Another diamond

I realize now that some of my posts are not making sense to some of you who haven't talked to me in person lately. I've wanted to keep things simple, but usually things happen at the same time. So, during this time when Mark and I have been focusing on Habakkuk's Well, another wonderful thing happened. We became aware that Michael has a foster brother, Varney. We decided a few months ago that we would adopt him. We have since been sent pictures of the two of them. They are adorable!

And, the second very important thing is that the tragic case of the adoptive family in CA is NOT going to impact adoptions in Liberia. We are still waiting for the government to finish updating the adoption laws and accept new cases, but we have hope that it may happen in March or April and we are very much hoping and praying to travel to Liberia this summer.

So, if you have followed my blog, you know that the diamonds in my wedding ring have special meaning to me. And, I will be going to the jewelry store to replace the stone I lost. Of course, it won't be the same stone, that diamond is irreplaceable. But, with the Habakkuk's Well being constructed and another little boy to love, it's time to fill that empty spot. And, interesting enough, I recently began wearing my birth stone ring. For me, it symbolically reminds me to be who I am. Anyway, Evelyn noticed it and asked why I was wearing a new ring and I told her. And then she noticed, it also has a little diamond beside my birthstone and she commented, "And that little diamond is for Habakkuk now!" And so it is.

Tis so sweet...

I'm going through a little discouragement right now, wondering if this adoption is ever going to go through. Most of the time, I'm OK to wait and trust that God really does love them more than I do and He has a good plan for their lives, but sometimes it just hurts, a lot.

I just got an update on the "Halvo boys". Love it! They are doing well. But it's so hard to read a report about our boys when all I want to do is blog to you about all the things I've learned first hand about my boys.

I can't believe it! "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" just came on the radio. I guess that's all I can do.

Setback

Please pray for our family. The news from Liberia lately seemed to be positive lately. However, a very sad story from CA has set things back. I don't have a great website to send you to that fully explains the story. But, this blog link explains a little of how it impacts us.

http://respondinginfaith.wordpress.com/2010/02/20/wanted-positive-and-encouraging-liberian-adoption-stories/#comment-1583

My prayer is: God, what do You want for these boys? I love them and I believe You care about them more than I do. Please let Your will be done in their lives and in ours. Amen.

Habakkuk's Well Update: We did it!

This morning I received a call that we raised all the money for the well! I am so excited. I can't believe we raised the money so fast! I can't say enough how much I appreciate everyone who heard our story and supported this dream. It means so much to me.

The organization we are working with will get the details for the construction date early next week. We are partnering with a third party, to oversee the construction of the well in Liberia. This will help insure that all the funds are used properly and the well is put in right. They will also teach the people of the village how to care for their well and make sure it is maintained, as well as possibly doing other educationally outreaches such as AIDS prevention. This means further positive impact for this community.

When the well is complete, I hope to send pictures and an update to everyone who donated. And now, please pray that our boys come home soon. Since this part of the project is coming to a close, I won't have that to distract me from missing them so much.

Habakuk's Well

Mark and I have been preparing to adopt two brothers from Liberia, West Africa, for the past year. In June 2009, our hearts were broken when we were told that our youngest boy, Habakkuk, then 2 ½ , had died of cholera, a disease acquired from drinking contaminated water. Habakkuk lived and died in a village with no well. He is not the only child who died for lack of clean water. Since losing our boy, it has been our dream to build a well in his community. We are trying hard to raise the money so construction can be completed before the rainy season, which starts in April. Pastor Peter Flomo is a son of the Kpeletayama village where our boys, Michael and Habakkuk, were born. He now lives in Liberia's capital, Monrovia, where he is the foster dad for at least eight children, including our Michael. At our request, he put together an estimate for a well in Kpeletayama. The well will cost $5,500.
A Brief Profile of Kpeletayama Village From Pastor Peter Flomo, son of the village
"Kpeletayama is a village in Suakoko District, Bong County, Liberia. It contains about nine huts. This village is surrounded by over ten villages with similar conditions. It is a ‘village with nothing’. With the population put together, 500 persons from the town will benefit while those from the surrounding areas will also benefit from this potable water. The people in this village are simply “existing” while others are living. They are without basic life necessities. Your help is a LIGHT IN DARKNESS. This village could be the “Nazareth of Liberia” where no one expects any good thing. For those with hearts for humanity, I invite your investment in this village and your dividend will be one of eternity.

Please consider making a donation to bring hope and life through clean water to a village with nothing.

I believe we can be the change

While I was shoveling today, I was thinking about how I came to be a person that believes I can be the change. I know I can't save the whole world, but I believe God put each one of us here to change a corner of it and truly, in my heart, I believe that if everyone did their part, we would change the world. Not in some theoretical dream, but get down and dirty, hands on, see it happen, change the world.

I think when we were young, most of us believed we could do great things in the world. Somehow life experiences make it harder and harder for us to believe that we matter, that we were put here for a reason, that God has a purpose and a plan for our lives that would impact others for good. Many of us just live our lives like there is nothing more than eating, sleeping, and working and then someday, dying. THAT IS NOT WHAT LIFE IS MEANT TO BE! Dream, please, hurting people are depending on it.

What is it for you that makes you angry or moves you to tears? Who are the people you feel like you need to speak up for? Is it the poor? The elderly? The orphan? The addict? The abused? Is is mothers, dads, kids? I know my list could go on forever. But the point is~ this hurting, broken world needs you. Be the change.

A Christmas gift

On Christmas Eve day I went out and got the mail. In it I received one of the best Christmas presents of this year. Our I600a approval.

We applied for the I600a in Jan (?) We went to St. Paul for fingerprints in Feb. I went again in March because I have "defective" fingerprints. : ) We submitted our home study in May. And then we waited. And waited and waited. Nothing. Finally, I emailed our adoption agency and asked what I should do. They asked me if we did our fingerprints. I said yes. I asked them if they submitted our home study. They said yes. Then I asked, "Where did you send it? Our fingerprints are in St. Paul." They responded, "Oh, we sent your home study to Milwaukee. We will resend it right away." About a month later, (Nov) I received a letter from USCIS saying I needed local police clearance since my fingerprints failed. ( I never realized how important those little buggers are!) So, I got that taken care of and finally, received the paper we have been waiting for!