After a bout with ovarian cancer several years ago, Missy Pack learned that she and her husband Todd would be unable to have biological children
of their own. But an encounter with a group of children from the Ukraine at their church in August got them thinking about parenthood through
adoption and it has changed their lives.
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.
“That’s where we met the two children we are now planning to adopt. We knew right then they were for us” Todd told WJLE.
“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 to WJLE
After the children’s visit, Todd and Missy chose to adopt two boys, 14 year old Misha and 12 year old 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.
“It’s going to cost about $36,000. We have $3,000 raised so far. Right now we’re raising funds for our end of the paperwork here. Before we go to
Ukraine we will need about $15,000 for our first trip. A lot of it is the traveling expense,” said Missy.
To help offset the costs, several fundraisers are planned including a benefit Chili Cook-Off and Silent Auction to be held on Saturday, October
22 at the county complex from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. The chili dinner and cook-off competition begins at 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and proceeds
raised will go to the Pack’s and another family planning to adopt, Will and Kim Frazier. The community is urged to show support for these families
by attending and participating in all the fundraisers.
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,” She concluded.
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 visithttps://fundrazr.com/toddandmissypack
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