Mark and Wendy Leenerts

Angels in Adoption 2005 - Kansas

Selected by Representative Jim Ryun

Over a year ago, Mark and Wendy Leenerts adopted a baby girl from Mexico. They already had four boys of their own but had a strong desire to provide a loving home for another child. Since the adoption of their daughter, they have been strong advocates for international and domestic adoption. At 12 years old, Wendy knew she wanted too adopt children when she was an adult. That dream came true many years later after Wendy and Mark married. On a mission trip to Mexico, Mark worked at an orphanage and began to share Wndy's desire to adopt children. Together they saw the great need and opportunity to adopt orphaned children from Mexico. Nearly 2 1/2 years after Mark's experience in Mexico, Mark and Wendy adopted their daughter. To see them interact with their family of five children is to see self-sacrifice, compassion, and joy. They are honored with the opportunity to expand their family through adoption and encourage others to do the same. As the leaders of the youth ministry at Topeka Bible Church, the integration of the Leenerts family - their biological children and adopted child - is a model to the junior high and high school students and their parents, making a lasting impact on many lives.

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