Restoring the Family:
An Amazing Family Story


How a Family Tree turned into a Family Forest!

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RESTORING THE FAMILY PROJECT

Prodigal Children is the title of a book in progress by Marika Love.  It is the story of how she became separated from and then lost all of her children; how she was healed in a series of amazing experiences; and how her children and she were reunited by another series of miracles.

THE PARABLE OF THE  PRODIGAL SON 

From the King James Version of the Holy Bible, Luke 15:14 - 24 

"The other son went to a distant country where he wasted his substance with riotous living.  And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 

And he arose and came to his father.  But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 

And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 

But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet...and let us eat and be merry; 

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.  And they began to be merry.
There are many lost and homeless children in the streets of any large American city.  They are "wasting their substance" - selling their bodies and drugs just to survive. 

Joy of Learning Centers are creating wholistic, healing homes and intentional families to bring some of these children into, to give them what they have never had:  A loving family; a safe place to live; and a chance to re-group.  They will be given time and space to discover their own purpose in life, and encouraged to develop their purpose in a nurturing, no-pressure environment.
 
PHOTOS OF RECENT FAMILY RE-UNIONS
   HOW DID OUR FAMILY TREE TURN INTO A FAMILY FOREST? 

Our family now includes not only all the families who adopted Marika's children, but also four families who have adopted N'Tanya's four children! These are open adoptions, and N'Tanya has been able to visit with her children as they grow up. 
Marika had given up the twins, Alicia and Erica, for adoption when she could not take care of them. She started searching for them when they turned eighteen - permissable by law after a closed adoption. All the time since their adoption, Marika believed they were in a good, stable home. She was shocked, when she contacted the adoptive mother, to learn that her children had run away from home when they were 14, and were living in the streets of San Francisco!

Marika jumped on a plane, resolving to stay in San Francisco until she located her daughters - and found them in less than 24 hours! They also moved home to live with Marika's family, which by then included her mother who needed care. And now, they are rebuilding their lives.  Alicia is a college student, preparing for work that will help her support her two young sons.  And Erica works as a Massage Therapist and Housekeeper.  They are both doing well on their chosen paths.   

Marika's son fared better, remaining with his adoptive mother until he graduated from high school and re-connected with Marika. He kept his birth name, Charan Pagan, for his career as a heavy metal musician. He now works for a law firm in Southern California. 
This story would make a wonderful movie, and we know that other families will be inspired by it.
Copyright 2005 Joy of Learning Center. All rights reserved.