Together for Adoption

Exciting stuff at the Together for Adoption Conference, October 1-2, 2010. Don't miss this early registration opportunity.

Together for Adoption, ABBA Fund, The Austin Stone Community Church, Verge Network, Hill Country Bible Church, and Hope for Orphans are partnering together for this unique event to further equip churches and families to fulfill the orphan mandate.

God has provided us with an excellent keynote speaker lineup to help us unpack this year's conference theme:"The Gospel, the Church, and the Global Orphan Crisis." There is not a more important theme that we could consider. The gospel is the almighty power of God to equip and mobilize the church to be the church and to fulfill the orphan mandate. Therefore, our primary objective is to immerse ourselves in the good news of Jesus for our joy and the good of orphans.

We are anticipating between 1,000-1,200 passionate people joining us to consider this wonderful and critically important theme.


- 30+ breakouts on orphan care, adoption, fostercare, child-trafficking, the church, and mission.
- 6 good-news saturated general sessions
- Worship led by Aaron Ivey.
- Strategic networking opportunities with others who share your passion and interest

Early-bird registration ends June 30th - $69 per person. We are also offering a church group discount (see our Registration Fees and Childcare page for information: Together for Adoption Registration.

We do not want you and your church to miss out on this early pricing discount. Download our poster here (Together for Adoption) to advertise at your church or to create bulletin inserts. Here is a sample blurb that could be used to communicate to your church:

"Don't miss the Together for Adoption 2010 National Conference, Oct 1-2, in Austin, TX. The conference theme is "The Gospel, the Church, and the Global Orphan Crisis." Come hear leading voices address the Church's call to care for the orphan. Early bird registration is $69 through June 30th."

Visit Together for Adoption for more information and to register.

TO SEE OR NOT TO SEE

Sera continues to amaze us. We are still uncertain as to how much she actually can see. There is very little difference in her behavior with glasses, without glasses, or when her "better" eye is patched. So I decided to do a little test yesterday. I decided to cover both of her eyes and see what she does. I was not surprised by what I saw. Never once did she cry or try to remove the patches from her eyes. She just went on playing as always. She did have a hard time walking around with both eyes patched so we know she can see some to get around the house.

They are "Priceless" in the eyes of God

I just finished the book "Priceless" by Tom Davis. Tom is one of my favorite authors. He also happens to be the CEO of Children's HopeChest. This is a wonderfully written story about the truth of child sex trafficking. Honestly, my stomach was in knots the majority of the book. The reality of the horrific situations in which these girls are having to endure was too much for me at times and I had to take a break from reading. That being said, it was also a topic that I needed to hear. Please pick up this book and read it. You will be changed.

As a social worker I know how difficult it is for children in the United States coming out of the foster care system at age 18. We are failing God's children miserably!! Children living in orphanages all across the world are aging out of the orphanages at around age 13-15. What's next for them? Typically the streets. There are very few programs which assist children beyond the orphanage. Sadly, there are vile people who trick and/or steal these helpless children and trap them in the sex trade business.

Something must be done! Are you crazy enough for God to make a difference? Below are links to organizations who are helping children trapped in this horrible business.

Child Sex Trafficking Statistics

1.2 million children are trafficked every year; this is in addition to the millions already held captive by trafficking

The average age of a trafficked victim is 14 years old

The average victim is forced to have sex up to 40 times a day

Links to Organizations Fighting Sex-Trafficking:
http://www.love146.org/
http://www.iempathize.org/
http://www.hopechest.org/
http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/
http://www.globalcenturion.org/

Sera & Jacob AGAIN!!!

I wrote in a previous post about the special relationship between Sera & Jacob. That relationship just continues to blossom. Jacob is about 11 months older than Sera. Although Sera is very delayed developmentally, has a vision impairment, and has limited language skills she is very observant. Sera has been in our home for 5 months and she has already learned how to take care of Jacob. I wish I had pictures and video but I will have to work on that. OH, just remember I do have a very short video. Sera will go to Jacob and try to give him a drink from her cup and a bite of her food. She even knows how to help him play. Sera will get a toy put it in Jacob's lap and then take Jacob's hand and help him play with the toy. Tears come to my eyes every time I see her do this.

Seriously, I have the best kids in the WORLD!!! They are so loving towards others and in tune to the needs of those around them. God is going to use them for some BIG things in the future.

Camping Trip

I have had several people ask what Jacob thinks about camping. Well, I will let this picture speak for itself!!

Swimming in the lake

Gone Fishing!!

Waiting for the rain to pass

Lifesong for Orphans

Lifesong for Orphans helps families overcome some of the financial obstacles involved in adoption through grants and loans. We were blessed by Lifesong during our most recent adoption. BUT that is not all!!! Lifesong is also providing humanitarian aid in-country. Here is a highlight of the Lifesong feeding project in Ethiopia. . . .

Lifesong Ethiopia 2010 from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

We found many of the students in the Ziway Lifesong School were coming to school hungry and brought no food for lunch. Teachers complained of lack of attention on the students’ part. Lifesong initiated a school feeding program in November, 2009, for all 300 students at the school.

For breakfast each receives fafa, a porridge-like food that provides the nutrients that each growing child needs. The lunch menu rotates through a cycle of fish soup, the national foods of shiro and injera, vegetable beef soup, and pasta.

Now that the Adami Tulu Nursery School has re-opened, Lifesong has also started a similar breakfast and lunch feeding program there.

The Ziway school feeding program, in which 300 children are fed two meals each day, has been very successful. Caregivers, teachers, and the students themselves report that they are much healthier, more attentive in class, and have more muscle and skin tone.

Sustaining the program of feeding each student a nutritious breakfast and lunch at the Adami Tulu School will take additional funding and special logistics. However, if it is God’s will, we know that He will provide what is necessary for the feeding program. On the first day of the feeding program, all students were measured for their height and weight and this data was recorded. Several children were found to be malnourished. Now that we have this statistical data, we intend to monitor the students’ progress.

View all current projects. View all Lifesong Ethiopia videos.

In Ethiopia, $3 feeds 1 child for a month!

Sera Then & Now

Sera in Januray when we picked her up

This is Sera today!!