You can't just leave.....

You scoop up your beautiful child and depart for the hotel… and then the plane, and then home forever.  Every dream has come true for you, and as you watch your child grow, settle in, attach and heal you start to see every dream you had for them come true.  Yet, you just can’t leave… it stays with you.  All the faces you saw while you were there.  The school aged kids that should be in school but were on the streets shining shoes so their families might have a possibility to eat.  The village you visited… there was one water source, it wasn’t even close to clean and kids were swimming in it and drinking.  The mothers sitting with children on the streets, some to tired to even ask for help anymore. The remote village so far removed from any sufficient food or water source that you can easily imagine what even one rough season would do to all these people…. Its endless.. and the longer you’re gone, the more these images seem to keep striking you again and again.  Ethiopia has touched the hearts of all of the adoptive families so much that two good friends I made along the adoptive journey have convinced Children’s Hope Chest to open up a Carepoint in Wioloso Ethiopia (this is the city my sisters baby was from) in which they along with the help of willing volunteers (myself included) will be in charge of.  This is unprecendented for this charity! Never have they had just two moms want to head an entire carepoint… usually this is something tackled by a whole church or organization, but that is how much passion and drive has been instilled them (and us!).  Just as Jesus fed 5000 with 2 loaves and 5 fish, we are putting what little we have into His hands and trusting Him to provide!! And so far, we have had a great start… almost 50 kids sponsored. We need to get the first 150 sponsored (Children’s Hopechest has identified the 150 most needy already and they are up on our site) and then we can start fundraising for area projects like a well, and a school…. With a goal of the carepoint being totally self sufficient in 7 years!.  Sponsorship is only $34 a month.  You can write to your sponsored child, you can send care packages for them when families travel… and any time you feel inspired to do so, you can join in on one of the trips (that are taken every 12-18m) and actually meet your sponsored child!  

This video is from Children’s HopeChest so you can see more what the sponsorship and organization do.CHILDREN'S HOPE CHEST 

Now I know in this economy $34 a month is not necessarily something all of us easily have accessible.  So I'm gonna share some ideas that I have for saving or finding the money...I'm sure there are tons more too, but this can really be a family event! If you have children, this is a great opportunity to have them take ownership of something meaningful and include them in helping with the sponsorship.  I was talking to Jasmine and she was totally shocked that not all kids can just go to school.  A great opportunity to open their eyes to a world outside our comfortable American lives. 

*when you go to the bank each week and pull out cash, put $7 in an envelope on the side, you likely wont miss it

*Downsize your Grande to a Tall at Starbucks

*set aside bottle returns

*Sacrifice one fast food meal a week

*Kids can rake leaves, or do lemonade stands

*When tax returns come in, set aside a little bit to offset monthly costs

*Turn down the temp in your house a degree or two, and seal your windows

*Buy store brand

*Find that something you stop for each week (a slurpee, bag of chips etc.) and offer that up as something you can give up so that a child can have his/her basic needs met and schooling.  

*Clip coupons and put the money saved in an envelope

It really amounts to a little over $1 a day...  and if you have kids, like I do... there will be so many opportunities to remind them that by not having this small thing, we are doing a huge thing for our brother/sister in Ethiopia, and maybe if God provides, someday we can go meet them.  And get them behind coming up with ideas for earning and saving money.  

AND HERE THEY ARE: Sponsor « Woliso    <<<< CLICK ON THIS LINK TO SEE THEIR BEAUTIFUL FACES!  

If you see a child you'd like to sponsor, please just check quickly with me, as we have posted some on Facebook seeking sponsors and we would just want to make sure they haven't been spoken for. 

If God isn't calling you to sponsor, or if it really isn't feasible for you right now... and I totally know that is true for some of us.  Please pray for the success of our efforts.  Perhaps share this blog.  We will be fundraising after our first batch of sponsorships are matched for a well and school.  If you are interested or able to help with that when the time comes, we would be eternally grateful.  whatever you can do, however seemingly small, .... remember, in His hands, is enough.  God Bless!!!!