Filipino orphans visiting Fallbrook

Several Filipino orphans are visiting Fallbrook and staying in pre-selected host homes so that the hosts and the children will have an opportunity to become acquainted with one another.

“Our goal is to get the orphans adopted, and a lot of prayer and screening of medical history goes into which kids can come,” explained Christi Brotherton of Fallbrook, outreach coordinator for International Christian Adoptions (ICA).

Brotherton went on to say that since it is difficult for children to travel to a foreign country with different food choices, a different language and a different culture, they want to select the children they feel will be emotionally stable enough to weather the change in their lives.

The children will be feted at a free barbeque hosted by Christ The King Lutheran Church (1620 South Stage Coach Lane) on Saturday, November 17, from 1 to 3 p.m.

The public is invited to the event, which will be held at the creek-side picnic area, and will offer a bounce house and face painting. Interested parties will also be able to speak with ICA representatives regarding adoption.

The event at the church will be an opportunity to not only meet the children but to see how they interact with each other and with the adults, Brotherton mentioned.

During the afternoon affair the children will be presented “Hope Packs,” which are backpacks filled with clothes, shoes and school supplies.

Adoption judges from the Philippine government are in the area and Brotherton hopes they will attend the church event.

Eleven children from seven different orphanages are visiting, and arrived with two government social worker chaperones.

The children have been in Fallbrook and surrounding areas since November 3 and will return to the Philippines on November 26.

Each host has treated their guests to various activities such as trips to SeaWorld, Disneyland and Mulligan Family Fun Center in Murrieta.

“The kids are enjoying themselves,” said Brotherton.

Having the children stay in host homes is a way to “see how they will fit with the families,” said Brotherton.

When Brotherton arrived at LAX to meet the children she was struck by how warm her reception was. “I wasn’t prepared for how respectful they would be,” she commented. “They were bowing and kissing our hands.”

When the group hosted Russian orphans at a previous event, ninety percent of them were adopted.

“All of the children were over five years old and the odds of them being adopted are not that great,” Brotherton mentioned.

For more information on International Christian Adoptions, call (951) 695-3336 or visit http://www.4achild.com.