Court

Wow!  I really need to post more!  When we heard about our MOWCYA court date being July 29th, we were merely hoping for our actual court date when we would travel to Ethiopia.  We didn't realize it would become a flurry of activity to get us there on very. short. notice.

July 17:  MOWCYA court date scheduled

July 29:  MOWCYA court date - we recieved our positive MOWCYA letter and birth parent consent to adopt "Little Rogi #4" (AKA LittleK)

July 31:  Court date scheduled for August 13th!

August 1:  Flights booked for trip to Ethiopia!

August 7:  Departing Columbus, through JFK then Dubai.

August 8:  Arrive in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia!

August 8:  Meet LittleK

 

August 9:  Judge decides that since we were already in Addis Ababa, she called us in for court early.
WE PASSED!

Meet Kindu Rogers!

August 9-15:  Hang out with Kindu every day!

August 14:  First family outing - we got to take Kindu out to lunch

Yes, we are quite smitten <3

August 16:  We flew home...A.L.L. day and we have been back to life as usual (mostly) ever since.

Now we await our embassy submission - hopefully August 28 or September 4 - then clearing embassy within a few weeks of submission.  Our hope is to have Kindu home by the end of October although SOONER would be nice!

Thank you all who have contributed... You are ALL part of the Rogers Family Adoption Story.  

We will continue to fund-raise to finish our international fees and purchase our flights back to get Kindu to bring him home.  If you feel led, any amount is significant and can be given by using the DONATE button at the top right column.  I plan to have a Thirty-One Gifts fundraiser in the next few weeks too - FUN!

Thanks again and blessings to you all!

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"

Update #3: Funded for Referral!

I almost can not believe that we raised almost $5000 in less than 3 days!

How did this happen?  This is simply the Body of Christ in action.

All we did was ask.  God's people responded by Praying. They responded by Sharing.  And they responded by Giving.

Not only were there those who gave from their abundance, but there was "Widow's Mite" giving as well.  As on example, a 14 year old boy wiped out his savings and gave so we could be that much closer to bringing K home.

Every dollar is significant.  We are grateful.
And we are slack-jawed-in-awe of our Mountain-Moving God!

He has a heart for the fatherless,

and His people respond.

God has revealed Himself in a BIG way, not only through this fundraising, but also as we grieve our beloved Pastor Dave's passing.  The Body of Christ has rallied around our family like no other time before.

The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the Name of the LORD.  Job 1:21 (NASB)

I know you're thinking, 
"Now you are accepting your referral, so what's next?"

Travel.  America World is working diligently behind the scenes to expedite our referral and get us submitted to court before the rainy season closures on August 6.

"But you didn't have all of your referral funding, 
how will you fund travel?"

Funny you should ask...  First off, we are applying for some adoption grants through Lifesong for Orphans, Gift of Adoption, and possibly ShowHope.

On top of that, my friend Christie of Satisfaction Through Christ has a HUGE HEART for adoption.  She's adopted two little girls herself and has seen God move in a big way when she had 10 days to come up with $10,000 for her most recent adoption.  Check it out below:

Operation {Adoption} 10:10:1
{10 Days, $10, 1 Baby}

Knowing full-well how God can move, Christie and her BIG HEART are graciously featuring our family today on Satisfaction Through Christ in order to continue our fundraising so we can travel.  I told her I was trying to come up with the most eloquent, meaningful, gracious response to this.  I had no words aside from
"Glory to God!"  #thisistheBodyofChrist 

So head on over there and check it out:

Operation #Adoption - Help Bring K Home

Again, Thank you all for being the Hands and Feet of Christ this week.  Please keep Praying and Sharing so the Lord can use more of His people to bring one precious little boy home to his forever family.

God sets the lonely in families... Psalm 68:6 (NIV)

Update #2: A Call to Action

First of all....

THANK YOU! 

To all who have donated to our adoption fund!

Day 2 wasn't as busy as day 1, BUT the Lord is stirring hearts and the funds are trickling in.  As of 11:30 this morning, we are just over $2000.

We are rejoicing in the Lord!  

We are so grateful for all YOU are doing to pray, share and give to bring home our Little K.

Here's the link to the blog post for you share again:

A CALL TO ACTION

Please continue to PRAY, SHARE & GIVE as you feel led.  

Blessings ~Michelle

A Father to the fatherless, a Defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling.  

Psalm 68:5 (NIV)

Update: A Call to Action

We are overwhelmed by the love and support of our friends, family and church family!

In 1 day, you supported us for over $1800!

ONE DAY!

Our goal was between $4-5K.  We REALLY want to accept this referral for Little K as soon as possible - before July 1 if we can - so please keep praying for God's provision.

Also, please keep sharing yesterday's blog post via email, facebook, twitter, your blog, whatever!  Just share!

Again, thank you, thank you, thank you!  ~Michelle

God sets the lonely in families...

Psalm 86:6 (NIV)

A Call to Action

Well ladies and gentlemen, it's GO time.  After the events of the last 2 weeks, the passing of our beloved pastor and friend, we thought we might be settling back down.   The Lord thinks otherwise...

We received a phone call last night from America World - they have matched us with a child!  Praise Him!  God is good, and though the timing has us reeling, we are trusting in Him.

Now here's the thing:  in order to accept this referral (and we REALLY want to  do that), we need the funds to do so.  Also, in light of the recent changes in Ethiopian adoption we have less than a week (before July 1 to be exact).

There are three things you can do: Pray. Give. Share.

Pray for the Lord's provision.  God is already on the move.  He has provided every penny we have needed through this adoption as we have needed it and we trust that He will use many on behalf of our orphan-no-more.

Give  Use the PayPal link at the top of the sidebar to donate directly to our adoption fund.  We need $4,000-5,000 more to accept our referral.  Any amount helps and we are eternally grateful.

Share On top of praying and giving, would you direct your family and friends to help too?  Share this blog post on your facebook wall, on your twitter feed, link this post up on your blog... get the word out!  Many hands make light work.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.  May God bless you. ~Khris