New week, new family

I'm sure you've heard us talking about Give1Save1 teaming up with Pure Charity. We still have one more family to feature before we switch over completely to the new format. So this week I introduce you to the Dawson family!

The Dawson family has been in process of adopting a 4 year old little girl from Haiti. The process has taken around 2 years so far, but hopefully their little one will be home soon! Momma Courtney writes,

 Going to Haiti and meeting our daughter was life changing. It’s easy to overlook a crisis from far away, but when you come face to face with a little child that needs a home - a family – and you have one to give, it’s hard to overlook that. From the very beginning, we saw this as such a tangible way to share and live out the gospel – to go and seek a child out to bring them into our family and share the love of Jesus with them. It’s life changing for them and us.  

Take a moment to watch the video the Dawson family created and donate to play a part in bringing this sweet girl home to her family!

***So far you've helped the Dawson family raise $0 toward their adoption***

Pure Charity + Give1Save1

If you haven't read the exciting news about Pure Charity teaming up with Give1Save1 please take a moment to read about it HERE on the Give1 Africa site.

What is even more exciting is the success that the first family to be featured with PC and G1S1 experienced this week. The Marrs family is adopting from Congo and set a lofty goal of raising $8000 during their feature week. Fast forward to today and they are just $394 short of that goal at $7,607 raised! Head over to the Marrs' Pure Charity page to see how it all works. You definitely still have time to get them to their goal number by donating a few dollars!

Now we need YOU! We used to ask that you e-mail and receive and application to apply to be featured. Now all you simply have to do is head to this Pure Charity page and sign up. I can't wait to get more families lined up for the Give1 Caribbean site. Spread the word to anyone you know who could use some help fundraising for their adoption!

Wild, Crazy & Sometimes STUCK!

If you’re on this wild & crazy adoption journey then you know the word STUCK!  It seems like we move forward in the adoption process and then we get STUCK!  There are days I think this adoption journey is harder than it was being pregnant. This month will be one year since we received our referral of the boys.  Unfortunately, one year is not a long time in the adoption world.  But, I know that God has set aside a perfect day for our boys to come home, so I wait.  What is really hard for me is to see parents with children in the same orphanage who have been STUCK for several years!  My heart just breaks for them.  It makes no sense to have children left in orphanages when they have a forever family waiting for them.  

Last Thursday I was so excited to receive the email that our paperwork had entered MOI, and then I found myself logging on facebook anxious checking to see if others had moved forward as well.  Just longing to see movement for all the kids at our orphanage, especially three cute guys who really seem to be STUCK!  And praise God many of us had moved forward that day, sad to say not the three mentioned.  Parents shouldn’t have to worry about getting STUCK navigating through this adoption process; unfortunately it’s become a reality to many.   Adopting is a hard process and we fight for these kids because they deserve a FOREVER HOME.     

Currently, the film STUCK has been on a nationwide tour stopping in 60 cities in 80 days.  You should check out the website to see if they are coming to a city near you.  Or you can download a copy today for $12.99

“STUCK is a new award-winning documentary, produced by Both Ends Burning, that uncovers the real-life stores of children and parents navigating through the international adoption system.  The purpose of the film is to help people understand the issues and put pressure on leaders to produce change.”

Adoptions into the U.S. have fallen by more than 60 percent since 2004, due in large part to a broken system filled with delays, bureaucracy, discrimination and staggering costs.  In the meantime, children are suffering.  These children deserve a FOREVER FAMILY! 

Blessings,
Donna 

www.stuckdocumentary.com

Waiting!

None of us like to wait!  Whether it’s in line at the grocery store or waiting on our family to get ready to be on time to church.  This whole idea of waiting goes against what we are naturally inclined to do and that’s to step on the gas & go!  And if you’ve ever adopted or are in the process of it your life is all about waiting.  Well, not at first!  That’s all about paperwork & appointments, and then you get to wait.  

This waiting is sure not easy, but I know God’s timing is perfect and our boys will be forever home on that perfect day.  The waiting has seemed to be getting harder for me the past few weeks, and I just felt God telling me that I need to stop focusing on the “wait” and focus on the “now”.  It was time to brake for God and focus on what He wants me to learn on this journey. 

Now is the time to trust God and learn to wait on Him.

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 

I need to remember God can see the big picture and all we see is what is in front of us.  He knows that what may be a blessing for us later we may just not be ready for, yet.  God knows how every decision; action and blessing will impact our lives.  This waiting may just be God giving us time to prepare for that blessing.

Psalm 27:14

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

If this is a waiting season in your life let me encourage you to focus on the “now” not the “wait”.  Let’s take time and brake for God!  

Isaiah 40:31 ~ but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. 

Blessings,

Donna  

Brake for God today!

Children of the Promise

Children of the Promise is an organization started by Bud and Jan Bonnema in 1999 created to care for sick and malnourished babies of Northern Haiti.  I love that their main mission is to get the babies healthy and reunited with the biological family within 3 months. If they simply cannot reunite the babies, adoption is then facilitated. 


The work of COTP is driven by our calling from God to serve the poor and oppressed in Haiti. We believe that God loves each and everyone of the babies and people we come in contact with and want to help show them this love. 
                                                                      -Children of the Promise


G1S1 Caribbean does not currently have a family of the week so I would love to send some donations COTP's way. Click HERE to make a donation or get info about sending supplies.

The most AMAZING part of COTP's site is the "Before and After" page. It is truly astonishing to see how the staff members of Children of the Promise are able to love and nurture the tiniest, sickliest babies back to health. 

Before

 

 

 

 

After

Before

After

There's absolutely no denying the fact that Children of the Promise is doing BIG things for the least of these in Northern Haiti. Be sure to check out the website to see how you can get involved in what this great organization is accomplishing.  

*Reminder - if you are a single or family adopting from anywhere in the Caribbean and would like featured on our site send me an e-mail at lindsaym_83@hotmail.com to receive and application.


 




 

Still Learning To Say, “Yes” To God

Since Lindsay is kind enough to let me join in on Give1Save1 I thought I should share how I ended up here to begin with.   

For me this journey started years ago when God put it on my heart to adopt however it just never seemed like the right time for our family.  That was until October 2011, that summer my husband and daughter went to Haiti on a mission trip and they stayed at New Life Link Orphanage.  During the trip God really just put it on Troy’s heart that the time was now to adopt.  When he came home and shared the wonderful news I thought he was crazy.  You see, I was 41 years old and our youngest was just about to graduate from high school.  This would mean we’d be starting all over and I was not completely comfortable with this.  It didn’t take long for God to show me that I didn’t need to be completely comfortable; I just needed to completely trust Him.  From bible studies, devotions, to a huge billboard that read “You are closer than you think to saving a child!”  He just continued to show me that now was the time.  

I knew this adoption journey would just be the beginning for me.  I felt God wanted me to find a place to reach out to others to help them during their adoption journeys.  Whether it was to help raise money or just to encourage them during the difficult days of waiting.  I believe that God has giving me this opportunity with Give1Save1, and to be honest I’m not completely comfortable with this either!  I’m really not good at this blogging stuff, but I do love the Lord and love to share what He puts on my heart.  I just pray that He will use me to bless you and encourage you in some way.  

 God may ask us to do things that are not completely comfortable but those may just be the greatest blessing of all, if only you just trust HIM!  I cannot tell you how thankful I am that I said, “yes” to this amazing adoption journey. 

And I'm thankful to join Lindsay on Give1Save1 and to join you on your adoption journey that you said "yes" to! 

Donna 

The Thoman Family

I work as an office manager outside of the home.  And my husband, Troy, is a full time pastor at a small church in Columbus, Ohio.  We have three biological children.  Cody (22) serves in the Air Force, Chelsea (20) is at home going to school for early childhood development and works at a daycare. Caleb (18) is also at home studying computer programming and works for Fed-Ex. And two more on the way, Kervens (6) and Withji (4) who we pray will be forever home this summer.  

Our family has had a heart for Haiti for many years between all of us we sponsor three children there.  Troy and Chelsea have been on several mission trips there as well.  Little did we know God was preparing us for two little Haitian boys all these years. Two little boys who have been waiting over three years to have a forever family. 

Funky Fish Designs

I love finding cute accessories for adoptive mommas so when I heard about Funky Fish Designs I knew I had to share it with you all!  Dawn Patterson, the talented woman behind Funky Fish Designs writes,

There are few joys in this life greater than giving.  He gave me these hands and as long as He will allow me to use them, I will continue to give. 

Don't you love her already?!

Just recently, Funky Fish has added a Haiti stamped necklace to the collection along with Africa, China and Russia necklaces.  {There are lots and lots of other great products so be sure to check out the website.} The profits of the business are donated to various ministries and adoptions.  In the coming months Funky Fish Designs will make the fundraising option available to more families. How exciting!

Haiti necklace sample

Over the past 9 years, one thing has remained true....my hearts desire was that Funky Fish be more of a ministry than a business.  That our jewelry be a witnessing tool which sparks conversations that would lead to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

                                                                                                                       -Dawn Patterson

Africa Necklace

HOPEFUL Red Leather Wrap Bracelet-benefits Project HOPEFUL

I definitely see how conversation could be sparked by the beautiful pieces offered by Funky Fish Designs. I can't wait to get my hands on a few items!