Clarify

I have heard from a few people that they thought that the little boy, Varney, that died was our Varney, he is not. Our Varney is doing fine. I am very sorry for the misunderstanding. The little boy that died lived with his mother and had been suffering from a disease that caused his head to swell. He was waiting for a medical visa to receive treatment, but the visa didn't get approved in time.

To learn more about Varney and others like him, go to:
http://globalorphanoutreach.blogspot.com/2010_08_01_archive.html
This is a recent picture of Varney (on left) and Michael (on right). We continue to sponsor them and look forward to sending them to school in the fall. We are told they are very good rice eaters and healthy. Varney is sweet and sensitive. Michael is creative with strong leadership skills. They are loved and cared for with their foster family and for that we are very thankful. Micheal calls us "his white people". I am really looking forward to going to see them in Oct. Yes, I am planning to fly to Liberia Oct.23 for one week. It won't be long enough, and I'm told that I'm not allowed to pack a suitcase of Kleenex. (I plan to bring cloth hankies and just dry them out instead!) We are planning a day to visit Kpeletayama village, where Habukkuk's well is. I am beginning to raise money for a school in the village. I will need around $5500 to $6000 for that project. I will have more info coming soon.

A little numb

Here is the email I just received. I feel a little numb.

Hello
Today was a day of major disappointment and tragic news.

Peter waited 4 hours for a meeting that did not take place nor did anyone seem to know anything about. He was shown Christina Tah (MOJ) schedule for the day and it showed no meeting for adoption even though earlier in the week he was assured there was a meeting scheduled for that day.

Peter said he will wait no more for this meeting but take things on himself. He along with a congressman and another guy (cant remember his involvement) are taking their case of adoptions to Christina Tah themselves. He has put in for a meeting personally with her himself and will be granted such he said. They feel that this issue must be resolved now more than ever. Why?

Because sadly today- after advocating for him for two years- Special needs Varney passed away. He cried out in the middle of the night and vomited. His mother called Peter to help take him to the hospital in the morning- morning came and he had passed away by then. We had just made arrangements for his care in Uganda and Peter was going to be working on passports for him this coming week. Varney's family couldnt believe that someone in America would care enough to help him. They were ecstatic. Now this has happened and of course they are devastated. Please keep his family in your prayers today.

Peter showed Varney's picture to those in the MOJ today and they couldnt believe that such a child existed in their country. They of course praised Peter for helping him. Peter said it is NOT about me-these children need help. They need the resource of adoption. He is going to share Varney's story with everyone he meets along with Matthew's story ( a little boy we lost last year who was 2 weeks away from traveling to the U.S. for medical help) and kids who are special needs in FMN. He feels they will open the door for others to go who wait in foster care.

As hard as it is to be a waiting family on this end, try being in his shoes where he sees his own people deny children help that they need and children he has to help bury because of it. Please keep this all in prayer as we continue to advocate for all children in Liberia. The need is great and the workers few.

With Open Hands

Since our home study update meeting in June, I have been waiting with open hands to see what God would give or take away. The song, "Blessed Be Your Name' has been my prayer all summer. I have been waiting for direction on what to do next: Should we continue to wait for Liberia to open or pursue foster care adoption instead. I wanted to be open, but it has been so hard. I love our boys in Liberia. I know I always will and, regardless of where they live, we will always be involved in taking care of them.

Last Sunday, Mark and I went on an early morning walk. As we talked and prayed, Mark shared how much he hoped that the door would open to adopt Michael and Varney. It was really meaningful to me because he doesn't usually express deep emotion about it. I felt like it was a leading from God. When we got back home, I checked my email and received good news, for the first time in months, regarding adoption from Liberia.

Here's the email:

I want to let you know that the meeting on Wednesday with the Minister of
Justice Christiana Tah went very well!  Maria and I are very encouraged.  She
listened to myself and the other two American families very intently in our
private meeting with her.  We were able to share the facts about children in
America and Canada that have been adopted from Liberia.

I am very impressed with Minister Tah.   She made it very clear that she is
going to take care of the problems that we have incurred in bringing our
children home with decrees.  She sympathizes with the families that have been
waiting  and is asking them to wait until the next meeting (public hearing) on
Friday, August 6th; to know her exact plans for the future of adoption.  She
stated that no one will walk away from the meeting on the 6th and not understand
the future of adoption in Liberia.  I am certain, however, after our
conversation with her that she will do everything in her power to expedite these
waiting adoptions with decrees.

Minister Tah made it very clear in our meeting that she understands the problems
on the Liberian side that need to be fixed and she will fix them.  She also
realizes that the vast majority of adopted Liberian children are thriving in
Canada and America!  I was able to present her with the book of letters and
photos.  Thank you all for helping me with that.  She will have the 2nd copy
delivered to the President’s office.

 She herself went to school in America and knows the truth about adoption!  I
will give more details after the meeting on the 6th.  This is certainly a
praise.  As Maria and I discussed the meeting with Minsiter Tah we are truly
encouraged and grateful to the Lord that He has brought a woman into power such
as this, who will truly be a voice for the Liberian child.

I fly out of Liberia today.  Thank you so much for your prayers.  I apologize
for not emailing more, it was much more difficult than I thought to do so.

Again, it seemed like a light to our path. After the email, our family got ready to go to an adoption fund raising event in Colfax for "Saving Lera". Peder Eide lead worship. It was great to see him again. While the kids and I played on the teeter totter, we pretended that Michael and Varney were with us teeter tottering too. The kids continued the imagining, by taking turns holding the boys as we walked around.

So, here I sit. It's Friday morning. I should find out in about an hour if the meeting really happened. It has been canceled twice already. And if this door will open.

FFH: Lord, Move or Move Me

"Lord move in the way, that I've never seen before
Cause there's a mountain in the way and a lock on the door
I'm drifting away, waves are crashing on the shore
So Lord move (move), or move me."

Important Adoption Meeting- Please pray

Please pray for an upcoming meeting in Liberian regarding adoption. This is a really important meeting and could really effect our adoption. The details of the meeting are below from two separate emails I received, so there is a little overlap in information. The mentioned "Pastor Peter" is our boys' foster dad and a very excellent public speaker.

Thank you for your prayers.
Peggy

This is an adoption update- I was sent the message below and it was also posted on the adoption yahoo group. There is a meeting taking place on Friday in regards to the adoption process in Liberia and what will happen next. Pst Peter, Josephus, and Professor Flomo, all who represent Global Orphan Outreach and our programs, will be in attendance at this meeting. They will be your voice of adoption and for your kids. And even though adoption agencies are pushing their agendas, they are making sure that they have a right to represent you in your adoptions as well.

Please be in prayer for this meeting. Also, Professor has to travel over 3 hours one way to attend this meeting. If any of you can spare funds to put towards his gas expense, it would be much appreciated. Just let me know. I will give you an update on this meeting just as soon as I am informed.

"I have been asked by Maria Luyken in Liberia to inform all of you of a major event regarding Liberian Children taking place July 16, 2010 and invite you to attend.

I am overjoyed to share with you that Maria Luyken was able to have a private meeting with the head of the Ministry of Justice in Liberia last week. To put this in perspective, the Minister of Justice Christina Todd is who the President puts in charge of the country when she is traveling abroad.

As a result of Maria’s meeting with her, Minister Todd has announced that a public forum will be held with all adoption agencies, adoptive parents and other stakeholders in Liberian Adoption on July 16, 2010.

This public forum will allow the adoption agencies in Liberia to present their case to her regarding difficulties they have experienced over the past year in processing the adoptions with decrees. This forum will give the adoption agencies the opportunity to come together as one united voice and to confront the problems they have had with specific government facets in regards to adoption.

The President of Liberia, (Ellen Shirleaf) has requested that the Minister of Justice investigate the Adoption situation in Liberia. President Shirleaf has asked her to “fix the problems” regarding adoption. The Minister of Justice will make a final decision on lifting the moratorium (ban) on adoption here in Liberia from her personal investigation and from the information she gleans from the public forum on July 16^th. We believe the Lord has put this woman in leadership at the Ministry of Justice in order to defend these precious children of Liberia that currently do not have a voice.

All of the Adoption Agencies in Liberia are invited to participate as are adoptive parents of Liberian children and all those who are passionate about the cause of the Liberian child."

Dear All,
I spoke with all local representatives of adoption agencies in Liberia on Friday
(July 9) about the planned July 17th confirmed date for the Adoption meeting with Honorable Christiana Tah, the Minister of Justice, Republic of Liberia.

I still do not have the exact venue and time, but I do know that amongst the guests that will be invited to the meeting will include: Mrs. Jenny Bernard (sister of President Sirleaf), UNICEF, MOH, Orphanages, biological and adopting Parents, Adoption Agencies, and Children Advocacy Groups. I will write again by Wednesday (14 July) to inform you about the venue and time.

As you are all aware, this is our only opportunity to tell the truth regarding Liberian adoption to the Liberian public. With this as a background, I am asking all parents across the board to pray for this meeting so that the truth may be known that children can once again have the opportunity for a better future.

Please allow me to caution each of you to be mindful that upon entering the place of the meeting on 17 July, everyone in attendance would have heard the lies, accusation, finger pointing and propaganda. Many have been influenced by all they have heard, so the burden will be on each one of us to show and prove
otherwise.

If anyone in particular wants a specific question, issue or concern raised as a collective, I’ll be delighted to pass those along to the Minister of MOJ before the meeting.

Let us all continue to pray for the plight of the Children of Liberia and that this meeting give hope once again to innocent children for an improved life and a better future.

Bittersweet

One year ago I received the news that
our little boy, Habakkuk,died of cholera
in his village, Kpeletayama, in Liberia.
He was 2 1/2 yrs old and we planned
on adopting him. Today, because of
the love and support of friends, there
is a clean water well in that village.This 

summer, no children are dying of
water contamination diseases. So, our
sorrow is obvious, I still ache for the
little boy I never knew, and yet, I have
joy that his life changed a village. His
life brought hope to his community; 500 people in his
village and surrounding areas benefit from this well.

Habakkuk's Well has an inscription dedicating it in
memory of Habakkuk. However, no one in the village can
read it since everyone is illiterate. But, this "village with
nothing" now has a future. Plans are being made to bring
a school to the village. First, a "real" house needs to be
built since not many educated people are willing to live in
a mud and thatch house. The house will cost about $3500.
Next, we will raise support to pay the teacher and purchase
curriculum. School will be outside under a pole and leave
structure. 

If you are interested in supporting this project
please mail your donation to: 

Mark and Peggy Halvorsen 

2920 Bobbie St 

Eau Claire, WI 54703

Write the check to: Fellowship church 

Please write Kpeletayama village school 

in the memo.

Also please pray for us as we
consider more options regarding
adoption. Liberia continues to be close. There is no way of
knowing how long it will remained closed. We currently
sponsor two boys, Michael and Varney, that we would very
much like to adopt. We continue to pray for God's will for
our boys. And, it may be for them to be our kids that grow up
in Liberia. In light of that, we are open to other adoption
options. If another match was found, such as through WI
special needs/foster care adoption, we would seriously
consider it. This process has been so painful for me, as some
of you know. Pray for wisdom and peace for our family as we
look for what God has ahead for us.
Thank you for your love and interest in our journey,
Peggy
                                             Varney and Michael

I love you all the time

I thought I had reached a sense of peace, a level of faith that I would trust God to do His best for our boys and for us, a trust that He loved them so much and has good, good plans for them and yet right now it really, really hurts.

This morning I was thinking about Michael and the words that came to me were: You have never been unloved.

I have prayed for a little boy in Africa for the past 5 years. I remember well the first time that feeling came over me and I knew that I had a little son in Africa.

And for Varney: You have never been unwanted.

I am going to Liberia in October to visit the boys if nothing new happens with the adoption. I try to imagine meeting them. I want to spend so much time with them. I want to stay at their house and be with them. I have avoided this trip so far; I could have gone sooner, but I didn't want to endure the pain. When I told one of my friends that I was going she asked me, "How will you leave?" I thought she meant how will I make arrangements to leave my family in Eau Claire, but she meant how will I leave my boys in Liberia. I don't know. I really don't. But I know in my heart that it's time to make this trip.

I hope that I fully live and love and laugh in Liberia and save my tears for the long flight home. I don't want to hold back anything. What have I got to lose? Part of my heart is already in Liberia.

One of my lines came back to me from a friend recently: Don't waste the pain.
I often say let your brokenness become the gift you have to give a hurting world. I'm not sure I know what this gift I am given will be, but I don't want it to be wasted.

This is not the journey I would have chosen, but it is the one I have been given. I chose to embrace it all. Joy and sorrow are part of the same cup and the One who gives it is good.

the waiting

Sometimes is gets hard to have people ask if we have any updates, not because I don't want people to ask, I do, it means a lot to know so many people remember and care, but because we so often don't have any update. (Sorry for the really long awkward sentence)

Well, Liberia has decided to become a Hague country, which for those who don't know, means that they will join the many countries that have signed on to international adoption standards. That's the easiest way I can explain it. Well, there are no Hague accredited adoption agencies in Liberia, so we have to find one that is interested in applying. We have a friend working on that. After we apply to that agency, we will have to wait to see when Liberia will be accepting new adoption cases. In the mean time, we are updating our home study, s l o w l y. Because, really, why hurry?

I have it in my heart to go to Liberia at the end of August, but unless something really miraculous happens, that is unlikely.

And if I can really share my heart, trying to understand God's good plan for the boys and for us is really hard. Actually, last weekend I had a sort of breakthrough. I remembered that God is the Father to the fatherless and He is the one who puts orphans in families. He does love our boys. And so, I continue to pray: Father, may Your will be done in Michael and Varney's lives, and in ours too. Amen.