Say Yes Spotlight - the Hayashi family

Jonathan is the Worship and Discipleship Pastor and Kennedi is the Children’s Ministry Director at Troy First Baptist Church in Troy, MO. They have two girls, Kaede (age 4) and Anna (age 2) and they are in the process of adopting Seiji, a precious little three-year-old boy living in a Bulgarian orphanage. Their girls love playing outside, and they can't wait to have a brother to play with!

Jonathan and Kennedi first reviewed Seiji's adoption file in February of 2019. They moved through the tedious process, and like so many families they feared how Covid-19 would affect their adoption travel. But they were given miraculous timing and were able to take their first "meeting trip" in February before Bulgaria shut down. And due to the way Bulgarian adoption works, their presence was not necessary in court since they had signed power of attorney documents while on their trip so that a lawyer could represent them. They passed court on May 29th, and Seiji officially became their son! And this week, they received the joyous news that the country is ready to resume the adoption service processing, and they will be flying to Bulgaria on July 2nd to bring their son HOME!! What an encouraging announcement for waiting families! There is a mandated 14-day quarantine which will extend their trip, but both of them will - thankfully - be able to travel regardless of the extension.

The Hayashis were recipients of our "Say Yes"™ Downright Lovable grant specifically for families adopting children with Down syndrome. Kennedi says, "The Lord has provided everything we could have imagined, and Open Hearts for Orphans played a big part in His plan! The greatest reason we said yes to adoption is because of the Lord’s call to “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked” Psalm 82:3-4. God adopted us as our sons and daughters and we celebrate the gift of adoption by welcoming Seiji Gabriel into our family!"

We would sure appreciate your prayers for this family as they prepare for their final journey to bring little Seiji home forever.

Say Yes Spotlight - The Henderson family

If you are in the adoption community, then perhaps you've seen this Texas family in the news. They are one of our "Say Yes"™ grant recipients, and they are fiercely advocating - alongside many other families - to get their daughter home through international adoption in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. As relations become more tense between China and the US, the Henderson family is holding their hope on a provision that allows Americans to travel for humanitarian reasons, and they are working with the state department and lawmakers to see if that provision would allow the "stuck" families to travel to China to bring their children home.

"My husband and I have always said that we are never going to stand before God and repent for helping another orphan. We were not originally planning on adding a fifth child, but we felt the spirit continually prodding us to take the next step, so we said yes again. In the end, it came down to if we trusted God more than our fear and our plans. All four of our children were completely on board which helped us to take each step with more peace," Ginny says.

Trent is a pastor and Ginny is a physical therapist, which has led to their openness to adopt children with disabilities. Piper, who just turned seven, will be their third special needs adoption from China, and they have two biological sons. Ginny met Piper in person last September when she traveled on a Loving Ambassadors trip volunteering as a Physical Therapist. Ginny felt a bond and, though they weren't looking to adopt at the time, Ginny couldn't fathom leaving Piper as an orphan knowing the extent of her medical issues and the unknowns that need to be addressed and treated for her.

Ginny states that God's provision has been incredible and they have seen funding come in within 2-3 days of each payment due. "The Lord is so good," she contends. We are thankful that Open Hearts for Orphans was able to play a small part in that provision for this family. Please pray that the Hendersons, and other families waiting in limbo, are able to travel quickly to meet the children they've been legally - and lovingly - matched with. The Hendersons hope to be united with Piper this summer.

Say Yes Spotlight - The Woertman family

Fred and Candy have five adult children, five school-aged children, and four grandchildren. Six of their children came to them through adoption, and they are having so much fun that they've decided to make room for one more! The family has been matched with a precious little girl who turned six earlier this year and has Down syndrome. She is living in an orphanage in Equador.

Fred just finished his 25th year of teaching middle school, and is often called the “kid whisperer.” Candy put her teaching career on hold to be with the kids and enjoys being a Teacher’s Assistant at the elementary school where all five little ones attend.

Down syndrome is not a new special need for Candy and Fred as parents, and this will be their third child rocking an extra chromosome. In 2017, they adopted their daughter, Joy, from China at the age of 7. And in 2018, they brought home their son, Timothy, from China who was nine at the time. Open Hearts for Orphans was delighted to play a small part in Timothy's adoption through our "Say Yes" Downright Lovable grant. He has been an absolute joy and such a bright light in their lives. Candy says "Timmy is so sweet. When we watch television, he likes to be near me and hold my hand or my arm. Every once in a while he will rub it. He and Joy are BEST friends and literally play all day together."

The Woertmans are so excited to give their YES one more time to adopting the little girl that has had Candy's heart for two years now. We were - once again - honored to offer them a "Say Yes" Downright Lovable grant for this extra-special adoption, and they hope to travel by the end of this year. Please pray for that timeline to remain and also for this family as they endure uncertainties in the wait to be united with their daughter.