tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46583675876590933192023-11-16T04:03:17.701-08:00ONEfamilyPure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:27ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-8987983326692627162013-08-14T14:46:00.000-07:002013-08-14T14:46:54.201-07:00Meet Dustin, Daniel, and Ricky {New Initiative!}<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In every state across the US, there are currently children in foster care who are waiting for a forever family. Their parents rights have been terminated and they are now free to be loved and welcomed into a family through adoption. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As of April 2013, there were 5,013 children in the foster care system of Alabama. <b>Five hundred</b> of those children sit waiting, currently ready to be adopted. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And here is the thing: <b>waiting children don't have to be adopted just by Alabama families, anyone across the country could become their parent. </b> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Heart Gallery Alabama</span> strives to help find a permanent, loving family for every child in Alabama's foster care system who is in need of a home</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">Their heartbeat is the mantra, "There are no unwanted children. Only unfound families."</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">ONEfamily very much agrees. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">A blog friend Catie, over at <a href="http://thishighcalling.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-new-partnership-beyond-excited.html?spref=fb">This High Calling</a>, announce that every Monday she would be posting about a child available for adoption in the state of Alabama. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We're on board too. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We've got big dreams for what could happen. Each week Catie will share a beautiful face and and their story. Then we'll share it. Our hope is then that YOU will share it. And if you share it, maybe your facebook friends will share it, and then their (cousin/friend from high school/tennis partner/co-worker, will open up the link. . .</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And maybe, JUST maybe, one of those people will see the face of the child they have been praying for . . .</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It only takes ONE family to provide a forever home to a child. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Let's find that family. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Let us introduce you to these three handsome brothers. . . </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3acZ1P7jqjjvbrzuk2H-B8HuJU2LMseJiZVRLPkfHqNSiSlszDr_8bQVu5inLO-sYronVZNFNOLLLFhNEe0amEBhPEXAJC4jN-C7SBnlFq_g-Ko7HIPT12yHhNSwgr0W-PKu-mC5VGsoj/s1600/1371598392_boys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3acZ1P7jqjjvbrzuk2H-B8HuJU2LMseJiZVRLPkfHqNSiSlszDr_8bQVu5inLO-sYronVZNFNOLLLFhNEe0amEBhPEXAJC4jN-C7SBnlFq_g-Ko7HIPT12yHhNSwgr0W-PKu-mC5VGsoj/s400/1371598392_boys.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>Meet Dustin, Daniel, and Ricky</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Helvetica CY', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Dustin, born February1999, enjoys watching TV, playing video games and reading. He likes the Harry Potter Books. He is creative. He prefers the indoors and enjoys playing alone. Dustin's grades are average and he maintains passing grades. He does wear glasses to help him see the black board in the classroom. <br style="font-family: 'Helvetica CY', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: 'Helvetica CY', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" />Daniel and Ricky were born in February 2003. Daniel has an IEP in place for speech therapy to assist with a speech impediment. His grades have been good. He likes to play outside and swim. Daniel enjoys watching TV, playing video games, and playing with others. He is very energetic. He is also creative and likes to draw. <br style="font-family: 'Helvetica CY', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: 'Helvetica CY', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" />Ricky likes to play outside and go swimming. He also likes to go fishing. Ricky enjoys watching TV, playing video games, and playing with others. He is very energetic and is creative. He makes friends easily. <br style="font-family: 'Helvetica CY', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: 'Helvetica CY', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" />These brothers need a family that can attend to their therapeutic needs and keep them together. They need to be placed together for adoption with a family that has no other children in the home.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">If you'd more information about these boys and other available children, please head over to the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.heartgalleryalabama.com/children/children_details.php?id=682">Heart Gallery of Alabama.</a></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Blog friends, let's advocate for and pray these children into a forever home.<b> </b>Let us be a voice for the voiceless. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Excited to partner together with you! </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-2086131737731902412013-04-29T17:28:00.000-07:002013-05-10T20:17:13.274-07:00One Hour <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">(UPDATE: The MENTOR MEETING will be held on May 15th at 6pm in Room 7208. Childcare WILL be provided.) </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This Wednesday, we ask you to lay aside your perceptions and ideas about teens in foster care. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We ask that you take a step of faith and consider coming alongside a child who needs someone to love them despite their past and their current circumstances. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We ask for one hour of your time to join us and learn more about what it means to become a mentor. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">That is all. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">No commitment. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">No signing on the dotted line. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Just a willingness to learn more. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We would love to see you there. </span></div>
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<br />ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-56263718405587166122013-04-14T18:53:00.000-07:002013-04-14T18:53:08.595-07:00Become a Mentor<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">In our county alone, there are over 40 adolescents in foster care who are currently living in a group home or institution. Many of these are children who have been in the system for years and probably have spent some time in and out of foster homes. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Because of their age, the likelihood that they will given an adoptive placement is slim, as statistics show that most families are looking to adopt younger children under the age of ten. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The majority of these teenagers will age out of the system without have the opportunity to join a forever family. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For these children, the cards are stacked against them. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I've already written <a href="http://waitingonaword.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-reality-of-aging-out.html">here</a> about the grim statistics of aging out of the foster care system. </span>Let me add some more. </div>
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National data for teenagers who age out of the system:</div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">81% of males will have been arrested by age 24. </span></span></li>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">54% </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">report having at least one mental health problem. </span></span></li>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">33% receive neither a high school diploma nor a GED, compared to fewer than 10 percent of their same-age peers.</span></span></li>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">33% have household incomes below the poverty level, which is three times the national rate.</span></span></li>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">25% have experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, compared to 15% of Vietnam War veterans and 12% of Iraq War veterans.</span></span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">To say these kids have not been given a fighting chance is a gross understatement. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">The ONEfamily ministry has spent the last two years building a foster care network of licensed families and support teams to assist those that are fostering. Over twenty families have become licensed to foster, forty children have been fostered by a family in our church, and three children adopted out of the foster care system. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">A lot of misconceptions about foster children have been dispelled through people taking part in caring for actual foster child in our city. It's been amazing to watch our church transform in just two years. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">One glaring omission, however, has been working with foster children over the age of ten. Because many of them have already been placed in a group home or institution, there has been little need for families to take them in. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">But even though there is not a need for a full-time foster placement, the fact remains that there are still over forty kids, living in group homes, who may not have an adult pouring into their life on a regular basis. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">ONEfamily wants to change that. We are a church with a couple thousand people of all ages, races, and backgrounds. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">There are empty nesters, young families, single adults, families with older children, and couples with no children. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">Frazer has hundreds of families in the church and Montgomery has 40 adolescents in foster care living in a group home or institution. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">We think it's possible to see each child partnered with a Foster Care Mentor from our Frazer family. </span></div>
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So, what does that mean? </div>
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The word "Mentor" can be daunting, as it often brings with it an air of knowledge and level of qualification. However, the true definition of a Foster Care Mentor is someone who shows up in the child's life. Someone who listens, who supports and who encourages. </div>
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Teenagers in foster care need to be told that they mean something and that there is hope for their future. They need to be encouraged to dream. </div>
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Many of them have spent years living one day to the next, surviving rather than thriving. </div>
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We want to help them see that their past does not have to define their future and that God has a much, much bigger plan for their life. </div>
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ONEfamily will be hosting an information meeting about becoming a Foster Care Mentor on Wednesday, May 1st, at 6pm. Please join ONEfamily and Amanda Faulk, DHR Social Worker, in room 7208 to learn more. Ms. Faulk will address the misconceptions about teenagers in foster care, share about the current needs, and offer ways for you to play a role in the life of a teenager in foster care. </div>
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Please join us! </div>
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ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-30710969266619294502013-04-08T11:03:00.001-07:002013-04-08T11:06:02.806-07:00The Reality of Aging Out<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Blog posted originally by Leslie Word <a href="http://waitingonaword.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-reality-of-aging-out.html">here</a>. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In 2009, nearly 40% of children in foster care were over the age of twelve. Over one third of them were living in institutional foster care settings, as compared to less than 4% of children under the age of 12. Estimations based on the national system indicate that a youth in foster care changes placements every six months.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Adolescence is one of the most difficult times in life. It's a period where we are desperately searching to find our place and to be accepted and loved. We are trying to figure out who we are, what we believe in and whether we are worth something to anyone. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Most kids today are working through all of that in a stable home environment. Not our nation's foster children. These children, who already have had their freedom and their voice taken away upon entering the foster care system, are often left to navigate the rough waters of adolescence alone. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It's inexcusable.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Over a third of our foster teens are living in an institution, not a family. They do not have someone asking about their day, checking on their homework, consoling them through a break-up, or cheering them at their basketball game.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">No one is praying for them, encouraging them, challenging them, or just plain doing life with them.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Teenagers in foster care who have not been adopted face an overwhelmingly bleak future. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Foster Care laws vary state by state, but most children "age out" of foster care between 18 and 21. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What does that mean?</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Teens who "age out" are no longer provided with resources and services by the state. Once they leave the system, they must find their own living arrangements, job, transportation, and meet their own daily needs.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Here is why that is troubling.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;">Bleak.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;">These are the forgotten children.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;">Most would agree that it is a whole lot easier to love a chubby-cheeked nine month-old baby who just came into foster care than a surly, brash teenage girl who has been in care for over a decade. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;">But that surly, brash teenage girl was once nine months old. She once lived with a biological family, and somewhere along the way, things went horribly wrong. She has since suffered because of the decisions of those who were meant to protect her. Years, memories, and dreams have been stolen from her. And it's not her fault. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;">Children in foster care do not have a voice. They do not get to decide where they go and with which family they will be placed.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;">Once they hit adolescence, there are very few people left fighting for them.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;">And that's when they need it most.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;">So what can be done?</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;"><b>1. Become a foster parent to teens. </b> It's not a job for everyone, but it's a job for someone. Could that be your family? Contact your local Social Services department to inquire about the needs, requirements, and training required.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;"><b>2. Give, Donate, Encourage. </b>There are great organizations that come alongside teens aging out of the foster care system. Take a minute to check them out and see if you want to be a part. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;"><a href="https://camellianetwork.org/" style="color: #eb5f11; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">The Camellia Network</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">.</span> Supporting specific former foster teens who have aged out by helping them with college, finding a job, and providing a gift registry to assist them in getting on their feet.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;"><a href="http://www.do1thing.org/" style="color: #eb5f11; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Do 1 Thing</span></a>.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> </span> Foster Care and Homelessness often coincide. Do 1 Thing is an organization dedicated to helping out our nation's homeless youth, many of whom are former foster children. You can find a listing of organizations by state that are doing something to help eradicate homelessness <a href="http://www.do1thing.org/get-involved/by-state/" style="color: #eb5f11; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">here</span></a>.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;"><b>3. Become a Mentor. </b> It's a disheartening reality, but adoption isn't going to happen for many adolescents in foster care. That is all the more reason that we need to fight to make sure they are not forgotten or ignored. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;">Mentoring a foster child is where a relationship is built without the child living full-time in the home. There are many ways that it can look; time spent hanging out, going to eat, offering wisdom and guidance, a shoulder to cry on, or even just a sounding board for a teen who never has anyone that listens to them. This is a role that can be life-changing, for both the mentor and the teen. Everyone needs someone who has their back, is going to fight for them, and encourages them to dream about the future. </span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><b>On May 1st, at 6pm, ONEfamily will be hosting an informational meeting on becoming a Mentor. Amanda Faulk, DHR Social Worker, will be sharing about the needs, the misconceptions of foster children, and the ways in which you can get involved in Mentoring. Please join us at Frazer UMC in Room 7208 to learn more. </b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;">If we start REALLY investing in our foster children, imagine the possibilities. . .</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;">By just CARING about a child and offering LOVE and TIME, it could impact our entire NATION. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;">Wow. </span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;">Doing something doesn't take a special degree or talent. It means being there and showing up for child in need. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;">Someone needs to fight for them. Will it be you? </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small; line-height: 1.4;">Statistics Found From the Following Sites: </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small; line-height: 1.4;">http://azhope.com/about/foster-care-statistics.php</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.journalismcenter.org/resource/child-welfare/foster-care-and-permanence</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.childtrends.org/Files/Child_Trends-2011_11_01_RB_TeenParentsFC.pdf</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2012-06-24/what-comes-next</span></span></span></div>
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ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-52506382196586658092013-03-26T17:15:00.000-07:002013-03-26T17:15:41.649-07:00Foster Care Q&A Part II: Decisions, Expenses, and the Biological Family<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Originally posted by Leslie Word at <a href="http://www.waitingonaword.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Waiting On A Word</span></a>.</span><br />
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This is the second installment of the Foster Care Q&A Series. If you missed the first post,<a href="http://frazeronefamily.blogspot.com/2013/03/foster-care-q-basics.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"> Foster Care: The Basics</span></a>, please take a moment and read it first.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Disclaimer: Each state has their own Foster Care rules and regulations. I will try and answer questions as basic and broad as possible, but will be speaking from our experience as foster parents in Alabama. I encourage you to research your state Department of Human Resources or independent Foster Care Agencies to learn more. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span><b>1. Can you decide what ages and gender of the children you will foster? </b></div>
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Yes. As a foster parent, you have the right to set parameters on your age range, gender preference, physical and emotional disabilities. When a social worker calls you with a potential placement, they will be giving you as much information as they know. There is a quick turnaround time between removal of the child from their home and placement into a foster home. It's important to take note that they often do not have a full medical history of the child. As a foster parent, you must be flexible and willing to accept that children may come into your home with more medical or emotional issues than first determined by the social worker.</div>
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<b>2. Do foster parents get reimbursed for expenses related to the child? </b></div>
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Foster Parents receive a monthly subsidy for each child in their home. This is to cover their "room and board." In addition, foster children are on Medicaid and any additional medical expenses are paid by the state department of social services. In Alabama, and most likely other states, foster children under the age of five are eligible for WIC (Women, Infants, Children Food/Nutrition Program). This program provides a monthly supplement of formula for infants or basic food necessities for toddlers. This is a great help to foster parents with food costs.</div>
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<b>3. How much interaction will the child have with their biological family while in foster care? </b></div>
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The court system will decide how much interaction the biological family will have with one another. The purpose of foster care is first and foremost always reunification. The court system will give the family as many chances as possible that are safe for the child and will provide an opportunity for the biological family and child to maintain their bond. It could be a weekly supervised visit at the Department of Human Resources, an unsupervised visit at on a Saturday afternoon, or overnight visits to the birth family, to name a few examples.</div>
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<b>4. Does the foster parent have much face to face interaction with the biological family? </b></div>
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<b> </b>It often depends on the specific case of the child. There will be times where the biological family is deemed too dangerous and a threat to the safety of the child and therefore, interaction is not encouraged. In other cases, if the foster parent feels comfortable and reunification is the end goal for the child, interaction may be a good idea. For example, the parents of the child may accompany the foster parent to the child's doctor appointments or come to the child's soccer games.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Foster Care Q&A: Part 3 Coming Soon! </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a222a;">Looking for some other blogs of Foster Parents around the country? Head over </span><a href="http://www.fostercaredad.com/p/foster-parent-blogs.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">here</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a222a;"> for a huge list of foster care blogs. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Have more questions after reading this? Leave them in the comments below or send an email to onefamily@frazerumc.org.</span></div>
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ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-9876806836583176162013-03-20T17:35:00.000-07:002013-03-20T17:35:08.768-07:00Guest Post: Going Back for More<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Donnie Manis is a follower of Jesus, orphan care advocate, member of Frazer, and die-hard Alabama fan. His heart is tied to the people of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, after he went on a mission trip there a few years ago. He went with the intention of escorting his niece on the trip and instead, his life was changed forever. He has been back to Addis Ababa every year since. Today he share with us why he continues to go back.</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">You can read more from Donnie on his blog</span> <a href="http://bubsbanter.blogspot.com/2013/03/life-of-pi-what-is-truth.html?spref=fb">here</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">.</span></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p><br />
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve"><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve"><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve">It was a normal December day less than four years ago. My phone rang at work and I recognized the number. It was my niece Brooke. </w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p><br />
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve"><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve">I had promised to take her on a trip for graduation. She was calling to tell me that she wanted to go on a mission trip. </w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p><br />
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:prooferr w:type="gramStart"><w:r><w:t><br /></w:t></w:r></w:prooferr></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:prooferr w:type="gramStart"><w:r><w:t>To Africa.</w:t></w:r></w:prooferr></w:p></w:p><br />
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:r><w:t><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:prooferr w:type="gramStart"><w:prooferr w:type="gramEnd"></w:prooferr></w:prooferr></w:p><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:r><w:t>Africa? Umm, ok. </w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p><br />
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:r><w:t><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:r><w:t>I’ve got to confess that in my 50 years I had never once had a thought that I wanted to set foot on African soil. I was so proud of her for wanting to do this, but this was intimidating. Maybe her mom would tell us she couldn’t go. </w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p><br />
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve"><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve">I am </w:t></w:r><w:r w:rsidrpr="0026750B"><w:rpr><w:b><w:i></w:i></w:b></w:rpr><w:t>so</w:t></w:r><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve"> glad she didn’t. </w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p><br />
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve"><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve">Through the wisdom and heart of this teenager, God moved my heart and gave me an incredible love for the children of a community on the west side of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. </w:t></w:r><w:prooferr w:type="gramStart"><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve">A place called </w:t></w:r><w:prooferr w:type="spellStart"><w:r><w:t>Korah</w:t></w:r><w:prooferr w:type="spellEnd"><w:r><w:t>. </w:t></w:r><w:prooferr w:type="gramEnd"></w:prooferr></w:prooferr></w:prooferr></w:prooferr></w:p><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve">Out of a two-week trip, we only spent two days in </w:t></w:r><w:prooferr w:type="spellStart"><w:r><w:t>Korah</w:t></w:r><w:prooferr w:type="spellEnd"><w:r><w:t>. But God spoke to me and I knew I would be back. </w:t></w:r></w:prooferr></w:prooferr></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYz1jIBU-fwXSzIbA0gy9LGNMsnKr3VUznlt8ZGItb_ziW8956i4aka0RPe5ql98Lw1ACEXCwAQLzXTSO9Dnw1oWUPCv1WimaKNQPYxcETqKjSY8lOXsFO2an5yTR0vX09Gh8P_oVoIfA/s1600/donnieethiopia2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYz1jIBU-fwXSzIbA0gy9LGNMsnKr3VUznlt8ZGItb_ziW8956i4aka0RPe5ql98Lw1ACEXCwAQLzXTSO9Dnw1oWUPCv1WimaKNQPYxcETqKjSY8lOXsFO2an5yTR0vX09Gh8P_oVoIfA/s320/donnieethiopia2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:prooferr w:type="spellStart"><w:prooferr w:type="spellEnd"><w:r><w:t><br /></w:t></w:r></w:prooferr></w:prooferr></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:prooferr w:type="spellStart"><w:prooferr w:type="spellEnd"><w:r><w:t>We spent time with a ministry that was doing a summer camp (VBS-like) program for the children, and setting up a programs that would allow many of them to break the cycle and get an education while hearing the Good News. </w:t></w:r></w:prooferr></w:prooferr></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p><br />
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<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:prooferr w:type="spellStart"><w:prooferr w:type="spellEnd"><w:r><w:t><br /></w:t></w:r></w:prooferr></w:prooferr></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:r><w:t><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:r><w:t>This summer I will be going back for the <b>fourth</b> time. I can’t stay away. </w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p><br />
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:r><w:t><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:r><w:t>There are some who would say, why? </w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p><br />
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:r><w:t><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:r><w:t>Why keep going back to visit the same children? </w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p><br />
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:r><w:t><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:r><w:t>Why not donate money rather than spend it going over there? </w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p><br />
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:r><w:t><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:r><w:t>What good are you doing by seeing them one week a year?</w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p><br />
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:r><w:t><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:r><w:t>Fair questions. </w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve">I could probably write a book about why I believe God is leading me to travel across the world to see these people again and again. Or I could just quote </w:t></w:r><w:hyperlink r:id="rId5" w:history="1"><w:r w:rsidrpr="00E818DD"><w:rpr><w:rstyle w:val="Hyperlink"></w:rstyle></w:rpr><w:t>Jam</w:t></w:r><w:r w:rsidrpr="00E818DD"><w:rpr><w:rstyle w:val="Hyperlink"></w:rstyle></w:rpr><w:t>e</w:t></w:r><w:r w:rsidrpr="00E818DD"><w:rpr><w:rstyle w:val="Hyperlink"></w:rstyle></w:rpr><w:t>s 1:27</w:t></w:r></w:hyperlink><w:r><w:t>.</w:t></w:r><w:r w:rsidr="00E818DD"><w:t xml:space="preserve"> But here are just a few reasons I keep going back:</w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p><br />
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:p w:rsidp="00E818DD" w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:r><w:t><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:p w:rsidp="00E818DD" w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:ppr><w:pstyle w:val="ListParagraph"><w:numpr><w:ilvl w:val="0"><w:numid w:val="1"></w:numid></w:ilvl></w:numpr></w:pstyle></w:ppr><w:r><w:t>Well, James 1:27…and dozens of other passages about God’s heart for the oppressed. Actually, not just dozens of isolated passages, but a theme – a thread – running through the entire Bible. Jesus came to rescue us when we were most helpless, just as the God of Israel had done throughout the Old Testament. He didn’t just send us provisions to meet our needs; he came in person. We are called to do the same.</w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidp="00E818DD" w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve"> </w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidp="00E818DD" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:ppr><w:pstyle w:val="ListParagraph"><w:numpr><w:ilvl w:val="0"><w:numid w:val="1"></w:numid></w:ilvl></w:numpr></w:pstyle></w:ppr><w:r><w:t>There is no substitute for a smile, a kind word, a touch, and time spent with someone. I don’t know about you, but my greatest need is to know I’m loved. There’s nothing that says, “I love you” like a personal visit.</w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p><br />
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00FB3EB4" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve"><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00FB3EB4" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:ppr><w:pstyle w:val="ListParagraph"><w:numpr><w:ilvl w:val="0"><w:numid w:val="1"></w:numid></w:ilvl></w:numpr></w:pstyle></w:ppr><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve">I think we have fallen into the trap of believing that money solves all problems. We believe it about our own lives – if I just had a little more, I’d be happy. Well, it’s not true for us and it’s not true for them. Yes, financial support is important. But it is no substitute for what happens when they see a bus roll down their street full of Christ-followers who cared enough to come spend time with them and share </w:t></w:r><w:r w:rsidr="00FB3EB4"><w:t>“</w:t></w:r><w:r><w:t>not only the gospel of God, but our lives as well.</w:t></w:r><w:r w:rsidr="00FB3EB4"><w:t xml:space="preserve">” (1 Thessalonians 2:8)</w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p><br />
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00FB3EB4" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:r w:rsidr="00FB3EB4"><w:t xml:space="preserve"><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00FB3EB4" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:r w:rsidr="00FB3EB4"><w:t xml:space="preserve">I can’t share my life with them without ever seeing them. </w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00FB3EB4" w:rsidrdefault="00FB3EB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00D70BB4" w:rsidrdefault="00FB3EB4"><w:ppr><w:pstyle w:val="ListParagraph"><w:numpr><w:ilvl w:val="0"><w:numid w:val="1"></w:numid></w:ilvl></w:numpr></w:pstyle></w:ppr><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve">I love my friends who are investing their lives in these children full time. This is so important, because I’m fooling myself if I think one week a year is going to change the lives of the people in Addis. Right? </w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p><br />
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00FB3EB4" w:rsidrdefault="00FB3EB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00D70BB4" w:rsidrdefault="00FB3EB4"><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve"><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00FB3EB4" w:rsidrdefault="00FB3EB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00D70BB4" w:rsidrdefault="00FB3EB4"><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve">Wrong..... if </w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p><w:r><w:t>my visits encourage the hearts of those God is using there 365/24/7, then yes, it is making a difference. I’m talking about both the leaders who were born in Addis and devoted their lives to changing their community and those from other countries who have been called to live there full time. I go each year praying that something about my visit will help my friends there lift up Jesus and change the lives of the children. It’s not hit-and-run ministry; it’s a</w:t></w:r><w:r w:rsidr="00D70BB4"><w:t xml:space="preserve"> small part in a bigger plan. </w:t></w:r><br />
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00FB3EB4" w:rsidrdefault="00FB3EB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00D70BB4" w:rsidrdefault="00FB3EB4"><w:r w:rsidr="00D70BB4"><w:t xml:space="preserve"><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00FB3EB4" w:rsidrdefault="00FB3EB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00D70BB4" w:rsidrdefault="00FB3EB4"><w:r w:rsidr="00D70BB4"><w:t xml:space="preserve">To the extent that</w:t></w:r><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve"> I remember that, </w:t></w:r><w:r w:rsidr="00D70BB4"><w:t>I can get excited about how God is using me without getting a false sense that I have to save everyone because I have limited time. I am there to serve the people God has placed there.</w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p><br />
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00FB3EB4" w:rsidrdefault="00FB3EB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00D70BB4" w:rsidr="00D70BB4" w:rsidrdefault="00D70BB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00D70BB4" w:rsidrdefault="00D70BB4"><w:r><w:t><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00FB3EB4" w:rsidrdefault="00FB3EB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00D70BB4" w:rsidr="00D70BB4" w:rsidrdefault="00D70BB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00D70BB4" w:rsidrdefault="00D70BB4"><w:ppr><w:pstyle w:val="ListParagraph"><w:numpr><w:ilvl w:val="0"><w:numid w:val="1"></w:numid></w:ilvl></w:numpr></w:pstyle></w:ppr><w:r><w:t>It changes me. </w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p><br />
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00FB3EB4" w:rsidrdefault="00FB3EB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00D70BB4" w:rsidr="00D70BB4" w:rsidrdefault="00D70BB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00D70BB4" w:rsidrdefault="00D70BB4"><w:r><w:t><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00FB3EB4" w:rsidrdefault="00FB3EB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00D70BB4" w:rsidr="00D70BB4" w:rsidrdefault="00D70BB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00D70BB4" w:rsidrdefault="00D70BB4"><w:r><w:t>God has worked through my Africa experience to give me heart for orphans in our community. My eyes have been opened to needs all around me, and it began when he opened my eyes to the needs of children 8,000 miles away. </w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p><br />
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00FB3EB4" w:rsidrdefault="00FB3EB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00D70BB4" w:rsidr="00D70BB4" w:rsidrdefault="00D70BB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00D70BB4" w:rsidrdefault="00D70BB4"><w:r><w:t><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00FB3EB4" w:rsidrdefault="00FB3EB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00D70BB4" w:rsidr="00D70BB4" w:rsidrdefault="00D70BB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00D70BB4" w:rsidrdefault="00D70BB4"><w:r><w:t>I have a much greater view of how big God is and his plan for the nations because I’ve seen his work among the people of Addis. If you want to really see the heart of God, spend time with the people he has a heart for.</w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p><br />
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00FB3EB4" w:rsidrdefault="00FB3EB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00D70BB4" w:rsidr="00D70BB4" w:rsidrdefault="00D70BB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00D70BB4" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00D70BB4"><w:r><w:t><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00FB3EB4" w:rsidrdefault="00FB3EB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00D70BB4" w:rsidr="00D70BB4" w:rsidrdefault="00D70BB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00D70BB4" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00D70BB4"><w:r><w:t>Those are just a few reasons – well, looking back maybe I did write a book! But there’s just so much to say. God is more awesome, merciful, loving, powerful, and wise than I ever imagined before July 2010. And I owe that to my dear friends in Ethiopia.</w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p><br />
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00FB3EB4" w:rsidrdefault="00FB3EB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00D70BB4" w:rsidr="00D70BB4" w:rsidrdefault="00D70BB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00D70BB4" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00D70BB4"><w:r><w:t><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00FB3EB4" w:rsidrdefault="00FB3EB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00D70BB4" w:rsidr="00D70BB4" w:rsidrdefault="00D70BB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00D70BB4" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00D70BB4"><w:r><w:t>And so I keep going back for more.</w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p><br />
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00FB3EB4" w:rsidrdefault="00FB3EB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00D70BB4" w:rsidr="00D70BB4" w:rsidrdefault="00D70BB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00D70BB4" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00D70BB4"><w:r><w:t><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hWH3mqCgSQqeF273zhzmbNMpQ1wCvyDFfC-8z8eG25iPMVe7vMipZwxXxpB6xmS4Cw84IoGJvktU64U_PDvwweve8IKq02tTtCfbdZXlDS9T-WENM6sIrbb8SqQHhffasiiVXRG4QjM/s1600/donnieethiopia1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hWH3mqCgSQqeF273zhzmbNMpQ1wCvyDFfC-8z8eG25iPMVe7vMipZwxXxpB6xmS4Cw84IoGJvktU64U_PDvwweve8IKq02tTtCfbdZXlDS9T-WENM6sIrbb8SqQHhffasiiVXRG4QjM/s320/donnieethiopia1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="0026750B" w:rsidrdefault="0026750B"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00E818DD"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00FB3EB4" w:rsidr="00FB3EB4" w:rsidrdefault="00FB3EB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00D70BB4" w:rsidr="00D70BB4" w:rsidrdefault="00D70BB4"><w:p w:rsidp="00D70BB4" w:rsidr="00C84525" w:rsidrdefault="00C84525"><w:p w:rsidp="00C84525" w:rsidr="001D58C9" w:rsidrdefault="001D58C9"><w:p w:rsidr="00E818DD" w:rsidrdefault="00D70BB4"><w:r><w:t><br /></w:t></w:r></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p></w:p>ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-42808232819597104842013-03-17T09:39:00.000-07:002013-03-17T09:39:49.856-07:00ONEfamily Chick-Fil-A Spirit night! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Eat Chicken. Help a family with their adoption! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ONEfamily is hosting a Chick-Fil-A Spirit Night this Tuesday, March 19th from 5-7pm at their <a href="http://www.chick-fil-a.com/eastchase">Eastchase</a> location. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">By simply dining at Chick-fil-a, you are helping a Frazer family in the adoption process! Adoption can be expensive and this is an easy way to be a part of bringing a child into a forever family. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Frazer UMC has teamed up with <a href="http://www.lifesongfororphans.org/adoption-funding/">Lifesong for Orphans</a> to open an Lifesong Adoption Fund. Members of Frazer currently in the adoption process can apply for a matching grant through this fund, which will help defray the costs of adoption. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Chick-Fil-A will donate 20% of the proceeds to the Frazer Lifesong Fund. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>When ordering at the counter or the drive-thru, please be sure to indicate that you are there for the "Spirit Night," so the money is properly allocated. </i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We hope to see you there! </span><br />
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<br />ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-81823446338453118742013-03-01T08:42:00.002-08:002013-03-01T08:42:05.249-08:00Foster Care Q&A: The Basics<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">This is the first post in a series about Foster Care. It can be a scary, mysterious topic and often carries a lot of preconceived misconceptions about it. ONEfamily would like to address the concerns and questions that you may have about the process. </span></b></div>
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<b><u>Let's start with some of the basics! </u></b></div>
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<b>1. Who can become Foster Parents? </b></div>
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<li>Adults (In <a href="http://dhr.alabama.gov/services/Foster_Care/Intro_Foster_Care.aspx">Alabama</a>, it's 19 years old and up)</li>
<li>Married Couples</li>
<li>Singles</li>
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<b><br /></b><b>2. What is required to become a Foster Parent? </b></div>
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<li>Background Checks</li>
<li>Child Abuse and Neglect Forms </li>
<li>Home Study and Home Visit by the Social Worker</li>
<li>Classes (In AL you are required to complete a 10-week, 30 hour class)</li>
<li>Your home meets the state standards for eligibility to foster</li>
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<b><br /></b><b>3. What are the types of Foster Parents? </b></div>
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<li>Respite Parents - Provide short-term care for foster children. Respite trained foster parents can take emergency placements for a few days, weekend, or a week. When full-time foster parents need a break, have an emergency, or need to leave the state and are unable to take the foster children, Respite Parents provide care for their foster children. </li>
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<li>Full-time Foster Parents - Licensed to provide care for foster children in their home. The number of children allowed in the home is dependent on the size of the home and number of bedrooms. </li>
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<b><br /></b><b>4. Why are children placed in Foster Care? </b></div>
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<li>Neglect - When Social Services investigates a family for neglect allegations and the children are not in imminent danger, then they will often try to put services in place to allow the biological family to continue raising the children. If those services are not successful and there is no immediate or extended family available to care for them, then the children are removed from the home and put into foster care.</li>
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<li>Abuse - Physical and sexual. Allegations of abuse that have been confirmed result in the child being removed from the home. </li>
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<li>Drug or Alcohol Abuse - If the child is born to a mother addicted to drugs and tests positive for the drug, they are taken immediately from the mother and put into foster care. </li>
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<li>If a biological parent has all of their children currently in foster care and they become pregnant again, the child will immediately be placed into foster care upon their birth. (In the state of Alabama). </li>
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<b>Foster Care Q&A Part 2 coming soon! </b></div>
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Have more questions after reading this? Leave them in the comments below or send an email to onefamily (at) frazerumc (dot) org! </div>
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ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-18006703611367271702012-10-13T07:03:00.003-07:002012-10-13T07:04:09.339-07:00A Few Numbers....<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Since ONEfamily began in May of 2011....</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">24</span> Frazer foster families have been trained and/or
licensed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">35</span> Foster children have been cared for Frazer Foster
Families in the past year</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">25 </span>Foster “care” bags delivered to foster families to
provide immediate needs when a child has been placed. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">100 </span>Meals supplied by the members of the ONEfamily support
network to foster families that took in a placement of a foster child</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">20</span> Meals supplied by the member of the ONEfamily network to the
families during the 10 weeks foster care training. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2</span> Frazer members who are professional photographers take
photos of the foster children every three months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">5</span> Frazer families in process of adopting domestically or
internationally</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1 </span>child adopted out of foster care this past year by their
foster family</div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">HUNDREDS</span> Of items donated by our ONEfamily network to Frazer foster and adoptive families: </o:p></div>
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<ul>
<li>Double stroller</li>
<li>beds</li>
<li>cribs</li>
<li>car seats</li>
<li>dresser</li>
<li>diapers</li>
<li>wipes</li>
<li>clothes</li>
<li>formula</li>
</ul>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">UNLIMITED</span> The potential our church family has to impact orphans in our city and around the world in the coming years! </div>
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<!--EndFragment-->ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-77947073185871098742012-07-22T14:00:00.000-07:002012-07-22T14:00:38.265-07:00It's Not About You.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
That's what a foster mom kindly, but directly, said to me as I gave her the reasons why my husband and I could never foster.</div>
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"I could never give them back. We'd get too attached." I compassionately proclaimed to her.</div>
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And all she said was, "<b>It's not about you.</b>"</div>
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And there you have it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I didn't take offense to her comment. Because she was right.</div>
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<br /></div>
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There are hundreds of innocent children in our city alone that do not get to make the decisions where they will live. They have been pulled from their families for safety reasons, but they don't get an opinion as to where to go next. They have no voice.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But I do. And I use it a lot.</div>
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Unfortunately, it's too often for my own self-promotion.</div>
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What if instead of giving excuses as to why foster care isn't for our family, I started advocating for the child who doesn't have a family?</div>
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<br /></div>
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The bible is clear in it's mandate: To be a voice for the orphan.</div>
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Foster children are orphans. Whether for a few days, months, or years, they are without their biological family.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">There are some great ways to care us to for them. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">1. Through Foster Care, where children are placed with your family for the short or long term until their family is stable enough to get them back or until they are available to be adopted. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">2. Through Respite Care, where you receive the foster care training and then take children into your home for short periods of time. (i.e. overnight, the weekend, or a week) Alabama DHR confirmed they are in great need of Respite Care families as well as foster families.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">3. Adopt from the foster care system. There are over 300 children currently available for adoption in foster care in the state of Alabama. </span></div>
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Children placed in foster care may not have a voice. But we do. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Even greater, we have the ability to give them the structure and love that they desperately need.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Foster care is not a walk in the park. It can be messy and hard.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But it is also part of the adventure that God calls us to as believers- to care for the orphan.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><b>You may not know yet if this is for your family- but we encourage you to join us and learn more at our ONEfamily Foster Care Q&A on August 1st at 6pm in Room 7207 at Frazer UMC. </b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><b>Frazer Foster families will be sharing their experiences and insight about the fostering process. </b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><b>If you already know that you are interested in Foster or Respite Care, the next ten-week training course begins September 6th at Frazer. Please email Leslie at onefamily@frazerumc.org. </b></span></div>
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<i>*This is a repost from a July 2011 blog entry at <a href="http://www.waitingonaword.blogspot.com/">Waiting on a Word</a>.</i></div>ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-89208039803582894262012-07-05T19:17:00.000-07:002012-07-05T19:17:19.787-07:00Learning More.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">On any given day, there are approximately 420,000 in foster care across the United States. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">They range in age from newborn to kids in their late teens. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1,200 enter foster care each day and average about two years in the foster care system. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">These children are placed in foster homes or group homes. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">No matter their age, they don't get to decide where they are placed. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">They have no control and no voice. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Almost <i>half a million </i>children in foster care. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Half a million children</i> who have been through trauma and distress that need care and love and stability. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">They need a bed. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A stable environment. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A hug. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A toothbrush. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Someone to tuck them in at night. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Children in foster care deserve a chance. They deserve to be placed in a home where they feel safe and love abounds. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So I have to ask the question. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What about YOUR home? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Could YOU be a family that provides a refuge for children who need safe place to land? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There is a huge need for full-time foster families AND for respite care families. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Respite families provide short-term care. They take in children for the a night or two when they first come into care. They take in foster children for a few days, weekend, or week when their regular foster family needs someone to care for them due to illness, going out of state, or family emergency. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Both full-time foster care and respite care families take the same amount of training in Alabama. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">BOTH are desperately needed in our state. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So I have to ask the question.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What about YOUR home? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Could YOU be a family that provides a refuge, either for a few days or a few years, for children who need a safe place to land? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If you are interested in learning more about the foster care process, please join us on August 1st at 6pm for a Foster Care Q&A panel. Foster families from our church will be answering questions about foster and respite care. The panel will be held at Frazer UMC in Room 7207. </span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We would LOVE for you to join us for this informative night. </span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Learn more. Ask questions. Pray about your role. </span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Hope to see you then. </b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-12452375927931734992012-05-14T14:49:00.002-07:002012-05-14T14:56:57.660-07:00ONEfamily Updates<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">ONEfamily is excited to have celebrated the one year anniversary of the ministry! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Please view the video below to hear from some Frazer families that are involved in orphan care! </span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/rFJxjATYDYo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">If you are interested in learning more about what the bible says about orphan care, please join us for a six-week summer bible study starting June 6th. We will be going through the book Orphanology by Rick Morton and Tony Merida. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">If you are interested in this class or would like more information about it, please email us at onefamily@frazerumc.org.</span><br />
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<br />ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-16848672679176145262012-03-13T09:12:00.000-07:002012-03-13T09:12:06.906-07:00An Evening with Sam McClure of the Adoption Law Firm<div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">ONEfamily is hosting an evening with Sam McClure, adoption attorney with the Adoption Law Firm. Please join us for an informal gathering on Wednesday, March 14th, from 6-7pm. </span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sam and his wife, Mary Beth will be sharing their story of internationally adopting their son Robi from Hungary. In addition, Sam will be able to answer questions about domestic and international adoption, re-adoption, private adoption, and many other facets of the process. You can read more about his law firm <a href="http://www.theadoptionfirm.com/about/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is an event for everyone - it's an opportunity to meet one of Montgomery's strongest advocates for the orphan. We are excited to introduce Sam and Mary Beth to our Frazer family! </span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Details: </b></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Where: The Parlor in Frazer </span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When: March 14th</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What time: 6-7pm</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Who: Anyone interested in learning more about adoption</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div>ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-210118434355174032012-02-26T15:56:00.000-08:002012-02-26T15:56:50.662-08:00Say Yes<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's, was a huge advocate for adoption. Being an adoptee himself, he knew the value of a forever family for a child. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This short video was produced by the Dave Thomas Foundation and is a sweet picture of why EVERY single child deserves and needs a family. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-53342155484982107592012-01-12T12:46:00.000-08:002012-01-12T12:46:32.792-08:00An Invitation to Join us.....for Ice Cream!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUX5bDfmMP2iOqhzOQVFD0_T66MAjzAMzdLn1tXofYe9Wr14AS7-pbU3AaIs9jhdwZhMw-gb2xMbdqu1Y6C_1gDHG-EJph9I6_60pU04hCYRItOzQe2uu6rTHenGbFtXmy2_mkz2p_MTc/s1600/IceCreamSocial-OneFamily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUX5bDfmMP2iOqhzOQVFD0_T66MAjzAMzdLn1tXofYe9Wr14AS7-pbU3AaIs9jhdwZhMw-gb2xMbdqu1Y6C_1gDHG-EJph9I6_60pU04hCYRItOzQe2uu6rTHenGbFtXmy2_mkz2p_MTc/s640/IceCreamSocial-OneFamily.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-72736188802941739652011-11-17T19:57:00.000-08:002011-11-17T19:57:54.500-08:00Adopting Eden and Den<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">For Rose and I, adoption began as a way to have more children when we couldn’t. It turned out to be much more than that. When we began the adoption process we already had two natural children. Alyson, our daughter, was 11 and our son Brantley was 8. They were two beautiful vibrant children and the four of us had been leading a very happy normal family life. When we had become pregnant again a couple of years earlier, we thought it was routine. When we lost the baby with a miscarriage, the routine was gone and the anguish set in. I watched Rose for several months as she mourned our loss. As I watched her pain, I felt totally helpless as a husband. We pursued international adoption not only to provide a home to a baby but to help fill a void in our hearts.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We were matched by the adoption agency to a baby boy in Ryazan, Russia who was born just a couple of months before we began the adoption paperwork. In fact, he was born about the same time that we had been told that our chances of having a third child naturally were futile. After months of background checks, home studies by social workers, visa applications, etc., we traveled to Russia to meet the baby in the summer of 2002. The conditions in the orphanage were subpar to say the least. There were very caring workers who were doing the best they could with the minimal supplies and food that they had available. The numbers of beautiful children were staggering. There was dozens of children needing a home and nobody even came to visit except on rare occasion. I remember thinking of these children and what their futures would be. If they survived the poor medical care and childhood diseases to age 16, they were turned out into the streets to fight for their survival on their own. Organized crime would be waiting to save them for their own profitable agenda. They would be the next generation of gangsters and prostitutes.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When we met “Ruslan” for the first time, our hearts melted right into his. I will never forget the first time I held him. We were standing next to a window and he looked outside and waved into the sky! At eight months old, how could he have known that he wanted to leave the only place he knew? Or was he calling our attention to more?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After we filed the local court documents to adopt “ Denton Thomas Pendleton”, we returned home to await the court date. At this point in the process, we kept our emotions in check as we stayed <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>busy preparing our home for a new baby. Our emotions went into another gear when Rose called me at work and shared a dream she had just had! She dreamt of an infant boy with blonde hair and wearing wings that was floating in midair. The angel, waving upwardly, repeated over and over….” He sent a soul to Heaven, to save a child in need!” Now, the tears began to flow on both ends of the phone line like never before. There was no doubt. God was answering our prayers. We had prayed for a third child. But, God wanted us to have a child on His terms. Rose’s dream made our hearts instantly begin to yearn for our new son.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A month later, we returned to Russia and formally adopted Den. I remember telling the judge, through interpretation, that I would like to bring our son back to his hometown to know his beginnings when he was older. The judge replied to me, “I hope you will return and adopt a little girl”! Ironically, adoptions in the Ryazan region were closed soon after Den’s adoption. Den was one of two babies adopted that day. He was one of the last….</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We journeyed home to Montgomery in a trip that took about 24 hours. As our plane touched down in New York, a new American law for internationally adopted children made Den officially an American citizen. The flight from Moscow to JFK had about 20 such children on board. The applause that was heard inside that plane as those wheels touched was emotional as well. We continued home and were greeted by family and friends at Dannelly Field. We were all so proud of our new son.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Looking back on the entire experience, I began to realize that what started out as an endeavor to adopt a third child to fill a vacancy in our hearts turned out to be a lesson in God’s will. God wanted us to know that what we see as bad things do happen. They happen for a reason and the reason is not always for us to understand. We are to trust Him and He will provide for us what He wants us to have… in His own time and means. I realized how much closer this event in our lives brought us to Him. It then occurred to me that Den was not the only one saved and adopted in this story. Our Father saved us all in His own adoption story. “ He sent a soul to Heaven, to save a child in need”. Jesus is our Savior….and the child, it’s each and every one of us!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-reQBsHETGJU2iS9X1WkGELQBlwGHSjHup9c7hgR6VqJrY4eXIQj0k-NoapmBQupuf_9kGB9XbUDxcOgugR0wMiC7sc_iNn8rR0xYtVIU0zTGPGHC3qOx2RzOYkLm24d2GrpI3UpGqU/s1600/pendleton7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-reQBsHETGJU2iS9X1WkGELQBlwGHSjHup9c7hgR6VqJrY4eXIQj0k-NoapmBQupuf_9kGB9XbUDxcOgugR0wMiC7sc_iNn8rR0xYtVIU0zTGPGHC3qOx2RzOYkLm24d2GrpI3UpGqU/s320/pendleton7.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SezyXqVJEbVR_3hbFEZE2YRuoMZxkkV4rU-931hJROn_892GwMEzetXWMHUcxmIKN2i4fSJxZLTPh5Fzm4vKEpCfdKBYCT12Th8ekJWHvTO_eJHa9RptU2-uxZuyulSDUFY4WQmHGlY/s1600/pendleton4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SezyXqVJEbVR_3hbFEZE2YRuoMZxkkV4rU-931hJROn_892GwMEzetXWMHUcxmIKN2i4fSJxZLTPh5Fzm4vKEpCfdKBYCT12Th8ekJWHvTO_eJHa9RptU2-uxZuyulSDUFY4WQmHGlY/s320/pendleton4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Four years later, in 2006, we did return to Russia to adopt a girl just as the judge in Den’s adoption had suggested. We felt like we would be more prepared for the process as we had been through the process before. We were wrong. We went to meet a baby girl named “Maria” just as all the local adoption agencies in Russia had their accreditation revoked. We proceeded by granting an adoption “coordinator” in Moscow a power of attorney. On our first trip to visit the orphanage in Ivanovo, Russia, it became apparent that the political climate towards international adoptions had changed. We searched and found loopholes to file the adoption petition. We then returned to the states and waited. As the court date was finally set and approached, we were asked for more and more “busy work” documentation from the Russian government. There was obviously a force working against us. We returned to Ivanovo and endured more requests for information that was impossible to give. They asked us questions that there were no answers to! As we walked into court that day, we were given odds of 50% of our adoption being fulfilled.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It was another emotional moment in court when, through all the Russian being spoken that we could not understand, we heard the words “Eden Marie Pendleton” being said by the judge. This was the name we had chosen for Maria and we would not have heard it if she wasn’t ours! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHP5YVlofJIL9az4TgoZ-0084KR4iNPQ6WEsdHLCLuV5Eg-KaO0YL3zZpOvRzUhkxc3PSBkn6BQ-TE-mAFDsoYlsk4vGJOj-kPjEyfZseW4cCZn9H2D9NM8cZkmamdj_NOphL83UenbGI/s1600/pendleton5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHP5YVlofJIL9az4TgoZ-0084KR4iNPQ6WEsdHLCLuV5Eg-KaO0YL3zZpOvRzUhkxc3PSBkn6BQ-TE-mAFDsoYlsk4vGJOj-kPjEyfZseW4cCZn9H2D9NM8cZkmamdj_NOphL83UenbGI/s320/pendleton5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">About a week later, we began our final journey home with Eden at the Moscow airport. As I was checking our bags, I looked over at a young man checking his bags a few feet away. He was wearing a Montgomery Biscuits T-shirt….halfway around the world! It just turned out that he was from Montgomery and a member of Frazer who was with a mission group returning home on the same flight. Another lesson…just when you think you are alone you aren’t! There are angels all around us. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwMWWYapYUb9qZIofpZZMXn8nk4uSQQ4H_-K9QCRuTeRb_PClyB4_0T4BOyhxVkhyVXBWRIJSbANn53r7Z-tMiXkdmbNoETCwPxhSEpVf4vfpzgFPHXb4qaz2Rv2y0svVIFMuKb9zLiZY/s1600/pendleton3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwMWWYapYUb9qZIofpZZMXn8nk4uSQQ4H_-K9QCRuTeRb_PClyB4_0T4BOyhxVkhyVXBWRIJSbANn53r7Z-tMiXkdmbNoETCwPxhSEpVf4vfpzgFPHXb4qaz2Rv2y0svVIFMuKb9zLiZY/s320/pendleton3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><!--EndFragment-->ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-37068468076432440982011-11-07T12:00:00.000-08:002011-11-07T18:12:10.646-08:00Gotcha Forever!<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It had been a day two years in the making but the day had finally arrived. There we were sitting at a civil affairs office in Nanjing, China, thousands of miles away from our home in Montgomery, Alabama waiting to meet our 17 month old son, Sam. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Nervously waiting to meet our son in Nanjing, China</span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The moment was surreal. All the paperwork, all the fund raising events, all the months of praying, waiting, and worrying was behind us. All we had was four pictures of him, medical records translated from Chinese to English, a black and white copy of a sonogram of his heart which had been surgically repaired to patch a hole between his left and right ventricles. What would he think of us? What would we think of him? What kind of personality would he have? Would he be healthy? A thousand unanswered questions would soon be answered.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A van pulled up and three nannies got out, each of them holding a baby. We watched as they walked into the civil affairs office. He was the first to come into the room. His nanny was holding him and announced his name “Zhang, Jin Hao”. There he was! Our son!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Seeing our son for the first time in person!</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Can this really be happening? The Nanny quickly made her way over to us and handed him to Nick. Sam was confused, frightened, and boy did he cry! He had the loudest cry of all the children in the room. He wanted to go back to his Nanny. He was crying and reaching for her. Believe it or not, this was good to see because it meant he was attached to his caregivers and with time he would attach to us. His world was changing. He was leaving everything he had ever known. Our hearts broke for him. We cried along with him and tried our best to comfort him, assuring him that he was going to be okay. He was only 17 months but he had been through so much in his short life. He was a fighter and God had plans for his life. After several hours of signing papers we finally got to leave the civil affairs office. He collapsed in my arms from exhaustion. I just held him, sang to him, and ran my fingers through his black hair. Sam quickly grew to trust us, smiling more each day, laughing and learning to walk. He was a loving child. He was everything we had prayed for. God was with us each step. Giving us all that we needed to be Sam’s parents.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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That was four years ago November 26, 2007. Sam is now is five years old. He attends school, loves super heroes, plays soccer, basketball, he enjoys watching football with his Dad, and playing with his friends. He is a mama’s boy! He is a very lovable and social (he loves to talk which gets him in some trouble at school). He <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=4658367587659093319&postID=3706846807643244098" name="_GoBack"></a>loves Jesus and he can say the best prayers I have ever heard. God answers prayers! Sam is praying for a brother or sister. God put it on our heart to open our home to foster children in our community. We are excited about the possibilities of what God has planned for us to add to our family. Looking for a blessing? Open your heart to children who need love and a home. God will bless you beyond what you can ever imagine. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div><br />
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</div><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sam now, climbing trees and having fun in the backyard<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-50619694121885199552011-11-06T16:33:00.000-08:002011-11-06T16:33:11.702-08:00Orphan Sunday<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/28012514?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/28012514">Orphan Sunday 2011</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/orphanalliance">Christian Alliance for Orphans</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-78747290928436271662011-11-01T11:06:00.000-07:002011-11-03T16:03:54.517-07:00November Happenings<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: large;">November 6th is officially "Orphan Sunday" across the world. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: large;">It's been designated as a day to bring to light the needs of orphans everywhere. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: large;">At Frazer, we'll be using the month of November as an opportunity to increase awareness about the orphan crisis, both locally and internationally. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #741b47;">*</span>Please visit the ONEfamily table in the atrium each Sunday this month. We'll have resources for you and opportunities available to plug in to orphan care. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #741b47;">*</span>In addition, we'll be spotlighting some families on the blog this month that are caring for the orphan; through adoption, foster care, or orphan care. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #741b47;">*</span>During the month of November, please look for the <u>Project Angel Tree</u> table in the Atrium. This year, there will be an opportunity to provide Christmas gifts for over 400 children currently in DHR foster care. By sponsoring a child, you are providing them with hope and joy for this Christmas season. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #741b47;">*</span>The Foster Care Training Class is finishing up it's last few weeks of training this month. By mid-November, there will be 13 more families certified to care for foster children in our county! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #741b47;">*</span>A BIG thank you to all of the Sunday School classes, families, and bible studies that provided dinner for us each week! Such a blessing to us! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #741b47;">*</span>If you are interested in taking the next Foster Care training class, please contact us at onefamily@frazerumc.org for more information. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #741b47;">*</span><a href="http://www.waitingonaword.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #351c75;">Waiting on a Word blog</span></a><span style="color: black;"> is raffling off a brand new video camera and all proceeds are donated to caring for the orphan. Half will go toward helping the Word family bring an orphan into their home. The other half will go toward a Kaye and Toni, a Frazer mother and daughter who are going TO the orphan and caring for them in Ethiopia this summer. Head over </span><a href="http://www.waitingonaword.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #351c75;">here</span></a><span style="color: black;"> for more information about the raffle. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: large;">Check back soon to meet some of the Frazer families who are caring for the orphan! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em><span style="color: #741b47;"><u><strong>Upcoming Events this Winter:</strong></u> </span></em></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>*Ice Cream Social -- an afternoon for families to connect that have adopted or fostered or are interested in learning more about the process and meeting families who have been through it. </em></span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>*Adoption Seminar with Sam McClure of the Adoption Law Firm- This firm is newly opened and located in Montgomery. Learn more about the ins and outs of adoption from Sam, an adoptive father himself and lawyer who specializes in adoption.</em></span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>*Seminar with an Alabama adoption agency to learn more about their available international programs.</em></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: small;">Stay Tuned for more information on them!</span> </em></span>ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-1592497483587155872011-09-03T18:43:00.000-07:002011-09-03T18:43:26.221-07:00Bringing Joshua Home<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We wanted to let you know about an opportunity to help the </span><a href="http://www.cheaperbythehalfdozens.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Martin Family</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> as they plan to bring home Joshua in the coming weeks. They are still a few thousand short of the necessary funds to complete the adoption. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">One way you can help is to make a donation to their adoption fund. You will receive this awesome bumper sticker when you donate at least $5 </span><a href="http://www.cheaperbythehalfdozens.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">here</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. (the "Chip-In" link is on the right side of the page). </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOdBgHMLRmyqlTzCDVM7RyWwCaGDfnnj7PYIvZ6ulcHgWuw4rLmTl81lGS9b3Sfy_F1bbcgdU3hQ3gfrpLkcxPaeU-kKMEaY5pQi8emvSfYGeeeuReiov-9Xsg5Ln3un9-VDDj8efZ1Y/s1600/BumperSticker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOdBgHMLRmyqlTzCDVM7RyWwCaGDfnnj7PYIvZ6ulcHgWuw4rLmTl81lGS9b3Sfy_F1bbcgdU3hQ3gfrpLkcxPaeU-kKMEaY5pQi8emvSfYGeeeuReiov-9Xsg5Ln3un9-VDDj8efZ1Y/s320/BumperSticker.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Once you donate to the Martin's adoption fund, please let Kaye Porter know through facebook (if you're FB friends with her) or through her email address: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">kaye.porter@mps.k12.al.us</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">She will get the bumper sticker to you. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Thank you for helping bring Joshua home! </span></span></span>ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-54914328445663000072011-08-29T19:48:00.000-07:002011-08-29T19:48:12.717-07:00Created for Care Retreat<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If you are a woman considering adoption, in the process of adoption, or have completed an adoption we wanted to let you know about the Created for Care conference. </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The conference is January 27-29th, but registration opens <b>September 1st</b>. Last year, it sold out in <b>48 HOURS</b>.... it's that good. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It's an affordable, relaxing, and refreshing weekend near Lake Lanier, GA. You can connect with other women in the adoption process and learn more about different aspects of adoption, while being encouraged and strengthened in your walk with the Lord. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Find more information about the conference </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="http://www.createdforcare.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">here</span></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hope to see you there! </span></div><br />
ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-33301089999330195772011-08-07T18:17:00.000-07:002011-08-07T18:17:31.107-07:00Visiting Orphans<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Today's guest post is from Frank Pass, a part of our ONEfamily Council and on staff with Visiting Orphans, an amazing organization that leads teams of people to do just that. Visit Orphans. </span></span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">He just got back from a trip to China and below are his thoughts about orphan care. </span></span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If you'd like to learn more about how you can join Visiting Orphans on one of their upcoming trips, click </span></span><a href="http://visitingorphans.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=33963"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">here</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. </span></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I was asked a question today and I answered without hesitation. I was that sure of my answer, but after I did I had to ask myself why. Why am I so sure?</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The question... "Why China?" Actually it was worded like this... "Do you feel you do as much good in China as you do when you go to Africa?"</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I've been to places in Africa where the children have literally nothing. Where they live off of trash and are lucky if they have one meal a day. I've been in African facilities that house children that are in such poor condition that we would not house our most despised criminals there. I have seen heartbreaking situations in Africa and believe it or not I have sent teams to places far worse than I have experienced.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">China by comparison is clean. It is fairly modern. The facilities in the orphanages I have seen are well kept and the children go to school. Many have equipment and somewhat trained workers for their special needs kids. The children are well fed and their basic survival needs are met. So why China? Why is the need there as great? Why do I plan to return and send more teams next year? Here are a few thoughts I have about China, a country that has my heart. A country that gave me my precious Ella Grace.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">First of all it's not a competition. It's not China vs. Africa or foreign vs. domestic. God has most likely placed a call for orphans on your heart and you are drawn to a specific location. Maybe it's China, maybe it's Africa, maybe it's foster care in your community, or a special needs home in your town. Follow that call. Pure religion is to visit widows and orphans. Just do it.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But why China? Why am I so drawn to this place? Why is it so important that we continue to go?</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Last year in Chifeng we met 2 young men we called Batman and Robin. Batman and Robin were always the first to greet us and the last to say goodbye. As we stepped out of the van this year, 15 months after we had left, we were almost tackled by Batman. He told us, "Every time I hear a plane in the sky, I pray that it is you."</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">There is a hopelessness to being an orphan and in China especially orphans have no value. It is a country where society is more important than the individual and society has deemed these children to have no worth. Girls are discarded because of their gender and those with disabilities or special needs are not wanted by their families. The children who are left at orphanages are the lucky ones.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Now imagine the joy that comes when a group of strangers with strange looking skin shows up, and we came halfway across the world just to see you. Because it is a lie that you are worthless. It is a lie that you have no hope. It is a lie that you are not loved. We love you. We value you. We came here because of you. And guess what, God loves you too. The joy that this brings is not theoretical, it is real. I have seen it and I have experienced it. I was mobbed every day by a class of special needs kids who knew. I was there for them.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Now this is China and there is a language barrier. More than that, this is China and certain things are not allowed. All those things about God and love are not spoken verbally but they are shared and they are real and make no mistake, they are communicated. I tell our China teams, you can't talk about Jesus in China but you get to be Jesus in China. One day we made crowns for the kids and I heard Christine McNeal telling each child, "You are a daughter of the king. You are a son of the king. We are probably the only groups that go into government run orphanages in China and pray for children by name, while holding and touching them. That's one time when a language barrier works in your favor. Don't think that matters? Let me tell you a story.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Last year we saw a little boy. He never left his crib. We were told he had fragile bones and they would break if he was even picked up. He did not smile, or move or respond in any way to us. He just lay in the crib at the end of the room. I remember being petrified that a stray ball would bounce in his bed and kill him. All we could do was pray for him, and we did, but honestly he was the one child that I did not expect to see this year. He was just too sick.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">That's his picture at the bottom of this note. That smiling boy in the wheelchair is the same sick kid we saw a year ago. We could not believe the change. I don't know his story and I never found out about his recovery. Did he get better because of us? No. Did our prayers make a difference? I believe so, and one of the great things about going back to an orphanage year after year is seeing the progress that children make.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Anyway, that's why we go to China. Because it matters. It matters to those children and it matters to us and it matters to God. That's why we sent 5 teams this summer and that's why we will send 6 next summer. It's not too early to start planning. I would love to see you there next year (or in Africa, or in Ukraine or in Rwanda or just to hear how you are loving orphans in your own town). </div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class=""><img alt="" class="photo_img img" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/283179_2259022431723_1133276416_32672727_5696696_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 493px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="caption"></span></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class=""><img alt="" class="photo_img img" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/285013_2259093593502_1133276416_32672806_285713_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 493px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="caption"></span></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class=""><img alt="" class="photo_img img" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/254710_2259108393872_1133276416_32672820_3655474_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 493px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span></div>ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-76916695809589733482011-07-25T19:48:00.000-07:002011-07-25T19:48:46.033-07:00Foster Care Training Class starts soon!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ONEfamily is excited announce that Frazer UMC will be hosting the ten week GPS Foster Care training class starting this September! We look forward to partnering with Alabama DHR as they will be providing extensive training on the foster care process. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The class starts <b>Tuesday, September 13th,</b> and goes for ten weeks from <b>5:30pm-8:30pm</b>. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If you are interested in joining other families to start the foster care process <b>please submit your contact information, (Name, Address, Email and Phone) to onefamily@frazerumc.org</b>. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We will forward your contact information on to DHR and they will you send you detailed information about the class. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Please spread the word, this class is open to any family! </span>ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-39032281789776766702011-07-18T18:50:00.000-07:002011-07-18T18:50:10.943-07:00Foster Care Q&A<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Interested in learning more about the foster care process? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Want to talk with families who have just started fostering or have been fostering for years? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Not sure if you can commit to full-time foster care but still interested in how you can do more? </span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><u><br />
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</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_867535585"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Please join us for the ONEfamily Foster Care Q&A</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_867535585"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><b>When:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"> Wednesday, July 20th at 6pm</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_867535591"><br />
</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><b>Where:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"> Frazer UMC, Room 7202</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_867535591"><br />
</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><b>Who:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"> Anyone in the community interested in learning more about foster care</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_867535591"><br />
</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><b>What:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"> An informal question and answer night with families that are currently fostering or have fostered in the past. You will hear from:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_867535591"><br />
</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">*A family that has fostered over 30 children<br />
*A family who has fostered for the past ten years<br />
*A family with small children and newborn baby who</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"> started fostering this past winter<br />
*A family who fosters medically fragile babies</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_867535591"><br />
</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><b>Why:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"> Because there are hundreds of children in Montgomery County desperately in need of compassionate and loving families to provide them stability and structure. </span></div><br />
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There are many ways that you can play a role in changing a child's life. Learn about becoming Foster parents (full-time foster care) or Respite Care families (providing short term care for foster children: overnight, for the weekend, or a week).<br />
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Childcare WILL be provided.<br />
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If you have anyone questions, please feel free to email Leslie at onefamily@frazerumc.orgONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4658367587659093319.post-91528605980655032292011-07-12T06:56:00.000-07:002011-07-12T06:56:27.619-07:00MOLDOVA MISSIONSHello friends! My name is Kathryn Jones and I am a guest blogger today for One Family! I recently went on a mission trip to Moldova with Frazer to work alongside Philip Cameron Ministries. We worked at Stella's House and the new Providence House orphanage in Cupcui. I want to share a little bit about this trip that is rocking my world as we speak!<br />
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When Leslie asked me to write this, I wasn't sure how to put all of my feelings and the lessons that I learned in to one post. I started my own blog because of this trip. It has taken me 24 posts just to get to our second day at the orphanage! So please know...this is tough for me. But I want to share a few things with you...to help you understand the orphan crisis in Moldova.<br />
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Moldova is about the size of the state of Maryland...and in that tiny country there are more than 8,000 orphans in institutions. This number does not include the number of children who are in the homes of other family members or are being treated as household servants. Moldova is Europe's poorest country, it has one of the highest rates of alcoholism in the world. It was voted by Time or Newsweek as one of the most depressing places on the planet. People don't smile there. There is epidemic of hopelessness. Abuse and neglect are rampant in this country. Studies suggest that more than 50% of the orphans in Moldova are what is called "social orphans" meaning that one or more of their parents is alive. The parents simply do not wish to or cannot afford to take care of them. What makes this situation even sadder...is that Moldova has recently closed all adoptions....even people in process. The political climate there is always changing and starting over...never progressing forward. In 2009, despite thousands of children being in orphanages, only 14 were adopted by families in the U.S. Its appalling. Moldova remained open for adoptions until the Spring of this year. These kids need help now more than ever.<br />
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While in Moldova, we heard the stories of many of the girls at Stella's House. Most of the girls there came from Cupcui (before PCM was running it) or Straseni Orphanage. The stories these girls shared were heartbreaking. One young woman witnessed her father beat her mother to death before she was put in the orphanage...she then was sent back home to live with her aunt...there she was victim to horrendous assaults on her childhood. She was 11 years old before she received her first hug. Can you imagine...waiting 11 years before someone holds you? Her story certainly changed my approach while in Moldova. I MEANT I was hugging every child I came in contact with...and I did:) <br />
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Galina is the name of one of the girls who helped us translate at the orphanage and she quickly became a friend to all of us....her childhood story is very sad.<br />
Something that Galina said to me on our first day keeps weighing on my heart....I'm not sure what God is going to do about it...but I know that He is in the business of DOING THINGS and CHANGING LIVES...so I am trusting Him. <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">After our walk through the village, Galina and I were talking about her childhood. Every part of her story breaks my heart. I asked Galina a question...and I never imagined the impact that her response would have on my life...strangely enough...her answer surprised me. It shouldn't have...but it did. I asked Galina, as an orphan what had she wanted most. I was thinking it would be something more physical...a warm bed, warm meal, dry home, etc. When I asked her what she most wanted...I imagined more a shoot for the moon...you've got three wishes kind of answer...and this girl...this girl just wanted someone to be there. She wanted someone there ....she wanted to know that someone truly cared for her...She wanted someone to truly practice James 1:27...to be there for orphans in their distress...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If God hasn't called you to mission trips...or to adoption...or to foster care...you can STILL "be there" for these kids. You can help send someone else on a mission trip. You can send supplies to orphanages. You can support missionaries who go to orphanages. The options are endless! This mission trip really has rocked our world in big ways. If you don't mind, pray for me and my husband as we try to discern God's plan for us. We feel called back to Moldova...and that is big and scary for us! Pray for courage and conviction! </div>ONEfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207996980874880862noreply@blogger.com1