that both of my parents were white New

Yorkers who moved us to Oregon when I was barely four. At Asian

restaurants, I was frequently spoken to in languages I didn’t

understand and was embarrassed when others discovered that

I was completely Americanized in lifestyle: in how I talked, ate

and dressed, in my love and pursuit of creativity instead of busi-

ness or medicine. The most un-Asian Asian there could be. I was

regarded with looks of skepticism, followed quickly by incredulity

and, finally, condescension, flooding me with notions of inferior-

ity. Adrift between cultures, I felt excluded because of my inability

to navigate my two worlds. A foreigner in both places. And so I

was suspended between two continents and two lives: what could

have been and what was.

LEFT: Kristin (right) on the beach with her younger sister, Sarah, also adopted from China.

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adoptees today

Six years later, I return to the bluff, that day still engraved

in my memory. Over time I have grown to see the Northern

Pacific Gyre more as a gift than a barrier. A possibility. A lesson

for myself. I have gained an appreciation and motivation to dive

deeper into my two cultures — one ancient, one new. The connec-

tions that exist can take me anywhere, and that realization is so

extraordinary that it makes me swell with pride.

Diversity is an extraordinary teacher. While I had seen myself

as drifting apart from my friends, it has dawned on me that

only from diversity and differences can anything be gained and

ultimately learned. I have learned to love the ties that make me

different and immerse myself as an individual who chases a dif-

ferent current than everyone else.

Eagerly, I anticipate the new places, the new faces and new

cultures that await me.

Opportunities to connect with people and learn something

new are in every look of confusion, every foreign tongue, every

cultural tradition that I come across. What I hadn't realized

before is that all I need to do is see myself as a channel to the

world around me. I am lucky enough to be part of two worlds.

But, for me, two is only the beginning.

I cannot wait to be a foreigner again.

Next summer I have the opportunity to visit China. When I

travel there, I'll take the time to do what I always do whenever I

can find a new beach to explore: spend a morning strolling along

the shore, eyes wide open, because you never know what you

might find when the tide rolls in.

Kristin Zebrowski | Eugene, Oregon

Kristin’s graduation photo will be featured in the upcoming graduate issue of Holt

International magazine. Deadline for photos of Holt adoptees who graduated or are

graduating from high school and college in 2012 is July 1. Short stories from families

about their graduate are also welcome. For a graduate submission form, go online to

holtinternational.org/gradsubmissions. Stories go to editorial@holtinternational.org

Holt 2012 Graduates...

CALIFORNIAJuly 29-August 2, 2012, Dobbins—Holt Adoptee Camp for

adoptees 9-16 years old (Day Camp is August 1)GEORGIAJuly 23-27, 2012, Hampton—Holt Adoptee Camp for adoptees

9-16 years old (Day Camp is July 26)IOWAJuly 22-26, 2012, Okoboji—Holt Adoptee Camp for adoptees

9-16 years old (Day Camp is July 25)NEBRASKASeptember 22, Papillion — Midwest Pumpkin Patch Party at

Bellevue Berry Farm – Kickin’ Horse Kafe. 4 PM – 7 PM NEW JERSEY September 29th, Princeton — Gala and Dinner Auction to ben-

efit Holt’s Special Needs Adoption Fund. Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village. 6:00 PM

OREGONJuly 15-19, Corbett—Holt Adoptee Camp for adoptees 9-16

years old (Day Camp is July 18)October 20, Portland — Portland Gala Dinner & Auction

PENNSYLVANIAAugust 5-10, 2012, Starlight—Holt Adoptee Camp for adoptees

9-16 years old (Day Camp is August 9)WISCONSINJuly 29-August 2, 2012, Wautoma — Holt Adoptee Camp for

adoptees 9-16 years old (Day Camp is August 1)HERITAGE TOURSJune 25- July 8 — Korea Heritage TourSeptember 14-26 — Vietnam Adult Adoptee TourGet the Info:For Holt Adoptee Camp information contact: Steve Kalb at

stevek@holtinternational.org or go to www.holtinternational.org/campFor Day Camp information contact: Michael Tessier at michaelt@holtinternational.org or go to www.holtinternational.org/camp/daycamp.shtmlFor Events information contact: Sandi Mehl at sandim@holtinternational.orgFor Holt Heritage Tour information contact: Sara Higgins for China tours: sarahiggins@holtinternational.org Courtney Young for Vietnam adult adoptee tour: courtneyy@holtinternational.orgFor Picnic Information contact: Sally Dougherty at sallyd@holtinternational.org

neighborhoodcalendar

Calendar PhotosDeadline for photos for the Holt yearly calendar is July 16. Please upload digital images (3 megapixels or higher)

to holtinternational.org/submissions or mail glossy prints to Calendar Photos, Holt International, P.O. Box 2880,

Eugene, OR 97402.

Adoptee CampsHolt adoptee camp is an exciting and fun camp designed to be relevant to any international and transracial

adoptee from 9-16 years of age by focusing on adoption, race and identity rather than birth culture. We invite

you to take a few minutes and explore the camp pages of Holt’s website. On top of a great week of summer fun,

you’ll find that Holt camp’s unique environment is unlike anything else. If you have any questions, please contact

Michael Tessier at michaelt@holtinternational.org

www.holtinternational.org/camp

Holt EventsThe upcoming New Jersey Gala Dinner and Auction on September 29th will raise money for Holt’s Special Needs

Adoption Fund. “As an adoptive parent, I have experienced the joy and blessing of adopting through Holt,” says

Jackie Miller, the New Jersey Gala chairperson. “I also know that there are thousands of children who still do not

have families and those of us on the auction committee are determined to do all we can to help those children.

I hope you will join us for this wonderful evening of friends, fellowship and fun—all while making a difference

in the life of a child!” Visit www. holtinternational.org/events for more information and to RSVP or contact Sandi

Mehl at sandim@holtinternational.org.

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Rediscover Korea!Dates: June 25-July 8

Heritage tour for adoptees and their families

Contact Katy Bogart at:

katyb@holtinternational.org

www.holtinternational.org/tours

ChandlerBorn:3/20/2000, China

This handsome young man lives in Jiangxi province. He came into care when he was 10 years old following the death of his birth father. Chandler’s birth mother reportedly suffers from a mental disease and neither she nor any of his remaining birth family was able to care for him. He is said to be a healthy boy and is currently attending primary school. He enjoys going

to school and studies hard. “I would like to be adopted by a kind-hearted family who will allow me to continue my stud-ies,” says Chandler. Chandler would do best in a family who has experience parenting past his age, has previous adoption experience and can help him cope with the impact of grief and loss.

Donata Born: 11/11/1999, China

Donata loves playing sports and has been elected by her teachers to help organize sports activities for her class. A lively and smiling girl, Donata has been in care since she was 8 days old and needs a family who can submit their paperwork to China prior to her 14th

birthday. A music lover, Donata has a history of struggling in school, especially with math. She loves jumping rope and playing table tennis. Donata waits for a family who has experience parenting past her age and who can help her cope with grief and loss.

GavinBorn: 8/1/2002, SE Asia

“Gavin will be a delight to any family,” say his caregivers. “He is a good-natured, happy and friendly 8-year-old.” Diagnosed as HIV-positive, Gavin has been in care since 2006. Little is known about his early years. Gavin began medical treatment for HIV in 2007 and is currently categorized as "not symptomatic." A self-confident young man, Gavin is said to be an utter joy to be around. He’s very talkative and active and does well in school. The right family for Gavin will not fear his HIV, but rather love him and advocate for him.

Harrison Born: 1/21/1999, Africa

Harrison is a talkative young man who enjoys playing football and watching tele-vision. Upon admission, Harrison had completed the fourth grade. His caregiv-ers report that he has adjusted well to his new environment and communicates his feelings. Harrison will do best in a family who understands the impact of interna-tional adoption, has access to cultural role models, has previous older child adoption experience and is open to the possibility of Harrison being older than his stated age, as his birth date is estimated.

waiting childrenThese and other children need

adoptive families

For more information on adopting these

and other waiting children, contact Erin

Mower at erinm@holtinternational.org

w w w.holtinter national.org /wait-

ingchild/photolisting

Harrison

Gavin

Donata

Chandler

QR Code for Gavin’s Video

*Scan here to see (and share!) a video of Gavin!

P o s t O f f i c e B o x 2 8 8 0E u g e n e , O R 9 7 4 0 2

C h a n g e S e r v i c e R e q u e s t e d