A local couple has spent several months planning and raising money hoping to adopt two children from the Ukraine and you can help further that effort by supporting two upcoming fundraisers.
Rockin C Stables will have a fundraiser Saturday, April 29 at Tractor Supply Company in Smithville for Missy and Todd Pack to help finance the adoption of their two boys, 14 year old Misha and 12 year old Mykola. There will be pony rides for donations along with a silent auction. Christie Q Barbeque will be selling food. The event will take place from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. If you want to volunteer or donate to the auction or just donate money ahead of time please call Lindi Carter at 931-273-1317.
The second fundraiser will be on Thursday, May 4 at 6:00 p.m. at the county complex. “The program will start with Lularoe, a silent auction, food, and you can register to win a beautiful wooden stool made by my father,” said Missy. “ Then join us for some entertainment in the Theater starting at 7:00 p.m.. Listen to Josh Issac sing, watch The Assembly of God Relentless Youth perform and hear the bluegrass sounds of the band “Heritage”. The final performance will be a men’s comedy Lularoe fashion show directed by Josh Issca himself! It’s gonna be a great night of family fun and laughter you’re not going to want to miss,” added Missy.
Although Todd and Missy have already raised $8,500, they still need $25,000. “We are at the final stages of preparing our paperwork to be submitted to Ukraine. When that is submitted a judge will review and give us a date for our first of three trips. We are still needing $25,000 to complete these final stages. $17,000 of that alone is the cost of the adoption for both boys. So far we have raised $8500 with the help and support of our friends, family and community. We are beyond grateful for everyone that is supporting us through our adoption of starting our family,”said Missy.
After a bout with ovarian cancer several years ago, Missy learned she would be unable to have biological children. But after an encounter with a group of children from the Ukraine at their church last August Todd and Missy began thinking about parenthood through adoption.
Through “Bridges of Faith”, an Alabama faith-based program, orphans from the Ukraine are brought to America for a period of cultural enrichment, and it was during that August visit to their church, the Smithville First Assembly of God, where the Pack’s met ten kids from the Ukraine, including two in particular who stole their hearts, Misha and Mykola.
“We knew right then they were for us” said Todd.
“These orphaned children came here for a visit and to be brought before the body of Christ to help get them adopted and while we knew the kids would be here we had no clue at that time that we would be planning to adopt any of them. But when we saw them at the church and got to hug them I just knew instantly that God had called me to be two of these children’s momma. I am unable to have kids so for me to experience that fulfillment of becoming a momma, I knew that was God working and when He tells you to do it, you do it no matter where the children are from. You adopt these children and you give them a family,” said Missy.
After the children’s visit, Todd and Missy chose to adopt Misha and Mykola but the process is lengthy and expensive. “It takes time and money,” said Todd.
“We had to talk to a facilitator in Ukraine. We had to obtain passports and sign power of attorney over to him so that he could start the adoption process there. We also have to do a lot of paper work here, go through background checks with the government, send our paper work over to the Ukraine, and then it goes through the court system there. We will eventually have to go before a judge there to complete the adoption,” added Todd.
The Pack’s are looking forward to bringing Mykola and Misha home and they too are anxious to come live with their new family. “They love America. We get to see them sometimes on facebook chat with our friend in the orphanage with them. That last Saturday (during their visit), Mykola even called me momma although momma means different for them. It means someone they trust and confide in,” Missy said.
Founded by the Reverend Tom Benz, Bridges of Faith International reaches out to orphans in Ukraine. Three to four times each year, Bridges of Faith brings Ukrainian orphans to BridgeStone, a 140 acre retreat center in Central Alabama, to taste Alabama culture, faith, and life. All volunteer driven, hundreds of people from across America and Ukraine work together to demonstrate love for these kids. Though not an adoption agency,families meet the children and often invite these kids into their forever families.
To follow the Pack’s fundraising page visit
https://fundrazr.com/toddandmissypack
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