Dear Friends, I have long felt that my life would not be complete without a baby, and that I would love to provide a stable and loving home to a child. After a long journey, it is with great joy that I share with you that I have been approved to adopt a baby sometime between March and August! The baby is from the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI), a very poor country about halfway between Hawaii and Australia. It is an open adoption, which means that I will meet the birth mother, and my child and I can remain in contact with her for life. I will have to stay in the RMI for five weeks to complete the adoption. This is a huge cost, but it will allow the birth mother, baby and I time to get to know one another. I feel blessed that my sisters Annette and Yoshi will each join me for part of the trip to provide emotional and practical support. Although I have raised $34,000, I still need $8,500 to complete the adoption. I would deeply appreciate your tax-deductible donation at any level to help me create a loving new family for a child in need. Thank you for your support in this exciting adventure! With gratitude, Yuri
