Ivars BeBezdechi is so wrong. Those children won't forget their native tongue or second language of their origins from the ages they are coming to the US.Nor that much of their native land. They aren't infants, have an older sister. Plus the US has sectirs of Latvian cultural/Russian cultural organisations,active people,access to traditional things, events etc., In fact these cultural preserves in the US are more ethnically authentic than much of what has been diluted over time in these countries of origin. I was born in Au to Latvian parents, can still speak Latvian, am familiar with a lot of traditions, general culture despite growing up with just some exposure.With the internet and skype you can have a virtual life OS these days.These kids may as well fit in with the great option being given to them and will reconnect to their origins more as adults.Which most of us have done.Well done to adopting family and hope it all goes well.
Ivars BeBezdechiJuly 21, 2015
While I am happy that these children are being adopted, it concerns me that these children will most likely be separated forever from their Baltic heritage, forget their Latvian language and be homogenized into the very often "Leave It To Beaver" LDS world. I now understand why American Indians have specific rules on adoption indigenous American children.
Latvia and their Baltic neighbors are dying cultures, partly due to poor economic conditions and that there is a very lowlow birthrate vs. high mortality due toto an aging population.
The Church does not do a good job of encouraging families to respect maintaining of ethic and racial ties.
Tania YoungJuly 10, 2015
Thank you Meridian for publishing this wonderful article! AND thank you to all whose hearts have been touched enough to donate to this expensive, but immeasurably worthy goal!! (I have sent personalized thank you notes to all that have donated - either through email or on Facebook. I hope you can read them!) I am also going to set up a closed-group "Young Family Adoption Updates" page for those who are interested in keeping up with how things are going. :) Please let me know if you would like me to add you! God bless you!!
AnneJuly 10, 2015
The Lord has clearly chosen this family to adopt these precious children. Go forward in faith; all is well!
Brenda BennionJuly 9, 2015
This is a BEAUTIFUL story!! I have put this on my own FB page and will see what we can donate! Our family, and some friends of ours, also hosted children through the NHFC organization. It was a WONDERFUL experience! We hosted 3 times, and did a little volunteer work for them, too. However, there have been some major changes within the NHFC organization. The founder had to step down as well as some other original founding members. As a result, NHFC has new leadership who voted to not allow LDS Church members to host the orphans they bring over. As a result, they are no longer "non-denominational". Also, an adoption agency they work with, "Open Door Adoption Agency", will no longer work with LDS people. If anyone is interested I in hosting children I can put them in touch with LeAnn Dakake, who is now working with Orphans in Africa and possible more countries. She has both a sponsorship program and a hosting program in Uganda and Sierra Leone. She is in need of sponsors for both programs.
DorisJuly 9, 2015
You said it all so well, Shirley. Know this family will be greatly blessed by their desire to make these children part of their family. I will match Shirley's donation.
DegJuly 9, 2015
A worthy cause to donate to... :P - That is just awesome that the 5 could stay together through out it all... just wow!!
ShirleyJuly 8, 2015
Gofundme is $830 after 9 months! Surely we can do better than that! WE MUST DO BETTER THAN THAT!! Send this incredible story to EVERYONE you know!! With the challenge to match your donation!! Any amount you can do is the right amount! Just do it! These Darlings are counting on all of us, their family in Christ. Do it for them, do it for Him!! JUST DO IT! My donation challenge is $100. A stretch for me, for sure..but where there is faith, there is a way. God bless all your tender hearts!!
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BrigitaApril 29, 2016
Ivars BeBezdechi is so wrong. Those children won't forget their native tongue or second language of their origins from the ages they are coming to the US.Nor that much of their native land. They aren't infants, have an older sister. Plus the US has sectirs of Latvian cultural/Russian cultural organisations,active people,access to traditional things, events etc., In fact these cultural preserves in the US are more ethnically authentic than much of what has been diluted over time in these countries of origin. I was born in Au to Latvian parents, can still speak Latvian, am familiar with a lot of traditions, general culture despite growing up with just some exposure.With the internet and skype you can have a virtual life OS these days.These kids may as well fit in with the great option being given to them and will reconnect to their origins more as adults.Which most of us have done.Well done to adopting family and hope it all goes well.
Ivars BeBezdechiJuly 21, 2015
While I am happy that these children are being adopted, it concerns me that these children will most likely be separated forever from their Baltic heritage, forget their Latvian language and be homogenized into the very often "Leave It To Beaver" LDS world. I now understand why American Indians have specific rules on adoption indigenous American children. Latvia and their Baltic neighbors are dying cultures, partly due to poor economic conditions and that there is a very lowlow birthrate vs. high mortality due toto an aging population. The Church does not do a good job of encouraging families to respect maintaining of ethic and racial ties.
Tania YoungJuly 10, 2015
Thank you Meridian for publishing this wonderful article! AND thank you to all whose hearts have been touched enough to donate to this expensive, but immeasurably worthy goal!! (I have sent personalized thank you notes to all that have donated - either through email or on Facebook. I hope you can read them!) I am also going to set up a closed-group "Young Family Adoption Updates" page for those who are interested in keeping up with how things are going. :) Please let me know if you would like me to add you! God bless you!!
AnneJuly 10, 2015
The Lord has clearly chosen this family to adopt these precious children. Go forward in faith; all is well!
Brenda BennionJuly 9, 2015
This is a BEAUTIFUL story!! I have put this on my own FB page and will see what we can donate! Our family, and some friends of ours, also hosted children through the NHFC organization. It was a WONDERFUL experience! We hosted 3 times, and did a little volunteer work for them, too. However, there have been some major changes within the NHFC organization. The founder had to step down as well as some other original founding members. As a result, NHFC has new leadership who voted to not allow LDS Church members to host the orphans they bring over. As a result, they are no longer "non-denominational". Also, an adoption agency they work with, "Open Door Adoption Agency", will no longer work with LDS people. If anyone is interested I in hosting children I can put them in touch with LeAnn Dakake, who is now working with Orphans in Africa and possible more countries. She has both a sponsorship program and a hosting program in Uganda and Sierra Leone. She is in need of sponsors for both programs.
DorisJuly 9, 2015
You said it all so well, Shirley. Know this family will be greatly blessed by their desire to make these children part of their family. I will match Shirley's donation.
DegJuly 9, 2015
A worthy cause to donate to... :P - That is just awesome that the 5 could stay together through out it all... just wow!!
ShirleyJuly 8, 2015
Gofundme is $830 after 9 months! Surely we can do better than that! WE MUST DO BETTER THAN THAT!! Send this incredible story to EVERYONE you know!! With the challenge to match your donation!! Any amount you can do is the right amount! Just do it! These Darlings are counting on all of us, their family in Christ. Do it for them, do it for Him!! JUST DO IT! My donation challenge is $100. A stretch for me, for sure..but where there is faith, there is a way. God bless all your tender hearts!!
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