And This One Matters......

Monday, June 4, 2012

A Dream Come True...MacBook Pro Giveaway

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Elizabeth.

I read about Elizabeth one month before Christmas in 2010.

Elizabeth was an orphan with Down syndrome in Eastern Europe facing transfer from an orphanage to an adult mental institution -
for life.

The thought of that beautiful, almond eyed little girl-who could be my Lily- facing that future -

ripped my heart out and changed my life forever.

I watched a video on life in an Eastern European mental institution and felt physically sick at the thought of little girls growing up there. Children, tied to cribs or left wandering the halls amidst grown men and women who had grown up the same way. The thought of what must go on there..the sounds...the smells...the sight of all that must take place in those halls, in those chambers of grief and heartache and despair... had me on my knees begging God to show me how to help.

In less than a week, God answered. He put a little girl on my heart named Olga, and my husband and I gave what we could to see her rescued. What happened next was miraculous. Literally hundreds of like minded people, wanting to change the destiny of a little girl, banded together and gave what they could to raise a grant fund for Olga. Today, Olga has already met her forever family, thanks to that grant fund, and this year she'll come home with them to a new life.

And Elizabeth? The little girl whose plight opened my eyes and changed my heart forever?

She's living out a dream come true.

She'll never know the horror that is the institution, never lose her precious innocence to those forsaken halls, never witness the nightmare that would have been her destiny, because today,

Elizabeth

has

been

RESCUED.

Elizabeth and her "Auntie", Andrea Roberts

Elizabeth and Reece, the inspiration for Reece's Rainbow

Today another little girl is facing a future without a family.
This beautiful little girl's name is Taylor.

Taylor's description on Reece's Rainbow:

Taylor is a sweet girl who is HIV+. She asks for a family so often, so many of our families have traveled to this orphanage, but never for her. Taylor is growing up so fast, and ever aware that she has no family of her own.

Taylor turned 7 years old last month. She as been waiting all her life for a family to rescue her.

Enter the Dewberry's.

The Dewberry's adopted their son Kolya from Eastern Europe two years ago.
They traveled to adopt another son in February of this year. You can read more about that HERE, but the end result was that the Dewberry's returned home with broken hearts.

And then they found Taylor on Reece's Rainbow.

A little girl in desperate need of a family.

Waiting for her dreams to come true.

Because of having just traveled to adopt, their paperwork was already in country- their homestudy already complete.

All that stood in the way of a home for Taylor was a pile of money.

A BIG pile of money.

In a matter of weeks, the Dewberrys raised $11,000.

They need $22,000 more.

But guess what?

Dreams really do come true.

Yesterday, my dear friend and blogging buddy, Julia Nalle, asked me to help her yell for Taylor.

That's what Julia does when her heart is breaking for children.

She yells.

So she asked me to help her raise $22,000 for the Dewberrys.

I love Julia. And I love orphans.

Guess what I'm going to do?

HELP US RESCUE TAYLOR !!!!!!!!!!
(that's me, yelling!)

I know what you're thinking- $22,000 ?

Oh, it gets better.

They travel in eleven days.

Yes, you read that right.

But God appears to be moving MOUNTAINS for little Taylor, because get this...

An anonymous donor has stepped up and has offered a $5,000.00 matching grant PLUS their employer will MATCH that grant with another $5,000.00.

DID YOU READ THAT???

THAT IS $10,000.00 IN MATCHING FUNDS.

All we need to raise is $10,000.00 and the Dewberry's will just about be FULLY FUNDED!

$10,000.00 to get $10,000.00 in 10 days!!

10 for 10 in 10 days!!

CAN WE DO IT??

Every 10 you donate becomes 20.

Every 50 you donate becomes 100.

Every 100 you donate becomes 200.

Every 500 you donate becomes 1000.

It is a LOT of money to raise in 10 days.

Will you help?

There is a Giveaway going on, hosted by the Dewberry's sister HERE. You can click on that link to find out how to enter some wonderful prizes.

Oh, and we're offering a sweet little prize (from an anonymous donor) as well...

The new MacBook Pro laptop. 13". With quad-core Intel Core i7 processors, AMD Radeon graphics, ultrafast Thunderbolt input/output, and FaceTime HD camera. valued at $1200

How to enter:

PLEASE VISIT: http://babynumber10.blogspot.com/

for all the details and where to donate and be entered to win the laptop!

Ten For Ten in Ten Days!

They crossed the ocean the first time in 2010 to bring home this sweet young man, Koyla.

They crossed the ocean again only a few months ago to bring home another boy who wanted a family. At the last minute fear took over and he said no. The draw of his friends and the terror of the unknown prevented him from taking the utterly free gift that was offered.

He said no.

Heartbroken they came home.

They were burned and saddened and financially tapped out.

They came home to cry and heal and forget about oceans and airplanes and international adoptions.

But God.

And one picture.

TAYLOR

A little girl across the ocean begging for a family.

A little Reece's Rainbow babe who has been waiting for a family for far too long.

A precious treasure who is facing transfer any day.

One picture and their world turned upside down.

They had a choice. They could say no. They could say maybe but hold off in order to raise the money. They could drop everything and cross the ocean now.

The terror of rejection whispered "no".

The reality that their pockets were empty whispered "wait".

The Holy Spirit whispered "GO" in their hearts.

They are going.

The cliff is unbelievable steep.

Since their dossier was ALREADY IN COUNTRY - They only needed to add a paper or two and they were good to go back. They received an appointment almost immediately. That has left them mere weeks to raise $32,000.00.

Normally adoptions in that country do not run that high (Aaron's cost $30,000.00 but his was not normal). But a huge soccer tournament is happening at the same time they are crossing the ocean and where Taylor is located is right smack in the middle of where the tournament is going to take place. Apartment costs are skyrocketing and food prices are going to be outrageous.

The bill is enormous.

It is stunning. Shocking.

But this little girl wants a family.

She doesn't care about soccer tournaments or the high price of plane costs. She wants a Mama and a Papa. She will be thrilled with an older brother. She is tired of watching every other child in her groupa being picked while she has been left behind. She doesn't want to be transferred.

Taylor wants a family.

They want her.

And God is making a way.

Here's the deal.

So far the Dewberry's have raised about $11,000.00.

They need to raise $22,000.00 more.

They are traveling in 11 days!!

IMPOSSIBLE...

Get this...

An anonymous donor has stepped up and has offered a $5,000.00 matching grant PLUS their employer will MATCH that grant with another $5,000.00.

DID YOU READ THAT???

THAT IS $10,000.00 IN MATCHING FUNDS.

All we need to raise is $10,000.00 and the Dewberry's will just about be FULLY FUNDED!

$10,000.00 to get $10,000.00 in 10 days!!

TEN for TEN in TEN days!!

CAN WE DO IT??

Every 10 you donate becomes 20.

Every 50 you donate becomes 100.

Every 100 you donate becomes 200.

Every 500 you donate becomes 1000.

It is a LOT of money to raise in 10 days.

Will you help?

You can donate in a number of ways (all are tax deductible)....

REECE'S RAINBOW FAMILY SPONSORSHIP PAGE

PROJECT HOPEFUL

TEN FOR ORPHANS

No matter where you donate.... make sure you leave a comment on the HERE to let them know you donated so you can be entered into their Giveaway.

AS WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE... EVERY SINGLE DONATION MATTERS...

BIG OR SMALL.

PLEASE HELP LOVE TAYLOR HOME!!

TEN for TEN in TEN days!!

THIS ENDS JUNE 15TH!

by Julia Nalle

http://www.covenantbuilders.blogspot.com/

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Such An Honor Such A Privilege To Call Him My Son.....

Kolya saving Jaime the run-away from the group as she tried to run into the street

I have had the privilege not only to be chosen by God to be Kolya's mother but also to serve others in the US and Eastern Europe with my son. It has been an honor and blessing to call him my son and see him grow into a man of God. I am excited to see the joy in Kolya knowing he will have a little sister to protect, teach and care for. Not only did he design her room with dad and help me pick out all the stuff to donate for the orphanage and for her but giving up time without complaint in preparing to do so. The pictures below do all the talking so I gather I will let them speak for them self.......

This morning at breakfast I told him ya know having a little sister you are going to have to protect her. He said "I know mom....I will tell the boys if you hurt my sister you will have to deal with me". Love it!

Dad & Kolya goofing off working on tie lessons.

Dad teaching Kolya how to wear a tie. It was important to Kolya to have a nice shirt and tie for Taylors adoption at court.

Yes that is Kolya in there under the girls....

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.