Not Just Faceless Statistics

This Graphic Helps Explain It

So often we have been and are asked what exactly we are doing and why.  I recently saw this picture on the New Horizons page and thought I'd share.  I know it's dated 2010 but the reality of what happens each year on August 31st hasn't changed.

A Slight Detour

So basically it's been a while since we've done anything here.  But in light of some events over the past week we need to send out a quick update.

Taiwan Update

Let us begin by telling you that we are still hopeful that the Taiwan adoption program we are a part of will open up soon and that we could see that adoption realized.  We are still 9^th on the waiting list, but until our agency finds a partner agency or receives its approval for international adoption, nothing more can happen.  We don’t have any firm numbers, but we are likely looking at a minimum of 18 months before we could bring a child home, best case scenario.

Summer Plans

So that quick update brings us to the more pressing issue of this summer.  We were definitely not in the “market” to pursue anything like this, but on Saturday we came across a little girl named, Alina.  Needless to say this was totally unexpected and was/is one of those God moments.  Our hearts were drawn to this girl from the first moment we saw her.  Alina is a 13-year-old orphan (14 in May) from Latvia (former USSR) and already has a unique place in our hearts.  So basically we called Saturday evening and talked with one of the coordinators at New Horizons for Children and got some information about Alina, the program, and a few more bits and pieces.  Long story short we said “yes,” and Alina will be here at the end of June and stay for about 5 weeks.

I know you’re probably thinking this is crazy – she’s 14, we already have one adoption in process, we don’t know anything about her, etc.  We think it’s crazy too, but we are convinced this is God’s will and we must be obedient.  Christ’s promise not to leave us as orphans in John 14:18, along with His command through James in James 1:27 to care for orphans, is a clear call to believers to hold out hope and get involved when and where they can.  

As we have been doing some research this week, we have found a number of staggering statistics about orphans in Eastern Europe from the U.N. (there are some competing numbers that are even worse, but we’ll go with the most conservative of numbers).  First, at least 60% of girls leaving orphanages will be FORCED into prostitution and sex trafficking.  Second, about 15% of orphans from this area will commit suicide in the first two years after they age out of the state’s care.  Third, it is reported that between 700,000 and 4 million children and women are forced into sex trafficking for use in brothels and pornography each year.  Most of them bought and traded for use in the European Union and the United States.  As a daddy with two girls this makes my stomach churn and my blood boil!!!

O.K.  Now What?

Alina, like so many of the other girls in the orphanages, has no family that is able to care for, support, or protect her.  That’s where WE come in!  This program is a hosting program.   Basically think about the foreign exchange student programs and that’s what we do, only we pay for this one.  Alina will come to our home around June 28 and will be with us through the beginning of August.  During that time our job is to simply show her the love of Christ.

Alina will arrive with the clothes on her back and that’s it.  At the end of the time she’s with us, we are allowed to send her back with one backpack and one suitcase and I presume that we’ll make sure it’s about as full as it can be.  During that time we will want to spend as much time as we can encouraging and sharing with this sweet girl.  We truly hope that you too will be a part of this experience.  From what we can tell her greatest need is to meet Christ and everything else is just an added blessing.  

It would not be honest of us to tell you that we wouldn’t like to begin adoption proceedings right now, but we know that the right first step is to simply take our time and let things develop this summer.  By the way, approximately 80% of the children hosted through this program are adopted by the host family or someone else that gets to know the child through the experience – so one of you could actually be the crazy ones here!  

We really covet your prayers over the next few months as God prepares our hearts and Emma’s and Eliza’s hearts for the experience.  We are asking God to use us as the conduit of His love and grace to Alina, whether that is for 5 weeks or for the next 50 years – To Him be the Glory!!!

One last thing, here is a picture of Alina.

Blessings,

Frank and Gina

More Pictures

Here are some more pictures



We are so thankful Ms. Glenda was there to keep Spike straight!

Look out Vanna White here comes Bubba P.

:

Better Late Than Never

Almost a month has now passed and we are still tying up loose ends from the chili supper and auction.  Who would have known when Ms. Glenda proposed an auction as a major fundraiser that it would turn out the way it did?  I have to admit that in the beginning we were a little concerned and not very sure how this whole thing would come together, but with the amazing support we received from our friends and family and especially Team Taiwan we pulled it off! With all the support we raised nearly 20% of what we needed for our adoption.


Let me say again to all who helped make this night a huge success - THANK YOU!!!


The whole night was a huge success and now we are on to planning our last major fundraiser a 5K.  The 5K will be in Medina on March 24th - more on that later.


Here are some pictures of the event (can't figure out the formatting issues) and we'll be posting more regularly now that things are settling down.

Kids had a great time with food and activities

Look at all these folks with the mad food service skills!

So I Changed My Mind - One More Update

So I changed my mind because we have added a couple of pretty large items today.

First we added two Tennessee Titan tickets for November 27th at LP Field in Nashville.

Second we added two tickets to the Zac Brown Band concert at the FEDEX Forum in Memphis on Thursday night (face value of tickets are $100 each).

As for the other stuff - it seems like there's way too much to list individually, but let me assure you that there's something for everyone at the Auction tomorrow (actually it's already tomorrow).  We have item's valued from $10 - $1,000 and everything in between.

We hope you will take advantage of the hour you're going to gain on Saturday night and come and have a great time at our Chili Supper & Auction @ Medina FBC.

See you there!