I cannot thank you all enough for not only the donations but for the very kind messages of support. Reaching out for help is a very humbling and vulnerable place to be. And a place most of us don't feel comfortable.
This message was a reminder that it is NOT about ME but its about two sweet, faithful boys that call me "mum".
I am so grateful God selected me for this amazing adoption journey. My Faith has been tested and stretched but through messages like this one, I know we are doing His will.
Blessings,
~Andrea
"Andrea,
I have followed the Salem's blog for quite awhile allowing her heart toward the orphan to teach me God's heart. But it was your boy's comment about how difficult it was to spent such money on orphans that truly broke my heart and my purse open. For which I am thankful. But I will pray continuously that your boys will know the joy of their worth to God.
I am truly honored to be a small small part of your journey and will continue to follow your blog.
Thank you for being open in sharing your life. And please do not hesitate to ask for help In your blog you said you hated to ask. Listen closely, dear sister... If you do not ask, I have no opportunity to be blessed. Don't keep God's blessings from me. It is His plan that these children have a large family who love and pray for them always.
Lovingly, L"
Friday, May 16, 2014
Monday, May 12, 2014
A litte boy's plea ......
"mum some times i think i should cry because i dont know my light and right i dont when i am going to be with u forvere and i cry everyday de one i think about, its a long to see him and i think some times i lose hope God because mission inposible if i will never be to (usa)and i see u and de family my mind tells me that i have found what i want in my life may lord be with u. be with family, take u to highiet level love u mum"
This was my message from Askia yesterday. I hesitated to share it on here but his message has been tugging at my heart ever since I read it. I wanted to share with you why I am so deeply in love with these two boys.
When I explain to him we are working with new attorneys and getting funds together to send to them for a new court date, this is what he says:
"Sorry it not easy spend money on ophance like us"
Oh but you are SO worth it Askia - in God's eyes and in our hearts!! Mum and dad will NOT give up on you sweetie.
~ Andrea
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Praying for guidance and obedience
It's been a little while since I posted any updates. I can hardly believe it's been over a year now that we have been on this adoption journey.
With all the craziness of our everyday lives, I've actually been wondering if God really knew what He was doing when He called Andy and I to be Joseph and Askia's parents 16 months ago. I understand God doesn't make mistakes but seriously I am wondering "HOW God?"
I got a call from Joseph two weeks ago asking me if he could pray with me over the phone. Joseph knew I had been under a lot of stress at work and knew I had been working a lot of long hours. And he just wanted to pray with me. He asked if I minded if he prayed in Twi. "Of course not" I told him. That boy poured out his heart to God and even though I couldn't understand a word he was saying, i heard "mum" several times and I could hear his heart, his plea and his Faith!!
And that's when I realized no matter how doubtful or unprepared I feel I am, it is not all about me and my fears. God is answering Joseph and Askia's prayers. And if He still feels Andy and I are capable of this mission than I have to believe He is going to work out the details. I am still asking for your prayers for our understanding and for our obedience.
Unfortunately, I just found out that the attorney I met with (in Ghana last May) never filed any of the papers with the courts even though we paid him his required fees. Fortunately Andrew (our Ghanaiian Angel living here in Connecticut) has been assisting us and just recently put us in touch with a new law firm in Ghana (that are his friends) and assure us they will file and complete the necessary paperwork to secure a court date and finalize the adoption Yes, all very good news and we are so very fortunate that Andrew entered our lives last November. Ironically, it was exactly a year after the boys had entered our lives through that blog post - that previous November. Huh, I just realized that. I love God moments like that. :-)
As kind and wonderful as this new firm is, we will be required to come up with the required fees again for them to file the necessary paperwork with the courts and Social Welfare in Ghana. We are hopeful that we will be able to get back some of the money we paid the first attorney but the costs are still very high. It's a very difficult time for us personally right now and I would just ask for your continued prayers as we navigate this journey and know just what to do for our family - both here and across the world.
~Andrea
Friday, January 24, 2014
An angel named Andrew
I've been hesitant to share too much about my last couple of phone calls from Nana and her husband because quite honestly I just wasn't sure how serious they were and really how much they could do for us. But I feel like I need to give God the praise in all of this because there is clearly no other reason any of this is happening.
So last week I received an email from Nana asking me to call her as she and her husband "had an update" for me with regards to our adoption. Of course I called but really had no expectations at all. I believed they wanted to help but I really had no idea what they were capable of or what kind of connections they had. So I remained reluctantly optimistic.
Nana answered the phone and quickly suggested I speak with her husband who could explain recent events better than she. Her husband says hello like we're old friends. He apologizes for not calling sooner but says he wanted to wait until there was some real progress to report back to us. He goes on to say that his lawyers have met with the our attorney in Kumasi as well as the Director of Social Services in Kumasi. He tells me his lawyers are petitioning the court on our behalf and that if they don't make any head way in Kumasi, they will go straight to the Court in Accra.
He spoke with such authority and confidence. I was so taken aback at what this 'stranger' was saying to me, I was speechless. All I could say was "How can I ever thank you, re-pay you. I don't even know your name." "First", he said, "my name is Andrew and you don't owe me a thing." "God brought us together. I have the means to help you and that's what I am here to do for you." Of course I am near sobbing at this point. Rarely am I at a loss for words but clearly there are no words in my mind that convey what my head and heart are feeling at this moment. I mean, this man is giving of his time and resources to help a total stranger. Only God makes such a thing like this happen.
I continue to tell him how thankful I am and I have no idea how I can ever re-pay him for his kindness. He reassures me that it is no accident his wife called PoshTots that day and it was no accident I answered the phone. In my heart I know this is the only thing that makes any sense at all. And for a split second, I pictured God up there in Heaven chuckling at the look on my face as Andrew and I put all of this together. "Silly girl", says God, "don't you know I part seas and move mountains". "This is nothing for me, ye of little Faith," "Oh, but I do have Faith," I say. And I know this is all You, God!!!
As I sit here tonight trying to figure out exactly "how, if and when" all of this will work out, I am turning it over and learning to Trust. If not for myself, I will Trust for two amazing boys on the other side of the world who desperately want a family of their own. Joseph and Askia, my loves, I promise I will not give up on you. You have a mother, father, two sisters and a brother who love you so very much and pray daily for you to come home.
~ Andrea
So last week I received an email from Nana asking me to call her as she and her husband "had an update" for me with regards to our adoption. Of course I called but really had no expectations at all. I believed they wanted to help but I really had no idea what they were capable of or what kind of connections they had. So I remained reluctantly optimistic.
Nana answered the phone and quickly suggested I speak with her husband who could explain recent events better than she. Her husband says hello like we're old friends. He apologizes for not calling sooner but says he wanted to wait until there was some real progress to report back to us. He goes on to say that his lawyers have met with the our attorney in Kumasi as well as the Director of Social Services in Kumasi. He tells me his lawyers are petitioning the court on our behalf and that if they don't make any head way in Kumasi, they will go straight to the Court in Accra.
He spoke with such authority and confidence. I was so taken aback at what this 'stranger' was saying to me, I was speechless. All I could say was "How can I ever thank you, re-pay you. I don't even know your name." "First", he said, "my name is Andrew and you don't owe me a thing." "God brought us together. I have the means to help you and that's what I am here to do for you." Of course I am near sobbing at this point. Rarely am I at a loss for words but clearly there are no words in my mind that convey what my head and heart are feeling at this moment. I mean, this man is giving of his time and resources to help a total stranger. Only God makes such a thing like this happen.
I continue to tell him how thankful I am and I have no idea how I can ever re-pay him for his kindness. He reassures me that it is no accident his wife called PoshTots that day and it was no accident I answered the phone. In my heart I know this is the only thing that makes any sense at all. And for a split second, I pictured God up there in Heaven chuckling at the look on my face as Andrew and I put all of this together. "Silly girl", says God, "don't you know I part seas and move mountains". "This is nothing for me, ye of little Faith," "Oh, but I do have Faith," I say. And I know this is all You, God!!!
As I sit here tonight trying to figure out exactly "how, if and when" all of this will work out, I am turning it over and learning to Trust. If not for myself, I will Trust for two amazing boys on the other side of the world who desperately want a family of their own. Joseph and Askia, my loves, I promise I will not give up on you. You have a mother, father, two sisters and a brother who love you so very much and pray daily for you to come home.
~ Andrea
Saturday, December 28, 2013
An un-expected phone call .....
So I have not updated here in a while. Unfortunately we are still just waiting for the Director of Social Welfare to open cases back up again so that we can request a court date in Kumasi.
In the meanwhile, we talk to the boys at least once or twice a week. They are hopeful and happy and continue to ask when we will be coming back to see them.
I have been feeling so helpless lately; not knowing who to turn to for help or even what to ask.
So two weeks ago, I was working, had just received a text from Mary assuring me she was still checking in with Social Services regularly but that there was no change. I literally hit my knees in my office and wept and asked God to please just help in any way. And I asked Him what it was I was supposed to do. I just couldn't believe He had brought me this far for this adoption to fall apart.
This was on Thursday November 12th. Within 15 mins of my text and prayer, I received a phone call from a customer. I was helping with the Customer Service Lines at PoshTots because we were short staffed on that day. I answered the phone to a very polite pregnant woman asking about a cradle. After a couple minutes, I had to ask where she was from because I recognized that beautiful accent. "I'm from Africa", she replied. I asked "where in Africa". Of course my heart sank because I knew what her reply was going to be. "Ghana", she says. I then proceeded to tell her about my connection and visit to Ghana and how much I loved her country, the people and two young boys in particular.
She then asked me what "region" I stayed in when there. I said the Ashanti Region. She then tells me she is from Kumasi and her father still lives there. He is a physician and owns a hospital. I am in tears and she is clearly shaken up too. She tells me she never calls companies and prefers to shop online. She said she had a strong urge to call and talk with someone that day. As I explained I typically don't answer the CS lines, I only answered that day because we were busy. Clearly, God is laughing while the two of us are bantering back and forth and this crazy connection.
Okay, so let's fast forward to today. Nana has since contacted her father, who has contacted two lawyers who have also gone to the orphanage to meet with Mary and see the boys. I just received an email from her yesterday with pictures of the boys and Luvis and Vasty too. You see, because her fathers friends had difficulty getting Mary on the phone, they drove to Offinso to meet Mary in person and discuss our situation with her. I am teary just typing this again. I just cannot believe how incredibly generous this was.
I thanked Nana over and over again for all she and her father had done. She then proceeded to tell me that her father had offered to sign an affidavit of support for the court as he is very well known and respected in Kumasi. I just don't even know what to say other than God is still at work here and I still remain HOPEFUL!!
Below are the pictures that Nana's father emailed me of his visit at the orphanage. It breaks my heart to see the kids so sad and solemn. Also seeing the conditions of the orphanage just make me so sad too. Please continue to keep our family in your prayers!
~ Andrea
In the meanwhile, we talk to the boys at least once or twice a week. They are hopeful and happy and continue to ask when we will be coming back to see them.
I have been feeling so helpless lately; not knowing who to turn to for help or even what to ask.
So two weeks ago, I was working, had just received a text from Mary assuring me she was still checking in with Social Services regularly but that there was no change. I literally hit my knees in my office and wept and asked God to please just help in any way. And I asked Him what it was I was supposed to do. I just couldn't believe He had brought me this far for this adoption to fall apart.
This was on Thursday November 12th. Within 15 mins of my text and prayer, I received a phone call from a customer. I was helping with the Customer Service Lines at PoshTots because we were short staffed on that day. I answered the phone to a very polite pregnant woman asking about a cradle. After a couple minutes, I had to ask where she was from because I recognized that beautiful accent. "I'm from Africa", she replied. I asked "where in Africa". Of course my heart sank because I knew what her reply was going to be. "Ghana", she says. I then proceeded to tell her about my connection and visit to Ghana and how much I loved her country, the people and two young boys in particular.
She then asked me what "region" I stayed in when there. I said the Ashanti Region. She then tells me she is from Kumasi and her father still lives there. He is a physician and owns a hospital. I am in tears and she is clearly shaken up too. She tells me she never calls companies and prefers to shop online. She said she had a strong urge to call and talk with someone that day. As I explained I typically don't answer the CS lines, I only answered that day because we were busy. Clearly, God is laughing while the two of us are bantering back and forth and this crazy connection.
Okay, so let's fast forward to today. Nana has since contacted her father, who has contacted two lawyers who have also gone to the orphanage to meet with Mary and see the boys. I just received an email from her yesterday with pictures of the boys and Luvis and Vasty too. You see, because her fathers friends had difficulty getting Mary on the phone, they drove to Offinso to meet Mary in person and discuss our situation with her. I am teary just typing this again. I just cannot believe how incredibly generous this was.
I thanked Nana over and over again for all she and her father had done. She then proceeded to tell me that her father had offered to sign an affidavit of support for the court as he is very well known and respected in Kumasi. I just don't even know what to say other than God is still at work here and I still remain HOPEFUL!!
Below are the pictures that Nana's father emailed me of his visit at the orphanage. It breaks my heart to see the kids so sad and solemn. Also seeing the conditions of the orphanage just make me so sad too. Please continue to keep our family in your prayers!
~ Andrea
Saturday, June 8, 2013
We Need Your Help!
So many of you who are living this experience with us have been wanting to help. We are so amazed at the true love that is surrounding us on this journey. We feel it and we thank you all. What we truly need is financial support for the enormous costs associated with this mission. Everything from our Ghana Attorney to Travel to Government Fees is expensive!!
Some very good friends of ours, Deborah Clark, Maria Elder, Lynn Hurley and Kelly Evans, are organizing an "Adoption Yardsale" for us in the parking lot of PoshTots on Saturday, June 22nd. If you have any items you would like to donate for our sale, please let one of us know. We are happy to pick up donations or you can message me about where and when to drop off.
If you can't make it to the sale on the 22nd and are interested in making a donation, here is how you can help by donating here via Visa, MC or Amex through GoFundMe
All donations over $50, will automatically be in a drawing for a 1 week stay at PoshCasa on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay in CapeCharles (value $2200). Drawing will be on July 1st!
Thanks for everyone's continued support and encouraging messages. Having such a supportive group of family and friends has been such a blessing and we are truly appreciative!
"A hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove, but the world may be different because I was important in the life of one child." Forest Witcraft~Andrea
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Reflections from Ghana
It's been a bittersweet past few days as Evan and I get back into our normal routines at work and school. We are both missing our newest family members and all the other new friends at the Offins Children's Center.
Before I left, I purchased an inexpensive phone for the boys to use to call or text us until we are together again. We've heard from them several times; asking how we are and telling us how much they miss us. This is the hard part as we wait for the next step in the adoption process.
I've had a chance to sort through the pictures on my camera and have loved seeing and remembering the special moments of our visit and seeing the sweet, joyful faces of our friends. Just looking at them again reminds me of just how really special the people of Ghana really are. As challenging as it was at times, it's clear we were happy and loved our time in Ghana and at the orphanage.
I'll update more about the adoption process and where we are in the next couple of days. For now, I just wanted to enjoy the pictures and the faces in them.
~ Andrea
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