We had a happy family with a mother and father and four boys. Michael was 14, Cory was 12, Stephen was 10 and Jack was 8 when we decided that our family wasn’t complete without sisters. But we had a problem. We were unable to have more children biologically. Truly, without sisters in our home, we felt poor, though financially, we had been quite fortunate. As we looked at the options for a solution to the problem that made us feel poor, we found people who were rich. The Russians had an abundance of children without families. As any progressive country, Russia views its children as a resource and as a great valuable, not as a burden. Naturally, there were those in Russia who were, and for that matter, still are, against these precious jewels leaving their country. Fortunately, there are others in Russia who loved these children enough to allow them to have families even at their own nationalistic loss, by international adoption. As we prepared to adopt from Russia, we did a lot of reading and research particularly on the internet. We were surprised to see many people, particularly in the United States, with the attitude that these children needed to be saved from poverty. It was obvious to us that these children were not in the dire circumstances that others throughout the world are. Their physical needs were being met. In February of 2005, we took our first trip to Russia to meet the three children that we would adopt. Our eyes were opened. As any compassionate person, we wished (as do the Russians) that there were more resources available for the orphans. But we were far from believing that the children needed to be rescued from poverty. We met lots of children. We met Dasha, André, Ksenia, Peter, Jula, Marina, Maxim, Anya, Natasha, Sergay and many others. They were happy children. They were like any other children that we had seen anywhere else in the world, full of hope, excitement and joy. These children did not realize that they were poor, or if they did, it didn’t worry them. These children were not unwanted, or unloved. On the contrary, we watched dedicated orphanage workers who loved and served these children. My heart went out to several orphanage workers who reminded me of elementary school teachers that I had who loved me and made a difference in my life. Dasha, André, Ksenia, Peter, Jula, Marina, Maxim, Anya, Natasha, Sergay and all of the others who we met were not concerned about having new clothes, or big houses, or lots of money. But, there was something that every one of them knew that they didn’t have and they didn’t feel complete without it. In this respect, each one of them knew that they were poor. And they hoped that one day, their dreams would be fulfilled and their want and need would be satisfied. Every one of these children knew that they had no family. Every one of them dreamed of the day when they might once again have a Mama and Papa. These children do not need to be saved from Russia. Russia is a great country with great people and an incredible history and culture. They do not need to be saved from poverty. If children’s needs are not met by parents, they are removed from the home and placed in orphanages where they can be cared for. Russia is providing for their needs, and arguably, better than some foster parents within the United States care for their foster children. But these children do need Mamas and Papas. And there are capable adults who want to be Mamas and Papas who need these children. Hopefully, Russia will continue to love these children enough to allow them to have families, even at the expense of international adoption, if that is what it takes. But self righteousness and arrogance in people thinking that they are saving these children should have no part in adoption. Adoption should be about children who need them, getting mamas and papas. And it should be about capable and willing adults getting the opportunity to be mamas and papas. This should continue to be more important than what country the children or the parents call home. Unfortunately, there are parents throughout all of the world who have children biologically, or by adoption who do not properly care for or protect their children. This is a global tragedy that needs to be addressed throughout the world, including America. Children must be protected from those who intentionally, or through neglect hurt them. And serious punishments should quickly find and overtake those who would hurt children. But fortunately, most parents throughout the world, love and care for their children. And while not every one who wants to be a parent, has the ability to be a good one, most do. While more scrutiny in selecting adoptive parents may be needed, and while follow up procedures may need to be improved to ensure that adopted parents are properly caring for their children, this should not stop children who need parents from getting them. There are far too many capable adults in the world who want children and can’t have them biologically, who are barred from adoption because of excessive bureaucracy or costs. This is neither fair to them, nor to those who so desperately need a mama and papa. We hope with all our hearts that it will become easier for those who are poor because they don’t have parents, and those who are poor because they don’t have children to come together to make rich families.