"One of the main ideas was to expose them to American culture and then to expose them, of course, to family life, which a lot of them have not been exposed to," Nanette Garrett said.

Family will be key for the Herbons of Murray, who have agreed to host four children, all siblings. Teri and Gamal Herbon had thought about adopting since they had difficulties conceiving their 6-year-old son, Christopher, and agreed to be a host family when asked by their neighbors, the Garretts.

The couple intends to focus on showing the children, ranging in age from 7 to 14, how their home life operates and introducing them to their large extended family in the area.

"Who knows? We're just going to go through the process and see how it goes," Teri Herbon said.

The group will remain in Utah until Nov. 8, following a benefit concert at Kingsbury Hall on Nov. 7. The concert will serve as the group's final activity and also raise funds for the foundation to assist financially with adoptions that come as a result of the program.

At between $15,000 and $20,000 to adopt one child, plus another $4,000 for each additional child, money is the biggest stumbling block to adoption, Vern Garrett said.

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E-mail: awelling@desnews.com