HOUSTON – The thermometer read 94 degrees Saturday, Aug. 21 as volunteers at South Main Baptist Church patiently linked together a chain of shoes on the black asphalt parking lot. It took more than three hours to lay the shoes side by side, but in the end they celebrated their accomplishment – more than 10,068 pairs of shoes for orphans and a new Guinness World Record.

The event, aptly named Solechain, marked the church’s tenth year collecting shoes for Buckner International’s Shoes for Orphan Souls.

Henry Hill, SMBC member, has been organizing the church's shoe drive for the past 10 years.

To honor the anniversary, shoe drive organizer and church member Henry Hill said they set the goal to collect 10,000 pairs of shoes and beat the current record for “Longest Chain of Shoes,” which stood at 19,856 individual shoes – or 9,928 pairs – stretched out more than 18,992 feet.

“We thought it would be a goal and fun for everyone to get involved. We’ve collected over 70,000 pairs of shoes in the last ten years. That’s an amazing feat for a church to accomplish,” Hill said.

Church members of all ages participated in the shoe drive and worked diligently in the Texas heat to place the shoes of all sizes and colors in a chain. They even voted on the message to be written inside the circle: “Send shoes. See smiles. Save souls.”

Rachel Garton, director of Shoes for Orphan Souls, said she was in awe of the sheer number of shoes lined up outside. “It was overwhelming to see them all and to think about all the children who will be receiving them before the end of this year. We are so thankful for South Main’s continued involvement and passion for helping orphans.”

Volunteers file outside the church doors with baskets of shoes to be placed in the SoleChain.

South Main Pastor Steve Wells reminded the group about the reason for their efforts before they began placing the shoes in the chain.

“This isn’t just about bringing publicity to Buckner or to South Main, but every pair of shoes you touch is going to an orphan child,” he said. “These shoes are part of a promise not just to clad their feet today but to bring them the hope of Jesus Christ.”

Many South Main members have taken mission trips with Buckner to deliver shoes to orphans around the world. Gillian Cooke went on the first Buckner mission trip to Russia 10 years ago to deliver shoes to orphans and has been to Peru five times since.

“It clicks in my mind when you see the looks on their faces,” she said, recalling the feeling of putting a pair of new shoes on child’s feet. “I remember their dirty little feet, holes in their shoes, their little faces … and all of a sudden they’re jumping and laughing. It’s sounds of joy.”

Rows of shoes line the church parking lot in a circular pattern.

Cooke remembers what it was like during World War 2 to be without shoes, wearing rubber boots in the rain and snow, stuffing paper in the sides to keep their feet dry.

“Seeing these shoes, it brings me back,” she said. “Without shoes you can’t go anywhere. You can put on old clothes, drag your body into something, but without shoes – life stops.”

Jimmy Cole was taking pictures at the event, documenting the group’s efforts to build the chain. He and his wife have been involved in the shoe drive since they joined the church eight years ago.

“I lived in an orphanage until I was 6 years old,” he said, “so this brings back a lot of memories. I think it’s awesome that we’re working together to do this for children. Our church is very community oriented.”

To learn more about the ways your church can get involved and host a shoe drive, visit www.ShoesforOrphanSouls.org or call 1-866-774-SHOE.  To learn more about the event, visit www.SoleChain.org.

Brittany Black and Analiz Schremmer
Buckner International

DALLAS — Every orphan longs for a mom and dad. So when 17 Russian orphans said goodbye to their Texas host families on Aug. 16, there were a lot of tears.

“It’s a very difficult day for everyone, but there is a lot of hope, too,” said Beth Brinkmeyer, coordinator for Angels from Abroad, an orphan hosting program that helps raise awareness of the adoption of older children and gives orphans an experience of living with a family.

“This may not be the last time they see each other,” she said.

This year, 17 Russian orphans stayed with North Texas host families July 30 – Aug. 16 and experienced American summer activities like swimming, Vacation Bible School, even a rodeo.  It is estimated that 750,000 children in Russia are orphans, many between the ages of 6-16 years old.

“We try and find experiences these kids wouldn’t normally get at the orphanage,” Brinkmeyer said. Many former orphans who are now adopted participate as translators or just came along to reconnect with their Russian friends.

Since its start in 2004, Angels from Abroad has inspired 30 families to adopt from Russia. And although adoption is not the goal of the program, “it always makes us happy to see our children find forever homes,” Brinkmeyer said. 

The Angels from Abroad program depends on donors, families and ministry partners to give these orphans an experience of a lifetime. Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall, Texas and First Baptist Church in Athens, Texas played a big role in this year’s events, Brinkmeyer said.

Lake Pointe provided donated suitcases and new toiletry items for the orphans when they first arrived. They also held a two-day Vacation Bible School Aug. 4 and 5, where the children sang songs, played games and heard Bible stories.

“What a great opportunity Buckner gives us,” said Mary Jo Marvin, VBS leader and member of Lake Pointe. “If I can get people to see these children, we can get more families from here [Lake Pointe] to host and we can spread awareness of the needs of these children.”

First Baptist Church in Athens provided food, drinks, snacks, snow-cones, bounce houses, fish fry and tent setup for Lake Day held in Athens, Texas on Aug. 7.

“FBC Athens and Buckner have worked together over the years,” said Toni Clay, member of FBC Athens. “Lake Day was just another way in which we are able to help.”

Tracey and James Blakely from Garland have been host parents for five years and have been involved with the Angels program since day one. They even adopted their son Dima from Russia after hosting him in the program. The family also keeps in contact with many of the other children they have hosted who are now adopted into other families.

“Angels from Abroad is a life-changing experience,” James Blakely said. “You can’t even put it into words.”

Several of this year’s host parents hope to permanently bring one or two orphans back home. The adoption process typically lasts anywhere from nine months to a year, although individual cases vary.

To learn more about the Angels from Abroad program, visit www.angelsfromabroad.org. To learn more about Russian adoption through Buckner, visit www.beafamily.org.

By Brittany Black
Buckner International

HALLSVILLE, Texas — At five weeks old, Abraham Vallery had two broken femurs, 27 broken ribs, a fractured skull and bleeding in his brain. Doctors thought he was going to die. He was put into an induced coma and was fed through a feeding tube. 

Now at 27 months, Abraham, known as Abe, is running, laughing and learning to speak. He has found a home with Jason and Sydnie Vallery, who finalized their adoption through Buckner Children and Family Services’ foster-to-adopt program on July 23.

Jason and Sydnie have two birth children, Ellie, 4 and Oakley, 5, but they say they have always wanted to adopt.

“We found out his medical issues were more than we realized, but we fell in love with Abe,” said Jason.

Because of the severity of his injuries, Abe walks with braces on his legs; his arms are slightly bent; he takes seizure medicine and he has trouble with his fine motor skills.

“He used to have a bad drooling problem; his whole shirt would be wet,” Jason said. “He had problems closing his lips and he didn’t know how to swallow.”

The couple agrees that he has improved drastically since they first met him.

“It takes him two to three times longer to succeed at a normal task,” Sydnie said. “But he never gives up; one way to describe him is perseverance.”

The Vallerys’ work with Abe by stretching and massaging his muscles twice a day and helping him practice his vocabulary. He started with a vocabulary of 10 words and now it is up to at least 200, Sydnie said.

After being with the family for eight months, Abe has settled in saying, “Mama” and playing with the other children. Even though the finalization took some time, Sydnie considered Abe a part of the family the day they first got him in early December.

“It’s a blessing he fit in [with the family] just perfectly,” Sydnie said.

The Vallerys’ first expected jealousy to be an issue with their two older children but say that never was a problem. The family prepared the kids for an adopted sibling by talking to them about it before the process even began.

“Let’s adopt a kid; let’s adopt a kid,” Ellie and Oakley told their parents.   

“They take a lot of pride in him,” Sydnie said. “They stand up next to him and say, ‘This is my brother.’”

In fact, the Vallery children still want more, they said: Another sibling and a trampoline.

“We are possibly considering adopting more,” Jason said. “Once we come across that we will pray about it.”

Jason said they were glad to work with a Christian organization like Buckner and they learned a lot from the adoption process. They both think more people should adopt.

“God might have something different planned than what you originally thought,” Sydnie said. “People need to open their minds.”

The Vallerys don’t know what the future holds for their son, but they have faith he will overcome any obstacles before him.

“No one should experience what he did in those first five weeks,” said Jason. “We are helping him get a better life.”

To learn more about adoption through foster care, visit www.beafamily.org.

Children in Sierra Leone, one of the world's most impoverished countries, display their new shoes from Shoes for Orphan Souls.

DALLAS — When back-to-school shopping reaches its peak, Shoes for Orphan Souls®, the largest humanitarian aid project of Buckner International, hits its stride. But after 10 years of collecting shoes for orphans around the world, the global non-profit organization needs help more than ever.

“We sent more than 50,000 pairs of new shoes to Haiti following the earthquake earlier this year, and now we’re in dire need of shoes to send to children in other countries where we’ve already promised to deliver,” said Rachel Garton, director of Shoes for Orphan Souls.

A child in Guatemala shows off his new shoes after a volunteer team delivered them in 2008. Each year, Buckner collects about 250,000 pairs of new shoes for orphans.

The back-to-school season has always been a “kick-off” time for the year’s project, but the organization collects new shoes and socks year round.

In 2009, Shoes for Orphan Souls reached a milestone with the donation of its 2 millionth pair of new shoes for orphans since 1999. Nearly 1,000 individuals, churches and Christian radio stations hosted shoe drives last year and more than 6,000 volunteers helped to sort and process shoes at the Buckner Center for Humanitarian Aid in Dallas.

“We rely on volunteers for every pair of shoes we receive,” Garton said. “It’s such a simple, practical thing to do. And new shoes can mean the difference between life and death for many children in developing countries.”

Without shoes, children are susceptible to a number of diseases and parasites, she said. New shoes not only protect their feet, but in many situations help a child know they are loved.

“Most orphanages are under staffed and underfunded, and the children have nothing to call their own,” she said. “When our volunteers deliver new shoes to these children, it helps them realize that someone cares about them and they’re not alone.”

Individuals and organizations interested in hosting a shoe drive receive posters, DVDs, brochures, packing guides and more to help them with their drive. Or they can purchase a pair of shoes online at www.ShoesforOrphanSouls.org. 

About Shoes for Orphan Souls:
Shoes for Orphan Souls®, the largest humanitarian aid project of Buckner International, provides new shoes and socks to orphans and vulnerable children in the United States and around the world. From conducting shoe drives to humanitarian aid trips, Shoes for Orphan Souls provides hands-on opportunities to individuals, groups and organizations wanting to transform lives. Since 1999, more than 2 million pairs of new shoes and socks have been distributed to children in 69 countries.

By Claire McGough

“How did you know that I liked cats?” That was one of the first questions Anastasia asked my husband, Chris, and I when we first met her last week. It was such a delight to realize that we already shared a connection, even though we had been living in vastly different worlds — she in an orphanage in St. Petersburg, Russia and we as middle class Texans.

As we enjoy our three weeks together in Buckner International’s Angels from Abroad program, we are discovering many other connections and learning some valuable lessons as well. After 12 years of marriage with no children in our household, it is eye-opening and joyful to discover life from the perspective of an 11-year-old and very fulfilling to share with her the experience of living in an American family.

Through Angels from Abroad, our family has been able to show Anastasia a world she probably only dreamed existed: one with trips to the hair salon, circus, rodeo, water park and church–even the aisles of Hobby Lobby and Home Depot are like a whole different universe from her point of view.

Although she has never before experienced the routine of family life before, I am pleasantly surprised at how helpful and cooperative she is when the time for household chores rolls around. Her intelligence and independence shines through the language barriers and each day a little bit more of her personality unfolds.

When Anastasia returns to Russia after this whirlwind tour of American living, I hope she doesn’t simply return with the idea that, in America, they buy gifts for you all the time. I want her to hold in her heart the memory of what it is like to live in a family and to take comfort in knowing that households with a mom and dad who care about you do exist.

Chris and I first had our eyes opened to the plight of orphans when we began participating in mission trips to Mongolia, a country that does not have an international adoption program. After much research and prayer, we felt led to learn more about adoption from Russia and Buckner’s Angels from Abroad program, which provides older children living in orphanages the chance to learn about American culture, share their Russian culture and experience living in a family. The Angels program also helps raise awareness about the need for adopting older children.

We have learned that older children in Russian orphanages face a bleak future if they are not adopted. Children are forced to leave the orphanage system at age 17 and many fall prey to alcohol, drugs, prostitution and crime. It is estimated that nearly 10 percent commit suicide within the first three years. There are more than 750,000 estimated orphans in Russia and about 75-80 percent of those available for adoption are 5 years old or older.

My prayer for Anastasia, and the thousands of beautiful children just like her who are waiting on a place to call “home,” would be that the day comes when she will be out of the orphanage receiving all of the nurturing, education and opportunities every child deserves.

If you are interested in learning more about hosting-to-adopt opportunities through Buckner’s Angels from Abroad program, call 214-319-3426.

This story first appeared on Dallas Morning’s News’ Moms Blog at momsblog.dallasnews.com.

By Brittany Black

ROCKWALL, Texas — The Angels from Abroad went on a “High Seas” adventure with Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall, Texas on Aug. 5 and 6. The two-day Vacation Bible School focused on God’s love through singing, dancing and games that coordinated with stories from the Bible.

“Our most important goal is that we show them God’s love,” said Natalie Thomas, a leader of VBS and member of Lake Pointe Church.

This was the second year Lake Pointe Church hosted VBS for the Russian Angels.

“I saw how much the children enjoyed it last year,” said Mary Jo Marvin, VBS leader and participant in Lake Pointe’s Adoption and Foster Care ministry. “I thought, ‘What better way to share fun and faith with the Angels than to bring them here [Lake Pointe Church].’”

The Angels, along with many of their host siblings, sat on make-shift boats made of blankets while they listened to stories from the Bible translated into Russian. When it was time to sing and dance, the Angels sang along even though most didn’t know the English words.

During craft time, teenage Russian-speaking and English-speaking volunteers, many who were former Angels, helped the children create pillows, a snake and puppets. They also helped when it was time to play games.

“This is a great opportunity Buckner gives us,” Marvin said about hosting VBS at the church. “If I can get people to see these children, we can get families from here interested in hosting and adopting.”

Lake Pointe Church also donated 17 suitcases for the orphans. Each suitcase was filled with toiletries and a gift card for each host family. The church also helped recruit families by hosting the Angels from Abroad interest meeting in their facilities last year.

Volunteers from Lake Pointe helped during the Angels arrival and throughout the two weeks the angels are in the United States.

Angels from Abroad is an orphan host program that brings Russian orphans who are available for international adoption to the United States where they learn about American culture and experience what it’s like to be part of a family. They stay with a host family for two weeks and participate in many activities, including a day at the lake, makeovers the Mesquite rodeo and much more.

Learn more about their visit at www.angelsfromabroad.org.

Click here to see the Angels from Abroad VBS video.

SAN ANGELO—A gift of 300,000 will change the living experience of 60 residents at Buckner Retirement Services’ Baptist Retirement Community.

The donation, which came from the San Angelo Health Foundation, will change the current environment to allow for flexibility and a more home-like dining experience through the construction of country kitchens.

“It is truly a blessing to have others give generously to empower our organization to improve the lives of the elders we serve,” said Quinda Feil-Duncan, executive director for Baptist Retirement Community in San Angelo.

Pat Crump, vice president of operations for Buckner Retirement Services, said that if it hadn’t been for the donation, we would not be able to make this change in the near future.

“We are very thankful and excited about making this new dining experience something that will be truly gratifying for each resident,” he said.

Wes Wells, who serves as Sagecrest Alzheimer’s Care Center and Green House Administrator, said the country kitchens are going to create a home environment for the residents.

“They are going to have this warm, aroma-inviting dining area that will be a gathering point for visiting, delicious food and fun activities,” Wells said. “Because we can serve breakfast for two and three hours, early risers and late sleepers will both be accommodated.

“It’ll be a fantastic improvement,” he added. “It will allow them to savor the aroma of food cooking and enjoy the experience with their friends. This is a culture change that is putting elders first. We knew we wanted to do this from listening to what the residents, family members and staff shared.”

Jim Cummings, who is currently a member of the Buckner board of regents and once served as a trustee at the Baptist Memorials Ministries, expressed his enthusiasm about the gift.

“It is very gratifying to see that Buckner is in a position to participate in major renovations to our campus as a whole and we have a lot of opportunities,” Cummings said. “We are very thankful that the San Angelo Health Foundation is going to help us meet one of these needed renovations and improvements.”

Brittany Black

All that could be heard over the blow dryer was the sound of laughter. The giggles were coming from the four girls in the Angels from Abroad program and their host moms Monday afternoon at Rockwall Salons.

“Cynthia McGee and Amy Bacon donated their time to do the girls’ hair. They usually have Mondays off,” said Beth Brinkmeyer, Angels from Abroad coordinator. “A family that considered hosting knew people at the salon, and was able to set this up for us.”

Each Angel got their hair shampooed, cut, dried and styled. Anastasia, Christina and Sasha only wanted a trim, but also wanted their hair to be curled. Tamara, who was the last to get her hair cut, decided to get a more layered look.

Stacy, an Angel who was adopted by the Jenkins family five years ago, said that children hardly ever get haircuts when they are in the orphanage. The Jenkins family, including Stacy’s sister, Grace, who was adopted two years ago, is hosting Christina and Sasha this year. 

“The girls wanted to host,” said Marla Jenkins. “It’s been great because they are our built in translators.”

Stacy and Grace helped translate how each Angel wanted their hair cut and styled.

Each Angel sat patiently while stylists did their hair. But once the smocks were taken off and they hopped out of the chairs an excited smile instantly appeared on their face.

Angels from Abroad, a Buckner-run program gives Russian orphans the opportunity to learn what it’s like to be part of a family and gives them hope for their future. Buckner International is a global Christian ministry that seeks justice for ‘the least of these’ by providing care and resources for orphans and at-risk children in the United States and more than 50 countries around the world.

For more information on Angels from Abroad, visit http://www.angelsfromabroad.org/.

Brittany Black

(DALLAS)—The Denson family is riding on a tandem bike for seven.

God is the leader while Alyson, Wayne, Chase and Brett are peddling along with two other new pairs of feet. The additions are Russian orphans who are joining the Densons for almost three weeks as part of the Angels from Abroad hosting program.

“We were already starting to look into adoption, and about a month ago, Dillon International called us asking if we would like to host,” said Wayne Denson. “We were interested in giving this experience to the kids because we know that these older children have often been written off.”

Angels from Abroad began in 2004 to raise awareness about the needs of older orphan children in Russia. Each summer, a group of orphans comes to America for two weeks and lives with a family from the North Texas area. These children get the chance to experience American life and, more importantly, they experience the love of a family and feel a sense of hope for their future.

“In this program, we focus on the needs of older orphans,” said Beth Brinkmeyer, Angels from Abroad coordinator. “We also know that if they aren’t adopted by the age 16, they will most likely face a very difficult future.”

This year, 17 children flew from Russia July 30 and were greeted by their host families, volunteers from Lake Pointe Church and Buckner staff.

Each child received a suitcase filled with toiletries and goodies and a gift card for each host family, which was donated by Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall, Texas.

“These items were all gifts from members of our Adoption Ministry,” said Mary Jo Marvin, a volunteer from Lake Pointe.

Tracey Blakely and her family have hosted a child each year since the program began. She said this is the second year suitcases have been donated and that it’s “awesome” the church has been able to provide.

“You can’t even put this whole experience into words,” Blakely said.

This year, the Blakelys will host two boys: Alexander and Kiril.

“For most of these kids, it’s the first time for them to experience a family,” Blakely said. “You can see such a change in two weeks. First, they are reluctant to know you and by the end of the time they feel like they are your own kids.”

James and Tracey Blakely ‘ s daughter, Jessica, says she tries not to get attached each year, but that one way or another she still does.

The first year The Blakelys hosted a child, they adopted him. Dima has been with the family for six years.

All but one of the children the Blakely family has hosted have been adopted by different families, and once the children are adopted, the Blakelys continue to be part of their lives.

“The child we hosted last year asked us to be there for his American adoption,” said Tracey Blakely. “We like to keep a continued bond with each of them.”

Whether it’s a family’s first time to host, or if they are veterans, each family said they were excited and nervous about the experience.

Tamara, from the St. Petersburg, Russia orphanage, said she could feel the warmth and happiness from everyone.

“I am able to spend time with a family and get to know a new city and have a good rest,” she said about her trip to Dallas.

Before leaving with their host family, the children got a chance to sit down with their hosts and a translator to go over plans, rules, and to ask and answer any questions that came about.

The Denson’s told their two new additions that they must follow one big rule: “We have to have lots of fun,” Wayne said.

Elena,12, smiled and said,  “That’s easy.”

To learn more about Angels from Abroad, visit www.angelsfromabroad.org.

At 16 years old, *Paola already knows what she wants out of life – her own restaurant and a successful future for her 3-year-old daughter, *Amelia.

“I want her to see that she can overcome anything, like I did,” Paola said.

From age 8 to 12, Paola lived in a nightmare. Her mother would hit her; her stepfather treated her like a maid.

“I had to cook and clean. If I didn’t, he’d hit me,” she said.

One day, while sitting on the couch, Paola’s stepfather started touching her inappropriately.

“I didn’t like it so I threw the sandals in his face. He got mad. He had three sharp knives and hit me with one of them,” she said. Knives, sticks and cable wires were part of his typical repertoire of power. But soon the violence escalated to include sexual abuse.

For more than four years, Paola was abused every day. Her stepfather would choke her or hit her while he abused her, and would warn her that if she told anyone, he’d kill her mother and sisters.

“I didn’t want to say anything because I loved my mom and sisters. But I think my mom already knew,” she said.

One day, while Paola’s four little sisters and stepfather were in another room, she snuck out and went to her neighbor’s house. They saw her bruises and she told them how she was treated.

“I didn’t know I was pregnant at that time,” Paola said. “My neighbor explained to me what it was because I didn’t know what it meant. I cried because I didn’t want a baby.”

It wasn’t long before her mother found out where she was and came looking for her; Paola felt guilty for leaving and returned back home. That’s when the neighbor called the authorities and explained everything she knew.

When a social worker arrived to Paola’s home, she wouldn’t tell her what happened. So they took her to the judge, where they revealed a diary of all the abuses Paola had endured. Her neighbor’s husband had written down everything Paola had told them.

“I didn’t want to say anything because my mom was there, and I was afraid I would end up back home and they would beat me,” she said. “So they took me upstairs to read the diary from my neighbor. They asked me if it was true, and I said yes to everything. I didn’t know that there were cameras. My mom was watching me, and when I got out she was really mad.”

An examination revealed that Paola had been violently abused for an extended period of time. Doctors were concerned about her well being, as well as the baby’s, but there wasn’t anywhere for her to go. So they sent her to live at a government orphanage for girls.

Two months later, Paola gave birth to her daughter Amelia and the two of them were placed in a Buckner Transition Home.

“At first, I didn’t love my daughter. I would look at her and she reminded me of everything bad that happened. I remembered everything about how she came to be,” Paola said.

Paola would stay awake crying at night, and at first she relied on the house parents to care for her daughter. One day, when Amelia was 9 months old, they told Paola that they would have to take Amelia away from her if she didn’t start being a better mother. That’s when things began to change.

“I never want what happened to me to happen to my little girl,” Paola said.

Paola started caring for Amelia and going to school. Today they are receiving a top-rated education. They each attend a private home school and Paola goes to baking classes where she’s learning how to be a chef.

“I know that God has brought me here,” she said. “This is a great place. They’ve helped me in so many ways. My little girl is learning, too – the kind of learning I wouldn’t be able to give her myself.

“I feel like I’ve overcome everything that’s happened to me now. I’ve learned to let go of my anger. I work on that a lot. One day, I want to go out and tell people my story to let them know that if they’re in this same situation, they can leave it, too.”

To learn more about the ways you can support Buckner Transition Homes around the world, please call Buckner Foundation at 214-758-8050 or email foundation@buckner.org.

*Names have been changed to protect identities