Letters

Casey & Kathy Jones

Phoenix, Arizona

May 2005

We had the most wonderful experience adopting three older siblings through LIMIAR. We adopted the children ages 12, 06, and 04 last Fall- 2004.

Like most parents wishing to adopt, we read so many books on adoptions; the bonding experience and what to expect. We were prepared for the worst. We went through LIMIAR and they held our hands all the way through the entire process. In any adoption there is so much paper work and red tape from the U.S. and abroad. LIMIAR took care of all of this for us.

Prior to making our trip we were requested to send a scrap book to each child with pictures of us, our extended family, home, pets, church and tell them a little bit about ourselves.

Once we arrived in Brazil, LIMIAR had a representative there that took us to the orphanage. When the three children saw us walk in they all ran to us with open arms calling us dad and mom in Portuguese.

LIMIAR’s representative was there 24/7 as we needed him. He took us sight seeing tours, out to dinner with the children etc. There was a lot of legal papers to be done in Brazil and the representative did all of them for us.

We spent 5 weeks in a beautiful city, Curitiba. We stayed with our three children bonding in a very peaceful resort with other families there adopting.

The people of Brazil are so warm and friendly and love to help. They are very fond of their children and pay a lot of attention to the children.

However like all counties there are children that do not have parents to dote, care and these are the children that end up in the orphanage without homes. While we were at the orphanage we could see the love and attachment the care takers have for the children there.

We also feel that the culture there is to give the children as much attention and love as possible. These children already know how to bond.

On the other hand, we have friends that have adopted from other countries where the orphanages are so different. There is not that immediate love and attention to each child placed in the orphanage and after awhile, this may cause the children to lose the need or feel for bonding. We have spoken to other adoptive parents that have run into this situation unfortunately.

There are so many wonderful older children in Brazil that are needing loving parents. The children give back so much in return. We feel that a lot of this is their Latin culture.

We hope one day to adopt again through LIMIAR. When we were in Brazil we saw with our own eyes what LIMIAR is doing to help these children.

Oh!!!! One last thing was we got to spend a few days on the beach while we were visiting the U.S. consulate there for the children's visas. We had a wonderful time there on the beach.

Our three children have adapted so quickly to the United States, they are all thee so loving, intelligent and giving.

Bye the way, we are 50 and 54 and this is our second family and we are having the best time of our life with these children.