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Show Orem-Geneva Times and her husband, Chuck, traveled to Romania on December 1, 1990 and located the two babies that were available for adoption. Five weeks later Ginger arrived home with the babies, fulfilling a long-time desire for more children, Happy Orem couple adopt (almost) twins in Romania By Clyde E. Weeks Orem's population was increased in-creased by two this month as a result of the arrival here two and one-half weeks ago of two baby girls from Romania: the adopted daughters of Chuck and Ginger Larsen. The Larsens adopted the babies in Romania as the result of a successful effort that took five weeks of time and thousand of miles of travel to a strange country. Poor living conditions and shortages of food have resulted in the abandonment of thousands of children in Romania who have been placed in overcrowded over-crowded shelters and orphanages. or-phanages. The country has a high birthrate and many unwed mothers which has caused people from all over the world, traveling to Romania to adopt babies. The high birthrate was an outgrowth of the policies of Nicolae Ceauces-cu, Ceauces-cu, the former Communist dictator, dic-tator, who was driven from power and executed in 1990. Under his rule Romanian couples were required re-quired to have at least four children. Abortions and contraception con-traception were illegal. The Larsens had been con-sideringthe con-sideringthe adoption of a child for some time, but cost of an adoption and the restrictive requirements seemed too onerous at the time. Ginger's two children by a previous marriage are now teenagers, and the Larsen's have , . i Catholics to commemorate 100th anniversary The Most Reverend William K. Weigand, Bishop of Salt Lake City, has announced a year-long celebration to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City. The centennial commemoration commemora-tion will begin on Sunday, January 27, when Bishop Weigand will celebrate a special Mass at the Cathedral of the Madeleine at 11 a.m. On Monday evening, January 28, a banquet will be held at the Red Lion Hotel in Salt Lake City. Sister Kathleen Nelligan, CSC, former superior general of the Sisters of the Holy Cross and a native Utahn, will deliver the keynote address, "A Journey of Faith in the Land of Zion." Tickets for the banquet may be obtained from the Diocesan Pastoral Center, 27 "C" Street, Salt Lake City. The diocese was established January 27, 1892 by Pope Leo XIII and originally included all of Utah and Eastern Nevada. At the time, it was the largest geographical diocese in the United States, covering 84,900 square miles. Irish-born Bishop Lawrence J. Scanlan, who came, to Utah as a young priest and developed fledgling Catholic parishes, schools and hospitals throughout the territory, was appointed ap-pointed the first bishop of the diocese. Utah's Catholic population has grown from a scant 800 in , wanted another child for a number num-ber of years. TV PROGRAM In October the Larsens saw television programs, featuring the many unfortunate children in Romanian orphanages, and decided to seek adoption through that avenue. Ginger spoke with her cousins in Southern California Califor-nia who were planning to go to Romania and they joined forces to make the trip. Prior to leaving for Romania the Larsens and their cousins had to be carefully screened by a special spe-cial agency who could document that they were financially responsible respon-sible and would be suitable parents. They deci ded to apply to adopt two babies, just in case they could locate more than one eligible baby. Arriving in Romania, the Larsens Lar-sens found that the orphanages were difficult to get into, and without a knowledge of the language, lan-guage, communication was very difficult. In many cases, the parents of the children are not dead, but are financially unable to care for them. In those cases, they place their children in institutions in-stitutions until they are able to care for them IDEAL CHILD It's a heartbreaking experience ex-perience to find an ideal child in an orphanage and then to discover dis-cover that the parents won't release her for adoption. On the 1873 to 66,000 in 62 parishes and missions today. Traditional ministries mini-stries in the areas of education, health care and social services have made a significant contribution contribu-tion to the quality of life in Utah. Pictured are local Mothers March leaders. Front row, left to right: Ruth Adams, Adam Daines, March Of Dimes Ambassador; Crissy Clyde, March of Dimes volunteer. Back Row: Lori Erickson, Camille Merrill, Shannon Evans, Cynthia Peacock, Melany Hills, Wendy Copus, Nancy Ann Huffington, Kathy Hall, KathyHowlett. Wednesday, January 23. 1991 other hand, in some cases a prospective parent may locate a child in a hospital or an orphanage or-phanage and find that the mother has an older child she is also placing plac-ing in an institution. This may enable a couple to adopt two children at the same time. After two weeks in Romania, Chuck Larsen had to return home, leaving Ginger to checkout check-out the babies they would adopt. He had to sign a statement swearing swear-ing that he had seen the babies and wanted to adopt them. He also had to sign papers, giving his wife the authorization to finalize the adoption without him being present. 60-HOUR TRIP Finally, with the paper work concluded, Ginger prepared to bring the babies home-three-month-old Lisa, and five-week-old Christina. Completing paperwork paper-work on the adoption, resulted in her missing her scheduled flight out of Romania. Ginger was then forced to leave by train, resulting in a 60-hour trip, including a one-night one-night lay-over. Finally, arriving in Salt Lake City on January 6, Ginger and Chuck took their two new daughters home to Orem where they now live the challenging lives of nearly brand-new parents of (almost) twins. Friends and relatives say that the new little ones are fitting right in to the family and doing very well, thank you! In addition, Catholic art, music and architecture have enhanced the state's cultural heritage. The centennial will culminate with a major celebration on Sunday, Sun-day, April 14, at the Huntsman Special Events Center. i r . DR. JOHN JONES in his Orem office contemplates call to active duty. Oral surgeon called to service but office will continue open By Jeanne Thayne City Editor Dr. John Jones was stunned to receive a call to active duty just a week ago. "I already served in Vietnam and had 11 years active duty," he said. "I thought I had done my part." He said he has been 19 years building up his practice in Orem as an oral surgeon sur-geon and the thoughts of leaving his patients filled him with anxiety. But that appears to be the least of his worries now. "My patients will be in good hands," Jones said. Dr. 0. Daniel Bluth, an oral surgeon recently released as a mission president for the IDS Church, will "take over my patients and my office until I return," said Jones. "I encourage people to continue to come to this office and they will get good oral surgery," he assures. "Doing this will be most helpful to those who support me as well as the community com-munity and their country." Dr. Jones said he is ac- quainted with Dr. Bluth and has I" confidence 1 .-if thinra work out well we lust mav form a partnership when I return, said Dr. Jones. If the opportune arrangement with Dr. Bluth had not occurred, Jones said "I would have been a basket case by now." He cited loans for new equipment and of- fice overhead and salaries of his employees as among the most pressing responsibilities, besides leaving his family "at a time when I need to plan for retirement and slow down a bit." In addition to his career anxieties, Dr. Jones recalls his experience with Vietnam combat injuries. "For the sake of the young boys and men (in combat) I hope I don't have much to do," he said. "Those injuries can affect them for the rest of their lives." He said he was surprised for a man of his age to be called back to duty. "I have kept up on medical practices," he said, but he thought PERC begins year with new materials The Parent Education Resource Center (PERC), located in the basement of the Fourth Circuit Building, begins the new year with many new materials available for patrons' use. The Fourth CircuitBuildingislocated at 97 E. Center, Orem, directly behind the Orem City Center. Enter through the north basement base-ment entrance. PERC staff members invited patrons who are new to PERC to come and see what is offered. PERC is open Monday, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A list of some of the new materials is: BOOKS: Play, Playing Safe, Dry All Night, Invention Book, Dance of Anger, Feminine and Fit, Dance of Intimacy, Time Out Together, Super String Games, Kids Can Cooperate, Zoobooks, Your Amazing Senses, You Can Pass the GED, Raising Kids Who Can, How to Save the Planet, The Way Things Work, Smart but Feeling Dumb, Self-Therapy for Stutterers, It's OK to be Gifted or Talented, Healing the Shame that Binds You, Berenstein Bears' Trouble with Pets, Life Science Activities for Grades 2-8, Safe and Simple Electrical Experiments, Ex-periments, Parents Who Encourage, En-courage, Children Who Succeed, Creative Activities for Infants, Toddlers & Twos, Survival Handbook Hand-book for Kids with Learning Disabilities. Dis-abilities. LEARNING ADDS: Hugger-mugger Hugger-mugger Mystery Words (teens); Fractions are as Easy as Pie, Page 6 it would have been more prudent to call up someone fresh out of training with the latest medical knowledge. Nevertheless, he goes, perhaps per-haps not enthusiastically, but willingly to support his nation and its young men and women. He also said because of his age (55) he earlier had attempted to resign from the Guard sometime before the cut-off date but was refused. "This call came out of the blue," he said. Dr. Jones and his wife Mary are parents of six sons. A 12-year-old is still at home. Friends Around the world, Prime Numbers Checkers, Children's Authors Cards, What Belongs Where?, Triple Crown Math, Three Math Games, Global Flash Cards, Drug-Free Choices, Finish the Picture, Pollution Solution, Follow the Path, Personal Safety, Constellations, Ocean Puzzle; Hullo, Twins; Tell-a-Story, USA Bingo, Somebody. SPANISH BOOKS & GAMES: El Bebe, Estaciones, Spanish for Beginners, Teach Me Spanish (with tape), Spanish Flash Cards, Basic Picture Words Flash Cards. AUDIO TAPES: What to Say When you Talk to Yourself, Peter and the Wolf (with book), Getting Along (with book), Brite Dreams (with book), Asa's Potty Learning, Learn-ing, Hooked on Math. VIDEOS: Family Talk, Babysitting Baby-sitting Basics, Dating, Sex & Trouble; Your Health Responsibilities; Respon-sibilities; How to Study - Grade School; I Live in an Alcoholic Family; I Blew It!: Learning from Failure; Loves Tough Reach & The Trophy Case, Baby-Sitting-Taking the Basics to Work; Teen-Parent Teen-Parent Conflict: Making Things Better; It's OK to say "NO"" - The Case for Waiting; Where There's a Will There's an "A" - College. VOLUNTEER NEEDED Because of changes in other schedules, PERC needs a volunteer volun-teer who can give four hours a day, one day a week. We would ask for a commitment of at least a year. If you have trie1 time, and would enjoy helping people, please contact PERC at 225-0626, or call Myrna Harbaugh at 224-1823. i |