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Update: Ethiopia Adoption Program
Dear Families,
The Ethiopia team (Tracy, Sue, Michelle, and Aster) just returned from a 13-day trip to Ethiopia the proved to be very fruitful. We spent time with our partner orphanages, listening to their great needs, hugging and playing with children, and taking a huge number of pictures. I always come home wanting to share with my friends and neighbors like a proud grandmother!
We traveled many miles to new regions, meeting families and children with greater needs than we have experienced in the past. I’m always humbled by the fact that despite the great need wherever we go, the Ethiopian people are so loving, caring, and have such a joyful spirit. We hope to be able to place a great number of new children, most of them over the age of 5 years old, and many sibling groups. Please be praying for these kids, and all the children from every region still waiting for a forever family.
Our staff in Addis is trying hard to quickly process court cases, schedule embassy dates, keep kids happy and well fed, and take care of our traveling families. They really have their hands full, but thankfully they are great at what they do. God has blessed us with great staff there! Please pray for their continued endurance and stamina!
Speaking of praying, when I began this article I really had no idea of what to write. As I type I feel led to use this opportunity to simply let you know some of the needs we are aware of within the Ethiopia program. So I believe I’ll wrap up with a few more specific prayer requests:
Please pray for two specific children we are working with. The first is a one-year old boy who is severely brain damaged, in constant pain, and is blind. His health problems are the result of malnutrition, malaria, and meningitis - among other things. He needs around-the-clock care and supervision. Pray we can find a special family for this child, or a facility that can provide long term care for him.
The other child is a deaf teenage girl. This girl attends a school for the deaf in Addis, and is number 3 in her class of 68 students (we have a copy of her report card!) Please pray God will nudge her new, and as yet unknown, adoptive family and that they will call us soon!
Please pray for the many things the orphanages need to help keep the children safe, healthy, clean, warm, and well nourished. Here are some of the things that are needed: larger facilities for partner orphanages, 4-wheel drive vehicles, video and digital cameras, additional money for medical supplies, medical care and testing for the children, additional money for transportation (fuel costs are skyrocketing,) washing machines, stoves, refrigerators, uniforms for nannies, cooks and other orphanage staff, shoes for orphanage staff (white health care type shoes,) bouncy chairs, playpens, and scales. These are just a few of the most pressing needs we heard. Please pray the Lord will provide for His children and those who are caring for them.
Please pray for our ability to purchase, help purchase, or find a group who is willing to donate HIV testing equipment. Equipment like this costs approximately $6000.
Please be in prayer for a CWA sponsorship program. This type of program takes an enormous amount of time and attention both in Ethiopia and here in the home office. This type of program requires traveling Ethiopian back roads to find children, coordinate communication, distribute support, etc. It will also require good organizational and communication skills. This type of program could help many children who, for whatever reason, may not be adopted. Please pray that the Lord will help us recognize the right time to establish a sponsorship program, and provide the resources to do it.
Please pray for a CWA Guest Home. The African Union and other large international organizations meet in Addis regularly. When these large multi-country gatherings are held, hotel rooms are impossible to find for CWA families. Pray that the Lord will provide a facility that will house at least 5 families at a time no matter how many nations converge on Addis.
Finally please pray for the CWAEthiopia staff - every orphanage, all the caregivers, the multitude of children and their biological families, the many Ethiopian agencies and ministries involved in making your adoptions happen, and all of us here at CWA. We know that God does not call the equipped, He equips the called, but every prayer is coveted. There are so many things that we would like to do, and so little time and resources are limited. We rest on the knowledge that God will make clear to us what He wants us to do for the children of Ethiopia and that in His time He will provide.
In turn, we pray the Lord blesses each and every one of you with His grace and mercy.
Ciao and Amaseganalu!
Tracy Froidcoeur
Program Manager |
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