Must Reads

Have I already told you how amazing our YWAM families are?  Well, I’m here to tell you again – we couldn’t be more impressed with their maturity, wisdom and honesty.  These folks ‘get it’ when it comes to all the issues surrounding adoption.  That’s not to say they aren’t learning as they go – just like we all do. 

I have appreciated that many are able to share some of these lessons in parenting adopted children on their blogs.  Just recently I’ve read two posts in particular that I don’t want you to miss. 

    

Kristen Halvorson and her husband Glen have adopted four children, three of those from Ethiopia through YWAM.  They are in the process of adopting another son from Ethiopia.  Kristen writes very candidly and there is a tremendous amount of grace and wisdom to be gleaned from her experience.  In a recent post titled “Paper Pregnant at 48” she writes about expectations, being in control and how pain can be an effective teacher.  Don’t let the title throw you off – this article is for YOU!

  

Haley Ballast and her husband Jon brought their son Zeke home in 2010.  I often refer families to Haley’s blog because she is a gifted writer who has taken the time to share so many of the things she is learning – in a way that is both relatable and helpful.  Her post “Feelings and Grace” is about many of the emotions common to adoptive parents after coming home.  This is something we don’t often talk about but it must be said – these feelings are common, normal and very real.  You’re not a bad parent for feeling them.  Sometimes you can deal with them on your own, with your spouse, with other adoptive parents.  Sometimes you’ll need professional help.  And that is okay.

Please grab a cup of coffee and spend some time reading these two posts and then read all of Kristen and Haley’s posts.  You will be helped and encouraged, I promise!  Many thanks to these two moms and to all of our families who share real life and God’s amazing grace in adoption.

Kristen's blog:  The Halvorson Family
Haley's blog:  We're All Yours

.

What a great weekend!

We just returned from our fourth International Adoption Training weekend in Puyallup, Washington.  Five couples - from Arizona, California, Oregon and Washington – joined us for a day and a half of intense teaching and discussion.  At the conclusion of our training, we had a panel of YWAM adoptive families and their children who shared some of their experience and perspective.  We ended in a time of prayer – families who have brought their children home prayed for those who are at the beginning of the process. 






Time for fellowship was squeezed in between a very full schedule of input.  We did enjoy dinner out together on Friday evening at a local Mexican restaurant.





Anne Kalkbrenner presented the medical portion of our training and she brought her sweet daughter with her to ‘help’ (and to keep us thoroughly entertained).  Blin asked each person if they were going to “Opiopia” and handed out tiny bottles of hand sanitizer saying “You need this!”





A highlight for everyone was seeing five children from Ethiopia happily planted into their forever families.





Our prayer is that God will equip these families with all they need for doing His will in raising their families, through the power of Jesus Christ.  Heb 13:21

.

This weekend - International Adoption Training

Liane Wolbert, Joy Casey and I are looking forward to being with five couples this weekend in Puyallup, WA. to learn about...

Identifying and setting expectations in adoption

Parenting children of a different race and ethnic background

Establishing a network of help and support

Developmental issues

Dealing with grief and loss in adopted children

Making decisions about education and addressing language acquisition

Strategies to enhance attachment and the behaviors related to trauma

Family dynamics and how family frameworks change in adoption

Abuse and sexual issues

Parenting strategies targeting specific behaviors with the goal

of healing and attachment

Medical issues common to many children adopted from Ethiopia

Preparing to come home and cocooning

The (long) adoption process

Travel to Ethiopia

We'll be joined by

• Sally Carmen, OTR/L who is an adoptive mom and the director of The Center for Therapeutic Intervention where she works with adoptive families and children with sensory issues. 
• Anne Kalkbrenner, RN/MN, YWAM adoptive mom and pediatric nurse at the University of Washington.   

These training weekends are scheduled approximately three times a year, depending on the number of families in Washington, Oregon and Idaho who are ready to participate. We also have families joining us from across the country.

Be sure to let us know if you'd like to be contacted about our next training: support(at)ywamethiopia(dot)com
.

Part of His Masterpiece!

We’ve been so blessed by the great folks who travel to Ethiopia on our many mission teams.  They give.  They serve.  They work.  They pray.  Stephanie Dulin is one of these dear servants who recently returned from a trip with Anthem Church.  She painted several murals on the walls of our Widows & Orphans Home in Adama.  You’ll see how cheery and colorful they are, while also writing God’s word “on the doorposts!”   Stephanie shares a little about her experience here.  Thank you Stephanie and Chase!

I went to Ethiopia in October 2011 with Mark Wolbert and a team of 12 other people. My main 'mission' on the trip was to paint a mural at the Widows and Orphans Home in Adama, however, when I met the team and started working with them, I realized that God had a lot more in mind.



Originally I was set to paint for 8 days, but another artist on the team helped me and we finished in just 2 days. Because we got done so fast I was able to spend the rest of the time with the team and experience things that I had not planned.





It was definitely a 'happy snap' for me to be used by God to paint the mural and to be a part of His masterpiece. I painted Noah's Ark and a poem on the walls to share the Bible story with the children. It was so much fun to be able to bless the children with something bright and happy for them to see everyday.







It was also an incredible experience to pray over frail babies, provide shoes to shoeless children, and to show love to people with leprosy. I will carry these memories with me for the rest of my life.

Stephanie Dulin

I hope to get more photos from the Anthem team to share on the blog! (hint hint)

.

Seeing the way God sees

We'll be praying for all those of you who are involved in Orphan Sunday at your churches. 

Every time you offer the opportunity for others to be involved in caring for widows and orphans in their distress, you too are bringing hope in Jesus' name. 

Be sure to ask us about Adoption Ministry 1:27 - our outreach to prevent children from becoming orphans and to meet the needs of those who are orphaned.  There are opportunities to sponsor families who are taking in orphaned and abandoned children.  There are ways you can give toward the growing monthly budget for our four orphanages in Ethiopia so that children and widowed women have HOPE.

We can all help one.

.

Hope

John and Kelly Rosati have a wonderful story to share – a story of hope and conviction about children who are without parents.  It’s called “Wait No More – One Family’s Amazing Adoption Journey.”  You’ll be inspired by the story of how God brought their family together and challenged by their honest look at the desperate need of children still waiting for families. Here is an interview with the Rosatis…





In recognition of National Adoption Awareness Month, we’re sharing a recent broadcast on Focus on the Family where John and Kelly Rosati share their passion for helping orphans and describe how they adopted their four children from the foster care system.  The two broadcasts are linked below. 

Bringing New Hope to Kids  Part 1

Bringing New Hope to Kids  Part 2

.

November - National Adoption Awareness Month

Did you know this is National Adoption Awareness month?  Here's a little history...

The first major effort to promote awareness of the need for adoptive families for children in the foster care system occurred in Massachusetts. In 1976, then-Governor Mike Dukakis proclaimed Adoption Week and the idea grew in popularity and spread throughout the nation. President Gerald Ford made the first National Adoption Week proclamation, and in 1990, the week was expanded to a month due to the number of states participating and the number of events.

 During the month, states, communities, public and private organizations, businesses, families, and individuals celebrate adoption as a positive way to build families. Across the nation, activities and observances such as recognition dinners, public awareness and recruitment campaigns, and special events spotlight the needs of children who need permanent families. It also includes National Adoption Day, traditionally a Saturday, which is observed in courthouses across the nation as thousands of adoptions are finalized simultaneously.
                                                                                      from Adoption.com

Here is a link to a calendar with lots of activities for families and individuals interested in celebrating adoption:  Adoption Awareness Calendar 2011

National Adoption Day will be celebrated this year on November 19.  Be sure to check to see about local events in your area. 

National Adoption Awareness Month can be made meaningful and effective in promoting adoption in many ways, including

• support for adoption ministries and foundations
• contributing financially to help families who are adopting
• letters to the editor of your local newspaper about a positive adoption issue
• blog and Facebook posts that highlight the blessing of adoption
• honor your child's birthparent in a meaningful way
• encourage your library to do an adoption display and share adoption-related materials
• more ideas found here

.