My life was forever changed on March 3rd, 2007, this was the day that I committed to my journey to find, and ultimately bring home, my daughter from Kazakhstan. Less than 1 short year later, on February 5th, 2008, the judge in Aqtobe, Kazakhstan officially approved my adoption of Little Miss Zahria Alia Simon. I can't even begin to explain how the adoption of Zahria, and the 2 months that I spent in-country bonding with her at her orphanage, have forever changed my heart, my world, my Faith, and the lives of so many of those that we love. I have been SO incredibly blessed and so incredibly impacted by our journey. I am in love with this girl! To see the changes in her in just two short years is beyond a miracle. When we met, the doctors let me know that Zahria was Anemic, had Rickets and was diagnosed with Hydrocephaly, among other things. Such tough stuff for a little peanut that had only experienced 9 short months of life. Now, Zahria's health is stellar, she is growing like a weed, off the charts brilliant and our Pediatrician has no long term concerns regarding her health whatsoever. Again, blessed! Every child deserves this. Every child deserves the chance to be loved, nurtured, snuggled, fed nutritious food, kissed and made to feel that their little lives are worth the moon and stars, because they are!
Turning my intentions into actions:

It is now my turn to give back to Kazakhstan as they have given me the most precious gift a Mom could ever ask for, a beautiful, healthy, light up my world, little girl. When I first learned about, 'Two Hearts for Hope's' 2010 Mission Trip to Almaty, back in August of 2009, I yearned to go but, in all honesty, couldn't fathom how on earth I would ever be able to make the trip happen. Just like my adoption, I felt that mission work, although my dream, was not a reality for me. And even if it was a reality, I didn't think that now was the time for me, so I sat back, didn't commit to the trip, and kept it at the front of my heart.. luckily God knew better. God kept sending me little signs, like a brilliant missionary that visited our church in late November. I remember him saying, 'If God has put a vision in your heart, He will make a way.' One month later, another visiting Pastor spoke at our church, and he said 2 things that stuck in my heart. First, he asked the question, 'If you had 30 days to live, would you say yes to this?' Of course, my answer to the Mission Trip is YES, without hesitation, YES! The second thing he spoke to was turning your when(s) into now(s.) The infamous, 'when this happens, then I will do that.' This is what I had been telling myself about this Mission trip opportunity, 'Christy, when you are more settled, then... when you have the money, then.... when you are married, then.....' My when is now! I have committed in my heart to going on this trip to help build our babies at the Almaty Orphanage a playground, and I have total Faith that, once again, I will venture off to Kaz and be impacted, and blessed, for a lifetime.

Thank you for supporting me, supporting us, supporting our beloved little Kazak orphans. God smiles down on us all and I cannot wait to experience His calling on my life once again!

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

With Much Love,

Christina Danyell Simon

www.acrossoceans-thestoryofmydaughter.blogspot.com