Angels Fly Home

By Analiz G. Schremmer
Buckner International

Before coming to stay with host families in Dallas, some of the Russian orphans in the Angels from Abroad program had no idea what it was like to be part of a family. So saying goodbye was a difficult thing.



Debbie Wynne, director of Buckner adoption and maternity services, prayed before their departure.

“God help these children go home with glad hearts knowing that they have had lifelong memories that they will never forget. Please continue to watch over them when we can’t be there physically.”

The host families displayed Russian dictionaries with bent pages from much use during the three weeks of the children’s visit. The children held photo albums and sported new clothes when they hugged their host families one last time and got on the van that would take them to the airport.

“We had a lot of really memorable moments,” said Lori Henrich, who hosted two children. “One time Andrea got her feelings hurt and she crawled in my lap and fell asleep.

“I took her to get her nails done and we got them in matching colors.”

Some children and host families cried when they said goodbye. But others held their tears after host parents asked them to take some time to consider whether they want to go through the adoption process with them.

“There are lots of complications with adoption,” said a host father who wants to adopt the children who stayed with him. “Also, things can get complicated with the paperwork.”

He stopped his host son before he left to get in the bus. “Can we go too?” The child waved him into the bus with a smile. Then he stopped and hugged him goodbye.