Terry Meeuwsen, a former Miss USA and founder of Orphan's Promise Foundation, practises what she preaches.
Her Christian faith has been the centre of all her major decisions in life. Two of the most salient have been the adoption of five children -- three Ukrainian sisters, a South Korean boy and a biracial boy, and starting Orphan's Promise Foundation, which offers orphans and vulnerable children around the world with safe housing, food and water, healthcare, life skills and more. She has two biological children, a boy and girl.
Recently in Thailand to visit Step Ahead, a non-profit foundation working with residents of the Klong Toey slums, which her foundation supports, the down-to-earth American spoke candidly about her life's passion to help children with little means to have a proper childhood.
Despite her advancing age, the vibrant American television personality, author and singer continues to reach as many helpless children around the world with a message of love and hope.
Today Orphan's Promise, which was set up in 2005 and is a part of the global ministry of Christian Broadcasting Network International, works in over 60 countries, including Thailand, supporting established ministries with their efforts to help needy children.
Meeuwsen, who was crowned Miss America in 1973, says that she has always had a heart for adoption. Being raised in a warm and loving family made her realise how important it is for children to experience a happy childhood.
"Having been raised in a family where I experienced a lot of love, I could not imagine children not having a place to belong," remarked the former Miss USA. "During my school days, we used to bring our money for children in impoverished countries, and as a classroom activity adopt them. This could all have contributed to the way I think today. In my mind, I always wonder how they are today.
"Our engagement gift to each other was a porcelain bust of a Korean boy because I had a passion for Korean children. Go figure it out, because I did not know anyone from that country or have any connections to speak about. So I do believe that there are certain things that we can't explain which are put there by God."
The Meeuwsen family have gone through the adoption process three times. The adoption procedures for their first two sons, a Korean and biracial American, went smoothly. However, the adoption of their three Ukrainian daughters turned out to be anything but smooth. Before they were able to bring them to the US, they were emotionally, physically and financially put to the test. The fact that they were adopting the girls, aged nine, 11 and 13, at a time when their four children were already in their teens and she had turned 50, brought about its own challenges.
The story behind this adoption unfolded when she was working at the Christian Broadcasting Network. Once again, God placed a burden on her heart for these Ukrainian orphans after hearing about their traumatic story from a television producer who had heard about them from an American family who had recently adopted a Ukrainian child.
The graphic details of their abusive, dysfunctional background tugged at her heart strings, and together with the support of her husband, they fought tooth and nail to get the girls to the US after facing numerous obstacles with the adoption papers. They remained steadfast and prayed for God's intervention.
Just when it was turning out to be a hopeless cause, both husband and wife were led by God to forgive and erase the debt of a business partner of her husband who had cheated him. Lo and behold not very long after that they received word from adoption authorities in the Ukraine that the adoption documents which were presumed lost had been found. The newest additions to the Meeuwsen family were soon on their way to a new life in the US.
The adjustment period for both sides was one of the most nervewrecking.
"It was utter mayhem in the family during the initial year of adjustment for our Ukrainian daughters," she said. "Our four children and the three sisters did just not get along. They didn't speak English; cultural shock also made things harder for them.
"It was after we got help from a Ukrainian Christian student named Natalia who came to teach them English and counsel them that we began to see a change for the better in the lives of the girls."
Having seven adopted children by now only made Meeuwsen, who estimates that approximately 2% of orphans worldwide that are institutionalised have a shot at getting adopted, began to get a strong urge to lend a hand to other orphans around the world.
Together with Natalia, she set up Orphan's Promise Foundation 10 years ago.
"We started in Ukraine with training centres," said the American. "We based it on God's word that says: 'I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you'. Whoever heard about what our Ukrainian daughters had experienced in their young lives felt moved to donate.
"We didn't make it a conscious effort to build the foundation, it just fell into place. We brought the needs to the attention of the people who were interested in helping, and that is how we have managed to reach as many people as we have. We do our work in a transparent and accountable manner."
Meeuwsen said poverty is a very isolating experience and can lead to suicide.
During her trip to Thailand, she visited a handful of families residing in the Klong Toey slums, which are supported by Orphan's Promise. Her genuine concern for their well-being was obvious as she squatted in the searing heat listening to their problems through a translator, sharing a hug and sympathetic ear whenever needed.
"It is ease to look away and be happy with ones blessings, but with blessings come responsibility," she said. "While you can not help everyone, it is important to lend a hand when God puts a person in need in your path.
"Wouldn't you want someone to see you in your time of need? If you are struggling yourself you might not be able to do that, but if you have been blessed, somewhere you have to say what am I to do to make a difference in the life of someone?"
Visit www.orphanspromise.org.
