His deeds provide a poignant example. But it was a discussion in their Bible study class about the role the church should play in helping orphans that inspired their act of love and faith. After all, they were a happy household as it was. Adoption requires an inordinate amount of patience. Prospective parents must fill out reams of paperwork and undergo endless home inspections and personal interrogations.
Matters are more complicated abroad.
Every document had to be translated from English into Russian and vice versa. The Richts chose the Ukraine because a couple from their church had gone to Simferopol twice to adopt children. He and his wife told their sons six months ago that they could expect a brother and sister by the start of the football season, and every night the Richts' children would pray for their Ukrainian siblings. As it turned out, another family adopted Andre, but Mark and Katharyn were just as enamored of Zach, who was abandoned at 2 months old, found in an apartment wrapped in a blanket. During the first few days of preseason practice, Katharyn, Jonathan, David, Zach and Anya would be on the sidelines waiting for Mark.