And This One Matters......: May 2013

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Getting closer with your help!!!!! THANK YOU!

WE HAVE ONLY $13,000 LEFT TO RAISE TO BE HEADING BACK TO OUR BOY IN APPROX. 8 WEEKS!

WE HAVE SEVERAL THINGS GOING ON IN ORDER TO HELP BRING HIM HOME!!!!

1) WE HAVE A STUNNING RAFFLE FOR A HAND MADE GREAT LAKES CANOE THAT COMES WITH EVERYTHING TO GET YOU ON THE WATER SO AWESOMELY DONATED BY JON ERICKSON. PLEASE COME TAKE A PEAK AT THIS CANOE AND ALL THE DETAILS. WOULD MAKE A GREAT FAMILY OUTING OR EVEN TO GIVE AS A GIFT!

WE ONLY HAVE 51 ENTRIES AT THIS POINT SO YOU HAVE A EXCELLENT CHANCE OF BEING THE WINNER! HURRY AUCTION ENDS JUNE 15th!

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE RAFFLE WITH ALL THE DETAILS!:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.531766856870234.1073741828.486219068091680&type=1

RAFFLE TICKETS PRICES:
ONE RAFFLE TICKET= $20.00
THREE RAFFLE TICKETS= $50.00
TEN RAFFLE TICKETS= $100.00 BEST DEAL!

**DONATIONS CAN BE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE WHEN MADE TO OUR ADOPTION ACCOUNT AT!: http://reecesrainbow.org/56718/sponsordewberry-3

TO ENTER:

PLEASE SELECT "CONTACT US" ON THIS PAGE OR EMAIL ME AT DIVESHARK@YAHOO.COM

2) WE HAVE A GOOFY FAMILY PHOTO PUZZLE FOR SCOTT! WE ARE ASKING A $10.00 DONATION PER PUZZLE PIECE IN ORDER TO HELP BRING HIM HOME AND ALSO BRING THIS PUZZLE BACK TO HIM! EACH PIECE YOU CAN TELL ME WHAT MESSAGE YOU WOULD LIKE TO PUT ON IT JUST FOR HIM. SO HE CAN SEE THE DISPLAY OF SUPPORT TO BRING HIM HOME. WE HAVE 486 PIECES OF THE PUZZLE TO STILL GET DONORS FOR! IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE TO A PUZZLE PIECE PLEASE "CONTACT US" ON THE BLOG OR YOU CAN EMAIL AT DIVESHARK@YAHOO.COM. ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE WHEN MADE TO:
http://reecesrainbow.org/56718/sponsordewberry-3

3) WE HAVE A "BUY IT NOW" AUCTION GOING ON OF ALL THE ITEMS LEFT FROM THE SILENT AUCTION AND ONLINE AUCTION TO MOVE. THESE ITEMS BEING SOLD ARE UP TO HELP SUPPORT BRINGING SCOTT & LISA HOME! PLEASE COME CHECK IT OUT! AGAIN ALL DONATIONS MADE FOR AUCTION ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE!
(THESE ARE SOME OF THE ITEMS UP FOR AUCTION!)

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.513078288739091.1073741825.486219068091680&type=1

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!

Sunday, May 26, 2013

A Special Thanks!

We want to send out a special thanks to everyone that came to the dinner and silent auction we had yesterday to help bring home Scott & Lisa. We had a wonderful turn out and great fellowship!!! LOVED SEEING everyone and the support we all have for one another. I can only imagine if it is good here what it will be like in heaven! So again our family thanks you all! So the BIG question I was asked yesterday is how much more do you need to raise to bring Scott home? Here's what we got left! Please see below.......

WE HAVE $15K LEFT TO RAISE TO BE HEADING BACK TO OUR BOY IN APPROX. 8 WEEKS OR LESS!

WE HAVE SEVERAL THINGS GOING ON IN ORDER TO HELP BRING HIM HOME!!!!

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE RAFFLE WITH ALL THE DETAILS!:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.531766856870234.1073741828.486219068091680&type=1

RAFFLE TICKETS PRICES:
ONE RAFFLE TICKET= $20.00
THREE RAFFLE TICKETS= $50.00
TEN RAFFLE TICKETS= $100.00 BEST DEAL!

**DONATIONS CAN BE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE WHEN MADE TO OUR ADOPTION ACCOUNT AT!: http://reecesrainbow.org/56718/sponsordewberry-3

TO ENTER:

PLEASE SELECT "CONTACT US" ON THIS PAGE OR EMAIL ME AT DIVESHARK@YAHOO.COM

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.513078288739091.1073741825.486219068091680&type=1

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!

Friday, May 24, 2013

In Times of Fear.........

The dinning room table is filling up with items we need to go back to Ukraine for Scott.....his pile on clothes we got for him takes up one chair and the other chair filled with items we gathered out of our closets and loaded up on at the Belks charity sale along with some sport equipment to bring back to the boarding school. On the other half of the table I see a bunch of bags full of auction items for tomorrow's dinner and silent auction for Scott & Lisa. And I sit here in awe of how 3 years ago I would have never seen where God was going to take us over the last 3 years. I look beyond three years and I see all the equipping He was doing in our lives preparing and character building us up for the children He was going to bless us with and the mission work ahead. We have went through one trail after another in the midst of the last 13 years of our marriage and God has shown us times of quietness in a storm and you wonder does He hear me.......but really He was saying "Do you hear me"? To showing us the merceys, grace and the love of others to bring two of our children home when there seemed to be no possible way but we just knew we were called for each of them. He is mighty and he is merciful. There is much to fill in the blanks that happened in between those two sentences but that would max out this blog where I could never write on it again. But God continues to change my heart over and over again. I am a work in progress and He is continuing to character build me. I am the clay and He is my potter. But I will say that I am just floored over and over again....speechless and humbled and the giving and love of others for God greater purpose and to a family in need. That love poured over us for Tania, Stophie and now Scott and it has changed my life. I can easily and honestly say CHANGED MY LIFE and perspective of what and who I have become. In times of fear when we needed to raise money to bring the kids home instead of hoarding what we had your giving to us made us give freely to others. In times when I know we see a storm ahead and the finances don't all match up and we need more funds for what we call as "Life" or better known as "Murphy's Law".....your giving allows my fears to disappear and to give openly and willingly. It has shown me in the darkest of times and as dark as our world can be caving in around us that Gods light shows through the love, serving, giving and prayer of others. It is still the most amazing and astonishing thing I have ever witnessed when we were bring Tania and Stophie home and now Scott.

I was sent this photo today of our boy, Scott.....it is his graduation day photos. He just graduated. I was blessed to be at school with Kolya when his school year was over in Ukraine. I am sad to have missed this special occasion but so blessed to have the pictures to hang onto and a precious friend willing to photo the event for us to see. Our Scott is the handsome feller over to the left with the NICE haircut. He looks sharp! He knows school is not over once here with us. Poor kid! He is willing to go back to school for family! Good man! Love this kid!

This is Scott and Lisa. Soon To Be Two Less Orphans Coming Home!

My first paragraph leads into my next blessing. Yesterday a gentleman by the name of Jon Erickson who personally knows our Scott came by and donated to us for his adoption a digital camera to auction off and a Canoe! YES A CANOE! It is a STUNNING Hand Made Popular Wood canoe! With much talking to each other, reaching out on FB to get folks thoughts and prayer we have decided to raffle this puppy off to bring Scott home. We have approx. 8 weeks and $15,000.00 to raise to be fully funded!

SO HERE SHE IS UP FOR RAFFLE TO BRING ONE LESS ORPHAN HOME, ONE LESS CHILD ON THE STREETS WITH NO ONE TO CALL MOM AND DAD, TO HELP ENCOURAGE HIM, TO HELP FIX HIS WAR WOUNDS, TO TELL HIM IT WILL BE ALRIGHT, TO BE HIS CHEERLEADER, TO TEACH HIM, TO LOVE HIM, TO KISS & HUG HIM GOODNIGHT & TO TEACH HIM ABOUT THE LOVE HIS CREATOR HAS FOR HIM.

CANOE RAFFLE!

STUNNING POPLAR WOOD HANDMADE GREAT LAKES CANOE!

WHEN IS THE RAFFLE & WHEN DOES IT END?
IT STARTS ONCE THIS POST HITS! WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED JUNE 15TH!

INCLUDES IN RAFFLE:

CANOE
WHEELEEZ BOAT DOLLY
OVERTONS LIFE VESTS (3): MENS LARGE, LADIES SMALL & MEDIUM
GCI OUTDOOR COLLAPSIBLE SEATS (2)
2 CABELA'S OARS
YAKIMA RACK (FITS IN TRAILER HITCH)
2 ORANGE TIE DOWNS

DETAILS:

MEASUREMENTS ARE 20 FT. LONG BY 3 IN. WIDE
WEIGHS APPROX. 75LBS.
SEATS 4 COMFORTABLY
HAND MADE IN IOWA BY BOB LAFALLETTE
MADE FROM POPLAR WOOD
USED BY NATIVE AMERICANS IN CANADA & MADE TO MODEL A CANOE FOUND IN AN ARCHEOLOGICAL FIND. THIS SPECIFIC BOAT IS FAMOUS (: IT HAS BEEN SHOWN IN SHOWS & MAGAZINES.
IT WAS VALUED LAST SUMMER AT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF $7500.00!

HOW MUCH ARE THE RAFFLE TICKETS?:

ONE RAFFLE TICKET= $20.00

THREE RAFFLE TICKETS= $50.00

TEN RAFFLE TICKETS= $100.00 BEST DEAL!

WANT TO SEE PHOTOS? SURE YOU DO!:

HOW DO I ENTER?

1) YOU WOULD EMAIL NICOLE AT DIVESHARK@YAHOO.COM OR SELECT "CONTACT US" ON THIS BLOG AND LET NICOLE KNOW HOW MANY TICKETS YOU WOULD LIKE. SHE WILL NEED YOUR NAME, PHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL.

2) THEN YOU WOULD MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO THEIR FUNDRAISING ACCOUNT FOR SCOTT AT:

http://reecesrainbow.org/56718/sponsordewberry-3

WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR DONATION YOU WILL NEED TO SEND A COPY OF YOUR RECEIPT TO THEIR FUNDRAISING ACCOUNT TO NICOLE TO VALIDATE YOUR DONATION FOR THE RAFFLE.

YOU CAN SEND THE DONATION VIA PAYPAL (NOT TAX DEDUCTIBLE) TO DIVESHARK@YAHOO.COM. IF YOU DO THIS PLEASE SELECT THE DONATION AS A "GIFT" SO NO DOLLAR VALUE WILL BE TAKEN OUT OF YOUR DONATION FOR THE RAFFLE.

What Does Nicole Mean By Advocating For Orphans?

So glad you asked! In Ukraine many hosting programs are shutting down. The reason being is boarding schools (orphanages) are being condensed the more the foster care system grows in Ukraine. This leaves the school Directors in fear of losing their jobs if they do not hold a specific number of children in their boarding school. Then the threat of shut down looms over their heads. The second reason is with hosting programs that means many children will find their forever families which means again the number of children falls under what is required for the school to remain open. It is a double edge sword. You have many Directors that want their children adopted but then they know if they loose their job they cannot support their family. It is not easy in Eastern Europe to find a job in a couple days. Especially with the current climate Ukraine is in with war at hand.

5 years ago Nicole started to notice the decline in hosting programs being allowed to continue to bring children over to America. With the adoption of their children, especially their 2 littles ones Nicole & Joe knew they did not have the allotted time needed to dedicate to volunteer with NHFC and not be able to give it their all like they had done in the past. They did not want to fail the NHFC team. So they resigned and Nicole went freelancing in Ukraine. On Gods timing, when she was able, wherever God lead and with the team God put together. On these trips Nicole, her son Kolya and/or the team would teach children English, teach them about Jesus, love on them and then fight for them. Meaning if a child or boarding school staff came to Nicole and said this child wanted a family Nicole would interview them and spend as much time with them as possible to get to know them personally. Nicole would do this in an effort to learn as much as possible to help advocate for the child in hopes their forever family would come forward. Nicole would learn the good and bad in an effort to be upfront and honest with a potential adoptive family.

Nicole is not an adoption agency, a hosting agency, nor a professional and she does not work for anyone accept God. She is a gal after God's heart and children, a stay at home Mama that has worked with teens for 20 years and this is her heart and passion.

Why Ukraine Nicole?

In Eastern Europe it is very different then America. In America if a child is in the foster care system they can remain with their family for care until they are 18 years old. In America there is opportunity for just about everyone even if it is working at McDonalds. You are not labeled as an "Orphan". In Eastern Europe an orphaned children is basically wearing a stamp his/her their forehead that says "Orphan". It is like a permanent tattoo that is with them for life and never washes off not only in their mind but to others. They are not wanted or welcomed in many cases. On a trip to Ukraine a sign was spotted that stated "No orphans allowed" that was posted up on the door of a store. At the age of 16 these children age out of their boarding schools and have a choice of trade school or the streets. Most of them have no family to turn to. So just imagine a 16 year old child left to their own with NO accountability. With the economic crises and war in Eastern Europe the children that have extended family like Grandpa, Grandma, a sister or a brother cannot afford to take in the child so they only visit. If the child should choose to go to trade school it generally consists of coal mining, hair dressing, etc. Even with that in school the kids again are accountable to themselves and if they do not hold up their grades they are on the streets. If they graduate they still are stamped "Orphaned". So should they apply for a job with many other folks they will be the ones tossed because of this label. So their chances of graduating trade school and then getting a job are slim to known unless they are one determined child. The trade school housing for the kids is old hospitals that are now used as dorms. If a child is not back to their dorm by 10PM they are locked out for the night and they will call the streets then bedroom. Many children have been noted to say that they are scared to be in the trade school dorms because of the violence, rap, prostitution, drugs and alcohol. One child was noted to say that he would find kids shooting up drugs in the hallway and passed out. He bought a gun illegally in order to be able to protect himself of the unknown there. Then you have the rebels that take the world on by themselves that either at this point in their life want to live independently and not report to anyone or just cannot handle the trade school life and want nothing to do with it. So they take the streets to make it. They generally fall into becoming thieves, go into prostitution or commit suicide in order to survive. No matter how you flip this coin the statistics are grim from these children. They are all survivors doing just that.......surviving.

There is such a significant need all over the world even in America. Joe and I were foster parents and have served with youth in the US for our entire marriage and Nicole prior to marriage. God steered Joe and Nicole on a different path when they were introduced to NHFC and adopted their first son, Kolya from Ukraine. God has continued to call them to Ukraine in an effort to reach the voiceless and give them a voice, hope and love. God calls each of us to a specific place, time and season to do His work as Christians. God has shifted their call to Ukraine.....for the time being. Again they go where God leads where ever it may be.

Meet The Dewberrys

The Dewberrys came together as a family after hosting their now 18 year old now son, Kolya from Ukraine during Christmas 2010 through an International hosting program called New Horizons For Children, Inc.

In the midst of hosting Kolya, Joe and Nicole felt the Lord was going to lead them through more then just hosting in Ukraine. Nicole and Joe was were blessed to work with NHFC as a volunteer Regional Directors in North Carolina for the orphan hosting program. Nicole realized that in time there seemed to be a decline to host children from Ukraine with all the politics that was abounding in Ukraine. So she felt a lead to break away from hosting and go where God leads to travel to Ukraine and be wide open to God to lead her to orphanages to met children that could no longer be hosted and advocate to find them forever families that were aging out. For the last 6 years Nicole has been traveling to Ukraine several times a year to teach English in orphanages, teach the children about Jesus, show them the love of Christ and advocate for true orphans that want a forever family. Nicole brings aid to the Ukraine military, visiting the military in the hospitals as well as meeting active duty and on the field military and serving with mission teams the local folks that remain in regions that are devastated by war with her oldest son Misha. The Dewberrrys children have returned with Nicole to Ukraine on many occasions to serve the people of their country.

Kids are Joe and Nicole's love and passion. Nicole has worked with teens for 22 years. Joe and Nicole together have done mission work with youth and have specifically worked with at-risk youth and in church youth ministry for 17 years. The Dewberrys arms are wide open to show the love they have for the lost and forgotten youth.

The Lord lead them back to Ukraine in 2012 to adopt Tania, 10 years old & Stopha who is 8 years old and are HIV+. In 2014 the Lord lead the Dewberrys back to Ukraine to adopt Bogdan 12 years old who is HIV+ and Angelica 19 years old and Kristjan 16 years old. Then in 2015 the Dewberry's returned for Vova 16 years old and Viktor 12 years old. None of the Dewberrys children would not be home without the prayers and the hands of feet of Christ of folks coming alongside their family to see their children home and also all the mission trips Nicole has been on.

Nicole and her children continue to return to Ukraine to do mission work advocating for orphans that want forever families, teaching them about Jesus, teaching them English as well as doing doing mission work with the military and regions of devastation by serving those left behind.

With the greater increase in adoptions which is amazing there is also a greater need for support for adopted children and their families. Nicole is now working with Hope Connection International holding classes and support groups to teach pre-adoption classes, connect families that have adopted within the US and abroad and work with families in crises to help prevent disruption.

Our family prayer is to go where God leads.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. - James 1:27

About This Blog

This blog is dedicated to our heart and soul, the orphans that cannot speak out of Eastern Europe. This blog is about our journey of the adoption of our children, the mission work we do in Eastern Europe, advocating for orphans and wherever God leads our family.

This blog is also about the trials and tribulations we have faced with hosting, adopting, missions work already and yet to come. The grace, mercies and restorations of our hearts and minds. The incredible friendships God has provided along the way. About our missions trips to Ukraine working with orphans. The blessings of when Nicole volunteered with New Horizons For Children as Regional Director. All our crazy stories & adventures we have had along the way here in America and in Ukraine. And oh how we have adventures and stories! This blog is a dedication to our Lord and Savior encompassing the one thing he treasures more then anything, His children.....the orphans.