Reunion embraces heritage.

DONNA JACKEL

STAFF WRITER

As Joseph Scheffer stood on the grassy campus of Roberts Wesleyan College with Dave Scheffer, he kept one hand lightly on his new dad's waist as if to be sure he wouldn't vanish.

Joseph, 8, and his sister, Cristina, 6, arrived in Rochester on June 21.   They had spent a year in a Brazilian orphanage after being discovered in an abandoned house hundreds of miles from their birthplace. .

About 200 parents and their adopted Brazilian children are visiting Roberts Wesleyan this weekend from all over the country to attend a reunion organized by Limiar, a non-profit based in Brazil.   The organization places Brazilian orphans with

adoptive parents and helps needy Brazilian children.

Nancy Cameron, an American who had moved to Sao Paulo, Brazil, because of her husband's job, founded Limlar there in 1981. Limiar means "threshold" in Portuguese, the language spoker in Brazil.

The agency has facilitated about 1,200 adoptions.   Cameron, wbo has adopted four Brazilian children, organizes reunions mainly so the children can celebrate their Brazilian heritage.   They do this through music, dance, soccer, performing a Brazilian play and eating the food of their homeland. "The kids form very close friendships -- especially the teens," Cameron said.   "It bolsters their self-esteem."   

Doni and Beth LaRock of Brockport adopted three Brazilian children nearly three years ago. They are now 13,14 and 16. Elaine, the eldest, lived on the streets of Brazil until age 4, when a pastor took her to an orphanage.   “Since I was little, I prayed to get adopted,”she said.   Ï always hoped to goto America.

“Dave Scheffer of Spencerport, a probation officer, and his wife, Mary, had tried to adopt for three years.   In fact, their adoption papers were about to expire when they found Joseph and Cristina.

It was not until the plane touched down and the brother and sister saw the American flag that Joseph was convinced his new home and family were real.  

"Every time he would see an American flag, he would point and say,'Estados Unidos,'" Scheffer said.

    DJACKEL@DemocratandChronicle.com

For details, visit:

           www.Limiar.org

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