Epilog

This is the end of our trip to Colombia, yet it is the beginning of a new life for our two wonderful teens. In retrospect:

• Governments take kids away from bad situations with an implied commitment to find them a new family who will love and take great care of them.
• They often fail at this. Kids age out of the system, the girls become pregnant and the boys end up in prison - the foundation for repeating the cycle.
• Someone should do something about it.
• "It's too expensive to adopt a child" - true! But up to $13,400 per child is reimbursable through the US Federal Adoption Tax Credit
• "I'm too old (or too young) to do this"...  You only need to be 25+, and I'm almost 60!
• "The older kids are defective"... the kids may have some challenges as a result of their past, so they need help from caring adults - they need a family
• Why adopt a foreign child? Because kids don't get to choose their parents or their country. They all need a loving family.
• Why not adopt an American child? Okay - do it!
• Teens are a PITA - correct! But they bring energy, joy, and purpose to life.