Tag children who need a home

Towards the beginning of this month, as we really began to move forward in our adoption journey, I began doing what I always do…

Reaching out. Connecting.

In the process, I came across several other blogs of families who have adopted from Ethiopia, Ghana, and the Congo.

But, then something extraordinary happened… one of those people posted a link on facebook. This link, hidden among other links – and, generally I don’t click through for that reason. I get TONS of links through my FB feed every day and don’t click on many. For whatever reason, I clicked on this one.

A website popped up, and it was a letter to teenagers and imploring they think before they choose to be cruel to others. And there was this picture… a boy on a pony, and he seemed…familiar. I couldn’t quite place it, and almost dismissed it, but then more pictures popped up… and, it really really bugged me that I felt like I knew this boy.

After a few minutes of searching, I found this:

And, my heart stopped.

You see, a bit before that, I’d seen this VERY photograph on a completely different website – a website full of faces, and THIS VERY ONE is the one that caught my attention. And, there he was…again. THIS was that boy.

The photograph itself isn’t really special or show-stopping… it’s very…beige. But, it had never been my eyes that were captured…it’d been my heart. Something so hard to explain.

Out of a sea of photographs, my heart had known that I was supposed to be praying for HIM. And, then suddenly there he was again.

His name is Dzintars and he’s from Latvia (Europe). For a few more days, he will be in America as a part of a host program where kids in orphanages get to spend 5 weeks in America to experience what it’s like to have a family and to be…LOVED.

He’s 14 and will be 15 this October – which means in just one short year, they will turn him loose on the streets where approximately 50 % of children from orphanages become criminals, prostitutes, or take in by sex-trafficking.

My husband and I have been praying for this boy specifically (and his host family) since we’ve seen his face. We are still praying.

He’s funny, silly, thoughtful, compassionate, sweet, incredibly resilient, and so full of love. His host family can attest that he would fit well in ANY family – even with younger kids. He’s learning how to swim, loves theme parks, and likes trying new things.

Most of all, he wants a family.

His forever family is out there somewhere, will you help us find them (maybe it’s you?)? A few people have even set up a matching grant SPECIFICALLY for him to help with the adoption costs.