Robins couple adapts to adopting, settles in to new life Published June 13, 2008 By Maj. Renee Massey 116 ACW/PA Robins Air Force Base, GA -- Imagine receiving a call saying there are three children, all brothers, waiting in an orphanage in Da Nang, Vietnam to be adopted--are you interested? That's exactly what happened to a 116th Computer Systems Squadron superintendent and his wife. Their emotional story describes how love transcends cultural and language barriers. Senior Master Sgt. Brian Golter and his wife Liza began their adoption process almost two and half years ago. They used a non-profit agency in North Carolina and quickly discovered the paperwork for international adoption is intense. They selected the country of Vietnam because they were pleased with the orphan to care-giver ratio in Vietnam's orphanages. Also, the couple was interested in that area of the world. "We'd decided on getting only one child because sibling sets are so rare and to receive non-sibling sets is difficult to do because of the additional paperwork and time it takes," said Sergeant Golter. "It was such a surprise to receive the call last October saying there are three siblings available." Even though it took the couple a few days to process the surprise call, they quickly began picking out names for the boys. The children range in ages of 16-month old Benjamin, 3-year old Nicholas and 5-year old Jake. It was an exciting time for them, but then the arduous task of waiting began. "Two months after receiving the call, we were still waiting. We were hoping to go to Vietnam in December to receive the children. We had Christmas gifts bought and ready for them, we purchased a mini-van and set up their rooms. It was frustrating knowing the boys were languishing in the orphanage all this time," said Mrs. Golter. "But after six months of waiting, we received another call in early April giving us 10 days notice to make travel arrangements to Vietnam." The couple flew to Hanoi and waited a few more days before being allowed to travel to Da Nang to meet the children for the first time. The Republic of Vietnam sponsored an official ceremony called a Giving and Receiving Ceremony which sanctioned the adoption. "It was an experience--the entire ceremony was conducted in Vietnamese. We did have an English speaking interpreter with us," Sergeant Golter said. They spent time with the three children in the orphanage before traveling back to Hanoi. The children were placed in adoption due to their birth mother's financial hardship after her husband was killed in an automobile-related accident. "The orphanage was very sparse and austere to our standards," said Mrs. Golter. "It is located in a very poor rural area." Once back in Hanoi, the new family waited in a hotel for two and a half weeks before receiving permission to travel back to the U.S. Even though the children did not speak English (and two of the boys speak Vietnamese), they began to communicate in rough sign-language and gestures. "The return flight home was an adventure," Sergeant Golter said. "It was a 20-hour flight and we couldn't get four seats together on the airplane. I think Liza and I were awake for nearly 48 hours. We flew from Hanoi to Hong Kong, then San Francisco to Atlanta." The boys were amazed to see their new mini-van at the Atlanta airport. There are no mini-vans in Da Nang-- so this is riding in style. Once home, the children were amazed to find a playground, toys to include big-wheels, and a cat. The children are adjusting quickly and learning new words everyday. They enjoy eating chicken so much in fact that 'chicken' was the first word spoken by Benjamin. The new parents are learning to survive on little to no sleep. Liza left her job as a school teacher to care for her new children--which keeps her quite busy. "I love being home with them and wouldn't trade this experience for the world," she said. The children visit the Museum of Aviation twice a week. Two of the boys have learned to say "airplane"-- a sure sign they are acclimating to their new military family and community. To experience the Golter's adventure, visit www.tiptopwebsite.com/bgolter.