BOTH HANDS

On Saturday, May 19, this group of people came together to do as we are instructed by the Lord, to care for the orphan and the widow.

Lifesong for Orphans has a special project called "Both Hands," where a widow or widower is chosen.  The woman whose home we worked at was able to have time to think about what kinds of things she would like done.

The adults and youth pictured all gave or sent out letters to friends, family, teachers and coaches asking to be sponsored for this work project.  Any funds raised would go to help bring a child into a forever home from Haiti.

We had a wonderful day!  This day was shown to be full of rain all week until Saturday actually came.  It was warm and sunny.  Bushes and trees were trimmed down, weeds pulled, grass mowed, windows washed and lots of cotton from those beloved cottonwood trees (lol) raked, swept and bagged up.  Organization of materials kept in and around the yard was also done.  We didn't count the number of bundles of bound branches that were carried to the alley but it was A LOT!

No matter how much money comes in to assist with adoption costs, it was an absolute blessing serving and working with every person pictured.  It is a wonderful thing when the body of Christ comes together to get some work done....I have many more pictures but the uploading is taking too long right now, so I'll add them another time!  Thank you to everyone who helped!!!!

Keep praying!!!!

Adoption Timeline

Well, I just wanted to update on a couple of things.  If you look at my post called, "When will your child come home," there is a timeline of each step along the way and tentatively how long it will take.  I am not very far down the road at all when it comes to the Haiti side of things, because first off you have to be referred a child, and I do not yet have a referral.  After I do have a referral my dossier and the child's dossier (all of the paper work about each of us) will enter what is called IBESR, which is Haitian Social Services.

In April, a decision was made that was very wise on the part of the decision maker to close IBESR for a period of time to any new adoptions.  What this means is there are many, many people who are in the IBESR step and many have been there for a LONG time, like over a year!  So over the next month or two, the goal is to work through all of the families that are in IBESR now before accepting new families.  It is a very smart thing!  Although I would love to have been referred a child and to be in IBESR, the stalling right now doesn't really impact where I am in the process....my hope and prayer is that my official referral will come through before new families are being accepted, which is expected to be end of July or early August.  I started the process last August.  My dossier arrived in Haiti last November.  The time since has been a time of waiting and praying.

Keep praying with me!!!  And when I have news I will share! It has been hard on me being asked quite often if there is any news or what is going on?!?!?  Believe me I will joyfully share when I am able about the little person who God will bring home to me in Minnesota!!!!

THANKS!!!!

Bracelets, Bracelets & MORE Bracelets!!!

*Are you having a garage sale this spring?

*Do you have any church events coming up?

*A weekly Bible study?

*Any other get-togethers?!?!?

***Please if you are willing, let me know if I could give you some bracelets to sell!  They sell themselves....I am just in need of a new market as those in my circles have bought over 200!  THANK-YOU!!!!


*Also don't forget MOTHER'S Day and Graduation!  Makes a great tie-on to your gift!!!

Bracelets, Paypal & Both Hands

Three Ways to Help!

I still have no news to share about a child, but I can't wait to let you know once I do know and can share!!!!!

I need PRAYER support above ALL else....

But there are three financial ways you can help me with the astronomical adoption expenses!

1.  On my blog there is now a "Donate" button that will take you to a paypal account.  Your donation will be tax deductible through Lifesong for Orphans.

2.  Within 48 hours my box of bracelets from Haiti was gone, but another box is on its way and you can buy bracelets, or even take 10-20 or more from me and sell them to your co-workers, family and friends. They are AMAZING!  Made out of cereal boxes! $8.....

3.  You can participate in or give to the Both Hands project.  Both Hands is a project where one hand goes to help the orphans and one hand goes to help the widow(er)s as the Bible commands us to do.  If you would like to participate in the project, you would mail out letters that I write asking for supporters to sponsor your day of work on a woman's home (who is a widow) in my neighborhood.  If you can contribute to the project and sponsor my time or possibly one of the kids' who are working time, send me your address!!!! The work day will be on May 19, 2012.

Thank you for caring to read!

Have a blessed day!

Help Me Raise Fund and Help Haitian Artists!

 

Need a gift for Mother's Day?  An upcoming birthday?

Here is the PERFECT gift!  There will be some that are unisex too and perhaps the guys would like them!

A box is soon to arrive on my doorstep!  I will begin selling bracelets made by Haitian men and women that are a part of the Apparent Project.  I hope and pray that the bracelets will sell quickly!  Each bracelet is $8 (unless you need me to ship it to you, then shipping will be added).  $4 from each bracelet will be sent back to Haiti to the person who made it! (there will be a tag on your bracelet with the name and a picture if the artist.) $4 from each bracelet will go towards my adoption expenses!


Let me know if you are interested!!!  You can leave a comment here, on FB or email me:  jlkorange23@yahoo.com!!!!

Bracelets are made from cereal boxes.  The boxes are sliced into thin pieces.  The strips from the box are then formed into beads.  The bracelets are on an elastic fishing line.

Here is the link to the Apparent Project:  http://apparentproject.org/fundraisers.html

Bondye Bon - God is Good

Necklace I purchased as a reminder to pray every day and to have something to touch and hold on to during this LONG, LONG process!

God called me to this!  He loves Haiti.  He knows who my child is.  He is in control of the timing.  He is GOOD, ALL THE TIME!  Amen!

No referral yet, thinking of my child

So, as I hear of things happening in Haiti recently, it hits me at a different level.  My paperwork is for a child between the ages of birth to 3, so the child is very young, and maybe these things won't have an effect.....but this week alone:

• A 4.6 earthquake, knocking things off tables and rattling the orphanage.
• Border closing between Haiti and Dominican due to violence towards Dominicans
• Political unrest

I sit here and think how someday I will want my child to know the history of Haiti and events that happened during the short time he/she lived in Haiti......To be Haitian is to be STRONG!  The people of Haiti are over-comers!  God will not give us more than we can handle!  I know I could not handle what the Haitian people have been through!

Just some thoughts tonight....