Angels Make a Splash at Lake Day

By Ryan Brown
Buckner International

(ATHENS, Texas) – Inflatables, boat rides, and catfish filled the day Aug. 8 as adoptive families and Angels from Abroad host families joined together to celebrate at Athens Lake. Lake Day is hosted by First Baptist Church in Athens at the residence of Lee and Susan Bush.

Carol Stone, office manager and pastor’s assistant at First Baptist, said this was one event that made it worthwhile to all who participated.

“We care about these children and we want every child to have a great experience,” she said. “We don’t have to understand their language but seeing the smiles on their faces, we know they just had a great time. It makes us feel good knowing we helped with that.”

According to Natasha Potts, a former Angel who was adopted seven years ago, this event has come along way and gives these kids opportunities to do things that they had never done before.

“I’m happy for them,” she said. “I never got to experience this so I’m glad that they get this new type of experience. It lets them know that people care about them.”

Albert Reyes, president of Buckner Children and Family Services, and Jerry and Deniese Dillon, founders of Dillon International, attended the event and were each presented with a token of appreciation on behalf of the current Angels from Abroad.

The catfish dinner was provided by Fry Daddy’s, a local group that grew from a small group of guys cooking during Easter to a full-fledged organization. They have been a part of Lake Day since the Angels from Abroad program first began and consider cooking as part of their ministry.

“In life, people are also pretty battered up for one reason or another,” said Robert Hoover, Fry Daddy and member of First Baptist. “As for us, we feel you can always reach someone’s heart through their stomach.”

Host Lee Bush, who adopted two girls from Russia when his sons became older, continues to spread the message of adoption to others even though his daughters are now grown.

“There are a lot of people who care a lot about this process of adoption,” he said. “I hope people will see how big of a blessing it is as a family to have fun together. We do everything we can to make sure that this is a fun day, as one of the things families should surround themselves with is fun.”

To learn more about Angels from Abroad program, visit www.angelsfromabroad.com. To learn more about Russian adoption through Buckner, visit www.beafamily.org.