And This One Matters......: And I Thought I Was Done Adopting....Actually Was Convinced Myself. God Showed Me!

Thursday, November 14, 2013

And I Thought I Was Done Adopting....Actually Was Convinced Myself. God Showed Me!

THANK YOU EVERYONE THAT HAS HELPED US MEET OUR GRANT MATCHES!!!!

WE GOT ONE MORE TO MEET!!!! WE HAVE BEEN JUST OFFERED A $360.00 GRANT MATCH! IT WILL NOT FUND UNTIL THIS DOLLAR AMOUNT IS MET.

TIME IS SHORT AND WE JUST GOT OUR TRAVEL DATE!!! NICOLE HEADS TO UKRAINE FOR DAVID DECEMBER 3RD!!!!! WE ARE STILL SHORT $14,312.05 TO BE FULLY FUNDED!

4 Days Until I Head To Ukraine, $14,312.05 Short For David's Adoption And This Is What I Am Clinging To!

Luke 1:37—“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
Mark 9:23—“All things are possible to him that believeth.”

WE HAVE A "MAKE AN OFFER AUCTION"! THE AUCTION CLOSES DECEMBER 1ST!

PLEASE SEE BELOW AFTER OUR STORY!!!!

PLEASE READ DAVID'S STORY HERE!

October 2013 after I claimed to God and my family no more adoptions, no more missions trips to Ukraine for a while. God showed me who's boss the very next day by a series of events she was reached out by a 14 year old boy by the name of David on the Russian facebook not asking but begging for me to find him a family. Those who know me know I advocate for children I meet but had never had a child reach out to me via internet and ask for help. This young man rose to the occasion and poured his life out to me letting him know everything about himself in order to find a family. I told him to write a letter to his “future family” telling them about himself and his hopes and dreams so I could post it up with his story to help advocate for him. Funny enough I noticed it matched our families passions. David made a bold move not only did he send this letter to me to help advocate for him but he posted this letter up on his Facebook page for every one of his 280+ friends to see and willing to take on humiliation and teasing to make his stance of his hearts longing and desire for family. We were completely floored, never had they seen anything like this.

We talked about now that he has openly claimed he wants a family and reaching out far and wide the enemy will be in attack mode and coming at him full speed. So we talked about the Armor of God. How that is my favorite verse and I needed him to understand it and how to cast out the enemy when he attacks and how God will protect him. I sent him this which just happened to be sent to me I believe the day before David and I met by my bud Anna. Gods perfect timing!

Davids response was this to me. Nicole like this. God is protecting me. AMEN!

David is a Christian and is so proud of knowing the Lord as his Savior and sent me these photos. I love the look on his face how proud he is to hold his Bible! He is in the blue pants.

Every request I made that he needed to change he was on it like a bad habit and he never questioned a thing, never fought back, never tried to sweet talk me into continuing what he was doing or involved in. I asked him to jump to see how devoted and committed he was to family and basically his actions said how high. I put feelers out with missionaries and locals who knew David and everything came back about what an incredible young man he was. How he was easy to love. He was so caring about others and their well being. Very giving and honest. How everyone likes him and he does not get involved in trouble. We were told he has been longing and wanting a family for so long. It was clear to us he had a total commitment to family no matter the cost. We all would talk on the phone every other day learning more about each other again to advocate for him. Then I started to question everything I convinced myself of…no more adoption. But God was about to show me something different. Then David wrote “I love you, Nicole. I want to be in your family”. Speechless….I wrote others that new David to see if he was throwing a baited hook waiting for someone to bite but was told nope, it is you Nicole. Joe said how soon can we get there we are going? It was clear time over time again that God was calling us to David. The more Joe and I pulled back at different times since we met David to make sure it was not our hearts desire to adopt him God rose to the occasion mightily to let us know He himself has orchestrated this adoption.

God is so faithful in that Satan has already attempted his strikes like the serpent he is and as much as my flesh wanted to put on my Nike's and run for the hills at any sign of David wavering he was feeling the same thing. Funny enough I was afraid he would run so I was backing up like a donkey ready for impact and David was backing up thinking we would not come for him. We were both being driven by fear that either would show to the adoption. Then on top of it all he lost his service to email me so I was thinking he was nervous and ignoring us and changed his mind the last couple days but he could not reach us and apparently was scared because he thought we would leave him. Oh my we are all on alert now to Satan's schemes. So today we talked and prayed together as we always do. Talked about our fears and now we need to be alert and praying on all occasions. I told him now that I know his fears and him being afraid we would not come and God would not allow him to have us as a family, I told him that is poison from Satan. I prepared him for things that may be said to him by others to keep him there. I told him Mama's in the boxing ring now baby and God and I are taking Satan down....hes going down. He started laughing. I love this boys gentle heart and innocence it shines through when I talk to him on the phone when we chat and lines up totally with what everyone has said about this very special young man. Today was the first day he really let me in to let me know his past and all his fears. Amen! God is so good.

I travel December 3rd and will have to make three trips. I am thrilled to announce that Kolya has a job working in a fine restaurant (he wants to be a chef) he loves it and we are so incredibly proud of him! So he will not be traveling with me. The two little ones will be home and are in school now. So Papa will be taking the load while I am gone but having to make the 3 trips so that I can be here as much as possible to help him and the load and medical appts. Stophie is lined up for heart surgery so we are going to get him lined up around the travel for David. So all the family is home for my little trooper! Both little ones are doing amazing and God is doing so much healing in them with their HIV it is unbelievable! All the kids love talking to David and he giggles when they tell them they love him and he says it back. He is trying to speak English when we talk. I told him today he will be my Christmas, New Years and Birthday present all in one. He laughed and agreed we will be his Christmas and New Years present. Amazing amazing kid. Never seen anything like it before with any children I have met in Ukraine this jumping devotion no matter the cost for the love of family. So folks here we go! Today on 11/26 I asked David if you could pick a time for Mama to come for you when would it be? He said when it is cold, now, this December. I said how about next week??? You could hear a contained joy that sounded as if he was going to blow a seal literally and held back screaming as he was walking with his friends. He started giggling and said good good yes yes. I said how do you like them apples....Good time for me to come? He was so excited and Kolya and him chatted for a bit sharing the joy with this news! 6 days until take off and $15,128.87 left to go! My faith is being tested on all occasions and all directions! But God lead this boys heart to us and He will see us thru. AMEN!

PRAISING GOD! THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR HELPING US MEET OUR 2 MATCH GRANTS! WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE TO MEET FOR $360.00! WE HAVE LITTLE TIME! IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP US MEET THIS MATCH GRANT AND MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK: http://reecesrainbow.org/69198/sponsordewberry-3

CHRISTMAS LIVE AUCTION ENDS DECEMBER 1ST! HURRY HURRY WHILE YOU CAN TO HELP BRING DAVID HOME!
COME VIEW ITEMS FROM UKRAINE AND ABROAD TO DO YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AND IT WILL HELP BRING DAVID HOME!! CLICK ON LINK BELOW! ALSO BELOW ARE PHOTOS OF THE ITEMS IN THE AUCTION!
https://www.facebook.com/nicole.trimbledewberry/media_set?set=a.10202470073542921.1073741827.1527020298&type=3

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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.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

And I Thought I Was Done Adopting....Actually Was Convinced Myself. God Showed Me!

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