Updates

(Most recent: November 26)

Sometimes, all it takes is a passing remark here, a sweet little picture there, and before you know it, you're actually planning to head off to Siberia to meet the newest member of your family. For some time now, we have hoped that a child with special needs would someday come to enrich our home. But the plan was to wait another year (or two) before heading to Guatemala or perhaps Vietnam to match smiles and hearts with Harper's new baby sister.

Then the latest issue of the Children's Hope International newsletter arrived, and everything changed. After making the happy mistake of looking too closely at Vladimir's paintings -- so full of delight and love -- we read the accompanying story, where we learned that this "sociable, active, sympathetic, hardworking, and inquisitive" 8-year-old with malformed forearms would very soon need full medical attention for his scoliosis. Moreover, we read, he was to be moved at the end of summer to an orphanage that could not minister as well to his special circumstances. For just a moment, we opened our eyes to his smile and to the joy that must be bubbling inside him. After that, the telephone fairly dialed itself.

In the whirlwind days since that first phone call, obstacle after obstacle has fallen by the wayside. Children’s Hope is working overtime to speed us through the mountains of paperwork, to set up travel dates that mesh with our teaching schedules, and to find ways to reduce the numerous fees associated with international adoption. We have realistic hopes now that Vladimir will in fact be moving within the next few months -- directly to St. Louis, and directly into our home.

So, how can you help? We're glad you asked. Even reduced, the fees are substantial: some $10,000 for the adoption itself, another $4000-5000 for the two trips to Novosibirsk required by Russian law, and some $6000 tuition for Vladimir's first year at the Shining Rivers School (part of the terrific Waldorf educational system ) in St. Louis where we would plan to enroll him as soon as he arrives.

It did not look terribly hopeful when we came up with an estimate of $20,000 for Vladimir's adoption and first-year tuition. But then we realized: at $25 a donation, we would need only (only!) 800 contributors to bring Vladimir home. (Yes, we laughed, too. As leaps of faith go, we're attempting an Air Jordan special here.)

We cannot promise you any material return on your donation, of course. But we can promise you that it will be put to the best use we know how in providing Vladimir with all the affection and support he needs, all the love and encouragement and holistic instruction this curious and compassionate and joyful child could embrace. If you (or someone in your family, your workplace, or your church) can help us provide Vladimir with a foundation of love for the rest of his life, we will be more grateful than we could truly express. And we like to think that Vladimir would join us in saying a hearty spasiba!

Please address contributions to:
Vladimir Fund – University United Methodist Church
6901 Washington Avenue
University City, MO 63130

Any checks should be made out to:

Vladimir Adoption Fund

Or, if you prefer to make a credit card donation through PayPal, a secure on-line payment service,
please click on this icon:

If you'd like copies of this flyer to distribute, please e-mail
Brian at bdwalter@artsci.wustl.edu . Thank you!

Finally, check progress on Vladimir's webpage:

http://homepage.mac.com/bdwlecteur/Vladimir/index.html

(Oops. Guess you already know about that.)

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