I've seen children around the world with no hope. I know how desperate their circumstances can be.

But I cannot tell you why the story of three little girls in Burdansk, Ukraine, affected me so strongly. I heard about them when a couple named Nancy and Steve Hathaway came on CBN's show Living the Life to share about their international adoption. They told me a story that broke my heart. They had gone to an orphanage with approval for two children but were introduced to three sisters. And then…

The director said, "Well, just a minute," and left the room. She talked to the older one and said, "It's not a problem. The oldest says she'll stay behind so her younger sisters will have a chance". Well, all of us in that production meeting wept! What kind of child does this, sacrifices herself so her younger siblings can have a chance? What will that do to a child's heart and psyche that they were somehow connected to someone that they might not see again for the rest of their lives?

The Hathaways decided they couldn't break up a sibling group. I couldn't stop thinking about 9-year-old Sophia, 10-year-old Zoya and 13-year-old Alysa. At this time, I was fasting and praying for my own four children when I felt God say, "What is the fast I require of you? Is it not that I require you to take care of widows and orphans?" I took a deep breath and asked Andy if we could adopt them.

"I said the Lord is in charge," said Andy, "and we need to move from step to step. If the lights remain green, we'll go."

So, the planning began! Paperwork and phone calls. After months of nail biting, the word came! We could come and get our girls! And as fast as the joy poured into my heart, so did the doubt.

And I said, "God I don't think I can do this. This is a big job. What if I blow this? Are they suffering in the orphanage? Yes, but wow God, I don't know how to do this, and I don't' know how to be perfect parent." And I felt God chuckle and say, "You aren't going to do this. I'm going to do this, and you are going to come with me."

Our departure was only four weeks away! CBN came over to catch a glimpse of the chaos as we switched around living arrangements. After all, we would have seven kids!

It was a nightmare. Almost every single room we were painting, we painted a wall, moved the furniture back, painted a wall, moved the furniture back. It was really funny.

But the day before departure, we received alarming news. The Ukrainian government was halting all adoptions for two weeks. It was discouraging because we felt so close. But we decided to leave on schedule and pray for a breakthrough.

So departure day was here! Our only daughter Tory was going with us. Drew was away at school so JP and Tyler would stay with my sister Judy.

We were so excited. We were on our way.

"I still don't think it's hit me that I'm going to be the father of three more children," said Andy. "I don't get it, no matter how much I say it!"

The temporary adoption closure weighed on our minds, but we were confident leaving as scheduled was the right decision.

Finally we were on our way.

The initial news in Kiev was not good. It was unlikely we would start the adoption process any earlier than the opening date two weeks from now.

"Some of it felt so totally out of control," said Andy. "So many things were happening. No matter what we did, it didn't mater. It was their system and we could not do anything about it."

But one week into our trip we got the news! We had been approved early! We could go get our girls! We left the next day on a long nine-hour drive.

Berdansk, Ukraine. Six months ago I didn't know it existed. Now Andy and I contemplated the significance this place will always have in our lives. With knocking knees we pulled up.

The moment had arrived. It was time to meet the girls. Our CBN cameras did not come in. Ironically at the very moment I was meeting my daughters for the first time, outside, our cameraman was filming the faces of those who hope and dream that someone someday will come for them too.

We were in the director's office, and the girls sang for us and Sophia did some gymnastics. Just before we left, Alysa, who has a sense of what's going on, came up to me and gave me a hug. And she said, "Thank you for coming." She gets it. She understands. They were in a dark place and now they have redemption, not because of us, but because God has a plan and purpose for their lives.

The next several days were filled with getting to know each other.

Alysa was puzzled by our American crafts. But my determined Sophia caught right on. And my Zoya, we'll she was mesmerized by Andy's video camera!

Several days went by while we completed the adoption process. It gave us a chance to spend time with all the children. And my girls were thrilled that we brought presents! Thanks to Operation Blessing and CBN WorldReach, we had enough for everyone. The director said they had never seen this much stuff roll in!

But there were sad times too. You can just sense what they are thinking.

One more couple arrives, one more adoption completed, and they're still left without a mom and dad. My own children at times could not hold back the tears of sadness for those left behind. Their artwork expresses these kids' deep longing for a family.

A longing we were able to fulfill for at least three little girls.

Finally, we were home. And then watching their curiosity. Everything is new, everything is an adventure, everything is intriguing. They need to look, they need to touch, they need to taste. They didn't know what candles were, lava lamps and electricity lamps. Its all been intriguing to them.

And as we begin our new life together, Andy and I want to tell you how much we've appreciated all of you standing with us, praying for us, and believing God for a miracle.

I don't think we could have made it without people who prayed for us. And that's what family is! It's when we come alongside each other, and say, "You know what? I'm walking with you, and you're going to make it." That's why God puts us in families because it gets us to the finish line.

Every child wants to know that they are loved and wanted. We think family is God's idea. And then you move into the family of God where you grow. And how can you enjoy that when you know there are some who don't have it, if you have any ability to make a difference.

Terry adopted through:

Sense Resource Center,
125 St. Paul's Blvd.
Norfolk, VA 23510.

Phone number: (757) 622-4692.

Adoption Director: Diane Sadovnikov.

www.adopt-sense.org