Please Help Bring Home the Bac Lieu 16
Typically my blog posts are well about my family but today I have some very special families and their amazing children to share with you and I hope that you take the initiative to help, which does not mean money necessarily but prayers or a phone call or a letter!
If you go back to the beginning of this blog you will see that we started out hoping to adopt from Vietnam. I had many reasons that is what I wanted to do. Well as you all know we did not end up being able to do that, Little Man and Little Princess are from Korea, because the United States and Vietnam were well for lack of a better term at this point in a war of sorts over the children. For most of 2008 and into 2009, many of the families who had referrals prior to the shut down and people not being able to receive referrals fought hard to be able to bring these children they now considered theirs (and so did I) home. A very good friend of mine was one of the last people out of Vietnam with her beautiful little girl in early 2009. That is where this situation takes a tragic turn, there were 16 children (17 at the time) that were matched with their families here in the United States that US State Department started setting different standards for these children.
Getting these children home was beginning to look bleak and the families banned together to make sure their children were loved on, checked on and had plenty of food! They took turns going to see them and spending time there. About six months ago they were told if they visited, sent food or money for food or care their adoptions would be in grave danger. Now they have not seen their children in six months and counting and really just want their children home where they belong.
The families are working with their senators and representatives to bring attention to the their cases. One, Senator Marco Rubio even placed a hold on President Obama’s nominee for ambassador to Vietnam in hope bringing this situation to light.
I would love to share each families personal story here but many news outlets have done so well ~ The Washington Times, The Kansas City Star, NPR, The Palm Beach Post, Dayton Daily News, and The Washington Times again (a different article in that link). I am sure more are coming and I will try to update this list as I see more!
Makes you want to help right? I know it does me!
If you would like to contribute to their welfare: Shop here to help Mothers in Action for Viet Nam all proceeds go for the welfare of the Bac Lieu 16 (want to donate something to be sold contact me and I will get you in touch with the correct people!)
Want to help bring attention to this matter then start by joining the group Bring Home the Bac Lieu 16 on Facebook (you can click on those words to join but you must be logged into facebook to join) That will keep you up on the most recent developments, new articles and thoughts from the actual families, who are AMAZING by the way!
You can use this letter, to e-mail or snail mail your members of congress! When you do please cc Kelly Ensslin (their attorney) at: kelly.ensslin(at)smithmoorelaw.com (trying to not get her spammed here so please change the (at) to @) And if you cannot access the letter please let me know and I will get you a copy to send! You can e-mail this letter and to get the e-mail you need please try this website: Congressional Email Directory
You can also sign the petition to Bring Home the Bac Lieu Orphans (if you sign this petition it will ask if you want to e-mail letters to the appropriate people as well which is great two birds with one stone and you don’t have to look anything up but still please let Ms. Ensslin know you sent the e-mails and to whom. Thank you!
THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for doing all of this!
Here is the deal though, when these children get home there are very similar situations happening in other countries this is not just limited to Vietnam, I am aware of at least two other countries where this is happening as well so always be ready to help! If you love me or my children please do this for us as you never know this could have been us and really still could be if we are not done building our family!















