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Couple Say All Children Deserve A Home

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By Cheryl  Bentley | The Suncoast News

Published: May 28, 2008

All children deserve a good home.

That is the philosophy of Frank and Michaelle L. Balogh. The Baloghs have already adopted one child from Taiwan and are preparing to adopt two more.

Michaelle L. became tearful. "There are so many children. All they want is a mom and dad and love."

In 2005, the New Port Richey couple went to Taiwan and adopted Michaelle K, who is named after his mom but whose name is pronounced Michael.

The Baloghs already had four biological children – Misty, 26, who is now out of the house on her own; Chesiree, 18; and 8-year-old twins Felicia and Frankie – but wanted more. Michaelle L., who is now 45, had gone through a difficult pregnancy and subsequent miscarriage.

The story they believe was God inspired began when they decided to adopt a child from another country. They applied to Sarasota-based Florida Home Studies and Adoption, a non profit agency that deals with international adoptions.

They wanted to adopt a son.

Each country has its own rules for adoptions. The Baloghs feared they might be too old but discovered they were within the age limit of Taiwan.

Thus began a long procedure of extensive interviews, home visits and government clearance.

Boy children are rarely put up for adoptions in Taiwan, they discovered, but the couple had faith they would get their son.

They kept quiet about their efforts until one night when they decided to share it with their Bible study group at River Ridge Presbyterian Church, in New Port Richey. They asked for the group's prayers.

They next day they received the infant Michaelle K.'s picture as the child the orphanage had selected for the Baloghs.

"We knew the minute we saw him he was the one," Frank said.

In 2005, they met the 8-month-old boy for the first time when they flew to Taiwan. At the orphanage, they knew the baby whom one of the attendants held was Michaelle K. even before they were told.

"I cried because I knew he was mine," Michaelle L. said with tears in her eyes.

Michaelle K. is now a 2-year-old with a big smile. He has adjusted beautifully with the other Balogh children, his parents say.

But the children at the Taiwan orphanage kept tugging at their hearts. They wanted to adopt an older child but thought they were too old to meet Taiwanese age limits.

Time for what the Baloghs consider another miracle. They learned Taiwan had raised the age limit to 50, an age that both Baloghs could meet.

They applied to adopt a 5-year-old girl whom they have since named Angelicia Hsui-Chin. They subsequently learned Angelicia has a 6-year-old brother.

While at the Taiwanese orphanage, the Baloghs had seen siblings being separated through adoption. They didn't want that to happen to Angelicia. They agreed to adopt her brother, whom they have named Andrew Chin-Jen.

That meant double the expenses. Adoption for both children is $20,000 and almost $10,000 in air fares. That's a lot of money for Frank, who is a certified pest control operator and licensed real estate agent, and Michaelle L, who owns a sod company.

Their River Ridge Presbyterian Church held a fund raiser to help the couple out and in still another Balogh miracle, raised $4,400. An anonymous donor who had agreed to chip in 50 cents for every dollar raised made good on his promise and sent a check for $2,200. For more information on contributing, go to www.gloriousblessing.com/adoption.

The Baloghs hope to make the trip to Taiwan in July to pick up the children. They are sure everything will work out. "God answers prayers, and God provides," said Michaelle L.

Cheryl Bentley can be reached at 727-815-1069 cbentley@suncoastnews.com.

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