Party Celebrates Families’ Joy Over Adopted Children

A Chatsworth-based organization staged a Christmas party Saturday for families that were created after it placed abandoned children from Third World countries with adoptive parents in Southern California.

Several couples and single parents who have adopted young children from India, Peru, Brazil and other foreign countries with the help of the nonprofit Bal Jagat adoption agency gathered at the Holy Shepard Lutheran Church to share holiday cheer and the joy that their children have brought them.

The schoolroom at the church resembled a miniature United Nations as dark-skinned children clung to their lighter-skinned parents or played with toys and ran around outside.

“Christmas is going to be extra special this year,” said Karen Pelmont, who bounced her 8-month-old son, Jason, on her knee. The youngster, who was born in Calcutta, was four months old when Pelmont and her husband, Steve, adopted him.

“We’ve got a stocking and everything,” Pelmont said. “It’s hard to express what Jason means to me.”

Andrea Esfahani, a nurse who adopted a daughter, Jordana, through the agency, put it another way: “There is no shortage of children in the world. If you don’t mind one with a little natural suntan, it can be so beautiful. It’s going to be a nice holiday.”

Presiding over the proceedings like an unofficial Santa Claus--and attired in garb from her native India--was Hemlata Momaya, who founded the agency six years ago. With a four-person staff, the agency has placed 90 children from foreign countries in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, Momaya said.

Momaya described herself as a “middle person” who works with adoption agencies and attorneys in foreign countries to bring prospective families together.

“It’s very difficult for someone to adopt in this country now, with the large fees you have to pay lawyers and all the red tape with the agencies,” Momaya said. “The children in other places need homes very badly. And parents can offer them the best life in America, the kind of life they could never have in the other countries.”

She interviews prospective parents and sends her analysis to the Third World agencies, which can send pictures of the child to be adopted.

If the parents are accepted, they can travel to the country to pick up the child, or agency personnel will escort the child to the United States.

Momaya said the parents pay her agency’s expenses, along with medical and legal costs for the children.

Many of the state-licensed agency’s clients are single people who find it almost impossible to adopt in this country, Momaya said. She said underdeveloped countries are more lenient about allowing single people to adopt.

Esfahani, who is single, said she got the runaround from Los Angeles County adoption officials. “It was impossible for me as a single parent to get anywhere,” she said. “But I was determined. I was referred to Bal Jagat, and everything worked out great.”

Herb Statland, 51, and his wife, Gail, 45, said they were turned down by county adoption officials because of their ages. Through Momaya’s agency, they were able to adopt Samantha, a 3-year-old orphan from Vera Cruz, Mexico. “It was wonderful the way it turned out,” said Herb Statland. “We canceled a Christmas cruise so we could be here.”

Momaya said she was just happy that so many of her “families” had come to spend a part of Christmas with her.

The parents and children feasted on Indian cuisine--corn, cauliflower and potato curry, pilaf and poories , an Indian bread. They laughed and applauded a troupe whose members performed traditional Indian dances.

But most of all, the adults thanked Momaya for bringing a warmth and purpose to their lives.

Robin Dulfon, who brought her 3 1/2-year-old daughter, Reena, who was born in Calcutta, said, “It’s times like this when I realize how special Reena has made my life. She has enriched it so much. We need these children just as badly as they need us.”