A Story of Faith, Hope, and Love: Fundraising Update

Monday, November 19, 2012

Fundraising Update

The title of this post should be: OVERWHELMED. God is good folks! We raised enough for one plane ticket this weekend. My best guess is that we had over 50 people show up to the trunk show. Bracelets were purchased, items were raffled off, the beautiful African Mosaic Afghan donated by a family friend raised $400 and a check from Noonday will be sent to WACAP (our adoption agency) to be applied to our adoption expenses. I don't know how many people ordered from Noonday online in order to support us but I know there were tons! I am so excited about the fact that not only are we closer to getting our baby girl home...we, and by that I mean YOU, are supporting women and children all over the world in purchasing the beautiful Noonday merchandise! That is something to get excited about people! Read about these people! Check out the Noonday video on their website. This is good stuff!

Do good. Be rich in good deeds. Be generous and willing to share. 1 Tim 6:18 You are living this out! Thank you!

And now, for your viewing pleasure, some cuteness! Oh my, how I love these three!

No comments:

Post a Comment

Ethiopia

*Life expectancy in Ethiopia 39 years for males and 42 years for females. The leading cause of death is communicable diseases such as malaria, typhoid, meningitis, cholera, AIDS, tuberculosis, yellow fever.
* One in ten children die before their first birthday
* One in six children die before their fifth birthday
*44% of the population is under 15 years old
* Woman have an average of 7 children and the maternal mortality rate is 1 in 14
* Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world. Over half the population lives on less than a $1 a day. The average income in Ethiopia is US$100 a year. Almost 82% of the population lives on less than $1 a day.
* Malnutrition levels are among the highest in the world.
*60% of children in Ethiopia are stunted because of malnutrition
* Ethiopia is home to 4-6 million orphans, or 12% of all children.
* That is the same number of children under age 18 who reside in Massachusetts, New York State, and Washington DC combined. If every parent in those places died tonight - that would be similar to Ethiopia's orphan crisis.
* More than half a million of these were orphaned as a result of AIDS.
* Only 42.7% age 15 and over can read and write.
* Only 18 percent of children reach grade five. That means 82% of children don't.

Our Adoption Timeline

2002- Discussed our dreams of adopting

01/10-Moved to start the process

02/10-Found out we were pregnant with Azariah so put plans on hold.

01/11-Started praying that God would align our hearts and started doing research.

05/11-Attended a general informational meeting at WACAP

05/11-God answered our prayer and we were both ready to move forward.

06/11-Attended WACAP weekend (intense weekend) and started our paperwork. That would be a small forest of trees worth of paperwork. yikes.

07/22/11-Home visit

08/16/11-Homestudy approved

8/23/11-Submitted our Dossier & I600A

10/3/11-Biometrics appointment at Department of Homeland Security

10/15/11-Received approval from Homeland Security

10/15/11-ON THE LIST! We are family number 81 waiting for a match. YAHOO!

08/16/2012- Officially in WACAP's Ethiopia program for 1 year.

08/16/2012- We are family number 25 on the list waiting for a match.

10/16/2012- A year ago we celebrated our approval from Homeland Security! One year closer to bringing our girl home!

11/17/12- Noonday Trunk Show and Fundraiser! We raised enough for one plane ticket! YAHOO! 3 more to go.

11/12- Things are still moving slow in Ethiopia but our revised wait time is 8 months!! It is possible that we will see her beautiful face this summer!

1/2013- Updating our paperwork. SO MUCH PAPERWORK!

2/13- Got the news that it is possible we will be bringing our girl home this time next year.

4/13- Biometrics renewed

5/3/13- Second Noonday Trunk show and fundraiser in Issaquah

11/8/13- Thirty-One Fundraiser