Local Hispanic of the Month
¡
Aplauda Hampton Roads!
by Idalia Rosa-Martinez
November 2007
Six Colombian children, ages seven to thirteen, call the Kreider duo mamá and papá (mom and dad). The Kreider’s set out in 2004 to make their dream of having children a reality. “I’ve always wanted six children...” said Boni Kreider. Read on as ¡Aplauda! peeks into the unfolding journey of two Hampton Roads citizens captured by six Colombian hearts.
Durant and Boni Kreider met in college thirteen years ago and married. They began an adventurous pursuit of purpose and destiny with travel to Europe and Spanish speaking countries. Something very different from Durant Kreider’s German upbringing where he remembers, “we were one ethnicity and ate one type of food (meat and potatoes).” In contrast, Mrs. Kreider expressed how the travels broadened her world perspective having been raised in a diverse “Navy Town” community of Florida.
Their life today continues in adventure, a bilingual exploration-adventure one might observe as these new parents bond hearts with their adopted Colombian children.
Family: number of children and age range
“Our six children range from ages seven to thirteen. We began required Virginia adoption agency home study and adoption pursuit in 2004. I’ve always wanted six children,” Mrs. Kreider said. “After trying to get them naturally thirteen years with no results, we decided to adopt.”
Mrs. Kreider expanded on complicated issues and concerns about the local adoption agencies that turned their adoption pursuit international.
“We wanted children outside of our culture,” Mrs. Kreider said. “My maternal love has no specific color or culture attached to it. I now have three boys and three girls. The eldest four are biological siblings and the last two, who joined us August 2007, are also blood siblings. The amazing thing in knitting our family together, with three years between the first four and last two, was that all six children came from the same orphanage in Colombia and we actually have an early group picture of the first four where you can see the little face of one of our newest sons in the background!”
“The close family ties and unity aspects we encountered during our travels and work in Spanish speaking countries of Peru and Nicaragua and also the island of Puerto Rico drew us to the possibility of adopting from Colombia,” Pastor Kreider shared. “We worked with an organization that aims to keep related children together.” Hampton Roads neighborhood you live in now. How long?
The Kreider’s live in Chesapeake five years now.
Current Professional:
“I work as a part-time data analyst as my husband pastors our Chesapeake church full-time,” Mrs. Kreider shared.
Do your children speak Spanish?
“We work hard at maintaining a bilingual home in Chesapeake, VA though we ourselves are not fluent Spanish speakers, yet,” said Pastor. “For instance, we currently have Patricia, from Colombia, serving in church leadership and assisting us in maintaining the children’s native language and cultural experience. And this summer we all spent two months in Colombia as we completed adoption procedures for our two youngest. The eldest children visited their former neighborhood and understood the need to maintain the Spanish.”
Favorite Hispanic personality: Why?
Pastor Kreider responded: “Alvar Uribe, Colombia’s President for the past five years stands out for me. He’s made Colombia a safer place and increased economic development in the country from my observations.”
Is there a song, word, or phrase that describes your life?
Describing themselves as the “pioneering ones” in their respective family the phrase “Life is an adventure” and the Spanish version of the song, Only Christ, sprouted from the duo as favorites.
Personal mentor or role model that influenced your life:
Both Durant and Boni Kreider nominated their parents as major influencers by speaking and living out truth at home. Mrs. Kreider added:
“My parents continue to be major influencers in our lives! I couldn’t believe it when they chose to move from Florida to Virginia, after we adopted, to actively participate in the lives of their new grandchildren.”
How do you see yourself giving back to the Hispanic population of Hampton Roads?
“Since adopting our six children from Colombia we decided to add a Spanish religious service in our Chesapeake church location,” Pastor Kreider said. “In addition to my other pastoral duties, we attend the service as a family every Saturday night. All are welcomed.”
Organization affiliations in Hampton Roads:
Pastor Kreider confirms he and boys work with the Chesapeake Police Department’s PAL program while the lady of the house focuses her efforts as an active member of the Parent and Teacher Association.
Compare a difference from how you were raised and how you raised your children or grandchildren in Hampton Roads?
“Having been raised in Lancaster PA was a monoculture experience. In the country we were one ethnicity and ate one type of food (meat and potatoes),” Pastor Kreider said. “I see our children as being raised with a more global and multicultural appreciation. I don’t want my children to see anyone as an outsider, ever.”
How well do you think the United States in general, but Hampton Roads in particular, have done in creating opportunities and accommodating Spanish-speaking people?
“Although we are non-native Spanish speakers we notice the efforts of many local chain stores and banks in Hampton Roads that provide Spanish language options,” Pastor Kreider said.
Mrs. Kreider states: “But how does it help someone who is a non-English speaker when the sign says in English, “We speak Spanish here.”
She continues to say that there are great people in Chesapeake, very hospitable and kind, but the city is not ready, nor does it have sufficient resources, for non-English speakers and commits to changing this situation for the sake of her children and many others.
“I want my children to be fluent Spanish and English communicators.
What influence do you think the Hispanic population has had on the Hampton Roads community?
Having big dreams for their six children and their future role in society the Kreider couple states:
“We want our children to influence the community and teach them they can influence, even at their young age, by respecting all cultures and growing up to be good dads, moms, and good citizens.”
Of what life achievements are you most proud?
“We were the first ones in our respective families to complete a college education and to buy a home while still in our twenties,” Pastor Kreider said.
Mrs. Kreider chimes in and states: “We were also the first to adopt children. And we’re dedicated to achieving a better world by teaching positive principles and purpose into people’s lives.”
What is your favorite cultural dish?
Pastor Kreider shared how much he loves Arepas (flat cake made of corn meal) filled with cheese and the Mrs. spoke of her love for sopadillas. She added:
“In my travels to Peru, Colombia, and Puerto Rico, I learned that not every Latin area uses the same ingredients for sopadillas. I personally like the Peruvian style.”
Hobbies?
“We love biking and motorcycling. But most of all we like packing up the six kids and pitching a tent somewhere remote where we can enjoy the intimacy of family,” Pastor Kreider shared.
As we ended our interview, Durant and Boni Kreider invited ¡Aplauda! and the readers, to partake in their unfolding journey. Look them up at coastlands-church.org. Thank you Kreider Family for breaking boundaries and opening your heart and home to these six children. ¡Aplauda! IRM.
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