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Birkenfelds pray as Ukraine -
Chris and Melina Birkenfeld and their children, of Nazareth, are hoping to bring home a son they are adopting from Ukraine, though the process has been disrupted by the war.
The war between Russia and Ukraine is hitting especially close to home for one of Nazareth’s local families.
Chris and Melina Birkenfeld have Ukraine to thank for their daughter, Yaroslava, or “Yara” as they call her. On April 13, 2021, after nine months of paperwork and two trips to Ukraine, Chris and Melina were declared official parents to Yara by a Ukrainian judge. She is now celebrating one year home with her family.
But the Birkenfelds’ story and connection to the Ukrainian orphans does not end with Yara’s adoption.
While the couple was working diligently to bring their daughter home, Melina was shown the profile of a young boy by a dear friend. She immediately fell in love with him and hoped to welcome him into the family as well.
As it was, the Birkenfelds were not approved to bring two unrelated children to the United States.
Although they thought this adoption attempt was the end of their journey, they soon found out that God had other plans for their family. The Birkenfelds were eventually able to complete their dossier to be eligible for their son’s adoption. In February, they made a trip to Ukraine, met their son, and accepted his referral. They flew back to the United States to eagerly await the court date to bring their son home.
But the invasion of Ukraine by Russia has delayed the process.
The orphanage in Vorzel, where Yara was living, was attacked by the Russians, and all the young children and their nannies were forced to leave their hometown. The little boy’s hometown was shelled early on in the war, and he and the children from his orphanage were evacuated to a safer location.
Melina is still in contact with the facilitators and the orphanage director, and, by the grace of God, all are still safe.
It has been very difficult for the Birkenfelds to know that they were so close to having their little boy home. They take comfort in knowing that Serge Zevlever, an orphan advocate, adoption facilitator, founder of Hand of Help in Adoption, and a dear friend that was the first American killed in the war, is now looking over the boy and protecting him.
Even though the adoption is up in the air, the family is raising funds to travel whenever the opportunity arises so they can complete the process and bring their son home.
The family has a Facebook page called “Birkenfelds Blessed by One More… Again,” where viewers can follow along with their adoption journey and see updates about Yara.
For those who wish to donate to the Birkenfelds to help get their son home, a tax-deductible donation can be sent by going to reecesrainbow.org and searching “Declan for the Birkenfeld Family.”
Editor’s Note: I offer my prayers to the Birkenfelds that they will soon have their young son in their home.