   
| Spring and Summer for the Newsom Family! My husband and I are Cass and Kristin Newsom. We currently have three daughters ages 6, 3, and 1. Our home also has a puppy named Samson running around. We have started the process of adopting two little girls from Eastern Europe within the special needs community. Cass spent eight years in the military (USMC & TX Army National Guard). I was a public school teacher for five years before becoming a stay at home/homeschool mom. We moved from Southeast Texas to East Tennessee in 2019. Adopting internationally is an expensive process. The total estimated expenses are $38,700 for two children in the same orphanage. We believe there is a chance that one of the two siblings we are hoping to adopt will be moved to a different facility due to her age. If that happens, the process will be more complicated and more expensive. We are praying that she stays put with her sister in the same orphanage. We expect the whole thing to take 12 months before the girls are here with us. Any funds donated will go to the home study, a facilitation team, translators, a primary oversight agency, immigration costs, as well as FBI fingerprinting & background checks. Some of the biggest expenses are travel and accommodation for up to three trips for the referral, court, then picking up the girls. There are also medical exams and visas and post adoption reports. So much of this red tape and paperwork is to ensure the girls are protected. A lot of people are involved in getting them here. Just like any other child in an orphanage, they have been medically and emotionally neglected. Even in an "ideal" orphanage, trauma and loss has been inflicted on them. Any leftover funding will certainly go to providing them with the medical care and nourishment that they have been without. Why international? Why not adopt children with special needs here in the United States? It is a sad fact that in this particular country, individuals with special needs are seen as a burden. Parents are encouraged to hand over their children with special needs to the state-run orphanages. There is also a lot of socio-economic problems at higher rates that lead to children being placed in orphanages. We're not here to judge or get into the politics. Cass and I believe that every child has value. We love Jesus deeply and desire to live each day bearing his image in spite of our sinfulness. We are truly grateful for any amount that you can give. Your Gift is NOT Tax Deductible Family GOFUNDME Page! Family is on Reeces Rainbow! |
