ASHLEY + Nadiya for the Barsch family — NJ
Andrew and Michelle will celebrate their ten-year wedding anniversary this year. They have had adoption on their hearts long before they were married. The desire to grow their family through adoption strengthened after their biological daughter was born in 2011. Andrew and Michelle brought their Deaf daughter home from the Philippines when their biological daughter was just two-years-old. They went on to adopt their other children in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019 from Ethiopia, China and one domestic adoption. Andrew and Michelle currently have seven children at home. Five of their children are Deaf. One of their daughters has Down Syndrome and mild hearing loss. The family uses ASL as their main mode of communication at home.
Michelle and Andrew agree strongly with the popular adoption quote, “Orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names. They are easier to ignore before you see their faces. It is easier to pretend they’re not real before you hold them in your arms. But once you do, everything changes.” Leaving children behind in an orphanage in the Philippines who were screaming out “Mommy! Daddy!” and gripping at their clothing is an experience that will be forever etched on the minds of both Andrew and Michelle. From that point on, the couple says, “We have never been the same.” Andrew and Michelle left the Philippines with their first adopted daughter with an even greater purpose and a calling that has been burning in their souls ever since.
They have welcomed six children into their family by way of adoption and have daily seen God’s miracles unfolding in and through their children. Psalm 68: 5-6 states that God is a Father to the fatherless and that He sets the lonely in families. Andrew and Michelle are confident that although expanding their family through adoption in quick succession has not always been easy emotionally or financially that God will continue to provide exactly what is needed to bring their two newest daughters home from Eastern Europe. They continue to stay open to whatever road God desires to take them down.
Andrew and Michelle’s oldest “daughter to be” is Deaf. The youngest is non-verbal and very frail. They are unsure of her hearing ability. It is important to them that they get to the girls as quickly as is possible. Michelle and Andrew mentioned that some have asked how they can assist in bringing home their newest girls. Andrew and Michelle were not planning on adopting at this time, it would be a huge blessing if they were able to raise the extra funds needed that adopting two children simultaneously adds to their adoption costs. They stressed that they do not want anyone to feel pressured into donating, but for those who have questioned, “How can we support adoption?” this is just one avenue that would tremendously bless their family. First and foremost, they covet your prayers for their daughters and their family as they walk this journey to bring their girls home.
6/3/2019 — AWAITING USCIS APPROVAL
