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| Monday, May 21, 2007 |
| Adoption/Foster Care/Mentoring Symposium & God's Hand |
I have been incredibly busy over the last three months working with a few other people to prepare for an adoption/foster care symposium. In addition to my normal activities, it has consumed a ton of my time. Last August, I joined with another church member to begin an adoption/foster care/mentoring ministry called Hope Ministry. It is our goal to educate people not only about the need for homes for children, but also about how they can truly make it happen for them. We wanted to be an information source that people could turn to if they wanted to find out more.
Yesterday we had around 50 people attend a 5 hour symposium. We had 12 speakers that taught in 3 different breakout sessions. They were from domestic agencies, international agencies, DHS, mentoring outlets like Big Brothers/Big Sister, CASA, and Child S.H.A.R.E. We also offered courses on the legal issues in the DHS system (taught by D), financing an adoption, and home studies. Singer/songwriter Becky Wright came and performed during our meal. She has written adoption songs and is a foster and adoptive parent. At the end, we had a question and answer panel for any unanswered questions. To close, we had a twelve year old boy adopted from Liberia who played his African drum and sang.
It was an incredible day! Basically, about 4-6 people put this huge event together. However, the volunteer turnout was amazing! They all came out to help and did it with such overwhelmingly joyful servant hearts! In addition, God performed a 21st century "fishes and loaves" miracle. The first thing we had arranged 3 months ago was who would be providing the food for the event. A group volunteered to donate and serve and clean up all of the food for us. It was never a big issue until Friday when they called and said that several of their members were sick and they would be unable to provide the food. We had not budgeted for this and knew we would be need to feed 80-100 people, including the volunteers, speakers, workers, and attendees. We also had to feed about 40 children. We made a few calls and you wouldn't believe the spread that we had. It was more than enough and seemed to keep multiplying. Everyone took home tons of leftovers!
Another highlight of the day was when two ladies from Kenya walked in at about 5:30 p.m. They had heard the event advertised on a Christian radio station and had been driving around for two and a half hours looking for our church. Long story short, one of the ladies lives here, the other was visiting her from Kenya. She had two sisters who died and together they left behind 6 children. They were coming to see if anyone was interested in adopting them. Whoa! This is where I need your help. Does anyone know about Kenyan adoptions, what their laws are, an agency that might deal with this country, anything at all?
Her friend also requested help for her brother who runs an "academy" there. He picks up 100 children every day and takes them back to his "school". There, he and some older children teach the younger ones. He pays the older children by feeding them breakfast and lunch. These are the only meals these kids ever get. He has hopes of turning it into an orphanage but is not able to because he has no one to run it and take care of the children. He also teaches without textbooks. Most of the children have never seen a book. She was asking for help in gathering textbooks and sending them to this school. I was totally amazed and overwhelmed at this turn of events in our symposium.
One of the most touching times of the day was during our Q and A time when the adopted children on the panel were asked what their favorite thing was about being in their new family. There were such sweet responses as, "They love me," or "They take better care of me, " or "I like being with them." Then there were real life survival comments like, "I like it here because there is no war, " and as a seven year old girl said, "I'm safe now."
The day was perfect and I felt like such a blessed person to have been a part of something so incredible. God's hand was truly all over the day and He totally blessed me in it. |
posted by 6blessings @ 7:43 AM  |
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| 14 Comments: |
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If you are doing God's work- expect miracles! That certainly was the case in your story! I wish I knew about kenya adoptions- let us know how that story turns out!
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ditto to what jeneflower said!
You, your friend, and the volunteers are such a blessing to so many by assisting others in such an awesome way. It wasn't just possibly 25 children...
but the multiple children into 25 homes from yesterday, and the friends and family members that will consider adoption from this one day....
you will never know how this one day is going to effect so many....
and the children that will be with Jesus some day because they were in a Christian home in a free country...
and who they minister to...
...one multiplies into many.
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What a great turnout and event. Though it was undoubtedly a lot of work, it must have been very rewarding to be a part of it.
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What a blessing. Thanks for sharing. I heard the event being advertised and knew you and D must be involved. God has such an awesome way of recharging our batteries sometimes.
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It all sounds so wonderful! I wish I could have been there!
I don't know anything about Kenya adoptions, but with a family member working toward placement in the states, you should be able to arrange a private adoption, right? Provided that the U.S. is granting immigration from Kenya. Well, you are the one married to the lawyer. LOL!
It sounds as thought the Lord is richly blessing you for your labor of love for His children. Just don't burn out on us, O.K.?
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Yikes! Just read up on Kenyan adoptions. That is going to a tough one. Three months residency is required BEFORE any orphan petition can be processed. Completion of the adoption can take an additional three months. So unless you got some couple who can afford to be out of country a LONG time....
Very sad for those children.
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Hi - congrats on a great event. I just want to comment on adoption from Kenya. While technically legal, it is VERY difficult. Very difficult. The US Embassy does grant visas, but the Kenyan gov't does not really "do" adoptions. There are several US families who have been in process (and in-country) not for three months, as expected, but well over 18 months. There are other ways to help in Kenya, but logistically, it's virtually impossible to get through the courts there.
Holly, who blogs on Africa Adoption over on adoption.com
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ok, you had me crying at the end. that is so wonderful. I know a man named Joseph who was the accountant for our school and on the board. He was going to Kenya I believe to start a school there. Wouldn't that be funny if they were related.
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what an amazing day. i think your efforts were blessed and used!I'll be curious to hear how this kenyan turn of events progresses...
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Wow! Kim, this is really fantastic. I love to see ministry at work.
Kay
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If you are doing God's work- expect miracles! That certainly was the case in your story! I wish I knew about kenya adoptions- let us know how that story turns out!