Happy Monday, everyone! Well, we are on day 7 of our blitz, with only 3 more days to go!
Today we're going to let Guy Henry, director of Lifesong Honduras, tell a little about Plan Escalon in his own words.
Plan Escalon from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Waiting
What is new in the wide world of adoption?
Not a thing. Hence the lack of blog updates. I don't have much to say.
We have been waiting now over 5 months for our sweet little boy to pass court and be deemed officially a Huette; however, it still hasn't happened. What was estimated to take 3 months is well on it's way to taking twice that. (Our little girl won't join us until later summer/early fall, so the 5 month wait has been for our son.)
Our dear friends are over there now and have been able to hold our children and take pictures and videos, which has been such a blessing. BUT it makes me want them home that much more.
I believe that God is in control. He will dictate the events that need to take place for us to be able to bring them home. I have been reminded over and over lately that I have no power over this process and can do nothing to speed up court proceedings. I can only wait and pray. And so that's where I am...praying for my child at home to be able to adjust to the addition of siblings. Praying for our children in Africa to be protected from illness and to be ready to join our home. Praying for the transition to be smooth and for God to prepare us to care for and love three children under 2.5! Praying for court proceedings to pass without problems and for the ability to wait well and not waste my days away hoping for that phone call.
But oh how I hope that it comes soon!
Not a thing. Hence the lack of blog updates. I don't have much to say.
We have been waiting now over 5 months for our sweet little boy to pass court and be deemed officially a Huette; however, it still hasn't happened. What was estimated to take 3 months is well on it's way to taking twice that. (Our little girl won't join us until later summer/early fall, so the 5 month wait has been for our son.)
Our dear friends are over there now and have been able to hold our children and take pictures and videos, which has been such a blessing. BUT it makes me want them home that much more.
I believe that God is in control. He will dictate the events that need to take place for us to be able to bring them home. I have been reminded over and over lately that I have no power over this process and can do nothing to speed up court proceedings. I can only wait and pray. And so that's where I am...praying for my child at home to be able to adjust to the addition of siblings. Praying for our children in Africa to be protected from illness and to be ready to join our home. Praying for the transition to be smooth and for God to prepare us to care for and love three children under 2.5! Praying for court proceedings to pass without problems and for the ability to wait well and not waste my days away hoping for that phone call.
But oh how I hope that it comes soon!
Tortilla Tuesday!
Tortilla Tuesday!! 
Next Monday we will be kicking off an exciting 10 day blog-a-thon to spread the word about what's going on at Lifesong Honduras. We will be sharing personal testimonies from changed lives, peeking into everyday Honduran life, and giving some tools to spread awareness in your families. One of these tools is a little something we like to call (da-daDAAA!): 
Tuesday, March 29th we will be dedicating 1 meal to eat what the children in Honduras eat on a daily basis... and we want you to be a part of it! We will also provide some great topical questions and discussion guides for you to share with your kids on what life is like for children in another culture. Would YOU join us? We'll share more as we get closer to the 29th, so mark your calendars, get your camera ready and head to the store to get tortillas, rice, and beans for the whole family!">
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Threat of Large Changes to Ethiopian Adoptions
Last week, it was announced that the Ethiopia government plans to reduce the number of adoptions that they process by up to 90% as a means of reducing child trafficking. It is certainly a good thing for countries to aim to prevent and reduce child trafficking and to make sure that agencies are acting ethically and above reproach; however, with over 5 million orphans in the country, this will have a significant effect on many children. The following petition is aimed at causing the Ethiopia government to not to reconsider thoroughly investigating child trafficking, but instead to ask them to consider making a less drastic cut in adoptions. Currently the Ethiopian courts process 50 adoptions per day and this has been threatened to be reduced to only 10, which would potentially affect many families who have received their referrals and are waiting to bring their babies home. If you are able and willing, please sign the following petition.
Emergency Campaign for Ethiopian Children
The Joint Council on International Children's Services put out an Emergency Campaign for Ethiopian children -- we only have a few days to sign and hopefully it'll make a difference! They plan to present it to the Prime Minister in Ethiopia. Here's where you can go to sign it (please do and pass along to everyone you know!!):
http://www.gopetition.com/petition/43714.html
Emergency Campaign for Ethiopian Children
The Joint Council on International Children's Services put out an Emergency Campaign for Ethiopian children -- we only have a few days to sign and hopefully it'll make a difference! They plan to present it to the Prime Minister in Ethiopia. Here's where you can go to sign it (please do and pass along to everyone you know!!):
http://www.gopetition.com/petition/43714.html
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Lots of News
We've had some busy weeks in our house with lots of things going on...
--Andy's sister lives in Christchurch, New Zealand with her family. They have planted a church called Rechurch, which recently celebrated its 1 year anniversary. Last Tuesday, there was a large earthquake that hit Christchurch (there was another major one there in September). Their home was seriously damaged (cracks in walls, floors bubbling up, master bedroom sinking and falling away from house) as well as a large portion of the city, making them refugees. Amy and Brooklyn (11 mo.) are living 3 hours outside of the city with friends, and Joe has been staying in Christchurch to do relief work. While the situation seems bleak, God has shown Joe and another pastor from Rechurch favor with the relief officials, and they were asked to lead the religious service yesterday for all of the relief workers in the city. Please pray that God directs their steps and gives them opportunities to serve and love others. The hymn that keeps coming to mind when I think of them is "On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand..."
--We got a referral for a 3-4 month old baby girl last week! She is precious and beautiful and was cooing in the videos that we saw. The picture shows her smiling face and pierced ears! I'm planning to take some little studs over when we go to get our little guy. Because it is a separate court process, we hope to have her home by August or September.
--Our friends are there now and were able to send pictures and videos of our two "twins" together. It melted my heart! Our little boy, who was so tiny when we got his referral, is now 18lbs at only 5 mo. ha He's a big boy, and we are so thankful for the formula he has received. A picture of his hands is above...and he's teething like crazy! They are now in the same foster home and are being loved by a woman who is beautiful "inside and out" as my friend described. Praise God! My specific prayer for our son is that he will be home by May 7th. There isn't a great likelihood of this, but I'd love if you'd pray for that specifically with me. We have an orphan/adoption care event at our church that day, and I would love to have him there as a testimony to the importance of adoption and as a visible picture of what Lifesong for Orphans helps make possible through their financial assistance.
--It was interesting to see videos after looking at a few pictures for so long. First, I would like to say that technology is incredible...what a blessing! Now, if they could only figure out teleporting :) Seeing the videos just makes me ache to get them home! Second, it is often asked with adoption if it is possible to love an adoptive child in the same way that you love a biological child. I can testify that after just watching a few short video clips of our babies, I would do anything for them. We have love that runs deep for these little ones, just as it does for our biological daughter.
--Andy's sister lives in Christchurch, New Zealand with her family. They have planted a church called Rechurch, which recently celebrated its 1 year anniversary. Last Tuesday, there was a large earthquake that hit Christchurch (there was another major one there in September). Their home was seriously damaged (cracks in walls, floors bubbling up, master bedroom sinking and falling away from house) as well as a large portion of the city, making them refugees. Amy and Brooklyn (11 mo.) are living 3 hours outside of the city with friends, and Joe has been staying in Christchurch to do relief work. While the situation seems bleak, God has shown Joe and another pastor from Rechurch favor with the relief officials, and they were asked to lead the religious service yesterday for all of the relief workers in the city. Please pray that God directs their steps and gives them opportunities to serve and love others. The hymn that keeps coming to mind when I think of them is "On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand..."
--We got a referral for a 3-4 month old baby girl last week! She is precious and beautiful and was cooing in the videos that we saw. The picture shows her smiling face and pierced ears! I'm planning to take some little studs over when we go to get our little guy. Because it is a separate court process, we hope to have her home by August or September. 
--Our friends are there now and were able to send pictures and videos of our two "twins" together. It melted my heart! Our little boy, who was so tiny when we got his referral, is now 18lbs at only 5 mo. ha He's a big boy, and we are so thankful for the formula he has received. A picture of his hands is above...and he's teething like crazy! They are now in the same foster home and are being loved by a woman who is beautiful "inside and out" as my friend described. Praise God! My specific prayer for our son is that he will be home by May 7th. There isn't a great likelihood of this, but I'd love if you'd pray for that specifically with me. We have an orphan/adoption care event at our church that day, and I would love to have him there as a testimony to the importance of adoption and as a visible picture of what Lifesong for Orphans helps make possible through their financial assistance.--It was interesting to see videos after looking at a few pictures for so long. First, I would like to say that technology is incredible...what a blessing! Now, if they could only figure out teleporting :) Seeing the videos just makes me ache to get them home! Second, it is often asked with adoption if it is possible to love an adoptive child in the same way that you love a biological child. I can testify that after just watching a few short video clips of our babies, I would do anything for them. We have love that runs deep for these little ones, just as it does for our biological daughter.
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