My journey to find my daughters in Africa
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Encouragement
My new online friend, Tanya, is at Sanyu right now to be matched with a child. She posted on Facebook today that they have identified an 8-month old baby girl for her! For all of the discouragement I've been handed about the rarity of little girls, I was reminded again that our Great God can do anything. Tanya's little girl arrived at Sanyu just one week ago! That means that while she was planning her trip, saving her money, getting her homestudy done--that baby girl wasn't there yet. God brought her to Sanyu just in time to meet her mama. I love that!!!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Garage Sale Fundraiser
My garage sale is scheduled for Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30. I have received a lot of donations...a big thanks to all of you!!
If anyone wants to help, I would still LOVE to have more people around. I really don't like garage sales, but if this helps bring my daughter home, then of course I'll do it! In all honesty I would love the company, so if you have any time to spare, stop by for an hour or two or three or four!
At this point I am about at the halfway point! I can't believe I've saved so much money in such a short amount of time! There is still a long way to go, but I know the Lord will provide every dollar I need. He is a faithful and loving God!
I'm also working on having t-shirts printed. I think the design is pretty neat, and I'm hoping some of you will want to buy them to support my fundraising efforts. Ideally you will want the shirt because you like it, and as an added bonus you'll be supporting me! Once I get the design finalized I will post it on my blog and you can order one if you'd like!
My new online blogging friend, Tanya, is in Uganda right now to be matched with her child at Sanyu! Please pray for a smooth visit and clear guidance for her as she steps out in faith. Like me, Tanya is single, a teacher, and a Christian! I am watching her journey like a hawk and am thrilled to be able to see her journey all the way through. It is such an encouragement.
It's very late, and I have to work tomorrow. I suppose I'd better go. I'll report back after the garage sale...
Melissa
If anyone wants to help, I would still LOVE to have more people around. I really don't like garage sales, but if this helps bring my daughter home, then of course I'll do it! In all honesty I would love the company, so if you have any time to spare, stop by for an hour or two or three or four!
At this point I am about at the halfway point! I can't believe I've saved so much money in such a short amount of time! There is still a long way to go, but I know the Lord will provide every dollar I need. He is a faithful and loving God!
I'm also working on having t-shirts printed. I think the design is pretty neat, and I'm hoping some of you will want to buy them to support my fundraising efforts. Ideally you will want the shirt because you like it, and as an added bonus you'll be supporting me! Once I get the design finalized I will post it on my blog and you can order one if you'd like!
My new online blogging friend, Tanya, is in Uganda right now to be matched with her child at Sanyu! Please pray for a smooth visit and clear guidance for her as she steps out in faith. Like me, Tanya is single, a teacher, and a Christian! I am watching her journey like a hawk and am thrilled to be able to see her journey all the way through. It is such an encouragement.
It's very late, and I have to work tomorrow. I suppose I'd better go. I'll report back after the garage sale...
Melissa
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mother's Day
I wonder if this could be the last Mother's Day I will celebrate as a non-mom?
Happy Mother's Day to all my sweet family and friends who are blessed to be mommies! I am so thankful to have you all as role models of what it means to be a good mom! And especially, thanks to my mom. She really is the most amazing woman...so full of love, sacrifice, and devotion to each one of her kids and grandkids. We are a blessed family!
There has been no answer yet from Amani. I know it seems weird to be waiting for them to answer when I really feel led to work with Sanyu now. It may not make sense, but I'm really praying that the Lord would speak through the Board at Amani. It's been my prayer from the beginning, so it's still my prayer today. The silence may be God telling me to wait. As it stands, there are no little girls at either Amani or Sanyu who are "adoptable." That means my daughter is not there waiting for me. If she were, it would be a whole different story. But she's not there yet. She's not ready for me to get her.
Yesterday I got an e-mail from a woman I met through the blogging world. She told me that little girls are "very, very rare" at Sanyu. Surprisingly, I wasn't discouraged. If the Lord has a daughter for me, it doesn't matter how unlikely it is...He is the God of great wonders! With 2 million orphans in Uganda, it doesn't seem like much of a feat to get one of them to Sanyu in time for my arrival. Does it?
On a happy note, I counted all of the money in my "Adoption Fundraising" jar. I've kept all of my spare change, recycling money, and a few tubes of quarters from friends. I couldn't believe the total--I've put $619.75 in that jar in 3 months!!! Wow! If the Lord ends up telling me not to adopt, I'm going to have a nice chunk of change to do something with...I guess 'll either end up with a remodeled house or a daughter.
I vote for the daughter, Lord!
Happy Mother's Day to all my sweet family and friends who are blessed to be mommies! I am so thankful to have you all as role models of what it means to be a good mom! And especially, thanks to my mom. She really is the most amazing woman...so full of love, sacrifice, and devotion to each one of her kids and grandkids. We are a blessed family!
There has been no answer yet from Amani. I know it seems weird to be waiting for them to answer when I really feel led to work with Sanyu now. It may not make sense, but I'm really praying that the Lord would speak through the Board at Amani. It's been my prayer from the beginning, so it's still my prayer today. The silence may be God telling me to wait. As it stands, there are no little girls at either Amani or Sanyu who are "adoptable." That means my daughter is not there waiting for me. If she were, it would be a whole different story. But she's not there yet. She's not ready for me to get her.
Yesterday I got an e-mail from a woman I met through the blogging world. She told me that little girls are "very, very rare" at Sanyu. Surprisingly, I wasn't discouraged. If the Lord has a daughter for me, it doesn't matter how unlikely it is...He is the God of great wonders! With 2 million orphans in Uganda, it doesn't seem like much of a feat to get one of them to Sanyu in time for my arrival. Does it?
On a happy note, I counted all of the money in my "Adoption Fundraising" jar. I've kept all of my spare change, recycling money, and a few tubes of quarters from friends. I couldn't believe the total--I've put $619.75 in that jar in 3 months!!! Wow! If the Lord ends up telling me not to adopt, I'm going to have a nice chunk of change to do something with...I guess 'll either end up with a remodeled house or a daughter.
I vote for the daughter, Lord!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Cha-Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes!
It has been over two weeks since my application was received at Amani, and I still have not gotten a concrete answer from them. I prayed so hard that their response would be a clear indication of whether I was to move forward with this adoption or not. Since I haven't really gotten a response, I can't take it as a "yes" or a "no." It's a maybe...so I'm looking into other orphanages, and have found one that seems very reputable. It has been recommended to me by various people, including the family in Uganda who had originally (but indirectly) sent me to Amani.
The new orphanage I am looking at is Sanyu Babies' Home in Kampala. It is the oldest orphanage in the country and is very near Brian & Lynne. That means I can probably stay with them while I'm in Uganda! The Sanyu website is: www. Sanyu Babies. com
I would greatly welcome your prayers as I continue to seek the Lord in this. Let His Will be done!
The new orphanage I am looking at is Sanyu Babies' Home in Kampala. It is the oldest orphanage in the country and is very near Brian & Lynne. That means I can probably stay with them while I'm in Uganda! The Sanyu website is: www. Sanyu Babies. com
I would greatly welcome your prayers as I continue to seek the Lord in this. Let His Will be done!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Waiting
So here is where I stand as of today. I mailed my application and it was received by Mary (she is in Texas and reviews all applications) on Friday, March 13. She then spoke to "The Board" (don't know exactly who they are) and Danyne (Director of the orphanage in Uganda). On Monday I received an e-mail from her which said,
"Danyne told me today to tell you that at this time, we don't have a little girl. We will be watching and praying. So sorry that this is not the time. Blessings, Mary"
I wasn't sure exactly what that meant. Am I now on a waiting list? Or since there is no match for me, is my application discarded? I e-mailed back and asked Mary to clarify for me.
Yesterday, I got this message from Mary:
"Hello Melissa,
I need to talk with Danyne early in the morning. She was at a special dinner when I called this morning. So, I will ask her directly your questions and get back to you as soon as I have some info. Can you tell me what age a little girl you would like? Is an older ie 3 or 4 ok? Let me know tonight if you can. Thanks,
Blessings,
Mary"
I wrote Mary back with a definite, "YES!" on the idea of accepting a 4-year old. I did not hear from her today as I had hoped. So I wait, and rejoice in God's goodness to keep me "peace-filled." Yes, I am peace-filled. Not peace-ful, because to me that implies that the peace is flowing out from me. No, it's just the opposite--the Lord is pouring His peace into me. It is a constant filling, every moment of the day. I can honestly say I have peace. When I started this journey, the Lord gave me Isaiah 55:12 which says, "You will go out with joy and be led forth in peace..." And He is faithful to all His promises!
I have heard from so many adoptive parents that adoption is not for the faint of heart. I am so thankful that the Lord has been teaching me patience for so many years prior to this journey.
"Danyne told me today to tell you that at this time, we don't have a little girl. We will be watching and praying. So sorry that this is not the time. Blessings, Mary"
I wasn't sure exactly what that meant. Am I now on a waiting list? Or since there is no match for me, is my application discarded? I e-mailed back and asked Mary to clarify for me.
Yesterday, I got this message from Mary:
"Hello Melissa,
I need to talk with Danyne early in the morning. She was at a special dinner when I called this morning. So, I will ask her directly your questions and get back to you as soon as I have some info. Can you tell me what age a little girl you would like? Is an older ie 3 or 4 ok? Let me know tonight if you can. Thanks,
Blessings,
Mary"
I wrote Mary back with a definite, "YES!" on the idea of accepting a 4-year old. I did not hear from her today as I had hoped. So I wait, and rejoice in God's goodness to keep me "peace-filled." Yes, I am peace-filled. Not peace-ful, because to me that implies that the peace is flowing out from me. No, it's just the opposite--the Lord is pouring His peace into me. It is a constant filling, every moment of the day. I can honestly say I have peace. When I started this journey, the Lord gave me Isaiah 55:12 which says, "You will go out with joy and be led forth in peace..." And He is faithful to all His promises!
I have heard from so many adoptive parents that adoption is not for the faint of heart. I am so thankful that the Lord has been teaching me patience for so many years prior to this journey.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Application Mailed!
Today I mailed my application to the Amani Baby Cottage. I can't believe it! I have been thinking of and praying for this day for years. It's crazy!
The office that reviews the applications is actually in Texas, so the paperwork doesn't have far to go. I have no idea yet how quickly I will hear a response, but I welcome your prayers. I am pleading with the Lord to make His Will known to me through the answer to this application. If I am off the path He has for me, I pray He pulls me back now. If I'm hearing clearly from Him, I pray that I receive a favorable response from the orphanage and can proceed in confidence.
Would you join with me in prayer as I await a response?
The office that reviews the applications is actually in Texas, so the paperwork doesn't have far to go. I have no idea yet how quickly I will hear a response, but I welcome your prayers. I am pleading with the Lord to make His Will known to me through the answer to this application. If I am off the path He has for me, I pray He pulls me back now. If I'm hearing clearly from Him, I pray that I receive a favorable response from the orphanage and can proceed in confidence.
Would you join with me in prayer as I await a response?
Thursday, December 18, 2008
There Is No Me Without You
There Is No Me Without You, by Melissa Fay Greene, chronicles an Ethiopian woman's efforts to save one orphan at a time.
After reading an article in the New York Times that reported 12 million orphans in Sub-Sahara Africa (with predictions that the number could grow to 18-25 million by 2010), the author was completely baffled:
"Who was going to raise 12 million children? That's what I suddenly wanted to know...Who was teaching 12 million children how to swim? Who was signing 12 million permission slips for school field trips? Who packed 12 million school lunches? Who cheered at 12 million soccer games?...Who was going to buy 12 million pairs of sneakers that light up when you jump? Backpacks? Toothbrushes? Twelve million pairs of socks? Who will tell 12 million bedtime stories? Who will quiz 12 million children on Thursday nights for their Friday-morning spelling tests? Twelve million trips to the dentist? Twelve million birthday parties?
Who will wake in the night in response to 18 million nightmares?
Who will offer grief counseling to 12, 15, 18, 36 million children? Who will help them avoid lives of servitude or prostitution? Who will pass on to them the traditions of culture and religion, of history and government, of craft and profession? Who will help them grow up, choose the right person to marry, find work, and learn how to parent their own children?
Well, as it turns out, no one. Or very few. There aren't enough adults to go around."
I may not be able to do all of that for 12 million, but I can do it for one.
After reading an article in the New York Times that reported 12 million orphans in Sub-Sahara Africa (with predictions that the number could grow to 18-25 million by 2010), the author was completely baffled:
"Who was going to raise 12 million children? That's what I suddenly wanted to know...Who was teaching 12 million children how to swim? Who was signing 12 million permission slips for school field trips? Who packed 12 million school lunches? Who cheered at 12 million soccer games?...Who was going to buy 12 million pairs of sneakers that light up when you jump? Backpacks? Toothbrushes? Twelve million pairs of socks? Who will tell 12 million bedtime stories? Who will quiz 12 million children on Thursday nights for their Friday-morning spelling tests? Twelve million trips to the dentist? Twelve million birthday parties?
Who will wake in the night in response to 18 million nightmares?
Who will offer grief counseling to 12, 15, 18, 36 million children? Who will help them avoid lives of servitude or prostitution? Who will pass on to them the traditions of culture and religion, of history and government, of craft and profession? Who will help them grow up, choose the right person to marry, find work, and learn how to parent their own children?
Well, as it turns out, no one. Or very few. There aren't enough adults to go around."
I may not be able to do all of that for 12 million, but I can do it for one.
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