When you hear the word adoption, what do you picture? Do you imagine a newborn left at a fire station? An infant being placed in a waiting couple’s arms at the hospital? If this is your framework for adoption, you are not alone. While infant adoption remains one of the most common paths, there are thousands of older children around the world growing up in orphanages and foster care, longing for a forever family.
Richard Cores and Guillermo Barbosa knew infant adoption wasn’t the right path for them.
“My sister is an adoptive parent, and she adopted a newborn,” said Richard. “So, we went through that experience with my nephew — and we love him to death — but it was very challenging for her. I didn’t want to go down that road, especially not at our age.”
As they began exploring options for adopting an older child or teen, they came across the Summer/Winter Miracles program. Summer Miracles helps older orphans from Colombia find loving adoptive families in the U.S. Richard and Guillermo are both Latino, so the idea of helping a Colombian child felt deeply meaningful and culturally connected to them.
Another unique aspect of the program that appealed to them was the hosting period. Through Summer/Winter Miracles, older children and teens who are open to adoption travel to the U.S. for a five-week stay over the summer (or a three-week stay over the winter holidays). During this time, they stay with host families, experience life in America, and build meaningful relationships. Families can host either as advocates or as a potential pathway to adoption.
For Richard and Guillermo, having the opportunity to spend meaningful time with the child they might adopt was essential. In 2024, they were matched with 13-year-old Juan Pablo, who goes by JP. JP had previously traveled with a similar program but had not yet found the right family. That winter, he traveled to New Jersey and spent the holidays with Richard and Guillermo.
“We did Christmas with my family,” said Richard. “Only my family was able to travel to New Jersey during hosting, but it was incredibly special for JP to meet them and celebrate together. We did matching pajamas photos — the whole thing.”
Those three weeks together confirmed what Richard and Guillermo already suspected — they wanted JP to be their son. JP enthusiastically agreed, and the family moved forward with the adoption process. Once the adoption was finalized, both families traveled to Bogotá, Colombia, to meet JP and spend several meaningful days together. Guillermo’s family traveled from Venezuela, and Richard’s family traveled from the United States. It was an extremely emotional reunion, and JP absolutely loved having everyone there — feeling, perhaps for the first time, fully surrounded by family.
After the adoption was finalized, the three came back home together to New Jersey — this time permanently. While there was a natural adjustment period, they quickly settled into family life. One important tradition they intentionally established was having breakfast together every morning.
“We wanted that time together,” explained Richard. “So, we talked to him about it. It meant waking up half an hour earlier, which is early — and he already wakes up pretty early for school. And he said, ‘Yeah, I really want to have breakfast together as a family. Wake me up.’ That was six months ago. He still insists on waking up — even on weekends when he doesn’t have school. We’ll tell him, ‘You can sleep in.’ And he says, ‘No, no — because then it’s not going to be together as a family, and this is important.’”
JP has also adjusted remarkably well at school. In Colombia, his grades were not strong, and there were notes in his case file suggesting he might have a learning disability. But at his new school in New Jersey, he is thriving. In fact, he made the Honor Roll this semester. When Richard and Guillermo commented on this dramatic improvement, JP explained that, while living in a foster home in Colombia, he sometimes struggled academically because he felt he didn’t have a true family to come home to or people who would support his projects and dreams. Now, he sees a world of possibilities ahead of him.
Richard and Guillermo describe Summer Miracles as truly life-changing for their entire family. One piece of advice they offer families exploring international adoption is to learn the child’s language. Being able to immediately communicate with JP in Spanish made a profound difference.
“I think it’s so important because these kids — especially teens — are always looking for connection,” said Richard. “Even though language isn’t the only way to connect, it matters deeply to them. He always tells us, ‘Oh, thank God you guys speak my language.’ He’s learning English, but without Spanish, he wouldn’t have been able to express himself fully to us.”
And JP is expressive. Richard and Guillermo rarely have to wonder what he is thinking or feeling, as he readily shares.
“The same person we had in our home during that month of hosting is the same person we have today,” said Richard. “Some parents talk about a honeymoon period where a child only shows their best side. We knew that was possible. But we wanted to know the real him, when he was angry, upset, happy, sad, disappointed, all of it. And we were fortunate. He wears his heart on his sleeve. And that’s fine with us. I would much rather have that than constantly trying to figure out how he’s feeling.”
Thanks to Richard and Guillermo’s unwavering support and unconditional love, JP can fully express himself and let the world know that he is the happiest he’s ever been.
Summer Miracles
Applications are open for Summer Miracles host families for Summer 2026! Our goal is to bring 50 kids to the U.S. to find their forever families, but we need your help to make that happen.
