My husband and I have been married for 6 1/2 years. Before we married, we attended our first orientation meeting on adoption. We knew fostering was for us. We sent our packet in 3 different times and 3 times our paperwork was lost. We were discouraged but felt like God wanted us to do something different but still get involved in fostering. We were at a friends home, who was a social worker at the time, and she encouraged us to get involved. She referred Greg and me to a therapuetic care agency. We contacted the agency the next Monday and to our surprise they immediately wanted to meet with us.
On Saturday, we had our first homestudy. And guess what? We did not even have to leave our house to do the GPS classes (10 week prep class for becoming a foster parent through DHR). They offered for us to do a self study and meet with them once a week about the information we were reading. It was great. We loved it. After 10 books and meetings, 2 additional homestudy visits, CPR classes and a TAPS class, we were ready to go. It was 4 or 5 months before we had our first placement.
Our first placement was a young lady who had been in the system for a very long time. She had been in more than 17 placements in a 6 year period. We cared for her for 8 months. We learned a lot from this experience not only about foster children but about our own family. The first thing God wanted us to learn was that we were not able to fix all these kids and that we were not superhuman parents. The second lesson was an evaluation of our family beliefs and values. We created a family rule book that included our thoughts about how we planned to raise our children, what our expectations were, our goals and beliefs for our children, and consequences for those rules when broken. Our book has been around for almost 4 years now. It has been updated, revised and revamped as we learn more about children in foster care and as our family dynamics change with each new placement.
The reason we got involved in foster are was to adopt. I can not have any more children and we really wanted another girl to add to our bunch. We have had many children come and go but none so far was the child God has chosen for us. We have come close to adoption only twice. Once was a little girl that we had for 15 months. She left us to return to a family member and it really broke our hearts. We did not give up though because we know God has something in store for us. We have had more than 35 children come through our home in a 4 year period. That is more than 35 children we have had the opprotunity to demonstrate what a true family can be and how God can change things for them. We have had opprotunities to witness to and encourage children that may have never had this opprotunity otherwise. We are still waiting for God to place that special child that will become ours. We have faith that He has something in store we can only dream. Each child brings new challenges, lessons to learn, and opprotunities to make a difference.
Right now, we have two children placed in our home with the possiblility of adoption in the next 8 months. Both seem to be a good match for our family but we are still waiting for God's voice to say go........
If you have ever thought of helping children either through adoption or fostering, know that our own country and state have many children who need a wonderful, loving, Christian home. Some are rough around the edges like an unpolished gem, some have the potential to become so much more. Most of these children just need someone to believe in them, love them and encourage them to make better choices in life. Maybe you are that person. If you are, please contact your local DHR agency or another foster care agency. Our children need us. It really does take a whole (village) community to raise a child.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Blanket Tying for Mexico Mission Trip
This is a group of us tying blankets to take to Mexico and hand out to the children in the villages and hopefully at the orphanage near by. While the mom's were cutting and tying the kids were making cards to hand out.
Uganda
I have joked with my husband on multiple occasions that "all the cool Christians are adopting from Uganda". Around the adoption community the number of Christians adopting fromUganda has definitely exploded. It is relatively new to international adoption and there are a lot of Christian based orphanages working in Uganda right now.The majority of adoptions are independent, although, Lifeline Adoption Services does have contacts and will facilitate for you if you are scared of independent! I believe they have been placeing children from Uganda since 2007. You can find out more about their program at the Lifeline informational meeting on Sunday, Nov 22 9am in W105 at Clearbranch. It can definitely be scary to be out there all by yourself trying to navigate an adoption.
Uganda's national language is English, and it is a Christian country - 84% of the population is Christian. There are 2.4 million orphans in Uganda and the median age in this country is 15.
ADOPTIONS: I mention it is an independent process, although there are agencies such as Lifeline that will walk you through it. Your travel time is approximately 6 weeks in country on one trip. You go to court and the court in Uganda does not issue an adoption decree...instead it grants legal guardianship to you - and you are able to obtain your child's immigration visa with that and then you have to re-adopt in the US. Here are some blogs of adoptive families who have completed adoptions or are in process in Uganda:
Loved as First Best
Tanya Adopts (Alabama Family)
One Egg Short of A Dozen (Alabama family)
Grace in Uganda (adopted from and now lives in Uganda)
There are lots more if you look at the links from the above blogs. One of the orphanages that many adopt from is the Sanyu babies home near Kampala.
Orphan Care: There are many orphan care organizations that work in Uganda. It is hard for me to say which came first...the large population of Christians or the large number of Christian Humanitarian projects...showing the world how we walk as Christian goes a long way! Many of these organizations work in multiple countries. One of my favorite blogs in the world is the first one, Amazima.
Living Freely (coordinator for Hope Chest in Uganda)
There are lots of opportunities for mission trips to Uganda. Visiting Orphans has a great 2 week one where you spend part of the trip in Ethiopia and the other part in Uganda. It is 2 weeks in Africa so it is relatively expensive...but I personally would love to go on this one June26 - July 9th.
If you have any questions about Uganda or feel that God is calling you to help the orphans in Uganda...email me or give me a call and together we can pray and find the right way for you to help these beautiful children!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
You Can Afford to Adopt
Originally posted on www.adoptivedads.org on April 29, 2009
by
Jason Kovacs
The Myth: It costs too much to adopt.
The Reality: With help many people making a modest income can afford to adopt.
For many families the dream of adoption ends when they see how much it costs. What was once a great desire is squashed by the reality of $20,000 – $40,000 in fees. For many, this seems impossible at first. What do you do if you find yourself in this position? Please don’t give up hope! Though the costs seem high, there is great encouragment from God’s Word about God’s ability to provide. There are also a growing number of resources available to help families with the cost of adoption.
First, remember that God personally knows the high cost of adoption. It cost Him the blood of His only son to adopt His children. The price we pay in adopting pales in comparison. Also, remember that God loves to provide for His children. Jesus said, “If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him” (Matthew 7:11). There a lot of good gifts that God gives to His children and adoption is definitely one of them! Not only does God love to provide but He is able to provide. Paul reminds the Corinthians that “God will generously provide all they need” (2 Cor 9:8). This reminds me of the fridge magnet in my grandparents home that said something very true: “Where God guides, God provides.” If you are sensing God’s call to adopt then God will not leave you without the means. That is not to say that it will be easy. On the contrary it seems that God often likes to bring us through difficult experiences so that we will have to trust Him all the more. Though challenging, it is those times that we grow most in our relationship with the Lord and it is in these circumstances that we often see God provide in the most wonderful of ways.
My wife and I felt the call to adopt when I was just starting out in ministry. I was in a small church plant, going to seminary, and my salary was very low. We had no resources of our own and had to trust that God would provide for the whole cost of the adoption. There were many times when I struggled with believing God could or would do this but He did. Every dollar for the adoption came through gifts of family and friends, an interest-free loan, a matching grant, personal fundraising, and a grant. We experienced the whole gamut of help available! I was left humbled and awed at God’s goodness and the kindness of others!
Now four years later, I have the joy of working full-time for the ministry that provided us with an interest-free loan for our adoption. Everyday I have the privilege of hearing from families stepping out in faith and putting the call of God and the love of these children before their desire for financial security. To top it off I hear story after story of God’s faithful provision through various means. More than ever I believe “where God guides, He provides.”
This leads to the second thing to remember as you consider the cost of adoption; there are many financial resources available to those adopting. These include the Government’s Federal Adoption Tax Credit, interest-free loans, grants, and personal fundraising (click here for a list of these resources).
Further, an increasing number of churches are helping families by establishing local church adoption funds. This enables the church body to tangibly care for people and join in the adoption journey. Don’t be afraid to share your need with others and invite them to pray and to help financially if they are able. For many, it is a joy they don’t want to miss out on!
When you look at the cost of adoption it can be daunting! Do not let it stop you in your tracks. Pray about it. Trust in God’s ability and love to provide. Then do all you can to tap into the resources available. The cost may be high but it is definitely worth it. In fact, it is priceless. It is your child that God has planned for your family!
Addendum by Michelle ; We are working on developing a fund at Clearbranch for the purpose of helping families who want to adopt. We hope to have raised our seed money by Mother's Day 2010!
by
Jason Kovacs
The Myth: It costs too much to adopt.
The Reality: With help many people making a modest income can afford to adopt.
For many families the dream of adoption ends when they see how much it costs. What was once a great desire is squashed by the reality of $20,000 – $40,000 in fees. For many, this seems impossible at first. What do you do if you find yourself in this position? Please don’t give up hope! Though the costs seem high, there is great encouragment from God’s Word about God’s ability to provide. There are also a growing number of resources available to help families with the cost of adoption.
First, remember that God personally knows the high cost of adoption. It cost Him the blood of His only son to adopt His children. The price we pay in adopting pales in comparison. Also, remember that God loves to provide for His children. Jesus said, “If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him” (Matthew 7:11). There a lot of good gifts that God gives to His children and adoption is definitely one of them! Not only does God love to provide but He is able to provide. Paul reminds the Corinthians that “God will generously provide all they need” (2 Cor 9:8). This reminds me of the fridge magnet in my grandparents home that said something very true: “Where God guides, God provides.” If you are sensing God’s call to adopt then God will not leave you without the means. That is not to say that it will be easy. On the contrary it seems that God often likes to bring us through difficult experiences so that we will have to trust Him all the more. Though challenging, it is those times that we grow most in our relationship with the Lord and it is in these circumstances that we often see God provide in the most wonderful of ways.
My wife and I felt the call to adopt when I was just starting out in ministry. I was in a small church plant, going to seminary, and my salary was very low. We had no resources of our own and had to trust that God would provide for the whole cost of the adoption. There were many times when I struggled with believing God could or would do this but He did. Every dollar for the adoption came through gifts of family and friends, an interest-free loan, a matching grant, personal fundraising, and a grant. We experienced the whole gamut of help available! I was left humbled and awed at God’s goodness and the kindness of others!
Now four years later, I have the joy of working full-time for the ministry that provided us with an interest-free loan for our adoption. Everyday I have the privilege of hearing from families stepping out in faith and putting the call of God and the love of these children before their desire for financial security. To top it off I hear story after story of God’s faithful provision through various means. More than ever I believe “where God guides, He provides.”
This leads to the second thing to remember as you consider the cost of adoption; there are many financial resources available to those adopting. These include the Government’s Federal Adoption Tax Credit, interest-free loans, grants, and personal fundraising (click here for a list of these resources).
Further, an increasing number of churches are helping families by establishing local church adoption funds. This enables the church body to tangibly care for people and join in the adoption journey. Don’t be afraid to share your need with others and invite them to pray and to help financially if they are able. For many, it is a joy they don’t want to miss out on!
When you look at the cost of adoption it can be daunting! Do not let it stop you in your tracks. Pray about it. Trust in God’s ability and love to provide. Then do all you can to tap into the resources available. The cost may be high but it is definitely worth it. In fact, it is priceless. It is your child that God has planned for your family!
Addendum by Michelle ; We are working on developing a fund at Clearbranch for the purpose of helping families who want to adopt. We hope to have raised our seed money by Mother's Day 2010!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
General Meeting
We had our first meeting tonight and we were so excited to see everyone who was able to make it!
We watched a video by Hope for Orphans which gave examples of other church's orphan ministries. They looked at an adoption ministry in Brenham, Tx..read about the founders here . The video also showed us Project 1:27 in Colorado. Read about their mission - no children waiting for families in Colorado.
We planned some activities which I will update soon in the events sections
New ideas we discussed include working to participate in a sponsorship program to bring orphans here to our church family and advocate to find them homes.
Also in the works is a support group especially for adoptive dads or dads anywhere in the process including the just thinking about it stage. We will also start a "thinking about...thinking about adoption" meeting once a month. Stay tuned for those dates and times!
I am so excited about all of the things we talked about. Don't forget the small group on considering adoption starts next wednesday (oct 21) we will be meeting in the music room. It will be a very comfortable spot....couches and all.
Another orphan care event next week is Blanket tying at Rondi's. These blankets will be delivered by Rondi, her husband and the ClearBranch Mega Missions trip crew on their trip to Mexico in November. 130pm on Friday, Oct 23. Kids will be drawing pictures and writing letters for the children. Rondi will also have the Video we played at our meeting tonight to show during blanket tying if anyone is interested in watching it.
Thanks again to everyone who came to the meeting...I will be sending out emails to everyone with an updated calendar of events and opportunities for helping orphans. If you are reading this and would like to receive our e-mail newsletter...just leave a message with your email address on this post or send me an email with your contact information facesofthefatherless@yahoo.com.
We watched a video by Hope for Orphans which gave examples of other church's orphan ministries. They looked at an adoption ministry in Brenham, Tx..read about the founders here . The video also showed us Project 1:27 in Colorado. Read about their mission - no children waiting for families in Colorado.
We planned some activities which I will update soon in the events sections
New ideas we discussed include working to participate in a sponsorship program to bring orphans here to our church family and advocate to find them homes.
Also in the works is a support group especially for adoptive dads or dads anywhere in the process including the just thinking about it stage. We will also start a "thinking about...thinking about adoption" meeting once a month. Stay tuned for those dates and times!
I am so excited about all of the things we talked about. Don't forget the small group on considering adoption starts next wednesday (oct 21) we will be meeting in the music room. It will be a very comfortable spot....couches and all.
Another orphan care event next week is Blanket tying at Rondi's. These blankets will be delivered by Rondi, her husband and the ClearBranch Mega Missions trip crew on their trip to Mexico in November. 130pm on Friday, Oct 23. Kids will be drawing pictures and writing letters for the children. Rondi will also have the Video we played at our meeting tonight to show during blanket tying if anyone is interested in watching it.
Thanks again to everyone who came to the meeting...I will be sending out emails to everyone with an updated calendar of events and opportunities for helping orphans. If you are reading this and would like to receive our e-mail newsletter...just leave a message with your email address on this post or send me an email with your contact information facesofthefatherless@yahoo.com.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Thanks!
I was so excited (and more than a little bit nervous) to talk during the announcements this morning at ClearBranch. I thought maybe you would like to see pictures of the little girl I talked about...This first picture is Polina. It was very hard to leave her...but I was holding her playing with her and taking pictures of her for a family who was considering bringing her home.
This is Zeb and I on my first trip to meet him...he is but a wee 6 months old.
This is Polina in her new home in California on her 3rd birthday. Every time I see new pictures of her - doing so well and so loved by her parents and big brothers, I feel so gratefull. I was so excited to talk to so many people interested in orphan care and so many people interested in creating a community at ClearBranch that supports adoption. I am so looking forward to our meeting on Wednesday.
We have a couple of board positions left to fill and will be doing some brainstorming for our next orphan care project. You may have heard we made over $1500 for our project with Makeway partners to sponsor orphans in Sudan - praise God!
There are lots of opportunities to be involved....I am sure there are ways I haven't even thought of. Today I was talking with a gentleman who speaks Russian - what a wonderfull support person if and when someone in our church adopts a Russian speaking child..or if we do an orphan care project with a Russian speaking orphanage. I promise, whatever talent or skills you have...if God has moved you to be involved in orphan care.... those skills ( no matter how random they may seem) are going to be needed and valued!
If you know someone who is interested in adoption and you think they may benefit from our small group: Considering Adoption: A biblical Perspective....please give them our blogsite or email address...or tell them to just show up. It will start 630 on Wed Oct 21 and go for 5 weeks. My husband and I worked through this bible study and it was so amazingly helpful in defining what the right next step was for our family!
See you on Wednesday!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Together 4 Adoption
Keith and I (Michelle) spent this weekend at a conference in Franklin, Tenn called Together for Adoption. There were some tremendous speakers who talked about the biblical basis for adoption, and emphasized the important role the church should play in caring for orphans. I normally hate that word...."should". Should is a word that is designed to make you feel guilty or make you feel like you are failing to do what is right. I don't think any Christian is willfully dropping the ball on caring for orphans. It is just something that kind of slips through the cracks.We might all know intellectually that there are lots of orphans....some might even know there are between 143 and 147 million orphans (depending on the reporting organization). Sometimes our hearts don't know it.
The people we met and the organizations they work for are doing amazing things and I am so excited to introduce my family at ClearBranch to the joy and personal blessings of caring for orphans. I can hardly wait to meet face to face with others whose hearts have heard God's call to care for orphans....that meeting is on Wednesday, Oct 14 at 7pm in the Cafe.
If you are too excited to wait 2 weeks - please feel free to send me an email at facesofthefatherless@yahoo.com. We definitely have board positions to be filled if your heart is committed.....if you have skills in finances, or would like to network with other churches I know your skills will be a blessing to this new ministry. If you have exciting ideas about any aspect of orphan care please drop me an email. We are also very interested in anyone who would like to spearhead foster care ministries.
Check back for updates to this blog....new links and guest authors who will share their adoption or mission experiences!
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