Where, in South America or Uzbekistan?
Both!
For many years I was actively involved with a group called Adoptive Parents Committee (BTW - I am both adopted and an adoptive parent). APC is based out of Long Island (NY), with branches in CT, NJ and other parts of NYS. Their primary purpose, as a not for profit organization, is to assist those who seek to adopt and find homes for all the children who are bereft of loving families. This is a wonderful organization. They hold workshops throughout the year for that purpose.
When Spring arrives, APC holds a special service called 'Candlelighting'. On that night, those who have adopted are called forth and handed a candle to celebrate the new life in their family. The candle is encircled by two ribbons - one green (for new life) and one blue or pink (for the gender of the child they have adopted). Those seeking to adopt are also called forth and handed a candle tied with two ribbons - silver to signifiy their hope (for the silver lining of the cloud) and the other color I no longer recall.
I will NEVER forget the one Candlelighting when an adoptive couple was called forth. They were handed a candlelabara with 5 candles, each tied with a green ribbon and then blue or pink for the gender of the child! This was a Jewish family who had a beautiful home in Dix Hills, NY. They had married young, raised a large family and, at 45, felt too young to exchange their house for a retirement home. So, they chose to adopt a sibling group of 5, from somewhere in South America. The sibling group ranged from a child still in a stroller to one in high school. It was quite a beautiful sight! On that Canclelighting evening, they extended their candlelabara to those seeking to adopt and many chose to light their candles from those of this family. This was a night of inspiration.
Several months later, I attended an APC barbeque. The family was there with the children who now populated the house they had once contemplated exchanging for a retirement home. "Mom" pushed the stroller and the other children lovingly responded by assisting in any and every way. Everyone smiled broadly, from ear to ear. This beautiful new family was formed, through adoption. God bless them all!