LilMtnCbn
12-12-2004, 06:33 AM
How bizarre. Your kid gets murdered, so I'm going to adopt?
http://wcco.com/localnews/local_story_346182629.html
A Tragedy For One Brings Blessings For Another
Dec 11, 2004 5:24 pm US/Central
(WCCO) For months, people have struggled to pull something positive out of the
shootings at Rocori High School.
The shootings that took the life of Aaron Rollins and Seth Bartell has spurred
friends of the Bartells to bring two new children to Minnesota.
"We started looking for a way to change the world in a positive way.“ Tina
Schmidt said.
Paul and Tina Schmidt have brought a new daughter, Fatmata and a new son, John
to Minnesota from Sierra Leone.
"Such a blessing to have them here for Christmas and after all we've been
through to have them home now. “ Paul Schmidt said.
It hasn't been easy. Sierra Leone has been implicated in child trafficking
scandals the selling of children that has stopped even legal adoptions.
The Schmidt's traveled there twice, one returning without the children. After
visiting Africa and seeing the war-torn nations and AIDS epidemics, they came
home and found a special motivation.
"The first time leaving court, John's father said, Mr. Paul, Mr. Paul please
don't give up on my son, please don't give up.” Paul Schmidt said.
The Schmidt's actually had to go to court in Sierra Leone to prove to a judge
that adopting a child from an orphanage was different than buying one. Legal
adoptions from Sierra Leone were shut down six months ago, as the government
there cracked down on child trafficking rings. Senator Norm Coleman helped the
Schmidt’s cut through some red tape.
“In the end, foreign governments ease up and realize they're overreacting and
families get united.” Senator Coleman said.
Sierra Leone is a country with no running water and 65 percent unemployment.
Parents there are begging westerners to adopt their children. In this little
girl's case, her guardian was her 16-year-old sister.
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
http://wcco.com/localnews/local_story_346182629.html
A Tragedy For One Brings Blessings For Another
Dec 11, 2004 5:24 pm US/Central
(WCCO) For months, people have struggled to pull something positive out of the
shootings at Rocori High School.
The shootings that took the life of Aaron Rollins and Seth Bartell has spurred
friends of the Bartells to bring two new children to Minnesota.
"We started looking for a way to change the world in a positive way.“ Tina
Schmidt said.
Paul and Tina Schmidt have brought a new daughter, Fatmata and a new son, John
to Minnesota from Sierra Leone.
"Such a blessing to have them here for Christmas and after all we've been
through to have them home now. “ Paul Schmidt said.
It hasn't been easy. Sierra Leone has been implicated in child trafficking
scandals the selling of children that has stopped even legal adoptions.
The Schmidt's traveled there twice, one returning without the children. After
visiting Africa and seeing the war-torn nations and AIDS epidemics, they came
home and found a special motivation.
"The first time leaving court, John's father said, Mr. Paul, Mr. Paul please
don't give up on my son, please don't give up.” Paul Schmidt said.
The Schmidt's actually had to go to court in Sierra Leone to prove to a judge
that adopting a child from an orphanage was different than buying one. Legal
adoptions from Sierra Leone were shut down six months ago, as the government
there cracked down on child trafficking rings. Senator Norm Coleman helped the
Schmidt’s cut through some red tape.
“In the end, foreign governments ease up and realize they're overreacting and
families get united.” Senator Coleman said.
Sierra Leone is a country with no running water and 65 percent unemployment.
Parents there are begging westerners to adopt their children. In this little
girl's case, her guardian was her 16-year-old sister.
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
