Nyame Dua (God Protects) Needs Us

***UPDATE: Nyame Dua's Rent has been PAID! Your generosity provided for these children in less than 12 hours!! Thank you to all who gave!***

There is an urgent need at the Nyame Dua Bolga Home. This home cares for 19 children in Bolgatanga, Upper East Region. These children are not currently able to be adopted due to corruption in the region, but Paul Anaba and his staff continue to be dedicated to their care. Rent is now due at the home. Paul thought that he had all the money needed but at the last minute the landlord almost doubled the rent. This means that Nyame Dua now needs $1000 in the next three days in order to pay their rent by April 15th.

Again, it would be very easy for Paul to simply close the home. The children have no path to adoption at this point. For all Paul knows he will be caring for these children into adulthood. Paul is dedicated to these children. He isn’t caring for them so that he can in some way profit from their adoptions. He is caring for them because they sincerely have no safe place to go back to and he loves them.

If you are able to make a donation of ANY size in the next three days, please go to our website at www.adoptionadvocates.org and click the “Donate Now” button. Choose “Ghana” and then note “Nyame Dua, Rent.” Alternatively you can call our office tomorrow or Monday and make a donation by phone with your debit or credit card. Ask for Kathy. Every penny will go directly to Nyame Dua. We will send what is collected at end of the day on Monday the 15th of April.

Thanks,
Anita
P.S. Any amount donated above and beyond $1000 will be donated for the care and support of the 19 Nyame Dua Bolga children.

1,000 for 1: Now 500 for 1!!!!

Big news for Efua Green!!!! The Green family was just awarded a $3500 Matching Grant from Lifesong for Orphans! This means that if you donate $10 to Lifesong, it will turn into $20 (up to $3,500)! Woo hoo! Praise God! I really believe the Lord's hand is on the little girl's life. A month ago the Green family was so discouraged they didn't know if anybody would ever feel moved to help them. Believe me, this family is not a family who asks for help easily. They don't just want to ask for a hand-out. They've never made a habit of doing this in their previous adoptions. But they are in the process of answering the Lord's call to adopt three children from Ghana (two of which have special needs) at the same time. Efua was a bit of a "surprise" adoption.

At any rate, if you'd like to automatically double your donation dollar for dollar just send your donation to:

Lifesong for Orphans
PO Box 40 or 202 N. Ford St.
Gridley, IL 61744
ON the memo line indicate “Green” adoption preference # 2644

I will continue to update the blog on how the Lord provides for Efua's homecoming.

1,000 for 1--Efua Green Update!

A few people have asked me how things are going with the fundraising for Efua Green. Thank you so much for not letting this baby girl escape your heart! She deserves to stay there!

We are at the end of the month--the goal that the Green family had set for getting the first chunk in so that Efua could go to court in Ghana. Between the donations that you have given, and what the Green family has been able to save/fundraise themselves, they sent in the first $3750 last week! $2100 of that came directly from YOU!!! That is 210 people who said, "Count me in for $10 for Efua Green!"

Project Hopeful, the organization that is sponsoring Efua's FIG account, recently asked the Green family to come up with and estimate of all the costs needed in order to finish Efua's adoption--adoption fees, monthly foster care fees, and conservative travel estimates. It came to a little over $10,000. Now, I see God's hand all over this. Seriously, when I first wrote about Efua on this blog, I shared about how 1000 people read about this child and said, "No, I can't adopt her. She's not my child." I went on to challenge at least 1000 people to now say, "Yes, count me in for $10. I can give $10 to help Efua Green come home." Why is 1000 involved? Why $10? Why $10,000?!?! Because GOD! I didn't know that's how much the Greens would need in order to make this all happen. But God knew. He just put that on my heart. I had no clue. So now we know WHY 1000 is important. 1000 said no. Now the challenge is for 1000 to say yes. 210 down, only 790 left to go people!

Maybe you already said yes this last month. Awesome! Maybe you said yes for 10 people. Even better! You totally rock! I met this baby girl 10 days ago and I'm telling you, she's worth every single penny (times 1 million) that we can give towards her homecoming. It's really not hard to give. Just click HERE. Input any amount you want. We're hoping you'll give at least $10, but no amount is too small (or too large). This baby can now get all the way through court before the next payment is due. If we're very lucky, she will be through court before the end of April! That doesn't give us much time to raise the next $6,000 needed!

I would be worried, except God! Except God, and the way He works through the hearts of His amazing servants!

Love,

Anita

P.S. If you don't do online donations, don't have a card, or whatever, don't let that discourage you. Email me at anita@adoptionadvocates.org. I can get you an address to send your check to the Green family personally!

Efua Green: 1000 for 1

Thank you to all of you who gave to Efua Green's FIG account! I heard from Polly Green who expressed her great thanks for everybody who is praying for her baby, and for everybody who said YES, I can give at least $10 for Efua Green! As of last night $600 had been donated this week. That's great! Thank you!

Here's reality. Efua needs another $3000 in her FIG account before end of this month so that her fees can go to Ghana on April 1st. Otherwise, she'll have to wait another month in Ghana. The Green family is doing EVERYTHING they can. Don't think that they are just sitting around waiting for people give. Not at all. But they are also praying that hearts may be softened and that everybody who sees this child's eyes might click on over and give $10 (or more). The thought is, over 1000 people saw Efua's eyes when she was waiting, and over 1000 people said, "No, I can't adopt her." Now, we same 1000 people can say, "YES, I can do this! I can do THIS for Efua!"

Efua means "Friday Born." Could today be a big day for this child?

It's easy. If you want to give a tax deductible donation, just CLICK HERE. Input the amount you want to give. I had a cousin call the other day and said, "Anita, my heart is broken for this child. I'm covering 10 people." That's pretty much how it works! If you can give $10 for Efua, THANK YOU SO MUCH. If you can give to "cover" for those that won't/can't give, THANK YOU for that as well! If what you can do right now is SHARE THIS on facebook, or on your blog, or with all of your email friends or co-workers, well that might just make the biggest impact of all!

]

My point is, every single one of us can take a few moments to get out of our own lives and do something for this precious little child in Ghana.

Thank you for taking time out of your day to consider this situation

Anita

P.S. The Green family has not asked me to make this request for Efua. They have only given their permission for me to share the situation, but very humbly so.

Walking by Faith--Efua's Family

Several weeks ago I posted on AAI's facebook page about a little baby girl in Ghana that was in need of an adoptive family. She is under one year old (very rare for Ghana adoption). She has microcephaly, cerebral palsy, and at the time we thought she was blind and deaf. That's a lot of things going on with one tiny baby girl. I posted, and I waited. And waited. Not one family inquired about her.

A few days went by without any inquiries and I posted again with an update. Medicals revealed that she did have at least SOME hearing and sight. PRAISE GOD!!! I posted. I asked others to share--to spread the word. One very big-name adoption advocate even shared. Over a thousand people read about her and saw her gorgeous eyes. [That is a very conservative estimate.] Nobody inquired. Nobody.

Where is Efua's family?

In the meantime the Green family was in the middle of adopting two boys from Ghana. They are an experienced adoptive family. Little did I know that they were praying about adding baby girl Efua to their family. They have a large family, and they aren't the youngest chicks in the barn, and they are already adopting two other children. It's a lot. There are a LOT of reasons to say no. But that's not what God told them. At one point I think they even tried to tell God no, but they really couldn't do it. They aren't good at stuff like that. Before long, they called me to tell me they were fairly certain that they were supposed to adopt this baby girl--despite any misgivings the world may have with it. They are baby Efua's parents.

They stepped out in faith.

People use this term--"stepping out in faith"--all the time. I think we over-use it. But this family is really doing it. They have FAITH that Efua will live a meaningful life in their family. They have FAITH that they will be given the tools they need to parent 3 newly adopted children at once while still meeting the needs of their other children. They have FAITH that the Lord will put it on the hearts of others to donate towards Efua's adoption fees.

This family needs $7500 to pay for Efua's adoption fees. This is a child who cannot afford to wait. Every month she stays in Ghana is a month she loses in early intervention therapies. Let's be real. It's a month she could potentially die from lack of medical care.

The Green family recently sent out a letter to family and friends, telling of their need for assistance with fees. They have received only one donation. One. This family who has stepped up for a child that nobody else wants...nobody else even INQUIRED about...they need help to make this a reality. THEY stepped out for a child that nobody else would step out for. Now, can WE (you, and I, and anybody you send this to) spare a few bucks to help them reach $7,500 to save this child's life?

Save a life.

Yes. Literally. This child's life hangs in the balance. Efua will die in Ghana. Without the Green family I don't know that she would ever find another adoptive family. She will NOT live long in Ghana. She needs to get out of there ASAP. And money is standing in the way.

If you are willing to assist the Greens with even $10, you can CLICK HERE to make a tax deductible donation to Efua's FIG account through Project Hopeful. Over 1000 people saw this child's face and said "not me." Let us not say it again. Now she has a family. Now our part in this is much easier. I don't know about you, but I'm heading over to the link above to say, "Count me in."

Count me in.

So much....

What a week. I have so much to write about I'm afraid it's going to spill out into the void before I get a chance to type it onto my blog where it is safely saved! Well, it won't be tonight. I'm all tuckered out. Just checking in to at least say this much....

The good and the bad and the ugly and the "only God" has been coming at me all week. Made one of the most difficult kinds of calls you could ever make in this work. [Gave me a better understanding of how doctors must feel when they lose a patient.] Experienced the normal sort of crazy-busy stuff that happens as soon as you buy tickets to Ghana. And stood in awe as God continued to fill up my agenda for the time I'm in Ghana. Not sure I can write that blog post yet because I'm sure there is still more in store than I ever dreamed of! I need to write an agenda of my trip for the AAI board, and I can definitely fill up my 12 days without blinking an eye, but I have a feeling that the Lord hasn't revealed all that there is to reveal about what my time will be spent doing.

I hate to bring this up, but I've gotten this question several times so I figure it's best to put it out there. If you feel so led to further support my trip to Ghana, you can do so in several ways. The best/easiest way may be to call AAI at 360-452-4777, talk to Kathy, and she can take your bank/credit/debit number by phone. You could also send a check to AAI at 409 S. Peabody, Port Angeles, WA 98362. Thirdly, you could make a donation on our website HERE (however the administrator of the site doesn't actually send the money until the middle of each month). All of the above would be TAX DEDUCTIBLE. If you don't care about that, you can email me privately (agillispie@cox.net) and I can send you my home address. I think/hope/pray that we can squeak by with what has been given already to cover my room and board. From here on out we are talking about donations to bless others in Ghana. Ya'll, the needs are great. It's overwhelming. I will write about more specific needs in an upcoming blog but needless to say, I could never take enough to meet all of these needs. I pray that I am a good steward of whatever small amount I end up with, that I make the best choices possible with the money I do have.

Okay, TO BED (she said).

Anita

Made My Day!

Yesterday was a terribly, no good, very bad day. No lie. I felt *SO* discouraged about things, and just....so.....tired. I can't go into detail, but let me just say that it is now very evident to me (if it wasn't already) that I am not at all meant to be a bookkeeper or accountant! I went to bed with a sad face on, and knowing that today would have to be better simply by default.

I woke up this morning with a lot to do and not enough time to do it. [No, I shouldn't be taking time to write this right now.] Someone has to make the donuts, right?

A few hours ago I got a call from my boss. Since I began working for AAI I have been considered a "contractor." I don't feel like a contractor. I'm not paid like a contractor (per case). I don't have a contractor adoption coordinating business. I feel like an employee. It's a little thing that has really weighed on me, and I've let that be known. Well, my boss called me today to let me know that as of March 1st, I will be an AAI employee!! That definitely put a smile on my face. I've put in 5 years to achieve that status. She said that was the "just good but not really good news." This change to employee status also means additional pay for my work. THAT was the really good news, she said. =-) The reason this is big to me is because it's a way of saying that I am a valued member of the team--it's not so much about the money.

A few weeks ago I posted about "Martha's Home." This little foster home had few resources and needed help to send the kids to school and give them an adequate diet. We put out the word, and within a day families stepped up to help meet that need. [It never grows old to see the generosity of families first-hand!]

Today the money was hand-delivered by one of our AAI adoptive families. I got a call from Martha SO EXCITED and SO THANKFUL for the funds to meet the kids' needs. A few minutes ago I received the following note (edited to protect privacy):

Hello Anita,

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Anita, I am very grateful to you for helping me give education to these kids. God bless you so much. In fact A and J were very happy when they saw S and a white friend from the USA, together with Mr. A. Everything went on successfully and tomorrow we will send them to school. The total amount was 700US$. We will start sending you photos of the kids at school very soon and all other details that you requested from us so that you could show them to your sponsors.

S was very friendly and we wish she was going to spend some more days here but unfortunately, she is leaving tomorrow. She gave bags, dresses, pencils and some books to the kids. all we can say is Thank you.

Much Love,
Martha.

There are times that I question my own motives. Am I doing this work because of money or status? Am I doing it to look like a good person? And then something like the above is sent from Ghana, and it strikes me that THAT is the big news of my day. I'm so exceptionally grateful for the changes the agency is making so that I feel valued. More than anything though, it's the opportunity to see a difference being made in the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children that keeps me going. I'm thankful that the Lord gave me the opportunity to learn that about myself today.

Love,

Anita

P.S. Two of the three children at Martha's Home still need educational sponsors at $35 a month and food sponsors at $50 per month! The funds given only secure school until the next session in April. Please email brooke@adoptionadvocates.org if you'd like to sponsor one of the kiddos!

Unique Opportunity

A few years ago a mom in Ghana made the decision that she could no longer care for her child. She made an adoption plan, and that child was adopted by an amazing and loving family here in America. End of story, right? No. Beginning of story.

Since that child was adopted, the mom in Ghana has written to me off and on, sharing with me about her hopes and dreams. Believe me, this is not the norm! I've been burned a few times when people have shared their hopes and dreams and it turned out to be simply a way to scam money out of rich Americans. Because of that, I admit I didn't put a lot of faith in this mom's words.

She never gave up. Maybe she gave up on ME (and the agency I work for) supporting her, but she never gave up on what she wanted to do. She wanted to help other moms like her--moms that couldn't care for their children--to not ever have to make an adoption plan. She has prayed, and she has saved, and now she is caring for 3 children who may otherwise be on the streets or in other vulnerable care situations. She has committed to care for these children until such a time that their first families can come back for them. No cost to those families. She simply wants to make a place for these children and families to be loved.

After years, I am convinced. This mom has gone out and achieved her dream of helping the vulnerable, and she is doing it without the help of "rich" Americans. That doesn't mean that she can do it as well as she could with our help. She has a (simple) roof over their heads, and she loves them 24 hours a day. That is more than their families can currently give. But Mom Martha does not have the resources to put the kids in school, or even to provide the type of diet she knows the kids need. I am now convinced that Martha will be accountable for anything she receives to care for these children.

The three children have already been added to AAI's Sponsorship Program. One of the children has now been fully sponsored (yes!) but as far as I know the other two children still need educational sponsorship of $35 a month and food assistance of $50 a month. If you would like to sponsor one of these children (or both!) Brooke@adoptionadvocates.org can give you further information on how to get started! Families who sponsor these kids should have the opportunity to stay in touch by letters/emails/photos and I anticipate regular reports on their well-being.

There is a more acute need. RIGHT NOW is the beginning of the new school session in Ghana and Mom Martha doesn't have the ongoing support of sponsors RIGHT NOW. For this reason, I am hoping that we can raise $600. This will pay tuition and fees through April; will purchase needed uniforms, books, and supplies; and will provide the kids a nutritious diet for the coming month. As of 10pm tonight we have raised $80 (for which I am very thankful). There is no donation too small. Every penny will go directly to these children, and every donation is tax-deductible.

I know it's January and sometimes folks have "giving-fatigue" in January. It's a notoriously low month for non-profits. I get it. But if you feel led to donate a bit to help these kids get in school sooner rather than later (April), you can click HERE. Designate the donation towards "Ghana" and then note "Martha's Home."

Why did I title this blog "Unique Opportunity?" Well, how many times do we have an opportunity to give to a situation like this? How many times are we able to directly give back to a "birth mom?" How many times do we see a birth mom not only turn her life around, but also then give that life back to children and families who are now in the same position she ones found herself to be in? Not many! I can't think of a more poignant success story, can you?

[Click HERE if you'd like to see photos of Mom Martha and the children.]

Love,

Anita

P.S. Martha's Home is not a foster home focused on adoption, but rather family reunification.

What's your Halloween/Harvest Budget?

Kendi, 3 years ago. Lost all of her hair and much of her body fat from lack of food. 13 pounds at 18 months old.

Bright, 5 years ago. Almost lost his life due to starvation--marasmus and kwashiorkor. 8 pounds at 12 months old.


Samren, 8 years ago. Malnourished due to a disease that robbed his body of the ability to digest proteines. 14 pounds at 15 months old.

Three of my 4 children KNOW hunger. They know what it is like to lie awake at night and try to sleep, with their stomach shriveled up and empty. They know what it it is like to watch people eat around them while they continue to go hungry. As a family, we know what hunger does to a child's mind, heart, and body. Even though the hunger lasted less than 2 years for each of my children, they have issues that we believe will haunt them throughout their lives. My 10 year old obsesses about when the next meal will come, what it will be, and if he can sneak "extra" when nobody is around. My 6 year old gorges on and steals sweet foods any chance he gets, to the point of making himself sick. My 4 and 6 years old both experience great anxiety when food is being prepared, even though they may not eat it when it's served. All of them have some sort of learning/behavioral issue that we can probably attribute to the malnutrition they experienced as babies. All three of them have been traumatized by HUNGER.

There is a photo going around on facebook right now--a starving child and then a plea to consider donating as much to a charity this Halloween/Harvest as you will spend on candy and costumes for your kids. What a good and simple idea. I hope that you'll take this idea to heart. I figured, instead of posting that picture of a random "starving child" I might show you my 3 previously starving children instead. That random starving child that you see on the internet...that child is someone's baby! It's not a "cause" to that child's mom/dad to feed their child. It's a great failure to them that they aren't able to help their child eat. It's personal.

I'm not saying not to buy candy or costumes for your kids. It's fun. I'm going to. But I think we will also start a tradition of donating funds that will help a child out of (possible or actual) starvation.

I know you're busy, so I'll make it super duper extra easy for you!! =-)

Click HERE to donate to projects hosted by Adoption Advocates International. Specifically, you can make a one time or recurring donation to purchase food for a vulnerable family (Ghana--Food Sponsorship), provide education (and therefore LUNCH!) to a child through sponsorship (Ghana or Ethiopia, child sponsorship), or simply mark your donation for FOOD (and specify country)! I make a solemn promise to you that every penny you donate will go directly to its intended purpose.

Click HERE to donate to Feeding the Orphans. This organization has a simple mission--to feed orphans. You can do this through a one time donation or an ongoing sponsorship. I can attest to this organization's character.

Click HERE to donate to HardtHaven Children's Home--a home specializing in the care of HIV/AIDS affected children. Our family sponsors a child through HardtHaven. I've visited the home personally and can promise that your donated funds are used to assist children who would otherwise go without.

Click HERE to donate to Feed My Starving Children, and organization dedicated to feeding children worldwide. Our family has given to this org for a few years, and we've always been so pleased. Even though they seem "big," they have always been very personal in their thanks for our donation. You can feed a child for a whole year for $88, but they will gladly accept any donation!

Finally, click HERE to donate to Compassionate Journeys. Yesterday Christ Outreach Orphanage in Kasoa, Ghana was devastated by flooding that occurred in the Central Region of Ghana. I have been to this orphanage and know that these children are in true need all the time, let alone at this time. They lost many of their possessions. I can only imagine that the food in the storeroom would have been washed away along with clothing, school supplies, and everything else. Compassionate Journeys will be taking donations to help the home recover.

Thanks for keeping perspective during this fun (but sometimes excessive) time of year!

Love,

Anita

Front of motif

Back of same motif
I settled on my next crochet project. It's going to be a snowflake motif afghan. Here is what the finished product looks like.

I decided to do the afghan in a county-inspired cocoa and cream color combination. I figure if nobody bids on it for the AAI Holiday Project Auction, it will look good on my own bed! ;-)

One down, one to go!

Honestly, I never thought I would bw riting "RENT PAID" today. I hoped that in the next five days we could find 24 people to give $35, but you guys exceed all expectations! It is done. Diana will have a home for the next few years, and time to save up for the two years after that.

The Vehicle Campaign is going to take time. I know that. But truly, ever little donation adds up, if only enough people donate.

Love,
Anita

Transportation Woes

Today I got up at 4am, like usual. With 4 foster children plus my own son to get ready for school, there is much to do. Set the pot on the fire to make porridge; wash the clothes (ugh, my hands are so tired from wringing out urine soaked sheets!); give everybody their morning bucket bath; dress them; feed them; make sure they have everything needed for school. They are off by 7am and then it's time to get myself ready. Eat, wash, do the dishes, dress. Finally, I am ready to start my work day.

Today I will be going to Chorkor and Amasaman. If I have time, I need to head up towards Shai Hills for one more visit. I love my work, but it's a challenge even on a good day. It's rainy season, but what can you do? The work must go on. It rained all night long, leaving most of the roads very muddy. I catch a taxi outside of my home, and load up the three boxes of groceries for Chorkor moms, the new uniform and school supplies for a child in Amasaman, and a box of baby food for the baby near Shai Hills. The taxi driver agrees to a rate of 10 cedis an hour.

I just finished my driving classes and dream of owning a car so that I can do my work more efficiently. But who can afford one? I've saved up a few thousand cedis so far, but it will be a while. The taxi it is. Off to Chorkor we go. Morning traffic isn't too bad today, so we get there in 2 hours. The taxi won't go back into the neighborhood, so I have to walk to find each mother to deliver the much needed food. The box weighs about 20 pounds, but they are short walks--less than a mile each.

It's about 11:30am now. I buy an ear of roasted corn to serve as my lunch on the go. Off to Amasaman. With traffic, it will take 3 hours to get to the village proper. We ran out of gas (taxis always run on empty!), which delayed us. It's around 3pm before we get to the village. Lots of the roads are impassible in this rickety old taxi. He won't even try to get to the school I need to go to. There's nothing to do but start walking. It's not too long of a walk--maybe 2-3 miles. My burden is light, with only the child's book bag of supplies. I find her at the school, pay the headmistress for the upcoming semester, and head back to the taxi. It's 4:30 now. Rush hour. I call my sister to ask her to pick up my 1 year old son from school, and to meet the other children when they arrive. "Can you make dinner? I know, I know. I'll pay you back."

At 8pm we roll in to Teshie. I didn't get to the Shai Hills baby today after all. Tomorrow then. I pay the taxi driver 120 cedis to cover today's transportation. I feel a little sick to my stomach--partly because I haven't eaten since noon and partly because I know that 120 cedis would have gone a lot further if only I had my own vehicle to drive; and maybe I would have been home a few hours earlier.

My baby is asleep on the couch and the older kids are doing homework. I eat cold fufu with light soup that my sister made. I give the evening baths to the kids. We dress for bed. I think about tomorrow. Shai Hills will be at least 2 hours. Hopefully the taxi can make it off the main road back to the children's home where the baby lives. Tomorrow will be an easy day. Just Shai Hills, a medical visit with 2 orphaned children, and then to the internet cafe to send emails and documents to the adoption coordinator in America. I should be home before dark. But now, it's time to sleep. In six hours a new day begins!

************************************************

Above is what a typical day might be like for my friend Muna--humanitarian director at The Ripley Foundation in Ghana. She is a STRONG. AFRICAN. WOMAN. The Ripley Foundation is currently raising funds for 2 new vehicles in Ghana--one for city traveling (a car/minivan) and one for rough traveling (a 4X4 SUV).

If I think about my old response to pleas for money to buy a vehicle, I am sort of ashamed. Giving money for a new vehicle would be one of the LAST things I would want my humanitarian dollars to go to. I want to give for FOOD and EDUCATION! Over the last 4 years it's become more clear to me that sometimes the least "s*xy" thing to give for, is the most needed. Oh, the money that is used most every day, just so that Muna can do her job! Oh, the limitations she (and her co-director, Joha) face only because they don't have a way to get to the people who need them! Donating funds so that they can purchase these vehicles *IS* donating funds for food and education. This is how the food and education reaches the people who need it. This is reality. And the reality right now is that the work of the Ripley Foundation (both adoption and humanitarian) is being severely inhibited by the fact that they do not have proper transportation.

TRF is not asking all of us rich Americans to give the money they need. They are just asking us to help. J and M are saving their own money to add to the pot--thousands of cedis. It just isn't enough. They need at least $15,000-$20,000 to purchase a reliable car and SUV in Ghana. Ugh. I feel deflated even writing that number. It seems so huge--too huge. However, if enough people spread the word--get the info OUTSIDE of the small Ghana adoption community--I trust that there are folks out there who can give. In the mean time, I'll be giving the small amount I can, trusting that eventually it will all add up. If you will join with me just CLICK HERE (and designate "Ghana Vehicle Campaign"). And please, consider spreading the word of this need as far and as wide as you can.

Love,

Anita

This mom of 6 needs your help.

This is Diana. She is a mom, to six children. She is a good mom, a dedicated mom. When her husband left she and the children last year, she had no job and few job skills. As "luck" would have it, one of our AAI adoptive moms was in the area and happened to meet Diana and her children. After hearing about her situation, AAI was able to find educational sponsors for each of her children. Two more families stepped up to sponsor the family with additional food each month--not enough food to feed seven mouths adequately, but enough that, added with what they already had, nobody would starve.

The Ripley Foundation (the non-profit partner in Ghana) watched Diana. They saw how she made sure each of her children made it to school each day, even when she might be able to beg more money off people with the children in tow. They saw how clean the children were, and how they had the love and dedication of a mother all children should have. The Ripley Foundation decided to make Diana the first "Change a Life" grant recipient. A generous AAI family funded the first grant. With the grant Diana opened a yam selling business. Diana likes selling. She's good at it.

All six children are in school. Diana is working and making an income (although meager). They have a safe place to live. And then rent became due.

In Ghana you don't pay rent by the month. No. You pay 2 years in advance! Diana could pay her rent if she was paying by the month. 50 cedis a month ($35) is a lot to her, but she could do it. She cannot pay 24 months in advance. Her life is just getting on track, and she has had no time to save.

I was going to write, "Can you help Diana?" except I know that most reading this post could help. $35 is one mid-range dinner out with the family. It's 3-4 movie tickets. It's half a tank of gas. It's one college football ticket. It's one night in a crappy hotel. It's a MONTH of safety for Diana and her kids. If 24 people can pay for one month of Diana's rent, she and her family will have a safe place to live for another two years. Diana will have the next two years to save the money she will need to pay two years from now. This could be the thing that permanently gets her "over the hump." She has said from the beginning that her goal is to care for her family on her own. I believe she will meet her goal.

If you can give Diana and her children one month in their home--$35--just CLICK HERE. Every single penny will go towards rent. Just mark "AAI Ghana" and in the "other" portion put "Diana's Rent." AAI sends funds to Ghana at the start of each month. Five days until funds are sent again. Do you think we can find 24 people that can give $35 within the next five days?

Love,

Anita

P.S. I just donated. Now we only need 23....

P.P.S. The photos above were taken in June 2011, outside their home.

Kids Walking Kids Home

Have you all heard of Kids Walking Kids Home? This is a fantastic and unique way to bring awareness to the possibility of adopting an HIV+ child while at the same time supporting a family who is adopting an HIV+ child!

It's kind of like a modified "walk-a-thon." Basically, you contact KWKH and they will send you a fundraising kid complete with cute red bucket! The idea is that you get your kids involved in the process of helping an HIV+ child "come home" to America. The kids take donations for 2-3 weeks (donations are tax deductible). At the end of the donation collection time they make a statement in your community by simply taking a walk with their red bucket in hand. Maybe they receive more donations during their walk? But even if not, they are bringing awareness to the need for people to adopt HIV+ children here and around the globe.

May 7th is Wolrd AIDS Orphan Day. Wouldn't that be a great day to do this all across the country?! Kids Walking Kids Home is a program sponsored by From HIV to Home. The coolest thing (I think) is that if you know of a family adopting an HIV+ child, you can do the walk specifically for that family/child. The funds you raise are then given as a grant to the family who is trying to adopt that child!

I think that this is something our family will try to take part in on May 7th. Such a great way to give a small blessing to another family, while at the same time bringing awareness to "positive" adoptions!

Anita

Taevy's (and AAI's) Christmas Project

A note from our 7 year old daughter Taevy:

"Dear Blog Friends,

Did you know that in Ghana there are kids that might not get any Christmas presents? I just found out. So this year I asked my mommy and daddy to get me only like 5 presents so that they can spend the rest of their money to get the kids in Ghana some presents. I don't really need all of the stuff I have, so I also filled up three boxes with toys that my mommy can take to the kids when she goes to Ghana next year. And I'm going to ask Ms. Pilgrim if my class at school can collect money for Ghana kids' Christmas gifts.

My mommy works for an adoption agency that runs a place called Eban House in Ghana. Mommy talks to the kids on the phone and I get to hear their voices too. The kids are my friends now. I've seen pictures of the kids and of Eban House. And I see that the kids don't have too many things. They would really like to have some toys of their own--and a new set of clothes. There will be around 20 kids there at Christmas.

I'm doing everything I can to get presents for the kids, but Mommy told me that I might need help from blog friends. Please help my Ghana friends, okay? Even only $1 can buy something for them."

*************************************************************************

Anita here. =-) This really is something that Taevy has taken to heart all on her own. We were driving home from Wichita on Sunday when she piped up from the back seat with all of her plans to help her Eban House friends get Christmas presents. She didn't even know about AAI's annual Christmas fundraiser.

Donations have been very slow to come in for the Ghana Christmas project. We have a projected goal of $660. This would provide each child with a special toy and a brand new traditional Ghanaian outfit. The money would also provide for a house-wide Christmas party and a gift of thanks for each of our 16 staff members.

Lots of us with 3 or more kids might spend $660 just for our immediate family in the US to receive Christmas gifts from us. In Ghana that amount will make Christmas extra special for almost 40 people.

I feel totally cheap if I donate less than $20 to a fundraiser. But the reality is that there is power in numbers and a few bucks DOES help. So don't let yourself feel cheap if you can't donate $20 but can donate $3, okay?

Please consider heading on over to Adoption Advocates Donation Page and donate what you can. I think there is a $10 minimum on the website, but you can send a check for any amount to the office at 709 S. Peabody, Port Angeles, WA 98362. Just note that the donation is for Ghana.

Taevy thanks you, as do I.

Anita

Homecoming Preparations

Okay, so now that I got the not-so-fun stuff out of the way (#4) let's move on to REALLY fun stuff!

First, someone donated $1000 to our adoption fund!!!!! This means that, with February's savings we have what we will need to travel for Bright!! It feels so good not to have to worry about the finances anymore! This family just blessed our socks off! Yea God!!!!

I had a great time with my mom, sister, and aunt this weekend shopping for Bright! Since this is our 3rd child we've gotten past the need/want for ALL of the greatest/latest stuff out there for baby. In fact, since Bright is already a toddler we aren't even messing with putting the crib up (and buying all of the expensive bedding that would go with that). He already has a twin bed set up in "the boys'" room and he'll be cosleeping with us as much as possible for at least the first 6 months home.

In comes super-grandma to the rescue! My mom loaned us her port-a-crib (previously used for grandkids) and gave us a walker she had. I don't use strollers (I'm a baby-wearer) so no need for that expense. We thought about a play yard but I think we'll buy one second-hand if we decide we really need it. I'm just kind of over all of the "stuff" that people think babies need! LOL!

We've set up the port-a-crib in our bedroom and made it look as cute as one of those things can look! LOL! We bought Amy Coe "Peanut" stuff to put on it and I love it. It feels great...has got that African flair (with the elephants) and is one of my favorite color combos (green and brown).

We also bought Bright most of the clothes he will wear when we got to pick him up (summer stuff) and some toys I will take with us when we travel. So fun! I didn't buy spring stuff for here in OK just in case he is delayed in coming home longer than I think he will be.

This sounds boring, but just my mom and I went to Wal-Mart to do a thorough walk-through of everything we might need for Bright when we travel. You know...sippy cups and bottles and little bowls and spoons...checking out diaper size...oh! And we bought his car seat! My mom is as much of a planner as I am so it's really fun to talk about the trip. =-)

Hmmm....what else? Oh! I finally found the red, yellow and green yarn I need to make Bright's Ghana hat. Will be interesting to see how that turns out! And yesterday when I went to go get the yarn I stumbled on these too cute letters that I decorated with stars (you know..since he's Bright!). I will hang them over the headboard of his twin bed. Samren got some letters too (with frogs since that's his thing).

Thanks for all of the continued congrats for Bright, and for the supportive comments on our decision to stop focusing on kiddo #4 for now. It really touches my heart. =-)

Love,

Anita

Savings Update--January 2007

I've decided that each month I'm going to write an update on how our saving/fundraising for the adoptions is going. I don't know if I've mentioned this, but my husband has become an "affiliate" for several companies that sell from the internet. Basically, he brings traffic to a company's website, and when someone buys something after clicking one of Eric's links, he gets a small portion of the sale (2-6%). After spending money to advertise he usually breaks even or comes in up to a few hundred dollars ahead. But November and December are BIG months--and that is why we've been able to save so much in the last month! On to the report:

Bright's GOAL: $5,400

Ethiopia GOAL: $12,315

TOTAL GOAL: $17,715

December Savings:


$1000 (refund from Life's Vision)

January Savings:


$1000 (Eric's side business)

$ 400 (sale of my personal early childhood instruments to conservatory)

$ 40 (extra babysitting money)

$ 50 (usually pay more for car than is needed, paid $50 less this month)





TOTAL SAVED: $2490

STILL NEEDED: $15,225

Hodge Podge

Well folks, it looks like we might be in for an "adoption information drought" for a while. You know what that means--posts full of me dribbling on about life's little blessings and struggles, mixed in with a few adoption tidbits. Maybe I'm wrong and we'll have lots of adoption stuff to talk about soon. I hope so!!!

Tidbit #1

I love my baby girl! Yes, she's 6 but I love her so much! We had quite a scare today. You may have heard that we had a pretty bad ice storm here in OK. The kids wanted to go out to play in our very secure backyard so I bundled them up and sent them off. Our yard is tiny and I never worry much about them when they are out there--always have my mommy ear listening for danger! Today the mommy ear wasn't good enough and my baby got hurt. Taevy and Samren decided that they should try to knock ice cycles off of the house (even though we've told them a million times NOT to do that). So you're all thinking that an ice cycle fell and hit her, right? Not this time (thank goodness). But Samren lost control of the GARDEN HOE he was using to reach the ice cycles and it slammed down on Taevy's head! Of course, I didn't know this when she came screaming into the house absolutely covered in blood (face, hair, clothes front and back, everywhere).

I took her into the bathroom and tried in vain to find the injury (still not knowing how she got hurt). Her hair was a matted up bloody mess so I stripped her and up to the bathtub we went so that I could rinse the hair. Five minutes and some very orange bathwater later I found the culprit--about a 1/2 inch gash. Whew! It probably could have used some stitches but we are pretty iced in right now so we did the best we could. Tip: Liquid bandage works wonders on open head wounds.

It's just so scary to think about how much worse it could have been. She could have been killed by that hoe, or a falling ice cycle. Thank goodness she had her hood on--imagine how bad it would have been if it wouldn't have been there! Needless to say, today has been full of lots of extra hugs and cuddles to both of my kids. I can't imagine my life without them.

Tidbit #2:

Happy 4th Birthday Brody Emmanuel Grosso!!!! You are loved! You are loved! You are loved! All over this world you are loved! Can't wait for you to come home to your wonderful mommy and daddy big boy!

Tidbit #3:

I admit it. I am really struggling with the whole fundraising thing. Not the part where I sell off all of my stuff and have garage sales and save every penny. It's the part where I send letters to friends and family asking them to give us money for the adoption that I'm struggling with. I'm not too proud to do it. I think I'm just very scared of being disappointed with the outcome. I don't want to feel like a lack of donations means a lack of love (I know that isn't the case). But I know that some of our extended family could probably care less that we are adopting again (honestly--especially because we are adopting from Africa). They just don't see WHY we're doing it. We've got our status quo 2 kids, right?

Anyway, adding confusion to the whole fundraising thing is the fact that we really have 2 adoptions to fundraise for--the entire Ethiopia adoption and the travel portion of Bright's adoption. And WHEN is the right time to send out the letters? Don't want to do it too early for the Ethiopia adoption but we have to do it pretty quickly if we're going to fundraise for Bright's adoption! Eric and I talked about it last night and I think we've decided (famous last words) to put all our efforts into getting the $5k-$6k we need for Bright's travel on our own. Then, when we are actually putting a dossier together for Ethiopia we will bite the bullet and send out all of our fundraising letters. Please pray for the Lord's provision.

Tidbit #4:

I miss my baby boy. Have I mentioned that lately? I miss him. I want to kiss his neck all over and slurbert his pot belly. I want to tickle his toes and take pictures of the gorgeous gap between his front teeth. I want to help him learn how to walk, and say Mommy, and Daddy. I want to wake up in the middle of the night to his cry. I want to wake up every morning to his giggles. I miss my Bright.

Love,
Anita

By The Numbers

Hi Friends,

I've known since we decided to adopt from Ethiopia that we would need to do adoption fundraising for the first time. In the past we've been blessed by a family member that loaned us the money--but not for Bright or our Ethiopia baby's adoptions. We're on our own (with the Lord) this time. It's exhilirating and terrifying at the same time! Anyway, today I added up what I think are pretty close to the actual costs for everything still needed to complete both of our adoptions. Wow--we need a LOT of money still! It seems impossible (on paper) that we're going to be able to raise/save this much money in the next year, but I have seen the Lord provide over and over again for other adoptive families. Now I'm praying we will be one of "those" adoptive families who can share a huge testimony when it's all over! =-)

My husband would probably die if he knew I were about to post the specifics, but I guess that's what he gets for not reading my blog (ever!)! LOL! ;-) Here is the rundown of all of our adoption expenses yet to come:

BRIGHT'S GHANA ADOPTION:

Flights: $4500 (estimating $2000 for my mom and I and $400 for Bright's baby fare)

Lodging: $240 ($40 per night, 6 nights)

Food: $180 ($20 per day, 9 days including transit)

Visa Medical: $100

US Visa: $380

TOTAL: $5400 (needed in next 6 months--hopefully!)

ETHIOPIA ADOPTION:

Application: $200 (paid!)

Agency Fee: $1800 (to be paid in around 4 months)

Homestudy Update: $350 (we'll be over a year since approval so addendum won't do)

Dossier Preparation: $200

International Mailing: $200 (estimation)

Re-Apply with CIS: $685 (our approval expires this November)

Ethiopia Fee: $6500 (first 1/2 due in around 10 months, second half before homecoming)

Escort: $2200 (we pray I can travel, but escort will be less expensive)

TOTAL: $12,315

So that brings our grand total of needed funds up to around $17,500. Wow. I took the first step tonight by applying to work with Kingdom Kids. Hopefully they will accept our applications AND our family and friends will be responsive. It's hard to give up control (or the illusion thereof) and ask for help. It's new for us and it's humbling. But it's what we've got to do at this point. Please pray with us that the Lord will provide all that is needed to bring just two more children out of orphanages and into our home.

Love,

Anita

SOMETHING GOOD!

I just looked at our records trying to figure out exactly how much we have sent to LVI for our adoptions so far. Gues what? We've paid ALL of Bright's fees PLUS $1300 towards our second referral's fees!! Under the fee agreement we signed the second referral was supposed to be under $1000 in fees so this means if we stay with Eugemot and receive a referral we should already be completely done paying all of our fees for both adoptions! Woo hoo! That feels G-O-O-D!!!!

Anita