"I am over joyed to have been linked to MLJ. I hope everyone can have a smooth adoption process, but if you hit some bumps in the road, I hope you have an agency like MLJ to hold your hand through it like we do!"
"I wanted to thank you. I've been doing a lot of research and your agency has been the most helpful and responsive of all the agencies I've contacted!"
"I really like the thoughtfulness of your educational requirements -- including the cultural essay! As I told Sonja, you guys at MLJ have really given careful thought to what makes sense in this process for the adoptive child and parent rather than creating arbitrary demands.
I have been very impressed with MLJ's attention and responsiveness all the way around! Your outreach to Haiti is so commendable! And despite the deluge of interest and inquiries, your team has been so communicative and responsive! I sense that there is a lot of integrity and yet practical, intuitive understanding concerning this complicated and emotional process within your organization. I've worked with a few other agencies that we're okay but you guys set a new standard."
"We had a great visit this morning with Kathy. We were very impressed with her professionalism. We continue to be happy with everyone at MLJ."
"Several years ago, while singing at a church and speaking of the plight of the orphans I was seeing in other countries, I met a woman who shared my burden for the Fatherless. She was passionate about her adoption pursuit and a couple of years later, I learned that she had been successful in adopting from Ukraine. Fast-forward several years and my path once again crossed with Lydia Tarr. She was asking if we would host a boy from Ukraine... here we are, ten days from stepping on that plane to go make him our own. God, in his perfect timing, has allowed my own adoption desires to be fulfilled.
God also pre-ordained who it was to help facilitate that adoption. He knew my nature, that I am very personable and relationships are very important to me. He knew my fears. He knew our financial situation and needs better than we did. That is why he placed us in the care of MLJ Adoptions, Inc. He knew if I were going to work with people on something so delicate in nature, I would have to really trust them - I would even want to like them! Well, I have trusted and have thoroughly enjoyed making new friends with each of you.
Thank you for your hearts, for your burden, for hearing answering endless questions, for being professional, and for being real.
I have been through much in my life and have come to this conclusion...God always does what is most loving for us...so that we will desire him above all other things and so that he will be glorified. I pray that our adoption journey has glorified God. I certainly am seeing his hand in the last couple of days, with the trickling in of money that we need. I hope that we have represented MLJ well. With all this sappy talk I really do want to encourage each of you to continue representing the Fatherless and more importantly, representing Christ ---you do it well."
(Ukraine Adoption)
"My wife and I both work for major Indianapolis law firms, and we did a great deal of research and background inquiry before choosing Michele. We had heard a number of horror stories about international adoptions that went awry, so were extremely careful in choosing who to handle the adoption of our very first child.
Michele and Sonja were there for us every step of the way from the initial paperwork to our happy homecoming. I know that every adoption is different, and yours will no doubt be different from our Guatemala experience, but I do know that Michele and her agency would not deal with an adoption from any country unless she had 100% confidence that she could succeed for you in a timely manner. I can tell you that everything she predicted about our process -- from the time it would take, to the right-on-the-money cost estimate -- came to pass.
It took almost one year exactly for our international adoption, from the very first meeting with Michele until we came home with our daughter, who was 7 months and 7 days old at the time.
Our experience was happy, joyful and flawless. Michele and Sonja even make sure to stay in touch (both have been to our home to enjoy time with the baby, met to catch-up over downtown lunches, etc.). Michele cares very much about the work she does, and does it with 100% dedication and commitment. We recommend her to everyone considering adoption, and are delighted to sing her praises.
Retaining Michele as our adoption attorney was perhaps the smartest decision we will ever make!"
(Guatemala Adoption)
"Lydia was our primary contact and liaison regarding adoption. We have worked with Lydia very closely through the process of adopting our two newest children from Ukraine. We have also had the privilege of observing her interactions with 20 or more additional families moving through similar adoption processes. In all of our interactions with Lydia, we have found her to be very knowledgeable, honest, and compassionate. From the very beginning, Lydia was able to articulate the nuances of our process both here and abroad. She patiently addressed all our concerns and questions, and worked tirelessly on our behalf. She has a deep understanding and appreciation of Ukrainian culture, and maintains strong relationships within the country. Her insights and professional perspective facilitated a much smoother adoption than we had expected. Even when unforeseen complications did arise along the way, Lydia proved patient and resourceful in pointing us toward solutions. Most importantly, in observing Lydia, we have been encouraged by her love for each individual child and the responsibility she demonstrates toward every case. Her own experiences as a adoptive mom provide her with a unique level of empathy and wisdom. Lydia’s willingness to serve us with her expertise in all aspects of our process; from legal insights, to travel tips, to encouragement in relating to our new children, was an invaluable key to the success of our adoption. Her own compassion and experiences led us to consider her as a partner in our process rather than simply a facilitator. We know Lydia has served many others in the same way. She has a long, proud legacy of connecting children to the families they need."
(Ukraine Adoption)
""Just a little feedback for you: I love the updates!! It's comforting to see what's happening "behind the scenes" at MLJ. My husband and I have not signed on officially with MLJ and yet you've all been wonderful to work with. Thanks!!""