Newsletter - Adooptive Parents Experience the Miracle of Sofia

Homes of Life in Central America

Costa Rica
July 2015

From the Hearts of Adoptive Parents:

The Miracle of Sofia

As my husband and I began our life together, one of our dreams was the arrival of a child. However, after six years of marriage, this was not happening. According to the medical diagnosis, Randall was sterile due to cancer that he faced years ago.

We thought about adopting so we visited the offices of PANI (Child Welfare Services in Costa Rica.) We had many fears. We didn't know much, but that was less important than our desire to be parents. The process was amazing -- it erased the fears and myths that exist around adoption and launched us into the exciting world of "children that are birthed in the heart."

In June 2007, we took the big step and presented the documents to start the process. After a four-month evaluation, we went to a workshop for adoptive parents that confirmed that we were indeed becoming "pregnant in our hearts." Now we had to wait to see our great desire fulfilled.

God seeded in Randall's heart that by December we would have our child at home - but how? We did not know, but against all odds, my husband's faith remained active.

In November, we received the call from PANI. It was now a fact! We would soon be introduced to our daughter. Soon we would meet her in person! Imagine how we felt, having waited more than seven years for our daughter. God had done a miracle -- the greatest desire of our hearts was about to be fulfilled.

We had to go to Atenas. I still do not understand how Randall could possibly drive straight -- there were so many emotions. (I think God must have been his co-pilot.) After an hour we arrived at Hogar de Vida -- a place that is a small portion of heaven on earth for so many children.

We could say it was love at first sight but we had already fallen in love with our daughter-to-be, Sofia. Our hearts throbbed like never before. It was amazing - this special love for a child.

Every day is a miracle. It is people that perform God's miracles; people that contribute to His mission, the mission He put in the hearts of those who work at Hogar de Vida. They took care of our daughter until we were able to take her home.

God has continued to shower us with blessings. Two months after adopting Sofia, we were blessed with a second miracle - a biological child! Both of our children bless us every day with their smiles and their zest for life. Thank you Hogar de Vida! You are an important part of our lives.

With love,

Salazar D'Gracia family

(Translated by Helen C. Smith)

A Newcomer's View

I am relatively new to the team here at Hogar de Vida. When I first arrived, I would never have known that these children had not always been at Hogar de Vida. The atmosphere is family. Always family. Love, acceptance, encouragement and a lot of hugs. But these children are not born and raised here. PANI brings them to us. This branch of the Costa Rican government is responsible for making sure these children are protected and safe. It is often to Hogar de Vida they turn for this assurance. PANI places 35 children within the walls of our home from ages 0 to 10 years old. Sometimes they stay for a few months - sometimes for years. The idea is to provide a safe environment for these at risk children while the government decides their future.

I quickly realized that Hogar de Vida is more of a foster care facility than an orphanage. I also immediately saw that it takes a different type of person to be a part of the Hogar family. Here love must win, and it does. These children have had their world turned upside down and PANI has tasked us with making sure that while they wait to see what their future holds, they are in the safest, most secure and loving environment possible.

We appreciate that the government of Costa Rica recognizes that Jesus is the answer. Not a denomination, not a specific church, just the pure love of Jesus. PANI and Hogar come together to form the best opportunity for these children to have a productive future.

Steve Hoover

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