Meet the Klika Family
By: McKenzie Van Lanen, Case Manager with Catholic Charities Adoption and Pregnancy Support Services Program
Kelly and Matthew Klika worked with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Green Bay as their home study and post-placement agency to complete their international adoption (along with their primary placing agency, All God’s Children International) adding a fourth child to their family. Kelly wrote the following words in reflection of their adoption journey:
“The Lord planted a seed for adoption in our hearts early in our marriage. Years later, as we began to pray more deliberately about adoption, we had no idea where God would lead us. It was a leap of faith. What unfolded was a journey that stretched our hearts, tested our faith, and revealed God’s love in the most unexpected and powerful of ways.
In 2018, we began to explore adoption more seriously. We talked with adoptive families and met with Catholic Charities to learn more about the process. After researching our options, we determined international adoption was the right fit for our family. We then chose a country, and our primary placing agency, All God’s Children International, that worked directly in Burundi who informed us that the process would take approximately two years. We spent the first half of 2019 attending appointments and diligently working on paperwork. Finally, our dossier for international adoption was complete and sent to Burundi, Africa. We excitedly told our family and friends of our decision to grow our family through adoption and then…we waited.
At first, the wait felt necessary. There was a lot to learn. We took classes, read books and listened to podcasts. Two years came and went, and we waited. As time passed, we began to question the specifics of our calling. The emotional toll was real. It was at this time my sister Kim shared some unforgettable advice to “love God’s will the most.” We knew God was with us in our waiting and that He had a plan for us. We drew strength from our family and friends who so faithfully walked with and prayed for us and the little girl we longed for.
As a busy family of five, it was rare that we were home at the same time, but on June 9, 2023, when the call came, we were all within 10 feet. Together, we learned our family was matched with a 1-year-old girl named Solange. It was a Holy Spirit moment — one of many in the even more difficult wait ahead.
The rest of our journey to Solange was anything but smooth sailing. What we were told by our placing agency would take seven to nine months ended up being an excruciating 19 months. Thankfully, we were not alone. We had formed a community with other families matched with Burundian children at the same time. We shared experiences, frustrations and prayers.
We leaned harder into our faith. I stumbled upon a song that beautifully encouraged us in those final months, “I Am” by Judah. It became an anthem. “Stand firm in your faith / And be courageous and strong / Don’t stress, just breathe deep and know / I’m holding it all / Sometimes trusting me looks like a freefall / But either way I hope that you jump right in / Let my peace you can't understand take over your heart / Take over your thoughts / I'm invisibly aware / Just try to receive what I give free and know / Where you go I am there.” OK God, we got this.
In January 2025, we brought Solange into our family, and we are all forever changed. We feel it is no coincidence that she joined us during this Jubilee Year of Hope. Her name means light, and she brings so much joy and shines so brightly wherever she goes. Our immediate and extended families have bonded with her beautifully. With her loving personality, it’s hard not to.
So, while we never would have chosen our adoption journey to take so long or be associated with so many setbacks, we also would not change the outcome for the world. Looking back, we can see how God’s hand graciously and lovingly brought us together forever.”
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Green Bay is one of three Hague accredited adoption agencies in Wisconsin handling intercountry adoption. Catholic Charities primarily works with prospective adoptive parents, preparing them for adoption, providing guidance and support throughout the process, completing their home study, and offering services and post-placement after the adoption. The agency then coordinates with a second Hague accredited adoption agency that provides direct services in the child’s country to ensure that all legal requirements in the child’s country for adoption are met.
Often pursuing the intercountry adoption of a child is impacted by delays that are outside hopeful adoptive parents’ or agencies’ control. Common delays include visa processing delays, political unrest in a child’s country of origin, natural disasters, and timelines for various procedures impacted by technology access. The adoption process is a lifelong journey with ups, downs, twists, and turns that require tenacity, flexibility, faith, and, most of all, love.