Life is Hope

Hello dear friends!

We don’t have much to update you on with the adoption. We were told back in spring not to expect to know anything until fall. We’ve been lucky to hear more news than we expected.

Our appeal went on review at the Supreme Court in Estonia on October 3^rd, but we haven’t heard any response. We have been given an opportunity to go back to discuss reconsideration with the Committee in Estonia, but our agency isn’t sure that is a good step for us at this time. Josh and I feel a little differently, so we will just need to keep praying and when God is telling us it’s time to go there, I have no doubt He will make it more apparent. I’ve become a lot better at being patient in this process, though it is never easy.

In the meantime, Josh and I are keeping ourselves busy. Josh is running his first marathon this weekend to support his nephew, Rowan, who has been fighting Leukemia since March. Updates on his health can be found here. Hope for Rowan

Haiti 

I decided not to pass another opportunity to go back to Haiti on my second mission trip. I struggled for a while with deciding if the expense was a good choice, but God has not lessened the pull that Haiti has on my heart. Josh and I have been supporting Life is Hope orphanage since my last trip there in July 2011. I came home and prayed that He would make it possible my family and I to go back…

Since then, an amazing thing has happened. God stirred the hearts in some courageous people in our church. Jude and Linda Hoffman decided to take it upon themselves to provide food for the 170+ children at this orphanage forever! They have been rallying supporters for over a year (that’s $4000 a month, folks)! Trips will continually be formed out of our church. In fact, I’ve missed two opportunities while waiting on the adoption.

Check out our elder, Jude's powerful testimony to the cause here:

Trip Preparations:

Although I am sad about leaving my students for the week (I have a fantastic class this year), I know they will do just fine without me. God provides us the way, and we can either say "yes" or make excuses. This trip is by far the cheapest, due to the time of the year.

Josh won $600 from a weight loss contest at his work, so we were able to put that money towards my trip. YAY Josh, for being awesome!

Because of supporters like you, a new, safer orphanage will be built outside of the main city, Port-au-Prince. The new orphanage will have farmland and irrigation systems. I am blessed to be able to go back and finish building the wall that will surround their new home. Can you say goosebumps? I cannot wait to see the improvements our support has made on the quality of life the children have that I’ve only been able to witness by picture.

You can help change lives at Life is Hope Orphange:

I am not fundraising for my travel to Haiti. Fundraising for myself is exhausting :). However, I am collecting children’s medicine, and money for completing our task of finishing the wall that will surround the future orphanage. I will be traveling with a team Ohio and Maryland. Together we’ve raised nearly $5000 towards our $7000 goal for materials. A lot can happen in a week! If you feel led to be a part of the Life is Hope story, you can make a tax-deductible donation towards the wall, which will make them one step closer to having a new home on the "Vision Property." Please pay through this secure link. Donate to Life is Hope 

Mark your donation with a note- “Life is Hope October trip wall materials” and it will be designated appropriately. Thank you for all of your support.

In less than a week, I will finally be seeing many familiar faces open those gates as the children run and jump into our arms. There is nothing like it.