Update: MOWCYA

UPDATE! 

We have our MOWCYA court date!  

The court in Ethiopia has subpoenaed MOWCYA for a positive recommendation letter for our family and the birth parent is requested to appear to give consent for the adoption.  All this is to happen on July 29th.  I asked if there was any chance we could get a court date and have to travel later that week and our coordinator said, "YES!"  We could potentially travel with only a one day notice.

Although there is also the chance that we will NOT travel, we want to be prepared, so bring those donations for the Transition Home and the Orphanages!

Like I said yesterday, we will place a box to collect donations in the church lobby or we will receive them at our house.  For drop-off details and a list of needed donations see yesterday's post.

We are also still raising funds for our travel.  If you feel led to donate financially for our travel to Ethiopia to make "K" ours, please click the DONATE button on the top right side of this page.

Prepping For Travel

Since we received and accepted our referral for "K" we have been patiently awaiting news of court dates.  I asked our coordinator today if we were in the court system in Ethiopia yet.  She says our case is open with MOWCYA (Ministry of Women, Children, Youth Affairs) and the court system, and there is definitely still a possibility that we may travel before court closes for the rainy season (August 6 - October 1).

If we will indeed travel soon, we would like to collect donations to take over there while we still ahve a little time.  We will each be able to check (2) 50 lb. suitcases which we'd like to fill with donations (the things we need for ourselves we will pack into our carry-ons).

Below is a list of priority needs for our agency's transition home where our little guy lives:

• Vitamin D drops
• Coloring books
• Crocs for children and nannies
• Shoes and clothing (gently used are ok) for children ages 3-14
• Foam/Rubber (lightweight) soccer/playing balls for toddlers
• Diaper cream, specifically with zinc oxide (Desitin or Boudreaux's)

There are also other general donation needs and medical/medicine needs for the transition home and the local orphanages we will be visiting while we are there.  See the blog page titled AWAA Donations for a complete list.

Please know, although formula is on the list, it is bulky to travel with and can be purchased in-country.  So if you'd like to make a cash donation for formula, we will be happy to collect that and purchase as much as we can when we get to Ethiopia.

Regarding diapers, the orphanages prefer to use cloth diapers and there is a huge need for those that some recent traveling families have noticed.  So, if you'd like to donate diapers, please donate cloth.  Thanks!

Also, if you are a medical/dental professional or work for one, please consider asking for donations from those offices -- oftentimes, these offices are willing to donate boxes of sample medicines or toothbrushes/toothpaste.

We will place a large box in the church lobby for donations - open hours are 9a - 3p Monday through Friday if you want to drop those off outside of service times:  

Calvary Chapel Columbus

6075 E. Livingston Ave.

Columbus, OH 43232

We are also able to receive donations here at our house.  If you need directions, please feel free to email me at talesoftherogi@gmail.com

Thanks so much for all your love and support throughout our adoption journey!

Blessings,

Khris, Michelle, KK, Lily, Reese and "K"

Beyond Orphan Sunday

Yesterday was Orphan Sunday - celebrated in churches all across America - bringing awareness to the Body of Christ - letting them know that we were all once orphans AND adopted as sons by a loving Father. Not to guilt anyone into becoming involved, but to urge them to listen for the Heart of the Father and what His Word says about caring for the orphan among us.

Khris was given the opportunity to share a little bit about Orphan Sunday during announcements, and gave an invitation to the congregation to meet with us after service to hear our testimony and learn more about how we, as the Body of Christ, can become more involved in caring for the orphan in our midst and around the world.

Below are some of the resources we mentioned.  If you have any questions, please ask us, we are an open book.

• God's Word commands that we care for the orphan, the widow, and the poor among us.  There is a compiled list of the scriptures here:  God's Heart For Adoption
• Beyond Orphan Sunday resources: Adoption, Foster Care, Global Initiatives, and more!
• International Voice of the Orphan (IVO): Pray, +Feed, Go!
• Orphan Wares (part of IVO): Shop with purpose
• Christian Alliance for Orphans: Orphan care ministry help and other resources
• Orphan Summit 9:  May 2-3, 2013, Nashville, TN
• Big Brothers Big Sisters:  Start Something for a Child Today - local mentoring program
• Give1Save1: "...do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share," 1 Timothy 6:18
• Compassion International: Child Sponsorship
• Potter's Field Ministries: Child sponsorship, missionary training
• Lifesong for Orphans: Orphan care ministries, Both Hands (orphan and widow care)
• Then of course, if you would like to be a part of our adoption journey, we are currently working on our funding so that we can accept our referral when it comes.  Click Here for details: AdoptTogether.org/talesoftherogi

Big thanks to all who joined us and are interested in learning more.

"learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression;

bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause."

Isaiah 1:17