Book Report

Occasionally, we like to give you a little book review written by either one of our staff or one of our adopting parents. Our reviewer today is Heather Mitchell, who is adopting a toddler from Ethiopia.

Toddler Adoption: The Weaver's Craft
by Mary Hopkins-Best

The book gives a lot of insight into the special needs of toddler adoption. The author gives many examples from her own toddler adoption as well as from other families who participated in her research. The book was written specifically to discuss and make the reader aware of common difficulties that are specific to adopting a toddler - both domestic and international. She discusses the importance of attachment: what it is, how to achieve it and when to seek professional help. She is very encouraging, but also very blunt and honest about the negative and lasting effects of loss on the toddler.

I HIGHLY recommend this book for ANYONE adopting a child between 12
and 36 months. A MUST READ.

Ethiopian Worship

Your Ethiopian kids will love watching this video!!

Ethiopia Will Be At The Winter Olympics!

The Lord Takes Care of the Innocent

As we pray for the children in our orphanages - and for all of the orphaned and abandoned children in Ethiopia - we can know that they are in God's tender care. He is their Defense, their Provider and Protector.

"But I will protect the orphans who remain among you."
Jeremiah 49:11 NLT

"The helpless put their trust in You. You defend the orphans."
Psalm 10:14 NLT

"Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent. They will receive an inheritance that will last forever."
Psalm 37:18 NLT

Chosen

Adoption is God's idea.

Before the beginning of time, God picked us to be adopted into His family. We were orphans - without a future or a hope - until He rescued us from our helpless place in life. Adoption was our only hope!

Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace He has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son.
Ephesians 1:4-6 NLT

The most natural response to being chosen and adopted into God's family? Give that same love to those who are orphaned and without hope. See them with the same love we ourselves received. It's not only a sign of compassion but it's a mark of obedience.

For some, that will mean financially supporting an orphan or orphanage. Churches, families and bible study groups can 'adopt an orphanage' and take on the monthly support for staffing and supplying a Widows and Orphans Home.

Some will go to those places around the world where widows and orphans are in great need of help. YWAM has many short-term missions opportunities.

And for many more, adopting one or more orphaned children is the Spirit-caused reply to God's great love.

Let's never forget - we are His kids by adoption. It's why we can cry 'Abba Father!' Every child needs a parent.

How does God want YOU to respond?

Orphans of God
Who here among us has not been broken?
Who here among us is without guilt or pain?
So oft’ abandoned by our transgressions
If such a thing as grace exists
Then grace was made for lives like this

There are no strangers
There are no outcasts
There are no orphans of God
So many fallen, but hallelujah
There are no orphans of God

Come ye unwanted and find affection
Come all ye weary, come and lay down your head
Come ye unworthy, you are my brother
If such a thing as grace exists
Then grace was made for lives like this

O blessed Father, look down upon us
We are Your children, we need Your love
We run before Your throne of mercy
And seek Your face to rise above
written by Mark Heard

A Glimpse

This beautifully made video shows the plight of millions of Ethiopia's children.

Millions.

(Be sure to watch in full screen mode - arrows pointing out - and allow time for video to load)

A Very Happy Reunion!

It's pretty cool when children who were friends while living in an orphanage in Ethiopia are reunited after being adopted in the United States! Brothers Fraol and Behayelu came home to their forever family in Puyallup, Washington in September of last year knowing that their best friends would be coming soon. But 'soon' can seem like a very long time when it takes four months!

Beza, Cherinet, Fraol and Behayelu at YWAM's Widows and Orphans Home
April 2009

These kids were living as brothers and sister for many months!

So you can imagine the excitement these two felt when it was finally time to greet their friends at the airport...

David and Daniel with their hand-painted signs, teddy bears and balloons.

We're SO glad you're here!

David and Cherinet (Joshua)

Mom and Beza (Aliyah) - a bit overwhelmed!

And here's a short video of the airport reunion!