Riding his scooter near the Underhill Road and Waterview Drive intersection Monday afternoon, Victor, 11, gave a shy smile as Laurie Dale reminded him to wear his helmet. With Ms Dale was her wife, Missy Jones, both walking along behind Victor, admiring his easy summer pastime cutting the pavement in a slalom path.

The trio soon stopped at a neighbor's house and were quickly kicking a soccer ball and admiring lake views. Although he speaks mostly Spanish, Victor was able to say "I like it here," and that he was having a "good time."

Ms Dale and Ms Jones are hosting Victor, a native of Colombia, for five weeks this summer through a program called Kidsave, a volunteer-driven effort to help older, orphan children find families, Ms Dale explained in a recent e-mail. "This program is the only chance for many children to have a permanent family," she wrote.

The children and host families do not discuss adoption, but enjoy time together, after which the hosting families can decide if they will pursue adoption.

KidSave provides training and support to the participating families, Ms Dale said. The organization collaborates with social workers, home study agencies, child welfare advocates, health professionals, and government officials to find safe, appropriate families for these children, she said.

Residents interested in learning more about hosting or adopting through Kidsave can attend an advocacy event at Edmond Town Hall on Saturday, July 22, from noon to 3 pm. Visit kidsave.org/summer-miracles-events for more information or to make a reservation.

Although they have only known Victor since he arrived on June 20, and he will return to Columbia in early August, Ms Dale and Ms Jones have begun to learn about him and his personality.

With an eye on the soccer ball, he said, "I want to go play." So far they have "done things around here," including Treadwell summer camp, "which he loves," Ms Dale and Ms Jones agreed. Several other campers also speak Spanish, and activities include "sports all day long," Ms Jones said.

They have noticed that Victor is "very good about entertaining himself," Ms Jones said. He also enjoys helping them as they work around the house, she said.

"He sees when we need help," Ms Dale said, commenting on his initiative.

During a recent family event in Massachusetts, Ms Dale said, "They asked if he wanted to watch TV and I said, 'No.' I gave him a magnifying glass and he was outside for an hour looking at nature," an activity that she considers "lost, here." Although she and her wife have video games and other electronics, Ms Dale said, Victor "would rather be out looking for worms" or exploring outdoors.

Ms Dale has been considering adoption for several years, and Ms Jones said she had been a nanny out of college, and now the thought of potentially being a mom "has come around again for me."

The couple had at one time fostered a 17-year-old girl who attended Newtown High School and had lived with them for two years and two months, "But, no one was counting," Ms Jones said. Their foster child is 20 now and lives on her own in an apartment, she said.

After Victor returns to Columbia, Ms Dale and Ms Jones "can continue the process" of seeking to adopt him, Ms Dale said. They would then travel to Columbia to complete the adoption, she said.

Stopping his dance with the soccer ball briefly to pet the neighbor's dog, Ms Dale said, "He loves dogs and pets and animals."

Once back home, the women indicated labels marking the windows, lamps, and other items. They all are learning from one another, the women agreed, and both they and Victor work to learn to speak to one another. Through a Google application, they can ask the computer how to say something in Spanish, which Google then repeats in Spanish. Victor was also able to practice English by saying, "Ok Google, 'Turn on the lamp,'" and the table lamp went on.

Victor soon disappeared into a back room and soon sounds of ice hitting a glass and running water reached Ms Dale and Ms Jones.

Ms Jones then demonstrated the application by asking Google how to say Are you thirsty? As Victor reentered the room, Google asked the question in Spanish: "Tienes sed?"

"Si," said Victor. He soon sat beside the lit lamp and opened the gifts and games from a neighbor, inspecting each piece as he opened its plastic wrapping.

Q&A

Ms Dale and Ms Jones recently replied to several questions from The Newtown Bee regarding their interest in Kidsave:

Have you been involved with Kidsave before this summer?

This is our first time.

What prompted you to welcome a child, and how did you learn about Kidsave?

We learned about the program through a friend of a friend who adopted her daughter through Kidsave. We both love kids and were really interested in seeing how a summer hosting program would be for us. It's been great.

Is there a language barrier?

Sure, but we are all learning together.

What are your plans while he is with you?

We plan to visit with our family and friends and spend a few days in Vermont, hiking, biking, swimming, and exploring. And many more visits to Ferris Creamery!

What plans do you have for his/your future?

We are taking it day by day. Enjoying each day as it comes. The important thing to note is that these kids are only here until August 2, so please come to an event and meet the kids.

Are you enjoying the visit? 

We are having such a great time with him!

Summer Miracles

Each year Kidsave works with communities across the country to implement the Summer Miracles program. KidSave Summer Miracles brings Colombian orphans to the United States for a four- to five-week summer visit. While they are here, the children attend summer camp, learn about US culture, and most importantly, meet prospective adoptive families.

Kidsave, as of 2015, has begun looking into a niche as being a country allowing adoptions to lesbian and gay couples.

These are older children, ages 11 through 14, who have little or no chance of finding adoptive parents in their own country. During the summer visit, Kidsave staff, dedicated volunteers, and host families work diligently to find adoptive families for these children. Since 1999, more than 1,750 children have traveled to the United States as part of the program, and 80 percent have found adoptive families.

KidSave provides training and support to participating host families. Contact Jenna Nusholtz jennan@kidsave.org, or call 888-KIDSAVE (888-543-7283) or visit kidsave.org.