By Ryan Brown
Buckner International
(HEATH, Texas)—On Saturday morning, Victor woke up to the sound of pots and pans, laughter and hustle and bustle around the house. It was something he had never heard before. It was the sound of family.
Victor was one of the Angels from Abroad participants in July. Angels from Abroad is a program that brings Russian orphans to the United States to live with American families for two weeks. Victor stayed with Danny and Lauren Davis of Heath, Texas and their son Westin.
For Victor, each day was the start of something new. The Davis family kept him entertained with a Game Boy, helped him learn some karate, took him to Vacation Bible School and also to a Mesquite Rodeo. From the moment the boys woke up until bed time, Victor and their Westin went through the same routine.
“Whether its ‘hop into the shower,’ to brushing and flossing, to sleeping, we treat them both no different,” said Danny Davis.
Danny, a sixth-degree black belt in karate, said Victor picked up on some of the martial arts moves it’s taken years for him to teach Westin.
“While he was out there, he gave it 150 percent,” Danny said. “To not know English so well and yet catch on so quickly was amazing.”
On this particular Saturday, the family went to Lake Athens with the other Angels families to participate in Lake Day. It’s a unique experience for a group of Russian orphans, many of whom have never spent time in a boat or on the lake.
Lauren said she hopes Victor returns to Russia with many happy memories.
“He is just a treasure, she said. “I know it’s impacted him, but I know this is something I’m never going to forget in my entire life, regardless of what happens.”
To learn more about Angels from Abroad, visit www.angelsfromabroad.com. To learn more about Russian adoption through Buckner, visit www.beafamily.org.
