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Photo courtesy of the Bash Family.
ZEBULON - Amanda Hollar Bash has let everyone know that she and her husband, Chris, are back home from a long trip to Ukraine, and they have two additional members in their family. There were many delays in the adoption process, but it is finally completed!
"We are thrilled to be home and have the girls here with us," she said. Amanda wanted to let the community know that she really appreciates all of the hometown support.
"We have finally gotten home and this time Maria and Valeria are home with us and their adoptions are final. It was a long road and so many people played parts in helping us that I cannot name everyone for fear of leaving someone out," Amanda said. "Please know we appreciate everyone very much for all you have done to help whether is was through prayers, financial help, keeping the Wesley and Ian during our 3 trips to Ukraine since January, driving us to and from airport, or through helping with benefits/fundraisers in some way. God bless you all for helping make these adoptions possible and many thanks to you!"
ZEBULON - Amanda Hollar-Bash told Pike County Times that they will be leaving on Saturday for trip one of three required trips to Ukraine for the adoption process of Valeria and Maria. "If anyone would like to make a donation to help with expense, please do so at The First Bank of Pike of at our webpage," she said. "Thank you so much to all who have helped."
This is going to be an expensive trip as they will be gone for approximately three weeks. Two separate adoption appointments are required because the girls are not related. There is no way around it. "We will fly to Kiev go for first SDA appointment take an 11 hour train ride to Chervonograd to meet one of the girls, stay until we get the second SDA appointment, take 11 hour train ride back to Kiev, get approval to meet the other girl, 11 hour train ride back to Kiev, meet with her and visit a few days, then 11 hour train ride back to Kiev to file paperwork and then fly home," she said. "Another family just went through the same thing due to two SDA appointments and they were in Ukraine 22 days."
There is a savings account for the Bash Family Adoption at The First Bank of Pike. Donations may be made at the bank or on their webpage.
"We are so thankful and blessed for all of the support. We will not make it there in time for Christmas, but we give God all of the glory and credit for all that he has done so far and continues to do," Amanda said. "Thanks to everyone who has in anyway helped."
ZEBULON - Amanda Hollar-Bash gave an update on their upcoming trip to adopt to Ukranian teens and expand their family to six. Amanda and Chris will be leaving on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014 to pick up the girls. They have our appointment in Kiev on January 22, 2014, and they expect to be gone for about two weeks. They had to buy one way tickets to travel to Kiev and are still working to raise the $1,000 needed to fly back home.
10 year old Wesley Hollar and 4 year old Ian Bash are looking forward to having two big sisters. "Wesley has met Valeria before and they get along wonderfully," Amanda said. "They enjoyed jumping on the trampoline and riding bikes together when we hosted her." She said that Ian doesn't really understand what is going on, but says that he enjoys seeing Maria and Valeria on the computer screen when they get the chance to Skype [talk on the computer and see each other as they talk].
"The girls are equally excited about being big sisters to Wesley and Ian," Amanda said. "Both girls enjoy helping with the younger kids at their orphanage."
Amanda said that Maria and Valeria have both messaged her on Facebook about how happy they are that we finally have travel dates and will be seeing them in a few weeks. "I have told them about the outpouring of support from your readers and the people in Pike and Lamar County who have reached out. We have received so much encouragement from so many people."
"I want the girls to understand how God has worked all of this out for us," Amanda said. Valeria said, "Don't worry God will support us family (broken English meaning our family). Maria said, "I love you and can't wait to see you in person."
"My husband, Chris said he will be happy when we finalize everything and get them home," Amanda said. "He is looking forward to the girls being here and going hiking and fishing with us when the weather warms up."
Amanda said that her family enjoys doing things outside and going to the State Parks in Georgia. It is fun an unexpensive, she said, and that is perfect for a family of soon-to-be six!
There is a savings account for the Bash Family Adoption at The First Bank of Pike. Donations may be made to the bank or to their webpage.
"We are so thankful and blessed for all of the support. We will not make it there in time for Christmas, but we give God all of the glory and credit for all that he has done so far and continues to do," Amanda said. "Thanks to everyone who has in anyway helped."
(With an update at the bottom of the page)
By Editor Becky Watts
ZEBULON - Chris and Amanda Bash are raising money to adopt two girls from Ukraine and bring them home to live in Zebulon, just inside the Lamar County line. They are married with two children, 10 year old Wesley Hollar and 4 year old Ian Bash, and looking forward to bringing Maria and Valeria here to be a part of their family.
Amanda is the widow of Sgt. Robert Lee “Bobby” Hollar Jr. who was killed in action in Iraq in 2005 and many know her in Pike County through her work the Pike Historical Society and the Pike County Lion’s Club as well as working at Morton and Morton in Zebulon. Chris and Amanda have been married since 2009, and they adopted Ian from Vladivostok, Russia last year.
“We decided that we did not want to adopt a baby because many times older children get over looked,” Amanda said. “Ian was in a baby house and was about to be moved to an orphanage. We adopted him before he was moved to the orphanage and have had him for a little over a year.”
Amanda said that this quest to adopt an older child began when a man spoke with her about Project 143, a non-profit host program for older orphans. She said that after speaking with him, doing some research, and praying about this, Chris and Amanda decided to host two teen girls at their home last Christmas. Valeria was one of those two girls.
Valeria has lived in an orphanage in the Ukraine since she was 5 years old. “Valeria indicated that she has always wanted to live in America and have a family,” said Amanda. She also said that Valeria has always wanted younger brothers. Valeria has been hosted by families twice here in the United States with the second host family being the Bash family. She is 16 now and on the verge of aging out of her orphanage and being put out on the streets.
Maria is Valeria’s friend and has lived in the same orphanage with Valeria since they were 5 years old. Maria will be 16 in November and will be forced out of their orphanage soon because neither has younger siblings there. The Bash family has not met Maria in person, but they have Skyped with her many times, and Amanda keeps in touch with both girls through the social networking sites Facebook and VK.com.
The expenses for these adoptions are high, but with the help of family and friends and even complete strangers, Chris and Amanda are slowly raising the funds needed. The facilitator's fee alone is $15,900 and that does not include travel and hotel accommodations for the trips to Ukraine that are needed to finalize this adoption.
There have been several events and they have raised a little and sometimes a lot more during each event. “Every little bit helps and is appreciated and is more that what we have. We stepped out on faith and I know the Lord will provide the money we need to get our girls through donations and our hard work and efforts.”
They got their first approval and the documents were translated from English to Ukrainian just this month. On October 21, 2013, those documents were submitted to Ukrainian officials for their approval. Amanda asked for continued prayer for their family as they wait approximately 12 weeks on approval of their documents, the issuance of travel dates, and an appointment with officials to grant permission to visit with Maria and Valeria at the orphanage as well as petitioning for a court date. “This endeavor is very costly, but these girls are priceless and worthy.”
The Bash Family has raised a little over $6,000 through their webpage and fundraising events so far with $4,000 of that already being sent to the Ukraine. They raised $320 in two days selling Krispy Kreme donuts at the Concord Jubilee this past weekend. Fundraising has included selling Chick-fil-A sandwiches at Buggy Days, holding BBQ’s, selling t-shirts, and even setting out collection jars in Huddle House and Pastime Grill.
There will be a Turkey Bingo event with fun for the whole family on November 16th. There will be Christmas ornaments and canvases for children of all ages to paint as well as the chance to win a frozen turkey for Thanksgiving while playing bingo. People have been donating turkeys for this event through Facebook. Amanda will update Pike County Times with the location and time for this event as soon as it is available.
This Saturday, November 2 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Amanda and Chris Bash will be setting up a booth at the Molena Days festival in Molena, Georgia. They will have homemade games made by Chris and will be giving away stuffed animals as prizes. Please come out and help support their adoption efforts. They will have putt-putt and Plinko: 3 tries for $5.
There are a myriad of ways to help the Bash Family. Attending an event and making donations is one way. Donations can also be made at First Bank of Pike. And there is a coffee fundraiser that is ongoing through Phoenix Community Coffee at hebrews.greatcoffeegreatcause.com. Phoenix Community Coffee donates donate $3 per bag for all bags of coffee that are sold through this link to the Bash family for these adoptions.
Readers can keep up to date on these adoptions and make donations online by clicking here and clicking here. “We want to give these girls a loving, Christian home and a family and we are thankful for any donations,” said Amanda.
Update 12.10.13:
Amanda advised Pike County Times that they will be leaving on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014 to pick up the girls. They have our appointment in Kiev on January 22, 2014, and they expect to be gone for about two weeks. They had to buy one way tickets to travel to Kiev and are still working to raise the $1,000 needed to fly back home.
They raised the last of the funds needed to pay the facilitator this past weekend and are working to raise the money to pay for their lodging, costs in Ukraine, and tickets for Amanda and Chris to come back home. "If we could come up with about $1500-$2000 it would be great!!!" Amanda said. "God has been all over this!"