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“I Will Strengthen You...” Isaiah 41:10Serving Children & Families in Vietnam

Celebrating the 2014 Graduates!

Summer 2014 vol. 56 no. 2

Our VisionA world where every child has a loving and secure home.

In 1955, Oregon farmers Harry and Bertha Holt felt called to help children left homeless by the Korean War. Though it took an act of the U.S. Congress, the Holts adopted eight children — pioneering the modern era of international adoption. The following year, they founded Holt International Children’s Services and began uniting orphaned and abandoned children with loving adoptive families. Today, Holt continues to find families for children who truly need them, but we are much more than an adoption agency. First, Holt strives to help children remain in the loving care of their birth families through a variety of family strengthening services. Today, Holt International serves children and families in Cambodia, China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), Ethiopia, Haiti, India, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Thailand, Mongolia, Uganda, the United States and Vietnam.

President & CEOPhillip A. LittletonVice President of Marketing & Development Bob BowenSenior Executive, Southeast Asia Programs Thoa BuiVice President of China ProgramsJian ChenVice President of Policy & External Affairs Susan Soonkeum CoxVice President of Africa & Haiti Programs Dan LauerVice President of Asia ProgramsDavid LimVice President of Finance & Administration Kevin SweeneyVice President of Adoption Services Lisa VertulfoVice President of Development Jack Wharfield

Holt International Magazine is produced in print and online by Holt International Children’s Services, Inc., a nonprofit child welfare organization founded on Christian principles. While Holt International is responsible for the content of Holt International Magazine, the viewpoints expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the organization.

Creative Services Manager Laura Mathews Managing Editor Robin MunroStaff Writer Ashli KeyserStaff Writer/Graphic Designer Billie LoewenMedia Director Brian Campbell

Subscription Orders/Inquiries & Address ChangesSend all editorial correspondence and changes of address to Holt International Magazine, Holt International, P.O. Box 2880, Eugene, OR 97402. Holt welcomes letters and articles for publication, but assumes no responsibility for return of letters, manuscripts or photos.

Reprint InformationPermission from Holt International is required prior to reprinting any portion of Holt International Magazine. Please direct reprint requests to Brian Campbell at 541/687.2202 or brianc@holtinternational.org.

Copyright ©2014 by Holt International Children’s Services, Inc. ISSN 1047-764

in this issue4 With Love, Care and

EducationWith adoption poised to resume from Vietnam, Holt reflects on our primary role in the region — keeping children with their birth families.

8 Celebrating the Class of 2014!

14 Adoptees TodayRecent graduate Hannah Martin shares her college application essay.

16 From the FieldThrough a continuing education project in China, 15 students have graduated college and are now pursuing their dreams.

In 1998, we featured Leah Anderson on the cover of Holt Families Magazine. Sixteen years later, she graces our cover again as a member of the Class of 2014.

P.O. Box 2880 (1195 City View) Eugene, OR 97402 Ph: 541/687.2202 Fax: 541/683.6175

Dear Readers

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2 Robin Munro | Managing Editor

Every year, I look forward to producing our annual graduate edition of the Holt

magazine — featuring in yearbook-style the most recent class of Holt adoptee graduates.

It’s always so exciting to read about their impressive achievements, their diverse

interests and chosen career paths. The 2014 graduates are a particularly impressive

bunch — including, to name a few, college graduate Christina Beeghly, who plans to

design and build prosthetics and orthotics; Samuel Houser, who earned his degree in

aerospace engineering; and Melissa Anderson, who was one of 24 dancers accepted to

Julliard this year. Read Melissa’s story on page 18.

While the graduate issue typically features Holt adoptees, this year we are broadening

the scope of what defines a “Holt graduate.” On page 16, we share a story about Holt’s

continuing education program in China and the nine students who graduated in June

with support from their sponsors. These young scholars represent Holt’s gradual shift

toward serving more children and families overseas through sponsorship, family

strengthening and educational support programs. And although they’re not Holt

adoptees, they are members of the extended Holt family and it’s only fitting that we

celebrate their achievements alongside this year’s class of Holt graduates.

Education is the great equalizer. So said the great education reformer Horace Mann.

Whether they grew up in an orphanage in China, on a farm in Iowa or in a palace

in Dubai, every child deserves an equal opportunity to succeed in life. And through

education, we firmly believe that every child can escape a life of poverty and hardship.

This is a belief we share with many of the families we serve around the world, including

the young Vietnamese family we interviewed for our feature on page 4. “I want to see my

children have an education and grow to become good people,” said the young mother,

a woman whose struggles with cancer have devastated her family both financially and

emotionally. She realizes that education is vital to her children’s health and happiness,

and through our family strengthening program, Holt and Holt supporters are helping to

keep her children in school.

We always feel inspired to see so much joy and hope in the faces of Holt graduates —

both in the U.S. and in our programs overseas — and we love sharing this joy with you,

our Holt families and friends. Please join with us in congratulating the Class of 2014!

directions

P.O. Box 2880 (1195 City View) Eugene, OR 97402 Ph: 541/687.2202 Fax: 541/683.6175

Continuing Their JourneyA send-off for the Class of 2014

What a joy it is to share with you the 2014 graduate issue of Holt

International Magazine! The graduates have completed an extraordinary

chapter in their lives and should be very proud of themselves. It’s always such

a joy to hear from adoptees, and reading about their accomplishments and

plans has been quite a treat. It’s an honor to include each of them in this year’s

graduate issue of Holt International Magazine.

This special issue also serves as a wonderful affirmation of Holt’s work and

mission. When these young people joined their adoptive families in the United

States, we rejoiced with them and their families, and we knew they’d go on to

accomplish amazing feats. We now celebrate with them as they embark on

what is sure to be another very successful journey in their lives.

Over the years, Holt has expanded our work in the countries we serve. Not

only do these special graduates join their fellow adoptee graduates in the

United States, but they also join many students around the world who are

completing another phase of their education with the help of Holt International.

Last year, we provided families in Cambodia with funds to help their children

attend school. In India, we help girls from impoverished families purchase

school uniforms and supplies. By funding a kindergarten in the rural area of

Shinshicho, Ethiopia, we are helping children start their education off right.

And in China, generous Holt donors are helping young adults who are growing

up without families to make their way through college — despite overwhelming

cultural pressure. We deeply understand the importance of education, and it is

our joy to help vulnerable children have hope for the future by providing them

with a stable family and a decent education.

Just as we help children overseas have a promising start in life, we also

recognize the significance of providing a strong support system for the ones

who have come before. Holt strives to keep in touch with adult adoptees

and continues to invest greater resources into our post-adoption services

department. We provide assistance or guidance with anything from birth

search and documentation services to heritage tours and opportunities to

connect with fellow adoptees.

We pray that the current Holt graduates continue to excel in life, and

whatever path they choose, we hope they stay in touch and let us continue the

journey with them.

Phillip A. Littleton | President & CEO

"Not only do these special graduates join their fellow adoptee graduates in the United States, but they also join many students around the world who are completing another phase of their education with the help of Holt International."

Loan* and her husband live in a small brick house in a

rural community outside Hanoi, Vietnam. They grew up

in this village — a former government commune where

the residents continue to harvest rice in the fields sur-

rounding their homes. When we visit in early June, their two young

children sit coloring at a short folding table in their front room.

Sparse but neat, the room smells lightly of incense and a fan blows

overhead. Their wedding photo hangs on the wall — a framed

image of a beautiful young couple with warm, genuine smiles.

Looking at them, you would never know the struggles they have

faced.

At 16, Loan developed the sickness that created a crisis within

her family. Cancer of the cervix, the doctors told her. Although

poor farmers, her parents helped cover the cost of her treatment

and she moved on with her life — marrying a handsome young

carpenter from her village and becoming pregnant within months

of their wedding. She miscarried her first child, but soon gave birth

to two healthy children — first a son, then a daughter.

After some time, a painful lump began to grow inside her. The

cancer had spread. To treat it, she went through surgery, followed

by radiation and chemotherapy. At the end of all her treatment,

Loan’s hospital bills reached nearly $5,000 — an amount she could

not afford to pay without borrowing money from relatives. Loan

helped her family farm their small rice plot when not too weak

to work. But she and her husband struggled to support their two

young children.

Now a 26-year-old woman with streaks of gold in her dark hair,

Loan invites us into her home. Holding her daughter in her lap and

her son at her side, she tells us about her cancer struggle — her

eyes filling with hot tears.

“At first, I did not intend to treat it. I thought, I will just get sicker

and sicker and then I will die,” she shares. “But then I looked at

these two children and kept trying.”

Two years ago, Holt began serving families and children in

this poor farming community in Vietnam. In recent years, the

global market economy has come to Vietnam, and across the coun-

try, many young people are leaving small villages like this one to

work in factories in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Those who remain

behind have few options besides joining their families in the fields

they have farmed for generations. Like families anywhere who are

living on the edge of poverty, all it takes is one crisis — one injury,

one bad harvest — to send them spiraling downward.

Loan’s family came to our attention in November 2013. To help

Loan and her husband care for their children, our Holt Vietnam

staff identified their strengths — including an available pigsty on

the family compound. Confident that they had the makings for

success as pig farmers, Holt provided funding for Loan’s family to

purchase three pigs. Although one of the pigs died, they were able

to sell the other two in April of this year — earning about $150 in

profit. With the income, they bought two more pigs and saved some

funds to pay their children’s upcoming school fees. Loan and her

husband also used some of their profit to purchase clothing whole-

sale and open a small stall near their home.

With Love, Care and Education As Vietnam prepares to resume international adoptions to the U.S., Holt reflects on our primary role in the region — helping children grow and thrive in the loving care of their birth families.

Their decision to diversify their income through a combination

of raising pigs and selling clothing was a strategic one. “They are

trying not to put all their eggs in one basket,” says Hang Dam, who

since 2009 has served as Vietnam country director out of the Holt

office in Hanoi.

The family’s clothing stall stands by a river on the edge of the

village. During the rainy season, large umbrellas shield the hanging

rows of sport shorts and colorful patterned pants. Loan cheered up

after our interview — and she laughs as she helps us select clothing

items to bring home.

“I just wish God gives me enough health to earn money to pay

all the debt I have. I want to see my children have an education and

grow to become good people,” she says. Now in remission and doing

well, Loan has great reason to hope. Her children are in school. Her

family business is growing. And her health is slowly returning.

Encouraged to see Loan and her children doing so well, we leave

to visit another family. If we had time, we could spend a week or

more meeting families in this community who are now succeeding

as small business owners, whose children are thriving and whose

lives are more hopeful — largely in thanks to Holt and Holt’s sup-

porters. In just two years in Loan’s community, Holt has already

helped over 60 families to become stronger, more self-reliant and

better equipped to care for their children.

Among nongovernmental organizations working in Vietnam,

Holt is just one of many. But our history is long and significant, and

our approach is unique.

After the highly publicized “Baby Lifts” of the early Vietnam War

— when Holt and other agencies airlifted to safety children who

were legally free for adoption and matched with families in the

U.S. — Holt did not return to Vietnam in a major role until the early

1990s. In the years that followed — and between moratoriums on

international adoption to the U.S. — we continued to find adop-

tive families for children who truly needed them. But mostly, we

focused on helping children to grow and thrive in the loving care of

their birth families.

“There are lots of organizations in Vietnam, and we are very

small scale in comparison. But none of them do what we do,” says

Thoa Bui, Holt’s senior executive for programs in S.E. Asia. “None of

them focus on keeping children in families.”

Following our family strengthening model, Holt has through the

years helped thousands of children in Vietnam remain with their

families. Our goal, as everywhere, is to give families the tools and

resources they need to independently support their children. We

provide resources and funds to help parents in Vietnam build small

businesses — generating reliable income to support their children.

Unlike organizations that provide broad-stroke community

development projects, Holt looks at families individually and tailors

services to their circumstances and needs. “We are more case man-

agement-focused,” Thoa explains. “Vietnam needs both. It’s good to

have organizations focused on different things.”

For an organization like Holt to be successful in our mission,

local social workers must work closely with each family — identify-

ing their strengths and weaknesses, developing an action plan and

following up on a regular basis. Some families may not have the

LEFT: Loan and her family stand in front of their clothing stall. With the income they earn from raising pigs and selling clothes, they can afford to send their two children to school.

ABOVE: Seeing that the family had a useable pigsty, Holt provided funding for them to purchase three pigs. Although one died, the family sold the other two in April — earning $150 in profit.

TOP RIGHT: Loan’s husband worked as a carpenter until he was injured on the job. He now runs the family’s clothing stall.

BOTTOM RIGHT:“I feel warm because there are still people caring about us,” Loan says of the Holt supporters who provided start-up funding for their small business. “I am very touched and very thankful.”

* name changed

resources to raise pigs like Loan’s family, but they can run a small

grocery. Another family may need short-term emergency aid after

a typhoon washes away their livelihood. A pregnant mother in cri-

sis may come to us for help delivering and caring for her newborn

baby. Or we may receive a referral for a two-parent household in

which both parents have stable jobs, but they need help caring for

their kids so they can work.

As Hang explains, “If a family doesn’t need capital for a business,

but needs time to work, we can pay for daycare for a couple months

until they have enough money. Case management is very specific

to the family and their unique needs.”

Before Hang became the director of Holt Vietnam, she took a

break to earn her Master’s degree in social work at Washington

University in St. Louis, Missouri. As social work is a relatively new

profession in Vietnam, Hang is often called upon to help train

orphanage and government staff. During our visit in June, we

stopped off at the local social welfare center in Da Nang, which

Holt partners with to serve at-risk children and families in the

community. While Holt provides some equipment and funding, our

role is primarily to train and support the staff — a young, enthu-

siastic team of caseworkers, many of them the first social work

graduates in Vietnam.

Just last year, the social welfare center opened services for single

mothers struggling with unexpected pregnancies — a significant

need in this region, and a service Holt has provided in Vietnam for

many years. Hang assisted their efforts by writing a training cur-

riculum about counseling single mothers, and during our visit, we

had the opportunity to observe as she helped the government case-

worker counsel a young woman in crisis.

In a quiet, air-conditioned room at the social welfare center,

Hang and the caseworker sit around a small table with the young

mother. She is 24 years old and four months pregnant. The small

bump of her belly presses against her blue and white floral mater-

nity dress as she sits with her feet demurely crossed under the table.

“When she learned she was pregnant, she was already separated

from her boyfriend, who is now married to another woman,” Hang

says, translating the young woman’s story. “She couldn’t stand to

stop the pregnancy so she decided to keep the baby.”

She has not visited her mother since her pregnancy. Her mother

does not even know she’s expecting. “She feels she can’t tell her

because it will hurt her mother’s feelings,” Hang says. At this point

in her story, the young woman’s face turns red and she speaks

through breathless sobs. In a soothing voice, Hang encourages her

to reach out to her mother. Turning to us, Hang says, “I had to do a

little counseling about how moms feel when their kids go through

hard times.”

Although the caseworker chimes in every so often, Hang leads

the session. She emphasizes the mother’s strengths and tries to

build her confidence — reinforcing that, with help, she is capable of

caring for herself and her baby.

Unlike many of the young expectant mothers who seek crisis

counseling in Vietnam, this young woman has a particularly

unique strength — she is college educated. “She has two years of

business training as an accountant,” Hang says.

As in many of the countries where we work, however, a strong

stigma against unwed mothers endures in Vietnam. Although she

has the education needed to earn a decent salary, she may face

discrimination when searching for an accounting job. She currently

runs a small business serving breakfast for factory workers, and

spends her afternoons working in a food stall. She earns $5-7/day,

which is enough to pay her rent and not much else.

“From the bottom of her heart, she wants to keep the baby,”

Hang says. “But she worries if she keeps the baby, who will help her

during the first month? She worries about whether she can find

a good job to cover the costs of raising her baby. And she worries

about providing a good future and education.”

Working with the social welfare center, Holt can help support

her during the delivery and for a month afterward. We can help

pay part of the hospital fees. And, if she ultimately decides to keep

her baby, Holt can also provide support for six months of daycare

so she can seek work in her field.

Although this should help to alleviate some of her fears, she has

one last nagging concern. “She feels pity if it’s a girl,” Hang says.

“She is afraid the girl will repeat her life cycle.”

At this, Hang — a mother of two — offers some motherly advice

and encouragement: “I told her she will find a way for her daughter

to break the cycle, with love, care and education.”

In both Hanoi and Da Nang, we visit single mothers who Holt

supports through our family strengthening programs. Both are

widows whose husbands died young — one from cancer, the other

"From the bottom of her heart, she wants to keep the baby. But she worries if she keeps the baby,

who will help her during the first month? She worries about whether she can find a good job to

cover the costs of raising her baby. And she worries about providing a good future and education.”

in a drowning accident. Both have received funds to start small

businesses that help them support their children.

From early intervention with birth moms to supporting single

mothers with growing kids, Holt strives to help struggling mothers

early — before poverty and hardship compel them to abandon or

relinquish their children. In this way, Holt is also unique among

child welfare organizations in Vietnam. “Holt is the only organiza-

tion that works the way we do,” Hang says, “counseling and sup-

porting and encouraging birth moms to keep their babies.”

It is a sad fact that not every child can — or should — remain

in the care of their birth family, however. For these children, Holt

has always sought a permanent, loving family through adoption.

Although international adoption to the U.S. has remained suspend-

ed since 2008, Holt has continued to place children domestically

within Vietnam — and also to seek alternative, family-like care for

children living in orphanages. In the early 1970s, Holt introduced

foster care as a more nurturing care model in Vietnam, and con-

tinues to be the only organization training and supporting foster

families here. In recent years, Holt Vietnam’s thriving programs

moved Vietnam’s Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs

to promote this family-like alternative to institutional care — with

Hang and her staff developing the training curriculum.

Soon, Holt may also resume international adoptions from

Vietnam through a small pilot program for children with special

needs. Two U.S. placing agencies will be licensed, and Holt is being

considered as one of a few final candidates.

For those children who truly need families through adoption,

Holt will continue advocating for international adoption from

Vietnam. But in the 41 years since we first came to this vibrant but

troubled country in Southeast Asia, our role has evolved. First and

foremost, we strive to keep children in the loving care of their birth

families, whenever possible. And as we saw in homes from Hanoi to

Da Nang, this is not just a distant possibility. Our family strength-

ening model works. In Hanoi, our success rate is 90 percent.

It doesn’t take much, either. Just a few pigs or the cost of day-

care. As Thoa says, “A couple hundred dollars goes a long way in

Vietnam.”

As we say goodbye to Loan and her husband in Hanoi, they

stand before their clothing stall with their hands on their chil-

dren’s shoulders — a strong and beautiful family. Their lives are

not easy, but they feel encouraged by the support of Holt and Holt’s

supporters. “The amount of capital assistance provided was nei-

ther small nor big compared to the debt our family has,” Loan says,

“but I feel warm because there are still people caring about us. I

am very touched and am very thankful.”

Robin Munro | Managing Editor

TOP:Hang Dam, Holt’s Vietnam country director (far right), and a caseworker from the social welfare centerin Da Nang (middle) visit a widowed single mother in our family strengthening program. With supportfrom Holt, this woman started a small business selling beverages to support her three young children.

BOTTOM: A single mother and her son in Hanoi. After her husband drowned, Holt helped her start a business washing motorbikes and selling drinks at a roadside stall. To give to Holt's family strengthening program in Vietnam and other countries

where we work, go to www.holtinternational.org/familystrengthening.

Anderson, Leah — Olympia, WA; tennis, youth group, camp counselor, honors graduate, Centralia College scholarship, Dollars for Scholars. Plans to attend Centralia College in Centralia, WA for pre-nursing. (China)

Anderson, Melissa — Coppell, TX; Key Club, Pro Life club, Students Against Destructive Decisions club, Ballet Ensemble of Texas, Ballet Academy of Texas. Plans to study dance at The Julliard School in New York City. (Philippines)

Basham, Ross — Bowling Green, KY; National Honor Society, track and field, bowling, State FBLA winner. Plans to attend the University of Kentucky in Lexington for pre-med. (Korea)

Beebe, Matthew — Independence, IA; baseball, basketball, foot-ball, tennis, soccer, first team all-conference soccer, concert band, marching band, small ensembles, concert choir, school musicals, honors choir, President’s Award for Educational Excellence, silver cord volunteer award. Plans to major in accounting and finance at Iowa State University in Ames. (Korea)

Beeghly, Christina — Kingsburg, CA; Bachelor of Science degree in orthotics and prosthetics from Loma Linda University. Plans to design, build and fit prosthetics and orthotics. (Korea)

Bernstrom, Timothy — Waterloo, IA. Plans to major in linguistics and East Asian languages at Ohio State University in Columbus. (Korea)

Bickhardt, Bradley — Knowlton, NJ; National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, musical theater. Plans to study vocal performance at Indiana University in Bloomington. (Korea)

Blankenship, Alex — Celebration, FL; National Honor Society, Nation Honor Society for Dance Arts, Top Ten Scholar, Goucher College Summer Intensive Scholarship for dance, People to People Leadership Ambassador Conference for Future Medical Students. Plans to major in biomedical sciences at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. (China)

Bliss, Cole — Watkins Glen, NY; football, indoor track. Plans to major in physical education at Corning Community College in Corning, NY. (Thailand)

Boehmer, Devin — Gainesville, VA; National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Beta Club, Summa Cum Laude graduate, Prince William Country award for academic excellence, Marine Corps award for academic excellence, Aerojet Rocketdyne schol-arship award. Plans to major in computer information systems at

James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. (China)

Breuninger, Angelee — Arroyo Grande, CA; band, Semper Fidelis award for musical excellence, lead welder in First Robotics. Plans to major in engineering at Allen Hancock College in Santa Maria, CA. (China)

Brown, Aileen — Valencia, PA; soccer, class council, Interact Service Club, ski club, Spanish club, Planet Preschool, Northwest Haiti Christian Mission teams. Plans to major in early childhood and special education at Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, PA. (China)

Brown, Lilly — Salem, IN; National Honor Society, dance team, tennis. Plans to attend Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. (China)

Brubaker, Lily — DuBois, PA; National Honor Society, Scholastic Challenge Academic team, BEST Robotics team, theater, Poetry Out Loud, Junior Achievement Titan, People to People Ambassador to Australia and Costa Rica, National Youth Leader Conference delegate, National Society of High School Scholars, AP Scholar award, brown belt in Shintani Wado Kai Karate, Lutheran Youth Organization, Girl Scouts, dance, Summa Cum Laude. Plans

CONGRATULATIONS!

Class of 2014

Blankenship, Alex

Bliss, Cole Boehmer, Devin Breuninger, Angelee

Bickhardt, Bradley Basham, Ross Beebe, Matthew Beeghly, Christina Bernstrom, Timothy

Brubaker, Lily Brown, Aileen

Chow, Chloe Bryan, Jamie Choe, Elliot Cale-Finnegan, Kerry Cannalte, Amber Burke, Ivey-Mariyn

Anderson, Leah Anderson, Melissa

From China, Korea, Thailand, Romania, India, the Philippines and Vietnam — to New Jersey, Louisiana, Michigan, Oregon and California — this year’s class of Holt graduates come from all over the world and across the U.S. They are all members of the Holt family, and we are so proud of their achievements!

Brown, Lilly

to major in international and Asian studies at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA. (China)

Bryan, Jamie — Sioux Falls, SD; National Honor Society, President’s Award for Educational Excellence, Regent’s Scholar award, Advanced Placement award, church volunteer, salsa dancer. Plans to study physical therapy at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. (Korea)

Burke, Ivey-Mariyn — Wytheville, VA; National Honor Society, MACC-Math & Science, concert band, marching band. Plans to major in computer science at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. (China)

Cale-Finnegan, Kerry — Des Moines, IA; Silver Cord award for volunteerism. Plans to study liberal arts at Grandview University in Des Moines, IA. (China)

Cannalte, Amber — Racine, WI; honors graduate, Wisconsin Teens for Life leadership team, lead dancer for Glory Dancers Worship team. Plans to attend Youth With a Mission missionary training. (China)

Choe, Elliot — Burbank, CA; varsity cross country, Ishimoto Asian Athlete scholarship, Korean American Women’s Association

scholarship, martial arts, drawing and animation. Plans to major in mechanical engineering and animation at California Baptist University in Riverside. (Korea)

Chow, Chloe — South Pasadena, CA; varsity basketball. Plans to study education. (China)

Christner, John — Hamlet, NE; 2013 Wanueta New England One Act music and band. Plans to begin working. Not Pictured (Korea)

Clement, Monica — Carl Junction, MO; student council, Future Business Leaders of America, Spanish club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society, yearbook, cheerleading. Plans to study health promotion and wellness at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin. (Romania)

Cottrell, Christian — Fort Myers, FL; Plans to study elemen-tary education at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers. (Thailand)

Crocker, Mallory — North Bend, OR; Bachelor of Applied Science degree in management from Southern Oregon University. American Culinary Federation certified culinarian, James Beard Foundation, SOU hospitality & tourism club, Jane M. Klausman Women in Business scholarship, American Red Cross lifeguard, Americorps VISTA alumni, Ford Scholar alumni. Currently working in the hospitality and tourism industry. (Korea)

Devaney, Kimberlee — Lanoka Harbor, NJ; dean’s list, Phi Sigma Sigma. Bachelor of Science in nursing from Widener University. Plans to start a career in trauma nursing. (Korea)

Dornblaser, Alice — Long Beach, CA; softball, chess club, National Honor Society. Plans to major in biology at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. (China)

Dorsey, Cody — Shelby, NC; Eagle Scout, Best All-Around Senior award, soccer captain, All-Conference soccer, All-Conference Kicker of the Year football. Plans to study criminal justice at Cleveland Community College in Shelby, NC. (Romania)

Douglas, Katelyn— Gresham, OR; salutatorian, Lion’s Club schol-arship, math tutor, District Council, teacher’s assistant. Plans to major in business administration at Warner Pacific College in Portland, OR. (Thailand)

Douglas, Maxwell — Gresham, OR; 2013 graduate. Student of the Month, band. Works for Portland Habilitation Center. (Thailand)

Dunkerton, Zachary — Minneola, FL; Interested in video, gaming and psychology. (Korea)

Erickson, Benjamin — Jefferson, IA; band, Science Bowl, saluta-torian. Plans to study actuarial science at Drake University in Des Moines. (Korea)

Ferriby, Leah — Hamden, CT; varsity field hockey, varsity lacrosse, varsity indoor track, House Leadership Council, scholar athlete, high honors. Plans to attend Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT. (Korea)

Garnett, Claire — Los Alamos, NM; National Honor Society. Plans to major in nursing at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. (China)

Garrett, Colton — Southlake, TX; band, lead tuba, brass captain, Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps “A” Corp, top five semifinalist at the student division of the Leonard Falcone International Tuba and Euphonium Festival. Plans to study music education at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. (Korea)

Dornblaser, Alice Cottrell, Christian Crocker, Mallory Devaney, Kimberlee Clement, Monica Dorsey, Cody

Douglas, Katelyn Dunkerton, Zachary Douglas, Maxwell Ferriby, Leah Garnett, Claire

Hanson, Nikki Hedwall, Emma Hinze, Crosby Hodges, Ellen Holiday, Patrick Garrett, Colton

Holm, Kendra Holm, Tara

Erickson, Benjamin

Kutik, Seth Larson, Kevin Kloetzli, SaraLynn Kleutsch, Katelyn Jones, Katheryn

Jones, Emily Jarosinski, Katherine Johnson, Molly Houser, Samuel Jahnke, Joshua James, Alison

Lukasak, Mareyuna

Martin, Molly Martin, Hannah Marin, Zoe McCartney, Anna McCall, Kelsey

Hanson, Nikki — Hockinson, WA; Bachelor of Arts in business administration from Washington State University. Plans to teach English internationally. (Korea)

Hedwall, Emma — Edina, MN; lettered in community service, Spanish club, boy’s varsity soccer manager, Edina Scholar. Plans to attend Drake University in Des Moines, IA. (China)

Hinze, Crosby — Runnells, IA; football, track, swimming. Plans to study athletic training at Iowa Western in Council Bluffs, IA. (Korea)

Hodges, Ellen — Saline, MI; National Honor Society, marching band, varsity cross country, team captain of varsity track and field, homecoming queen, jazz band, symphonic band, SEC aca-demic award, English sign language tutor. Plans to study speech pathology at Miami University in Oxford, OH. (Korea)

Holiday, Patrick — Louisville, KY; Christian Educational Consortium. (Korea)

Holm, Kendra — Cedar Falls, IA; Bachelor of Arts in family ser-vices from the University of Northern Iowa. (India)

Holm, Tara — Cedar Falls, IA. Plans to study liberal arts at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, IA. (India)

Houser, Samuel — Johnston, IA; Bachelor of Science in aero-space engineering from Iowa State University. Employed as a systems analyst in the aerospace industry. (Korea)

Jahnke, Joshua — Fort Wright, KY; marching band, concert band, jazz band, pep band, All-County All Star Band, Northern Kentucky Select Band, Boy Scouts. Plans to major in com-puter information systems at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights. (Korea)

James, Alison — Fontana, WI; honors graduate, varsity let-ter swimming, National Honor Society (Most Active Member

award), American Red Cross scholarship, Kocourek Fund schol-arship, Betty Weyland-Moore scholarship, Chapin Memorial scholarship, Dalco Metals scholarship. Plans to study nursing, biotechnology and genetics at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington. (China)

Jarosinski, Katherine — Baltimore, MD; National Honor Society, National Arts Honor Society. Plans to study film at Stevenson University in Ownings Mill, MD. (China)

Johnson, Molly — Omaha, NE; National Honor Society, swim-ming. Plans to attend Saint Louis University in St. Louis, MO. (China)

Jones, Emily — Thayne, WY; 4-H, livestock judging, youth group. Plans to study animal science at Casper College in Casper, WY. (China)

Jones, Katheryn — Thayne, WY; National Honor Society, University of Wyoming scholarship. Plans to attend the University of Wyoming in Laramie. (China)

Kleutsch, Katelyn — Winter, WI; high honors, Associate degree from the dental assistant program at Chippewa Valley Technical College, member of Health Occupational Students of America, academic decathalon, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, student council, Wisconsin State Music Association district and state solo and ensemble performances. Plans to study biochemistry or biology at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. (China)

Kloetzli, SaraLynn — Beaverton, OR; Becca’s Closet, LINK lead-ership crew, Girl’s State, Global Awareness to Action, Gay Straight Alliance, choir, junior varsity volleyball, Key Club. Plans to major in psychology and criminology at Portland Community College in Portland, OR. (Korea)

Kutik, Seth — Long Beach, CA; Doctorate of Medicine in emer-gency room medicine from Medical College of Wisconsin. Plans

to start his emergency room residency at Presence Resurrection Medical Center in Chicago. (Korea)

Larson, Kevin — Indianola, IA; Commend Scholar, National Merit Scholar, National Honor Society, all-academic athlete, swimming, senior captain and manager of girl’s swim team, lifeguard certified, swim lesson instructor, Boy Scouts, Eagle Scout, band, orchestra. Plans to major in computer science at Iowa State University in Ames. (Korea)

Lukasak, Mareyuna — Rochester, MN; National Honor Society, AP scholar. Plans to major in pre-veterinarian studies at Wittenberg University in Springfield, OH. (China)

Marin, Zoe — Glendale, MI; yearbook, dance team, National Honor Society, band. Plans to major in elementary education at Hope College in Holland, MI. (China)

Martin, Hannah — Milford, OH; honors graduate, student coun-cil, DECA, PSI, drama, show choir, dance team, art show exhibi-tor. Plans to study fine arts at the University of Cincinnati-School of Design, Architecture and Planning in Ohio. (Korea)

Martin, Molly — Raleigh, NC; student council, National Honor Society, volleyball, Christian character award, ACSI Distinguished Student award for leadership and service. Plans

McChane, Lia

Miller, Brandon McClure, Jillian

Petz, Michael Powell, Chandini Peterson, Michelle Peterson, Elizabeth

Neilson, Zoe Nicely, Kellie

Partridge, Lina

Noga, Emma Millsap, Theodore Motel, Koren Moxley, Sydney

Renfer, Kristin

Powell, Manisha

Regier, Helene Reece, Evan

to major in communications at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. (Thailand)

McCall, Kelsey — Nevada, MO; varsity basketball, varsity track and field, National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, academic award. Plans to study communication disorders at Missouri State University in Springfield. (Thailand)

McCartney, Anna — Oregon, WI; National Honor Society, International Thespian Society, dance, theater. Plans to major in occupational therapy at the University of Wisconsin-Steven’s Point. (China)

McChane, Lia — Kingwood, TX; orchestra, Key Club president, outstanding achievement award for audio/video production. Plans to major in film at the University of North Texas in Denton. (China)

McClure, Jillian — York, NE; soccer, golf, cross country, Youth Leadership, Leadership Training for Christ, one act, play produc-tions, Youth Against Alcohol and Drugs. Plans to study nursing at the University of Nebraska at Kearny. (China)

Miller, Brandon — Mount Juliet, TN. Plans to study aviation at Columbia State College in Franklin, TN. (Korea)

Millsap, Theodore — Beaverton, OR; Associate degree in

applied science and automotive technology from Mt. Hood Community College. Plans to work at Sunset-Audi in Beaverton, Oregon. (Korea)

Motel, Koren — Exton, PA; 2013 graduate. Doctorate of audiol-ogy from Arizona School of Health and Science. (Korea)

Moxley, Sydney — Independence, MO; National Honor Society president, presidential honor roll. Plans to major in chemistry and pre-med at Truman State University in Kirksville, MO. (China)

Neilson, Zoe — Mount Laurel, NJ; Future Teachers of America, SADD. Plans to major in psychology and early elementary educa-tion at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ. (Korea)

Nicely, Kellie — Lexington, VA; 2013 and 2014 Doodle 4 Google winner - Virginia. Plans to major in art and business at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. (China)

Noga, Emma — North Andover, MA; National Honor Society, drama guild, varsity field hockey co-captain, varsity lacrosse, honors chorus. Plans to major in business marketing with a minor in Chinese at Bryant University in Smithfield, RI. (China)

Partridge, Lina — Massillon, OH; band, cross country, track and field, National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society,

INTERACT club. Plans to study nursing at Kent State University in Kent, OH. (China)

Peterson, Elizabeth — Chippewa Falls, WI; National Art Honor Society. Plans to study interior design at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie. (China)

Peterson, Michelle — Wilton, IA; volleyball, track, journal-ism, Conference Art awards, honor roll, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, class secretary. Plans to major in fashion merchandising at Iowa State University in Ames. (Korea)

Petz, Michael — Edison, NJ; Bachelor of Arts in health and physical education from Kean University. Plans to teach physical education and health. (Korea)

Powell, Chandini — Olympia, WA; varsity soccer, varsity track, varsity gymnastics, honors graduate. Plans to major in biology at Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA. (India)

Powell, Manisha — Olympia, WA; varsity soccer, orchestra. Plans to attend Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, NC. (India)

Reams, Stephanie — Santa Rosa, CA; Associate degree in healthcare administration and medical records from the University of Phoenix. (Korea)

Reece, Evan — Athens, TN; track, cross country, FBC Youth, Samaritan’s Purse Shoebox Ministry. Plans to major in criminal justice at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. (Korea)

Regier, Helene — Dallas, TX. (China)

Renfer, Kristin — Ferndale, CA; National Bible Bee, choir, violin and piano studies. Plans to continue music studies, teaching and music ministry. (China)

Reynolds, Levy — Atchison, KS; youth ministry, intramural

Reams, Stephanie Reynolds, Levy Richstein, Hannah

Rienzi, Annamarie Riley, Laura Rossano, Christin Roth, Jacob

Stoeger, Elizabeth Thompson, Jack Smith, Sara Smith, Bailey

Schleig, Alexandru Schroader, Sunita

Smith, Abigail Siert, Kara

Rowley, Gwen Rude, Conor Saulnier, Arielle

Thompson, Patrick Tierney, Brendan Truman, Shania Tiger, Christopher Vedral, Tyler Wallinga, Katie

soccer, Bible studies, Spanish tutor. Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education from Benedictine College. Plans to teach middle school language arts, social studies, Spanish and theology. (Korea)

Richstein, Hannah — Bellevue, NE; valedictorian, National Merit scholarship, National Honor Society, International Thespian Society president, President’s Education Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence, Select Twelve award, Omaha World Herald 2014 All-Metro First Team academic award, Academic SkyHawk award, Outstanding Christian Service award, Science Olympiad Team co-president, engineering team, chess team, SkyHawks for Life, Ministry Counsel, Trap Shooting Team, theater, SkyHawk’s Make A Difference award. Plans to study physics and French at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. (China)

Rienzi, Annamarie — Howell, NJ; National Honor Society, chap-ter president-Junior Statesman of America, National Forensics and Debate League, Model U.N. Plans to attend American University-School of Public Affairs in Washington D.C. for pre-law. (Korea)

Riley, Laura — Dunnellon, FL; senior class president, yearbook editor. Plans to major in chemistry at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. (China)

Rossano, Christin — Holmdel, NJ; Associate and Bachelor of Science degrees in culinary arts and food service management from Johnson and Wales University. Plans to be a fitness model and competitor. (Thailand)

Roth, Jacob — Dubuque, IA; basketball, cross country. Plans to major in marketing management at Northeast Iowa Community College in Peosta. (Korea)

Rowley, Gwen — Silverton, OR; Plans to major in paramedic studies at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, OR. (Korea)

Rude, Conor — Brookings, SD; Boy Scouts, Eagle Scout, Brotherhood Member Order of the Arrow, the Honor Society of Scouting, 4-H, trap and skeet, 2013 South Dakota Ford AAA competition. Plans to study mechanical engineering at South Dakota State University in Brookings. (Korea)

Saholt, Melissa — Lakeville, MN; Summa Cum Laude graduate, National Honor Society, AP scholar with distinction, Senior English academic award, Superior Rating-Minnesota State High School League, All-Conference Concert Band award, French Club president, mock trials, marching band. Plans to major in communications and psychology at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. (China)

Saulnier, Arielle — Appleton, WI; National Honor Society, French National Honor Society, AP Scholar award, DECA, varsity dance team, 2014 National Debate and Forensics Tournament qualifier. Plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison. (China)

Schleig, Alexandru — North Canton, OH; football, culinary arts. Plans to major in culinary arts at Sullivan University in Louisville, KY. (Romania)

Schroader, Sunita — Owensboro, KY; orchestra, golf, track and field, FCA. (India)

Siert, Kara — Bellevue, NE; Child Evangelism Fellowship vol-unteer, musical theater, guitar, piano, writing. Plans to study medical transcription, continue volunteering and work on her latest novel. (China)

Smith, Abigail — Peru, IL; LaSalle Peru Township High School Honor Society, High Scholarship Legion, Gold Cord Club for service to the school and community, Link Crew, All-Conference Academic Team–high honors, cheerleading, ILMEA All-State Honor Chorus, assistant concert master and vocal soloist at the 2014 European Tour of the Illinois Ambassadors of Music, con-

cert master of Illinois Valley Youth Symphony, violin, Wheaton Symphony Pops. Plans to study music at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL. (China)

Smith, Bailey — Eugene, OR; SALT Leadership Team, ACTS scholarship, Camp Harlow counselor, Mexico Mission, hospital volunteer. Plans to study nursing at Lane Community College in Eugene, OR. (Korea)

Smith, Sara — Hamilton, MT; National Honor Society, Key Club, student council. Plans to attend Montana State University in Bozeman for pre-med. (China)

Stoeger, Elizabeth — Portland, OR; National Honor Society. Plans to study liberal arts at Linfield College in McMinnville, OR. (China)

Thompson, Jack — Fort Pierce, FL; Marine Oceanographic Academy, varsity golf, varsity tennis. Plans to major in engineer-ing at Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, FL. (Vietnam)

Thompson, Patrick — Atlanta, GA; soccer, basketball, track. Plans to volunteer with Americorps. (Korea)

Tierney, Brendan — Orlando, FL; fencing club president, All-State musician. Plans to major in electrical engineering at the University of Florida in Gainesville. (Vietnam)

Tiger, Christopher — Piscataway, NJ; marching band, jazz band, National Honor Society, National Music Society. Plans to major in business at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. (Korea)

Truman, Shania — Wagner, SD; voted Wagner High School volleyball’s biggest fan, junior prom princess. Plans to attend LifeQuest to gain independent living skills. (India)

Vedral, Tyler — Galloway, NJ; Police Explorers. Plans to major in engineering at Atlantic Cape Community College in Mays Landing, NJ. (Korea)

Saholt, Melissa

Weidner, Sarah

Wessell-Woodcock, McKenzie Wilkins, Elizabeth

Thenand Now

In 2000, we featured Holt adoptee Amber Cannalte on the cover of

our annual calendar. Now, she has graduated from high

school and is preparing to travel to Texas for missionary training.

Read more about her on page 9, or head to our website for an online

exclusive story from Amber’s mother, reflecting on adoption, motherhood and

Amber’s achievements. Also online is a story from Leah Anderson, who we

featured on the cover of Holt Families Magazine in 1998

and who graces the cover again for this issue. See both

online exclusives at www.holtinternational.org/magazine.

Wallinga, Katie — Grant, MI; Plans to major in special education at Muskegon Community College in Muskegon, MI. (India)

Wang, Joana — Long Island, NY, Plans to attend SUNY Geneseo in Geneseo, NY. (China)

Ward, Kimberly — Mitchell, NE; musicals, show choir, worship team, Tri-M Honor Society, all-state chorus, honor choir. Plans to major in music at Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff. (Korea)

Weidner, Sarah — Demorest, CA; President’s Award, National Honor Society, school ambassador, drama award, marketing award. Plans to major in crimi-nal justice at the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega. (Korea)

Weinman, Christina — Kandern, Germany; swimming, mock trials, volley-ball, track and field, cross country, drawing and painting, ceramics. Plans to major in biology and art at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI. (Korea)

Wessell-Woodcock, McKenzie — Beloit, WI; National Honor Society, Summa Cum Laude, Porter Scholar, jazz and pep band, soccer, volleyball, softball. Plans to study physical education and sports medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Steven’s Point. (China)

Wilkins, Elizabeth — Tyrone, GA; Beta Club, National Honor Society, math team, honors chorus. Plans to major in business at the University of Georgia in Athens. (China)

Williams, Laura — Prospect Heights, IL; basketball, tennis, yearbook, Chinese club, National Honor Society, National Chinese Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, Archdiocese of Chicago leadership award, Lion award-tennis, IHSA Scholastic Achievement award, honor roll. Plans to major in graphic design at DePaul University in Chicago, IL. (China)

Yampaglia, MaryMargaret — Chatham, NJ; Key Club, honor roll, ASPIN club. Plans to major in math at the College of New Jersey in Ewing. (China)

Yingling, Logan — Bettendorf, IA; church choir, deacon, Eagle Scout, AP hon-ors. Plans to study industrial design at Iowa State University in Ames. (Korea)

Wang, Joana Ward, Kimberly

Weinman, Christina

Yingling, Logan Yampaglia, MaryMargaret Williams, Laura

adoptees today

I was born in Seoul, South Korea, which is 6,791.5 miles from

my current home. From the hospital, into the arms of a complete

stranger, I was put directly into a foster home full of people who

would love me for a 6-month period. A new mother, father, sister

and brother would nurture me as if I were one of their own. But one

day, I would leave and they would receive another child to care for.

When I was 6 months old, an ambitious young woman from

Louisville, Kentucky flew to Seoul, South Korea to

pick up her squirmy, chubby, Asian baby

girl. As the years went by, Angela

and Mark Martin served as godly

parents who met my every

need and provided beyond

the necessities. I lived a

treasured life that any

young orphan in Korea

would envy. However,

I knew that a question

had festered in my

mind throughout

my entire life:

Who is my real

mother? I was

always curious

and anxious to

discover what

characteristics I had inherited from my biological parents, but I

knew I wouldn't know until I was 18 due to the closed adoption.

The identity of my birth mother was something that I was always

eager to find out.

In 2007, my adoptive mother and I went on a mission trip to

Seoul and I instantly felt that sense of security. While there, I had

the opportunity to experience my culture and heritage while taking

care of young children and providing an unforgettable Christmas

for them. I also had the chance to meet the very woman who cared

for me during the first 6 months of my life. My foster mother was an

older woman with frail hands and a heart of gold. We recognized

each other instantly, as if there were a connection between us.

After spending hours with my foster mother and an interpreter, we

said our goodbyes and I cried until my eyes went dry. My adoptive

mother stood by my side and cradled my head as I waved goodbye

to my foster family.

While in Korea, my adoptive mother and I spent time together

shopping and enjoying this extraordinary experience. On our

flight home, we escorted four babies en route to their new adoptive

families in California. When we landed in California and delivered

a small baby boy to his new mother, a thought struck me. Even

though I had always been curious about the identity of my birth

mother, knowing her was irrelevant. I always called her my "real"

mother, but in reality she was never a part of my life. The woman

who was truly my mother in mind and soul was Angela Martin, my

adoptive mother. She is the kind-hearted woman who helped me

with my first loose tooth. She has celebrated 17 Christmases with

me, 17 — almost 18 — birthdays, several bad driving experiences,

my first broken heart, and many other moments in my life that

I wouldn't change for the world. I have known Angela Martin for

approximately 6,000 days of my life, give or take a few. She flew

6,791.5 miles to find her stubborn soon-to-be daughter. Not a day

goes by when I do not thank God for the blessing He has bestowed

upon me by putting me in such an amazing home.

Hannah Martin | Milford, Ohio

My True Mother, in Mind and SoulHolt adoptee Hannah Martin shares her college application essay, in which she reflects on the meaning of motherhood.

LEFT: Hannah with her family. A recent high school graduate, Hannah plans to study fine arts at the University of Cincinnati.

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rg15Susanne Antonetta is the author of the recently published memoir Make Me a Mother.

Into the Rest of his LifeAs her son prepares for his final year of high school, writer and adoptive mom Susanne Antonetta holds fast to the moments and milestones still to come.

There are days when my son’s growing up feels like what it is

— slow and gradual. And there are days like today, when I look at

his six-foot-tall, 17-year-old self and feel as if I lost track of time

somewhere, and he went from an infant to this near-adult boy

while I looked for my missing glasses, or stirred up lemonade, or

something. Nothing gives me this what-the-heck-happened feeling

quite like the word graduation.

We adopted our son, Jin, from South Korea. All we had of

Jin before he came home was a tiny photograph, barely bigger

than one from a photo booth. It was a surreal way to become a

parent, driving to an airport several hours away from our home in

Bellingham with an empty car seat we had clicked various teddy

bears into, to make sure we had the safety moves down.

Jin could not yet crawl or roll over when he arrived, though

my husband Bruce and I sensed neither of these milestones was far

off; our new baby worked his limbs like a sea turtle when we put

him down to play. As we might have guessed, he went from rolling

over to crawling, then to cruising and walking, at a dizzying speed;

by eight months, a little over three months from his arrival, Jin took

his first step.

Jin’s achieving speech felt a little harder to imagine. We

understood what our baby felt when he made those feelings all

too clear: he giggled when we tickled him, he cried when he was

hungry. He woke up grumpy from naps, frowning and rubbing his

eyes, and we took wake-up walks up and down the block to jolly

him out of that.

As all parents do, we knew that one day Jin would talk; still, it felt

unimaginable that sooner or later, when we wanted to know what

Jin was feeling, we could ask him and he would tell us.

But one day, when Jin was just at the stage where he could

say Mama and Dada and not much else, my husband Bruce swung

him at our local park. Bruce asked Jin, in that no-expectations way

you use to talk to a tiny human, whether Jin wanted to go home

and throw the ball for the dog, or stay at the park a little longer.

To Bruce’s enduring surprise, Jin raised his little hand behind his

head, curving it around an imaginary ball and pretending to throw

it. Bruce called me and told me the story. And then we knew that,

yes indeed, Jin would speak. He could understand us already.

Fast forward: Jin is 17 now, and a year away from graduating

from high school. He is in the process of getting his driver’s

license. It was not as strange as I would have expected for him to

drive. But graduation? With graduating from high school comes

independence, leaving home. And while it’s a year off still, it feels

just a breath away.

Of course, parents go into this process knowing it will lead to this

— maturity, independence, a life of the adult child’s own. Parenting

is the one piece of business we take on in our lives in which the

worst outcome, and the best, can be the same. It’s our job to make

our children capable enough to do the one thing we most resist, or

at least I do: leave us.

For adoptive parents, I think, these moments can feel even

harder: it took so much, so many forms and interviews, so much

staring at a little photograph and waiting for news of a plane, so

many miles for this child to come into my life. Why is it just as easy

as it is for any other child for him to leave me?

I am watching the clock of Jin’s final year of high school with a

sense of nostalgia, noticing even the small things that may never

happen again: driving him to school in the morning, his first prom.

At the tux fitting for Jin’s prom last month, it took me so long

to find a parking space in our downtown that I dropped him off,

and when I finally made it to the shop, Jin was sitting with a

saleswoman, casually explaining the shoes he wanted.

“I prefer the square-toe formal shoes,” he informed her, and I

thought to myself: what is this? How does he even know there are

square-toed formal shoes?

And this is one of the secrets to our kids growing up: somehow,

without us knowing it, they have become capable adults who know

things we couldn’t imagine they might know. It’s all strange. And

a little sad, and exhilarating, in equal measure. I will try to take

this last year together intentionally. That’s all I can do — notice

the milestones, try to get around that how-did-it-happen feeling by

paying attention. I’m going to go back to the journal I kept when Jin

was a baby, keeping it all fresh for those days when he has thrown his

cap into the air, and walked out the door into the rest of his life.

Susanne Antonetta | Bellingham, WA

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from the field

One student wanted to be an architect. Another a veterinarian.

Li Ai You wanted to be a teacher. He had the grades and spirited

determination. In the United States, Li Ai You could have been eli-

gible for many scholarships, possibly a full-ride to the college of his

choice. But he lived in China, where competition is especially fierce.

Where extracurricular activities and electives don’t enhance a col-

lege application, and test scores mean everything. If you perform

poorly on your college entrance exam, there are no second chances.

And if you come from a poor family or you are an orphan, the odds

of attending college are slim.

Li Ai You’s father died from complications of HIV in 2004,

and his mother died shortly after. Li Ai You went to live with his

grandparents, and worked hard through high school with assis-

tance from Holt’s sponsorship program. The resolve to better his

family’s financial status motivated him through the years. As high

school graduation approached, Li Ai You’s test scores were impres-

sive enough to get him into college. Unfortunately, his family’s

financial status dictated another path. “There is a stigma against

orphans and poor families in China,” Jian Chen, Holt’s vice presi-

dent of China programs, says.

But in 2009, Li Ai You did start college, and last year, he gradu-

ated. A decade ago, Holt didn’t have a model established to help Li

Ai You accomplish this feat. But through the efforts of one woman

— a longtime Holt supporter and adoptive mom, and other gener-

ous donors — Li Ai You made it to his graduation day.

In 2005, while in China to adopt her son, Tina Gsedl was asked

a poignant question by Cathy Yu, Holt’s program manager for the

Shanxi province in China. “What do you think happens to the chil-

dren who don’t get adopted?” Cathy asked. Tina pondered this for a

moment. “Foster care maybe, if they are lucky,” Tina replied. In fact,

when an orphaned child ages out of the adoption process in China,

the state no longer provides for them. “The more I thought about

this, the more it bugged me,” Tina says. She needed to do some-

thing for “the children who got stuck.”

Later that year, Tina received a letter from a girl in foster

care who she had sponsored for many years. In the letter, the girl

explained that she wished to attend college to become an art teach-

er but couldn’t afford the room and board fees. “My mother was

an art teacher,” Tina explains. “How perfect, I thought. This is how

I can help.” While in Beijing that summer, Tina met with Chinese

officials to discuss the possibility of supporting her sponsored child

through college. “They politely said no,” Tina says. “There was just

no precedent for that kind of project in China at the time.” But Tina

persisted, writing letters to the Chinese government, advocating for

her sponsored child and for other impoverished and orphaned chil-

dren. A year later, her efforts paid off when she received a call from

Holt-China, asking if she was still interested. And with the help of

Holt staff, the Chinese government and Tina, Holt’s continuing edu-

cation program in China was born.

After word got out about this special program, “a groundswell

of support emerged,” Rose McBride, director of program and foun-

dation relations, says. Others wanted to get involved. Christabel

Lee, a resident of Hong Kong and Holt sponsor, started supporting

three students, including Li Ai You. Sally Weiner, a Holt adoptive

Hope From Far AwayIn 2005, a Holt adoptive mom helped initiate a continuing education project for

orphaned and impoverished students in China facing severe cultural and social stigmas. With Holt’s help, 15 students have successfully graduated from this program.

"What's important for these students is that

someone far away really cares that they succeed.

Things around them are always so negative, but

someone reaches out and gives them hope."

mom, also learned about the program. “I wanted to pay it forward

somehow,” she says. “My parents always supported my education,

but not every parent can do that, so I wanted to give back.” For the

last three years, Sally has helped 13 students in China go to col-

lege. Several of those students want to be teachers. One student in

particular stood out to Sally — an aspiring veterinarian. “Pets aren’t

valued as much in China,” Sally says. “The profession is highly ridi-

culed.” But instead of discouraging her sponsored student’s dream,

Sally nurtured it. “I was thrilled for him,” Sally says. “I sent him

pictures of my dog, and really wanted to support him. He has such

a big heart.”

In June, nine students graduated with help from Holt’s continu-

ing education program. Fifteen students have graduated from the

program since its inception. Donor funds help to pay for books, room

and board fees, tuition and other supplies. The money provided,

however, is not what matters to students like Li Ai You, says Jian.

“What’s important to these students is that someone far away really

cares that they succeed,” Jian says. “Things around them are always

so negative, but someone reaches out and gives them hope.”

Today, Li Ai You is a physics teacher thanks to the Holt spon-

sor who supported him through his youth, and Christabel Lee, who

helped him through college. “Li Ai You is a cheerful and optimistic

young man,” Christabel says. “He has always maintained a sense of

optimism even through challenging personal times. I am pleased

with his decision to enter the teaching profession.”

In the coming years, many children in Holt’s care — students

with dreams just like Li Ai You — will need financial support to

attend college. With donor support, 17 students will continue work-

ing towards their degrees this coming fall. And Holt-China staff

is currently reviewing applications, looking for 10 more aspiring

college students in Holt’s family strengthening and foster care pro-

grams who will need financial assistance for the upcoming school

year.

Not much was expected of Li Ai You once he graduated from

high school. Chinese society, according to Li Ai You, commanded

that he return to his hometown and become a fisherman. “But I kept

chasing after my dream, and it came true. I still feel like it’s a mira-

cle,” he says. “Two ‘aunties’ from Holt took care of me. Through many

kind-hearted people, my destiny was changed. I feel so lucky.”

Ashli Keyser | Staff Writer

If you are interested in learning more about Holt’s continuing education program in China, and helping a student achieve his or her dream, please contact Rose McBride at rosem@holtinternational.org or at 541-687-2202, ext 164.

TOP: With sponsor support, Fu Yuan, whose parents died when she was young, began her college education in September 2012. CENTER: Though human medicine is more respected in China, Yang Ma Luan continued to pursue his dream of becoming a veterinarian with encouragement from his sponsor.BOTTOM: In 2013, Li Ai You graduated from college, and is now a physics teacher. “With Holt's help, I could focus on study, live seriously as well as work hard to chase after my dream,” he says.

Auditioning for The Juilliard School’s dance program was just

supposed to be fun. Why not, 18-year-old Melissa Anderson thought.

It would be a good learning experience, since the odds of making it

were against her. After all, Juilliard’s acceptance rate for new stu-

dents is just 8 percent, more competitive than Harvard. Regardless,

Melissa already had a small legion of schools ready to welcome her

into their dance programs with open arms. Nothing to lose — and

someday, she could say she tried.

Even after making it into the final round in February, Melissa

didn’t let her hopes rise too high. After school one afternoon in early

April, she pulled out her cell phone — one missed call, one message.

A voice from Julliard’s admissions office asked her to call back, and

she rushed inside to the landline.

With her dad by her side, Melissa dialed the number.

When the message registered that she’d been accepted — one of

24 in the 2018 class of dancers at Juilliard — she just gasped.

“I thought I’d cry,” Melissa says. “I didn’t. I didn’t know what to do.

I just stood there.”

She hung up the phone, hugged her dad and called her mom at

work. Even her 15-year-old brother was impressed. Soon, Melissa

reached near celebrity status at the studio where she’d been a danc-

er most of her life — The Ballet Academy of Texas Coppell, where she

spends 20-30 hours per week.

Melissa says it’s nice to feel so celebrated. For years, Melissa says,

she struggled with confidence — feeling weird and different among

her friends, failing to see how her talent set her apart in a good way.

“Where I lived in Texas, I was constantly surrounded by people

who knew how to act,” Melissa says. “Even as a kid, I felt like I was

just eccentric. I was a weird kid. I’m still weird.”

And, at first, Melissa hated ballet, which she started studying

when she was 5.

“I was the kid who couldn’t sit down. I’m always full of energy,”

Melissa says. “But I wasn’t great at ballet at first, and here I was, this

crazy kid, surrounded by all these poised people.”

Slowly, Melissa fell for the art — and it helped her grow into the

person she is today.

Through dance, Melissa grew more comfortable in her own skin.

Being adopted made her more confident as well, she says — espe-

cially at times when she felt ordinary among her classmates.

“I’m really open about my adoption," Melissa says.

From the beginning, Melissa’s parents were also open about her

adoption. Melissa joined her family from the Philippines as an infant.

As her adoptive mother is also Filipino, Melissa had something not

many other international adoptees have: she somewhat resembled

her family. But she’s always known she was adopted.

Her parents also adopted her younger brother from the

Philippines. “My parents used to read me this book called ‘Happy

Adoption Life’ to help me understand what adoption meant,” she

says. “It helped that my brother is adopted too.”

Through the support of her family and her passion for dance,

Melissa says she finally grew to love herself and all the traits that

make her unique.

“In dance, you are very vulnerable,” Melissa says. “You're giving

yourself up for the art form. But that helped me. I finally got tired

of worrying about what people thought of me. I got tired of molding

myself into someone else. I finally chose to just be my quirky self,

and I found friends who accepted me.”

In late August, Melissa will start a new chapter at Juilliard in New

York. She’s excited to experience the city, a new culture and a new

environment.

She knows that when she misses home, she’ll always have the

thing she loves most.

“I’ll always have my family,” Melissa says. “My life is a blessing.”

Billie Loewen | Staff Writer

Visit the Holt magazine online to see video of Melissa dancing! Go to www.holtinternational.org/magazine.

A Life Less Ordinary A Holt adoptee pursues her love of dance at Juilliard in New York.

LyleBorn 10.13.2001, China

Lyle is a healthy, friendly 13-year-old 6th grader who enjoys playing basketball, dancing and drawing. Lyle’s teacher says that he is a great student, often helping her with tasks and leading a study team. He has exceptional handwrit-ing, and receives many awards for his art. He gets along well with others and has many friends at school — partially due to his easy-going and cheerful nature. He also has close bonds with his caregivers and teachers. Lyle’s caregivers say that he is confident and sensible. Lyle entered care shortly after he was born, and from 2004 to 2010, Lyle lived with a loving foster family. They were unable to continue car-ing for him after a family member fell ill. When Lyle was 3, doctors repaired his cleft lip and palate. He still speaks with a bit of a slur, but his caregivers say he is easy to understand. Lyle is hoping for a perma-nent, loving family in the United States and he says he would love to join a home with siblings.

Nick Born 7.17.2009, SE Asia

Little Nick just turned 5, and started school in May. When Nick isn’t doing his schoolwork, he loves to ride his bicycle, play in the sand, watch cartoons, sing and play with toy cars. He likes hot dogs, fruit and eggs. Nick joined a foster family when he was 4 months old, and they say he has great manners and social skills. Nick has many friends, and he is caring and sensitive. He is enthusiastic about school, which is helping him gain self-confidence. Nick was diagnosed with hydrocele in

October 2013, and he may need surgery in the future. Nick’s ideal family will have a good understand-ing of older child adoption and access to any medical care he will need.

Kate & MaraBorn 06.27.2006, Africa

Twins Kate and Mara are cheerful and outgoing 8-year-old girls. They have many friends, and play well with other chil-dren. Caregivers say Kate and Mara are polite, caring, respectful and smart. They are both developmentally on track and healthy. Although they are a bit behind academically due to a language barrier, they are working to gain better reading and writing skills. Both girls are learning to speak English and Amharic, in addi-tion to their native language. Kate and Mara enjoy swinging and coloring pictures. The girls entered care in 2013, after their grandmother grew too ill to care for them. Kate and Mara say they are excited to join a family in the United States. Their social worker says that they persistently ask if she has found a family to take them home yet. Kate says they want to join a family in the United States so they can be daugh-ters, and have the opportunity to attend school.

NaomiBorn 11.24.2009, China

Naomi is a sweet and quiet little girl. She enjoys riding her tricycle, singing chil-dren’s songs and doing art projects. Naomi is shy when she meets new people, but greets the people she knows enthusiasti-cally and responds quickly to her teacher’s questions. She also likes building with blocks and painting. Naomi has Spina Bifida, but is cognitively on track. Naomi entered care when she was 3 years old, and had surgery to repair her sacral ver-tebral deformity in 2013. She has several burn scars, which were present when she entered care. Naomi can walk slowly on her own and climb stairs independently. Naomi’s ideal family will have access to the medical care and resources she needs to thrive.

For more information on adopting these and other waiting children, contact Kristen Henry at kristenh@holtinternational.org

waiting childrenThese and other children

need adoptive families

Naomi

Kate & Mara

Nick

Lyle

www.holtinternational.org/waitingchild/photolisting

P o s t O f f i c e B o x 2 8 8 0E u g e n e , O R 9 7 4 0 2

C h a n g e S e r v i c e R e q u e s t e d

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updatesWinter JamWe are excited to partner with the 10-band Christian music tour Winter Jam again this year, advocating for Holt children at concert venues across the country. Last year, Winter Jam — and more than 5,000 Holt volunteers — helped Holt find more than 9,000 new child sponsors! However, this amazing opportunity for the children Holt serves wouldn’t be possible without people like you — Holt friends and supporters who attend the Winter Jam concert in their area and help sign up new child sponsors. If you would like to volunteer at a concert near you, please follow the link below to see the Winter Jam tour schedule and to sign up to volunteer — then, encourage your youth group, family or friends to volunteer, too! Volunteers receive free admission to Winter Jam!

Visit www.holtinternational.org/winterjam or email Alycia Fahr-Zarlons at alyciaf@holtinternational.org with questions.

Travel With HoltThis December, Holt is offering two trips for Holt supporters and advocates — one to Korea and one to the Philippines — and we’d like you to join us! Help us bring the joy of Christmas to children and families we serve in these countries. Shop for and deliver Christmas gifts, throw holiday parties for foster families and single mothers. See the sights, taste the cuisine and explore Holt’s programs. Most importantly, leave inspired to stand alongside us in our mission to serve orphaned, abandoned and vulnerable children.

Visit www.holtinternational.org/tours to learn more!

National Adoption MonthThe holiday season always starts a little early around Holt — and we aren’t just talking about Thanksgiving and Christmas. November is National Adoption Month, a time when families, organizations and public figures celebrate and share about the cause dear to our hearts — finding families for orphaned and abandoned children. This November, you can celebrate adoption by telling people why adoption is important to you, donating to the Special Needs Adoption Fund, and encouraging others to learn more about adoption. Follow us on social media for stories and guidance on how to share your own story. Or, if you are considering adoption for the first time, what an amazing month to start your adoption jour-ney! As National Adoption Month approaches, watch your email inbox for more ideas from Holt about how to celebrate!

IowaSeptember 20, Des Moines — Holt Family Picnic

at Des Moines Blank Park Zoo, 11 AM – 3 PM www.holtinternational.org/picnics/Oregon

October 25, Portland — Gala Dinner & Auction benefiting children in China. Portland Marriott

Downtown Waterfront, 5:30 PM

Get the InfoFor Holt Adoptee Camp and Family Picnic information, contact:

Pame Chow at pamec@holtinternational.orgFor Events information, contact: Meghan Nelson at meghann@holtinternational.orgFor information about traveling on the Korea or Philippines

Gift Tour, contact: Alycia Fahr-Zarlons at alyciaf@holtinternational.orgFor Holt Heritage Tours to Korea, contact: Paul Kim at

paulk@holtinternational.orgFor Holt Heritage Tours to China, contact: Samantha Gammons

at samanthag@holtinternational.org

neighborhood calendar

“I Will Strengthen You...” Isaiah 41:10

Visit the Holt magazine online for more great stories, videos and images that capture our work, show impact and feature the children and families we serve. Go to

www.holtinternational.org/magazine!