By Stephen Dawkins
David and Tara Littleton have their hands full raising their daughters, 8-year-old Ivie and 5-year-old Averie.
Anyone with children on top of jobs and other responsibilities could surely relate. What might be harder for most to understand is why the Littletons would want—rather, be determined—to add to their family a 14-year-old girl from Ukraine who speaks little English.
The Littletons met the girl they hope will soon officially be their third daughter through Bridges of Faith, a ministry that brings Ukrainian orphans to its Billingsley location. The mission’s purpose is to “show love” to the children, the Littletons said.
A group of orphans, ages 5-14, comes twice a year and stays for 30 days each time. During their time in the United States, local residents volunteer to serve as “house parents,” who stay with the orphans for a couple of days at a time at Bridges of Faith before handing them over to another set of house parents.
Volunteers also feed the children, who visit locations such as the state capitol and malls.
Faith is a common topic between ministry families and the orphans, and Tara Littleton said the change can be life-altering for the children.
“It’s amazing to make that kind of impact on a child,” she said.
The purpose of Bridges of Faith isn’t adoption, but as could be expected when families with the means of supporting children spend time with orphans, adoption sometimes happens, as the Littletons hope it will with them.
David and Tara met Katie while serving as house parents in December 2012. They had been house parents before and left the experience wishing the children had a home and family in the United States.
But after their second stint as house parents, and after spending time with Katie, the feeling was much different.
“We looked at each other and said, ‘That’s our child,’” David Littleton said. “We knew; there was no question.”
Even Ivie and Averie were sad when Katie left and look forward to her joining the family.
Katie’s personality won over the Littletons. They noticed her caring for a special needs orphan on the trip and then learned she had no prior connection to the other child.
“She just took that upon herself,” Tara Littleton said. “I started seeing myself in her.”
Word was sent to Katie through a facilitator that the Littletons were interested in adopting her, and Katie responded favorably. She made herself eligible for adoption, but there will be a one-year waiting period and other hurdles before she can come to America.
Katie speaks little English, but the Littletons said she is studying the language, and they don’t think language will be a problem because her language is considered a much more difficult one to learn.
The obstacles have already appeared so great at times that the Littletons found themselves praying for a sign that they were doing God’s will.
While on a date at a movie theater in Alabaster, David proceeded to the ticket window to purchase tickets. The girl behind the counter seemed to have an accent, so he inquired about her ethnicity. She turned out to be a Ukrainian adoptee…named Kate.
“Just when those doubts would come in, something would happen to show us the way,” Tara Littleton said.
Another “coincidence” is Katie’s birthday, May 4, which just happens to be the Littletons’ anniversary. Katie will turn 15 this year.
Much could happen between today and when Katie finally comes home with the Littletons. Her father is still in the country (many of the children in the orphanage come from families where parents haven’t necessarily passed away but simply cannot support them financially), though he has given his consent for the adoption. The purpose of the waiting period is to give Ukrainians the opportunity to adopt the children before they move to a foreign country, so a relative could enter the picture.
But the Littletons have vowed that no matter what other problems might surface, they’re dedicated to bringing Katie home.
“When you know God has put something on your heart, you can’t deny it,” David Littleton said. “God is telling us: ‘You have to do this.’ It’s fulfilling knowing you’re doing the work of Christ.”
Anyone interested in helping with the Bridges of Faith ministry should email info@bridgesoffaith.com.