A Nevada man has taken a vacation from his regular job this week to help a 10-year-old Russian orphan find hope in the United States.
Lowell Highby, who is the communications director at Lutherans For Life in Nevada, said he saw information about Camp Hope when he was doing an online search about adoption and foster care in Iowa. Highby has been licensed for foster care since this past February.
"I looked at those faces (of Russian orphans) from 2008 I don't know how many times. At the moment, I don't have any (foster care) placements, so I thought I would offer to host a Russian child if they needed someone."
Highby said Camp Hope took him up on his offer right away, pairing him with 10-year-old Alex, and also with 12-year-old Zach, a former Russian orphan who now speaks English and acts as an interpreter for other children. Zach said he was adopted in 2006 after visiting Iowa through Camp Hope.
Camp Hope, which started in 2000, is an annual Iowa event where Russian orphans are brought to the United States for a one-week experience with host families. People interested in adopting one of the children can attend a number of public events during the week, which included a trip to Blank Park Zoo on Tuesday, and the following events yet to come:
* Storytime at the Des Moines East Side Library, 10-11:30 a.m. Thursday, with a tour, puppet show and Russian storytelling.
* Stork Adoption Agency's Alumni Picnic potluck, 12:30-4 p.m. Thursday, at Pearson Park, 19th and Pleasant, West Des Moines.
* Community Night, 6:30-9 p.m., Friday at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1115 Grand Ave., West Des Moines, dessert potluck
* Swimming, 1-4 p.m., Saturday, June 20, at the Valley View Aquatic Center, West Des Moines.
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Highby said it hit him how amazing this opportunity was when he was driving to Des Moines late Sunday evening to pick up Alex. "It's unreal. It's Sunday night and I'd normally be home, but I'm heading to Des Moines to pick up a child from Russia. So this is something that is really new."
For the children, the trip to Iowa was long, with stops in Moscow and Chicago, before finally arriving in Des Moines. "He (Alex) was very, very tired (when he arrived), Highby said. "He fell asleep before we got out of Des Moines, and I had to carry him in the house." Highby said Alex woke up long enough to have a bowl of Cheerios before going back to sleep, and on Monday morning, it was Lucky Charms that he ate upon waking.
One of the first things Highby did with Alex and Zach is make a trip to Fareway in Nevada. "(Alex) picked out a few things he wanted to try. He was impressed with our big bags of chips," Highby said.
It was while they were at Fareway that Highby got his first observation of the politeness of his Russian visitor. One of the ladies who works at Fareway had a notebook on the floor. "Alex picked it up and handed it to her," Highby said.
Also on Monday, Highby took the boys to Ames and stopped at Target, where he bought a few things that Alex would like, including a pair of Spiderman sneakers.
Highby said in addition to the planned events through Camp Hope, there are some other things that he is doing with Alex this week, including going to Colfax to Trainland, watching movies, paddle boating at Hickory Grove Lake, attending the Rose Festival Parade in State Center, going to Ledges State Park and possibly visiting a few friends' farms in the area.
Highby, who is single, said he doesn't plan to adopt a Russian child, but he encourages interested individuals and couples to check out the public opportunities with the children if they have an interest in adoption, which is the ultimate goal of bringing the children to this country. Highby said people may also call Ann Nieland, with Camp Hope, at 515-559-3819, to talk about this opportunity. Camp Hope is offered through the Stork Adoption Agency. More information is available online at: www.camphope.net.
All the children, whether they have families interested in adopting them or not, will return to Russia on Monday, June 22.
