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Published: Thursday, January 3, 2008

Arlington ex-cop has new calling

Adopted kids inspire woman to help the poor
By Yoshiaki Nohara, Herald Writer

ARLINGTON -- Sometimes life makes sense in reverse.

Tana Gwordske and her husband, Chad, have adopted three children from Guatemala. And now she is working for a nonprofit group to build schools for poor children in the Central American country.

A little more than 10 years ago, Gwordske had never been to Guatemala. She knew little about the country where poverty and violence are commonplace.

In 1996, Gwordske became a patrol officer for the Monroe Police Department. She enjoyed teaching safety classes to eighth-graders. She did some detective work.

"I really liked the idea of being part of the community and helping people be safe," said Gwordske of Arlington.

Gwordske also took intensive Spanish courses. Monroe had a growing population of Hispanic immigrants. Learning the language helped her learn more about Latin Americans, and vice versa.

"We need to serve the whole ­community," she said.

She met Chad Gwordske at the police department. They fell in love, married and in January 1999 moved from Woodinville to Arlington.

The couple wanted to have children, but soon learned they couldn't have biological offspring. They discussed options. Adoption sounded like a good solution. They wanted to reach out to needy children regardless of race and ethnicity. They learned of adoption programs in Guatemala. In October 2000, the couple flew to Guatemala City to meet Jacob, then 14 months old and living with a foster family.

Jacob was gorgeous. Guatemala was beautiful.

The couple also saw how people there struggled. Many lived in houses with tin roofs and stucco walls. Children walked alone on the streets. Old people could be seen carrying around loads of wood.

"It's hard not to see the poverty," Tana Gwordske said.

They came back to Arlington with Jacob. In return trips to Guatemala, they also adopted Ana and Marcus.

Tana Gwordske has visited the country eight times, brushing up on her Spanish skills and observing the harsh realities of the country. Over the years, she has become attached to local people who continue to live strong despite dire conditions.

Gwordske resigned from the Monroe Police Department in spring 2005 to spend more time with her three children. Her husband now works as deputy for the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office.

Meanwhile, Tana Gwordske got to know Adopt-a-Village, a nonprofit group based in North Miami Beach, Fla. The group helps to build schools in remote areas in Guatemala, a place where many children have limited education.

"It's hard to go out there and not want to help," Gwordske said.

She started volunteering for the group in late 2006, translating letters between Spanish and English.

In May, she became a part-time employee.

"My quest is still the same," Gwordske, 39, said. "I want to help people."

In April this year, she plans to visit Guatemala again to see how the group has helped local people. While she's away, Chad Gwordske, 38, will stay at home with their children.

"My mission is basically to help Tana facilitate those trips to go there and help those people," he said.

Looking back, Tana Gwordske said she now sees why she learned Spanish and she didn't get to have her biological children.

"We both believe things happen for reason," she said. "That's why our children are with us."

Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com

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