tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041628309593914702024-03-05T16:40:44.511-08:00Adoption Advocates International News Susan PDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08294399087396258496noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904162830959391470.post-13364639109620730652012-09-19T06:18:00.001-07:002012-12-22T08:58:30.747-08:00AAI Short Term Volunteer Trip--February 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
2013 Short-term Volunteer Trip</h2>
<h2>
2/27/2013--3/8/2013</h2>
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Chris Little and Susan Poisson-Dollar, AAI Board President
and former AAI Director of Development respectively,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>will be leading a short-term volunteer trip
to Ethiopia for a maximum of 12 participants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The dates for this year’s trip are February 27 – March 8th, 2013.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chris and Susan have each visited Ethiopia
numerous times and also have significant experience hosting volunteer groups
both in the U.S. and Ethiopia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
enjoy sharing their love for and knowledge of their “adopted” country with new
people. AAI's in-country staffalso enjoy sharing their knowledge and expertise with visitors.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLt8s55H8YIi9EmUoQtVG5O9AZc-Dd-0Zk1XwIlCkD8-mX0yTl0s9yAArCRQxC4fnKUt87zy4Mrz1ldLIwXZoz8bHWWy_2eyM-eHtSKd3oSs2Ht9zoScpKt0-xusTMn1RbTnnGJhnwSSd/s1600/November+2010+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLt8s55H8YIi9EmUoQtVG5O9AZc-Dd-0Zk1XwIlCkD8-mX0yTl0s9yAArCRQxC4fnKUt87zy4Mrz1ldLIwXZoz8bHWWy_2eyM-eHtSKd3oSs2Ht9zoScpKt0-xusTMn1RbTnnGJhnwSSd/s320/November+2010+015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The land cost for the trip is $1400 and includes airport
pick-up in Addis, lodging (single occupancy, discount for sharing),
transportation and some meals in Addis as well as a donation to Adoption
Advocates International’s humanitarian projects in the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flight costs will depend on the participant’s
home city but are currently ranging between $1300-1700 round trip from most
parts of the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Participants will
have the option of joining either of the group leaders on their flights or of
arranging one independently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Depending
on the interests of the group, excursions outside of Addis can be arranged and
the travel agent we are working with can also help organize add-on tours to
other parts of Ethiopia. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjqLMwA-CSoPwgJqK6olyk6RMs9Si7ET-nSYqICg3WdRq07xRglNY1cXckmYizTPkVOyzY54HJ4E9pc4dosWn0OU2GzsgrNo0yfhSPrhHeoNRpKmfQcagmny5zfrz9CDBeHZY44adBmr5/s1600/beautiful+new+handmade+bibs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjqLMwA-CSoPwgJqK6olyk6RMs9Si7ET-nSYqICg3WdRq07xRglNY1cXckmYizTPkVOyzY54HJ4E9pc4dosWn0OU2GzsgrNo0yfhSPrhHeoNRpKmfQcagmny5zfrz9CDBeHZY44adBmr5/s320/beautiful+new+handmade+bibs.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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All participants will be expected to get a criminal
background check prior to the trip or submit one received in the last two
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will also be asked to carry
supplies for AAI’s partner orphanages and other nonprofits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required
by February 1, 2013 to secure a spot on the trip and participants are also
required to have personal health insurance and to purchase a travel insurance
plan (generally very inexpensive).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Please contact Susan Poisson-Dollar (<a href="mailto:spdfish1234@gmail.com">spdfish1234@gmail.com</a>) or Chris Little
(<a href="mailto:family@little-little.com">family@little-little.com</a>) for
more details or to reserve your spot on the trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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There will be opportunities to tutor children, teach
English, work at our facility for developmentally-delayed children (Opportunity
House), visit local nonprofits and to experience Ethiopian cultural traditions.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may be asked to paint rooms and do
other similar projects at partner orphanages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Chris and Susan do not believe in rigid schedules but instead they
strive to meet each participant’s personal<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>goals for the experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People
with specific skills may wish to work in-depth on one project while others
volunteering for the first time may prefer a more flexible, exploratory
experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Excursions will include
trips to shop for fairly-traded handicrafts, visits to other nonprofit projects
serving orphans and vulnerable children and a dinner at a cultural restaurant
featuring traditional dance and food. </div>
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Susan PDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08294399087396258496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904162830959391470.post-76379802495282253012012-05-16T09:56:00.002-07:002012-05-16T09:56:36.296-07:00Uganda--You Passed it On--THANK YOU!!!<div style="text-align: justify;">
We wish to thank everybody who so freely gave to assist the care needs of the 7 sisters in Uganda yesterday. Because of you, we met our goal! In fact, the goal was SURPASSED!!! [Donors will be contacted about the overage.]</div>
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To date we have not had anybody sign up to be an ongoing sponsor for the 7 girls. Please, if you can <a href="https://npo.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=2269&code=AAI%20Homepage" target="_blank">give in an ongoing way towards the girls' care</a>, consider doing so. $65 a month would cover one girl each month, but if you can sign up to give a recurring donation of another amount, that still helps. These fees ($1200) recur ever 3 months and it would be ideal to have a recurring donation base for the care and protection of these girls until a permanent family can be found for them in Uganda.</div>
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Thank you again!<br />AAI</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904162830959391470.post-33612005858732512582012-05-15T13:05:00.001-07:002012-05-15T13:20:55.656-07:00Uganda--2 Days for 7 Sisters--Pass It On!<div style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande",tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>THEN:</strong> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Four months ago AAI's Uganda Coordinator, Salem Richards, put out a plea for help for 7 precious sisters in Uganda who were in a desperate situation. These seven sisters were living alone, in desperate poverty, in rural Uganda. The oldest girl is thirteen, the youngest, just a year. Their mother had passed away and their father was not caring for them. Their home was being attacked at night and things happened to these precious, unprotected girls that should never happen to any child. Their story broke Salem's heart, and the hearts of many others. Through the generosity of friends and families of AAI's Uganda program, we were able to raise enough money for these seven girls to be rescued by social workers in Uganda and taken to a safe place!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The six big girls are now in a boarding school while the baby is being cared for by a missionary in Uganda who assisted with their rescue. We are told that the girls are doing very well at their boarding school. We want to enable the social welfare officer dealing with their case to keep them there until a permanent family situation can be found for them in Uganda. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-pgyVbk6LOaz4BfrDUq6GDywy7f5oXrr_adqy-eNjFcsLe-ZfoOybYnzuk0Xd8Rb3xLsR5C0P4qjD4FLSOPqTC7tv-pYFozL4keakT5dnrTWtO1xFe5yISr2vp1S_F_X794102fY2H4/s1600/7sis+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-pgyVbk6LOaz4BfrDUq6GDywy7f5oXrr_adqy-eNjFcsLe-ZfoOybYnzuk0Xd8Rb3xLsR5C0P4qjD4FLSOPqTC7tv-pYFozL4keakT5dnrTWtO1xFe5yISr2vp1S_F_X794102fY2H4/s320/7sis+after.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><u>NOW:</u></strong> We found out yesterday (5-14-12) that the next term's school and care fees are due immediately and without payment the girls risk immediate expulsion! We weren't expecting this and have not yet found ongoing sponsors for the sisters. You see, when we (AAI) told the social workers we would help, we became responsible for them. For EVERYTHING they need. We've paid for them all to go the doctor and have medical tests done. One of the girls was hospitalized. Another needs to be evaluated by a cardiologist. We provide money for them to be cared for during school breaks, all their meals, personal items, etc. We are responsible for all of their needs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we found out on such short notice that we needed to pay the school for their next term, "L," our amazing in-country coordinator decided she could not allow the chance of these children being kicked out of school with nowhere to go. Without us knowing about it she took her own money and paid the fees so these precious children could stay at their school and continue being cared for. We are overwhelmed with her generosity and so grateful she stepped in to provide for these children until we can get the money to Uganda. HOWEVER, the funds she used to pay the school was money provided to her by her other job to go on a work related business trip at the end of this week! <u><strong>WE MUST REPAY HER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE</strong>!</u> Our fear is that "L" may have put her other job in jeopardy in order to save these girls from being put out on the street.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are two needs here. The first and most urgent need is to pay/repay $1200 ($200 per girl) to cover the girls' care and education fees that were due on Monday. <strong><u>We hope to raise this money in two days</u></strong>, as crazy as that sounds! Friends and families of AAI are just that crazy and generous! ANY donation amount is appreciated. <strong><u>If 120 people donated $10, we'd meet our goal!</u></strong> The preferred way to donate is by calling our office and speaking with Kathy to make donation by credit/debit card by phone. 360-452-4777. Alternatively, you can </span><a href="https://npo.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=2269&code=AAI%20Homepage" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CLICK HERE</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to make a donation on our website. Choose "other" then note "Uganda, 7 sisters."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second need (just as important in the long run), is <strong><u>to find ongoing sponsors for each of the 7 girls until a long-term care plan is created for them</u></strong>. We recognize that boarding school is not the best long term solution for these girls. Social service professionals in Uganda are working with the goal of this sibling group being cared for in a family. Until that time, they must be cared for and kept safe. If you are willing to sponsor one (or more) of the girls at $65 a month (or $200 every 3 months), please contact </span><a href="mailto:salem@adoptionadvocates.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Salem</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to discuss which child to sponsor and </span><a href="https://npo.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=2269&code=AAI%20Homepage" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CLICK HERE</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to set up your recurring donation. Choose "other" then not "Uganda sponsorship, 7 sisters."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Thank you for considering this VERY immediate need in Uganda. Please, post about this on your blogs and facebook pages. Pass it on to your email contacts. Without your help in spreading the word about this need, it will be almost impossible to reach our goal!
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<br />Many Thanks,
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AAI</em></span><br />
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904162830959391470.post-54803945550931443402012-04-26T09:18:00.000-07:002012-04-26T09:18:06.794-07:00AAI's Erin Henderson Does it All!AAI's Special Needs Coordinator, Erin Henderson, has long been appreciated by friends and families of AAI. She is now making new fans in the running world, as she has transformed herself from mom and coordinator into a serious competitive runner over the past 3 years! Erin was recently highlighted in Runner's World Magazine with an online article. Click below to be inspired!<br />
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<a href="http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/microsite/article/0,8029,s6-239-506--14301-0,00.html" target="_blank">DOING IT ALL!</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904162830959391470.post-82023244481108366062012-03-29T12:09:00.003-07:002012-03-29T12:11:40.151-07:00Adoptive Families Magazine Survey, Gives $500 Donation!<div align="justify">As of right now, we (Adoptive Families Magazine) need 83 more people to take our 2010/2011 Cost & Timing of Adoption Survey to activate our random drawing: <a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2011-adoption-cost-timing">http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2011-adoption-cost-timing</a>! If we reach our goal for completed surveys, we'll randomly choose one respondent and donate $500 to the adoption charity of his or her choice!<br /><br />Please help us out by taking this survey if you adopted in 2011 or 2010, and by forwarding the link on to anyone you know who adopted during the past two years. If you've already taken this year's survey, you have our thanks!<br /><br />See past years' survey results, learn about the organization we donated to on behalf of last year's random drawing winner, and find a link to this year's survey at: <a href="http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/articles.php?aid=1617">http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/articles.php?aid=1617</a><br /><br />To go directly to the 2011 Cost & Timing of Adoption Survey, click here: <a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2011-adoption-cost-timing">http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2011-adoption-cost-timing</a><br /><br />Many thanks!<br /><br />Eve Gilman<br />www.adoptivefamilies.com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904162830959391470.post-63897151035035828952012-02-13T14:51:00.000-08:002012-02-13T14:55:36.777-08:00Let Your Voice Be Heard by February 14!<div align="center"><strong>PLEASE READ BELOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT A VERY IMPORTANT SURVEY BEING CONDUCTED BY THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE. RESULTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY FEBRUARY 14th, 2012.</strong></div><br /><div align="center">*********************************</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="justify">The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has released a survey the results of which will inform U.S. government policy makers on adoptive families’ experiences when interacting with U.S. government officials during the intercountry adoption process. The survey seeks to collect responses from adoptive families, potential adoptive families and adoption service providers.<br /><br />This survey respresents a unique opportunity for the adoption community to share their experiences and express their opinions regarding the services provided by the U.S. government. We strongly encourage all Joint Council supporters who have adopted internationally or who have facilitated intercountry adoptions to participate in the survey and to encourage others to do so as well.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Adoptive parent or prospective adoptive parent, please use the following link:<br /><br /></span></strong>https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Surveyonintercountryadoptionparents </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904162830959391470.post-25893013269271507092012-02-02T15:14:00.000-08:002012-02-02T15:25:10.945-08:00ADOPTION TAX CREDIT AWARENESS DAY!Adoption Advocates International founder, Merrily Ripley, recently shared this information. Thanks Merrily for your continued involvement and support! We love you!<br /><br /><br /><div align="center">**************************************************</div><br /><div align="justify"><em><span style="color:#000099;">The First Annual Adoption Tax Credit Awareness Day will be Monday, February 13, 2012. The hope is that everybody in the adoption community will take part. Many adoptive families are not aware that this tax credit exists. It is our goal to help ensure that adoptive families who are eligible to receive this benefit are informed about how to claim the credit. We are asking everyone, including professionals, advocates, state agencies, families, and others to help spread the word on one given day (Feb. 13th) in hopes to broadcast the existence of the adoption tax credit. Details about how you can help are below.<br /></span></em><br /><strong>Save the Date:</strong> Plan now to be part of the Adoption Tax Credit Awareness Day on Monday, February 13, 2012—a national effort highlighting the federal tax credit available to adoptive families.<br /><br /><strong>Play Your Part:</strong> Join with adoption organizations, state agencies, adoptive families, advocates, and other interested parties to raise visibility of the adoption tax credit. Help spread the word collectively, through website postings, email blasts, newsletters, social media, and other informational outlets, so eligible families that may not be aware of this benefit can be sure to access the credit. Families who adopted as far back as 2005 may still benefit if they haven’t already. Be sure to include non-internet based strategies since some adoptive families do not have access to the internet.<br /><br /><strong>The Facts: </strong></div><br /><ul><br /><li><br /><div align="justify">Since 2003, families who adopted a U.S. child with special needs from foster care could claim a federal adoption tax credit even if they had no adoption expenses (as long as they met the fairly generous income requirements). </div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="justify">Children who receive adoption assistance/subsidy benefits are considered children with special needs. Even families who receive a deferred subsidy ($0 per month but medical coverage through the subsidy program) are eligible. </div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="justify">All adoptive families (except those who adopted a step-child) are eligible for the credit, but those who adopt children other than those with special needs must have—and be able to document, if requested by the IRS—qualified adoption expenses. </div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="justify">For 2010 and 2011 the credit was made refundable. If parents who adopted as long ago as 2005 had credit to carry forward into 2010, that amount of the credit also became refundable. In 2010 and 2011, parents can claim the credit even if they don’t have income or any tax liability. </div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="justify">The amount of the credit for 2011 is $13,360 per child.<br /></div></li></ul><br /><div align="justify"><strong>The Information: </strong></div><strong><br /><ul><br /><li><br /><div align="left"></strong>IRS Form 8839 Instructions: <a href="http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i8839.pdf">http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i8839.pdf</a> </div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="left">IRS Form 8839: <a href="http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8839.pdf">http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8839.pdf</a> </div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="left">IRS adoption tax credit FAQ’s: <a href="http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=231663,00.html">http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=231663,00.html</a> </div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="left">Voice for Adoption’s distributable postcard: <a href="http://voice-for-adoption.org/adoption_tax_credit">http://voice-for-adoption.org/adoption_tax_credit</a> </div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="left">Tools & Resources from the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC): http://www.nacac.org/taxcredit/taxcredit.html </div></li></ul><br /><p align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Please distribute this widely among your networks. Thanks for taking the time to make this count for adoptive families!</span></strong></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904162830959391470.post-44243988639050182672011-12-12T10:13:00.000-08:002011-12-12T10:21:27.881-08:00iGive to AAI!We are at the height of holiday shopping season! Did you know that if you do your shopping through <a href="http://www.igive.com/">www.igive.com</a> up to 26% (but usually 1-5%) of your total is donated to AAI's humanitarian projects? It's true! These donations can add up to make a difference in countries like Ethiopia, Ghana, and Uganda.<br /><br />If you aren't already a member and sign up now (adding a button to your toolbar) AAI will get $5 for your membership! If you share the link with a friend and that friend signs up, another $5 for AAI humanitarian projects! Click <a href="http://www.igive.com/welcome/lp1/onemillionbuttons.cfm?c=29808&m=390673&jltest=1">HERE</a> to learn more about the <a href="http://www.igive.com/welcome/lp1/onemillionbuttons.cfm?c=29808&m=390673&jltest=1">1 Million Buttons for Change </a>campaign. The campaign goes through January 9th, 2012.<br /><br />Thank you to all who remember to give back at this time of year.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904162830959391470.post-13525393947394170492011-12-02T10:18:00.001-08:002011-12-02T10:47:42.194-08:00National Adoption Month CHALLENGE Results<div align="justify">During the month of November we challenged everybody in the AAI family to think of ways they could (1) promote adoption and (2) give back to organizations that advocate for the orphaned child. We are pleased to share that many AAI families stepped up to the plate with wonderful results! Earlier this month we shared some of your great ideas. Here are some others.<br /></div><br /><div align="justify"><br /><br /><p align="justify">*Bryana and Jodi Slaback shared, "On Nov. 6 I presented the Operation Christmas Child project through Samaritan's Purse to my church. It is going well and shoe boxes with gifts for needy children around the world are already coming in. We will take our two adopted boys (Guatemala and Ethiopia) shopping to fill a shoe box each for boys their age. They love it and it raises awareness of needs around the world and challenges them to give out of their own wishes of what they would like to receive themselves." </p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681603045200066546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNI0tFHfVjjOH8_yEguQgUSZ56nQ0zEFX_QX2FhoLzFjwsCevW6FFwQJJ6F1eWkPlQgeGRWGZw9CY21zjSWj438bJW2d_24dDBFCjRsfzhocYFon4SJYqn8yax58JB8J4S2fxyy8XfH34/s400/IMG_2181%255B1%255D.JPG" />*Tiffany Bryner made a display at the public library in Sitka, Alaska where she is employed.<br /><br />*An AAI family shared, "Every time I shop at Costco I purchase a can of formula to take with us..(I shop there a lot with my brood). I have asked and encouraged my friends to do the same."<br /><br />*AAI Counselor Marilyn Weaver took part in an adoption conference at a church in the Tri Cities on November 4. She spoke in a breakout session on homestudies. The theme she chose was “The Homestudy is the Heart of Adoption.” She referred to AAI and passed out information about our agency.<br /><br />*Carol Gilliom shared, "Every year, including this year in October, my daughter Anna Gilliom (16 years old now), and I talk with all 80 students in the 7th grade at our local school about adoption. We talk about how Anna came from India as an infant, what adoption means to our family, and about Indian culture. We give our talk in the Social Studies classes during their unit on India."<br /><br />*An AAI parent shared, "I am also going to a third grade class where some of my friends children go and I am speaking on adoption. The class is going to ask parents to donate needed items for our upcoming trip."<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681603721707171010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYecSt2k0Vs0YU5AmgCCY-CEVL6OuFX-mCB5NdaO_WNMUoDOIMP6BBN7eHgDU7MBF2CbTZHW8MKvk_WmPn1-n1t8__zeFHHDAAgxlofld8qrhlK_qI8R0C65nILsDiJ3dHfn83wvPXCfA/s400/jewelry.jpg" />*Kris Adam helped raise funds for plane tickets, etc, for a family in her church that is adopting 3 children from Ethiopia. Everything she sells until mid Dec. goes directly to their fees. Kris states, "I am making necklace charms and ornaments. I know it won't be much, but every drop in the bucket helps!"<br /><br />*Gina MacConnell purchased 100 devotionals about adoptions from Show Hope and has been handing them out to anyone who shows interested in adoption.<br /><br />*One AAI Parent shared, "We are hosting a Adoption Info Meeting and a Help Us Fill Our Suitcase Party before we leave for our court trip in December. My plan is to have empty suitcases at our front door as our guests arrive(I have sent out a list of the things that AAI in Ethiopia needs). I am going to show the Cry of the Orphan video and have informational materials available."<br /><br /><br /><p align="justify">*Several AAI families ate very simply the week before Thanksgiving, then donating the money they saved on food to various programs at AAI.</p><br /><p align="justify"><strong>Thanks to ALL who participated this year, and shared your activities with us! </strong></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904162830959391470.post-46317141918539825742011-11-29T10:32:00.000-08:002011-11-29T10:40:56.154-08:00AAI Family Quilt--A Longstanding Tradition<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTIYqUEpYPkB9VN-iKahyphenhyphenf1nWIE4swI2Tk7ow4ZgWK9smCuXzcdNEYl9R5Ufm4yfnZ87tz1aNcYMDDtAmi3p6B7uMzuq9xQrMIbETpjXGXYbI7pg7JtGKk9IyAZTdly_np1_QHZqOnwA/s1600/DSC_0005.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 334px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680488556368281170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTIYqUEpYPkB9VN-iKahyphenhyphenf1nWIE4swI2Tk7ow4ZgWK9smCuXzcdNEYl9R5Ufm4yfnZ87tz1aNcYMDDtAmi3p6B7uMzuq9xQrMIbETpjXGXYbI7pg7JtGKk9IyAZTdly_np1_QHZqOnwA/s400/DSC_0005.jpg" /></a> The AAI Family Quilt is coming along nicely! If you have made a donation to AAI and would like to see your name on a leaf, star, butterfly, or other items that will adorn the quilt, just <a href="mailto:info@adoptionadvocates.org">contact us!</a></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Did you know that fundraising quilts are a longstanding tradition in the United States? Recently, an AAI supporter wrote a blog post about these quilts, and featured the AAI Family Quilt as example. You can read the entire (very interesting) blog post<a href="http://willywonkyquilts.blogspot.com/2011/11/fundraising-quilts.html"> HERE</a>.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904162830959391470.post-54275105939456569802011-10-19T16:38:00.000-07:002011-10-19T16:39:49.068-07:00AAI Volunteer trip -- Join us in February!!<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%;">2012 Short-term Volunteer Trip</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%;">2/26/12--3/8/12 </span></i></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Chris Little and Susan Poisson-Dollar, AAI Board President and former AAI Director of Development respectively, will be leading a <b>short-term volunteer trip</b> to Ethiopia for a maximum of 14 participants. The dates for this year’s trip are February 26<sup>th</sup> – March 8<sup>th</sup>, 2012. Chris and Susan have each visited Ethiopia numerous times and also have significant experience hosting volunteer groups both in the U.S. and Ethiopia. They enjoy sharing their love for and knowledge of their “adopted” country with new people. We had a wonderful experience in November of 2010 and you can read more about it<span style="background-color: white;"> at</span><b style="background-color: white; color: black;"><a href="http://aainews.blogspot.com/2010/11/november-volunteer-trip-to-layla-house.html"> this link.</a></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Xd6QcDxT7IkuqOP_q1LzeKY47BAASRGC1lnZDioktnTtVSoDbJXEQhyphenhyphenIffm2SZUvpcqHFas9KDlDBNWcw4295j_Bo4vDtVg57TBHqFV_jHRrYA4kdyTu3ykGRJYTDD3001_MOp3AiqPm/s1600/Ethiopia+March+2011+127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Xd6QcDxT7IkuqOP_q1LzeKY47BAASRGC1lnZDioktnTtVSoDbJXEQhyphenhyphenIffm2SZUvpcqHFas9KDlDBNWcw4295j_Bo4vDtVg57TBHqFV_jHRrYA4kdyTu3ykGRJYTDD3001_MOp3AiqPm/s400/Ethiopia+March+2011+127.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The land cost for the trip is $1300 and includes airport pick-up in Addis, lodging (single occupancy, discount for sharing), transportation and some meals in Addis as well as a donation to Adoption Advocates International’s humanitarian projects in the country. Flight costs will depend on the participant’s home city but are currently ranging between $1400-1700 round trip from most parts of the country. Participants will have the option of joining either of the group leaders on their flights or of arranging one independently. Depending on the interests of the group, excursions outside of Addis can be arranged and the travel agent we are working with can also help organize add-on tours to other parts of Ethiopia. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8lISdBhX8Cy5cLy6dVjUzToYD9BtMPZkL5CB-ox61nhtO-XCFhIWmtjDM14PBBDdhviU4wweoOF2H1wzmlB8LV68KSQCLOxVU7Hwcog8Jkt1exq9J9tm4WTF3_Et4dJPsz6NYfRwx5DA/s1600/anoushka+and+deborah.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8lISdBhX8Cy5cLy6dVjUzToYD9BtMPZkL5CB-ox61nhtO-XCFhIWmtjDM14PBBDdhviU4wweoOF2H1wzmlB8LV68KSQCLOxVU7Hwcog8Jkt1exq9J9tm4WTF3_Et4dJPsz6NYfRwx5DA/s400/anoushka+and+deborah.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">All participants will be expected to get a criminal background check prior to the trip or submit one received in the last two years. They will also be asked to carry supplies for AAI’s partner orphanages and other nonprofits as well as to make a commitment to do some fundraising prior to or after the trip. A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required by January 15, 2012 to secure a spot on the trip and participants are also required to have health insurance and to purchase a travel insurance plan (generally very inexpensive). Please contact<a href="mailto:spdfish@nycap.rr.com"> Susan Poisson-Dollar</a> for more details or to reserve your spot on the trip. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">There will also be opportunities to tutor children, teach English, work at our facility for developmentally-delayed children (Opportunity House), and to experience Ethiopian traditions by visiting typical families. We may be asked to paint rooms and do other similar projects at partner orphanages. Excursions will include trips to shop for fairly-traded handicrafts, visits to other nonprofit projects serving orphans and vulnerable children and a dinner at a cultural restaurant featuring traditional dance and food. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigB9oCNHglyRvsPBGwithiaXyfyLXgcVVt2cViKef9dO0waGcRznNezkAHgg1sXFmePn6pZ1ONCIIWj6rgGxvWNQUwuGVmJvQderb8TWqif-mEOfAF4WjB1Yy0SYDQlW94yVKtiXwkzfL3/s1600/trip+chaperone+Sabrina.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigB9oCNHglyRvsPBGwithiaXyfyLXgcVVt2cViKef9dO0waGcRznNezkAHgg1sXFmePn6pZ1ONCIIWj6rgGxvWNQUwuGVmJvQderb8TWqif-mEOfAF4WjB1Yy0SYDQlW94yVKtiXwkzfL3/s400/trip+chaperone+Sabrina.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div> Susan PDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08294399087396258496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904162830959391470.post-24340704076968649782011-10-12T11:33:00.000-07:002011-10-12T11:33:39.222-07:00Temesgen and MOWA official visit Port Townsend, WALast week, AAI lawyer Temesgen and a MOWA official visited Port Townsend, WA and had dinner with a number of AAI families. Chris Little, AAI Board President and adoptive parent of many, sent these pictures in and reported that everyone had a great time. In addition to joining local AAI families for dinner, Temesgen and the MOWA official also visited a school, several private homes and the Port Townsend courthouse where many adoptions are finalized. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Susan PDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08294399087396258496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904162830959391470.post-49685567121965974642011-10-04T06:37:00.000-07:002011-10-04T06:37:41.486-07:00The bidding is on!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMBu6CmuROdVgUxCBKdpAsuqeFXu_7MNVfoSwxVlEFSsq0RYVaY2KsNOZJHcUCjpNAXVwpKtlZyBlmKZQ2cgOaEsqZr86WAHj4gfOV1K43RuNSsBNVgAcUBmnqDHzyGotV4EtSGuU4wixx/s1600/wildpoppyshoppe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMBu6CmuROdVgUxCBKdpAsuqeFXu_7MNVfoSwxVlEFSsq0RYVaY2KsNOZJHcUCjpNAXVwpKtlZyBlmKZQ2cgOaEsqZr86WAHj4gfOV1K43RuNSsBNVgAcUBmnqDHzyGotV4EtSGuU4wixx/s320/wildpoppyshoppe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">2011 AAI Holiday Project Auction</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">Open for Bidding!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Head right over to <i style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><b><a href="http://aaiholidayproject.blogspot.com/" style="color: red;">this link</a></b></i> to get a look at 100 beautiful gift items that benefit AAI's ongoing humanitarian efforts in Ethiopia and Ghana. Jewelry, artwork, clothing and household items and vacation opportunities await you there. Get your holiday shopping done extra early this year and your gift recipients will also appreciate that your purchase did "double duty" and helped an orphaned or vulnerable child in one of our programs. The items were all donated by friends and supporters of AAI, many of whom are adoptive parents. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4IMo8FPTUx_21DLi_GKYdDNB673gz1aLPlM-bKyfXXx3fKVcUb-KycC8ijF_d8cSOFQFgfsaJlgE1zS2-ZnONFXAQosNFHmSnuXhr6_MIXXvrewUOjoxAstUwH8QQQx_46QmdMu4U9zu/s1600/IMG_6871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4IMo8FPTUx_21DLi_GKYdDNB673gz1aLPlM-bKyfXXx3fKVcUb-KycC8ijF_d8cSOFQFgfsaJlgE1zS2-ZnONFXAQosNFHmSnuXhr6_MIXXvrewUOjoxAstUwH8QQQx_46QmdMu4U9zu/s320/IMG_6871.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span> </span></div> Susan PDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08294399087396258496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904162830959391470.post-42955076936683547092011-09-22T08:08:00.000-07:002011-09-22T09:10:41.370-07:00Holiday Project Auction Starts October 1!<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Check out all the great Holiday Gift Ideas!</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBj53J1USDn7A6I0zCjvqHbz4ufbaE8g0qIdU3D9T5dZFl5x1bG_V6_WmhjuVraQLMlt1hNDczSx-OjnMDBNz8t8GtohO5Er3WUI83VCKz-f3FrGLAHWD0low-awGFYuC3fQ-JQzHToI8/s1600/cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBj53J1USDn7A6I0zCjvqHbz4ufbaE8g0qIdU3D9T5dZFl5x1bG_V6_WmhjuVraQLMlt1hNDczSx-OjnMDBNz8t8GtohO5Er3WUI83VCKz-f3FrGLAHWD0low-awGFYuC3fQ-JQzHToI8/s320/cookies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wouldn't you like to get your holiday shopping done early this year and benefit a good cause too?! </span><span style="font-size: large;">The <span style="color: red;">2011 AAI Holiday Project</span> kicks off this year with a silent auction of over 80 beautiful items. The online auction starts October 1 but you can start previewing the items now at<span style="background-color: white; color: blue;"> </span><i style="background-color: #cfe2f3; color: blue;"><b><a href="http://aaiholidayproject.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-09-20T21%3A36%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=20">this link !</a></b></i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">As the saying goes --"Bid early and bid often." All proceeds from the auction benefit AAI's Humanitarian Projects. Read more about them at <a href="http://www.adoptionadvocates.org/">our website</a> under "Humanitarian" and elsewhere here on the AAI blog. </span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6L1TD0sfBHB0M2vtZjtYTb22ZxgTkFVO8B37pTfdz3sWvY0xf5BM6JNsq8y1_IbYaEW7QB7ANsWFDfdSrpUMc7UKZoHE85ggOjd5BOikjG2A458ra1yJilKGSR_bEOF7k2fJxGYmqiU3-/s1600/IMG_6739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6L1TD0sfBHB0M2vtZjtYTb22ZxgTkFVO8B37pTfdz3sWvY0xf5BM6JNsq8y1_IbYaEW7QB7ANsWFDfdSrpUMc7UKZoHE85ggOjd5BOikjG2A458ra1yJilKGSR_bEOF7k2fJxGYmqiU3-/s320/IMG_6739.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>Thanks for shopping!</i> We will still be having our annual Holiday Project Fund Drive after the auction and offering you the opportunity to have a special holiday card sent to someone special who will love knowing that your gift benefited an orphaned or vulnerable child in one of our programs. Great gift idea for the many people on your list who already "have everything." </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Read the latest AAI newsletter<a href="http://app.e2ma.net/app2/campaigns/archived/1405117/e0e9f8fbc9d3c6e3719cd3c002879cc2/"> here!</a> </span></span></span><br />
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</div> Susan PDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08294399087396258496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904162830959391470.post-91478595209212548122011-09-21T05:49:00.000-07:002011-09-22T07:00:17.965-07:00Password-Protected Waiting Child Page on AAI Website<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1s9l3T4A_PuYKI_mtTbMrGoQAp_jSJHSfkrtPoP4NNHdstz6fJgW_wA2NjLHk77RIQpy0I6C0o-WForGbjRdKQOofJL1fmCVYNgVfYzm1aGaiGBC8IOOYsk3DBUWws1cSxtIGpQ7y0LSL/s1600/Girl+in+Window++EDH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1s9l3T4A_PuYKI_mtTbMrGoQAp_jSJHSfkrtPoP4NNHdstz6fJgW_wA2NjLHk77RIQpy0I6C0o-WForGbjRdKQOofJL1fmCVYNgVfYzm1aGaiGBC8IOOYsk3DBUWws1cSxtIGpQ7y0LSL/s320/Girl+in+Window++EDH.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Help spread the word!</i> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">We just added a </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">new feature to the AAI website -- a <a href="http://adoptionadvocates.org/about/about_password_protected.php">password protected page</a> with photos and information about <i><b>waiting children</b></i> in all of our international adoption programs. The first page features a healthy 11 year old boy from Burkina Faso, a pair of young brothers from Ghana, and a little girl in our Republic of Georgia program among others. We plan to put up new pages every few weeks so once you obtain your password, please keep checking---maybe you will find </span><b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">your</b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> child there one day! <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1044646804" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </a></span><a href="mailto:Johanna@adoptionadvocates.org" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Contact Johanna</a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> in the AAI office to find out how to obtain the password. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Feel free to post this link to any adoption groups you are involved in, your blog, your Facebook page etc. Many of the children we will feature have special needs and we want to find families willing to help them develop to their full potential. <br />
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*** NOTE: We have just learned that some browsers and computers are experiencing difficulties with accessing the page. If you can't, please email Johanna above (click on the link) and she can send you the information directly. Thanks--we're getting lots of interest already!! </div> Susan PDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08294399087396258496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904162830959391470.post-14553477145269434062011-09-19T07:47:00.000-07:002011-09-19T09:09:33.046-07:00Help Us Expand Opportunity House!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6s7OXzZgLfcTkpPJy1un8URh1qcp2hx4oMXUlk9otfoEZD2Xgk862wLQLnPmUEsx34RZuQIAjYyFMblln4tXeyK5xSsZhCmV4bodDpmHRiUp8h14ROxT2jZGDGB1FTTD7r37WNS9xeUft/s1600/deborah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6s7OXzZgLfcTkpPJy1un8URh1qcp2hx4oMXUlk9otfoEZD2Xgk862wLQLnPmUEsx34RZuQIAjYyFMblln4tXeyK5xSsZhCmV4bodDpmHRiUp8h14ROxT2jZGDGB1FTTD7r37WNS9xeUft/s320/deborah.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">AAI's <b>Opportunity House Projec</b>t in Ethiopia currently provides loving care and individualized therapy and training for thirty children with serious disabilities. Twenty of the children reside on the Layla House compound and another dozen live at Kibeb Tsehaye, a partner orphanage cooperating in the project. Our agreement with the Ethiopian government involves expanding OH's services to include fifty or more children over the coming months. To achieve this, we need <a href="https://npo.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=2269&uniqueID=634520204643979667">YOUR help</a>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJEx6LaKZo5n95zMukh_6SlXyhdwmk_9wsn_cQYh-VVU02ZhsaJQ-CMOeynTQ_X8tmhP-pwVqIJOwWoj_UX8SP8fuGs-1VvMH4dRqHfpKh_cMwyWc_vjCCNyvd6WHSPGRHmJSmoXjy5_J/s1600/DSC01999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJEx6LaKZo5n95zMukh_6SlXyhdwmk_9wsn_cQYh-VVU02ZhsaJQ-CMOeynTQ_X8tmhP-pwVqIJOwWoj_UX8SP8fuGs-1VvMH4dRqHfpKh_cMwyWc_vjCCNyvd6WHSPGRHmJSmoXjy5_J/s320/DSC01999.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There are two easy ways to contribute to Opportunity House and know that you have helped to make a child's life infinitely better. Please consider</span><a href="https://npo.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=2269&uniqueID=634520204643979667" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> sponsoring an OH child</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> with a recurring donation of $35 a month or more. In return, you will receive a photo and child report on a specific child at least twice a year. We also need one-time donations for the purchase of needed equipment (as seen in these photos), the salaries of trained professionals and to pay for the staff training sessions we are doing for the children's caregivers. If you would like to know more about specific OH needs and how you can "sponsor" a physical therapist or staff training workshop, please contact</span><a href="mailto:merrily@adoptionadvocates.org" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Merrily Ripley</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thanks to AAI parent Mike Erickson and volunteer Sophie Brill for these nice photos of children benefiting from Opportunity House services.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Recently an AAI adoptive mom shared with our listserve community that her son Phile was chosen as a Community Hero this summer. Phile has multiple special needs and spent time at our Opportunity House program. Her story and some pictures are below. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">************************************** </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnH4pxz3Qq3md3SI-X0Ts7KnflRq1AkNxKMVwgUYlu1BPQLWhIRanRv9e50ZaxUOTjsCUcdXh93mXASaonM9Si6N8h8WdoC2oLrRjWGL6j9fKz5FmsXI2znmbvZdNvLcYJciG_ccWGTxb9/s1600/Screen_shot_2011-08-12_at_10.38.36_AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnH4pxz3Qq3md3SI-X0Ts7KnflRq1AkNxKMVwgUYlu1BPQLWhIRanRv9e50ZaxUOTjsCUcdXh93mXASaonM9Si6N8h8WdoC2oLrRjWGL6j9fKz5FmsXI2znmbvZdNvLcYJciG_ccWGTxb9/s400/Screen_shot_2011-08-12_at_10.38.36_AM.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Our son, Phile, came home exactly two years ago. He spent about a year at Layla House but most of his time was at Opportunity House. Phile is seven years old and has been diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy, autism, severe developmental delays and a seizure disorder called Lennox Gastaut Syndrome. As my mom once described, our family went through a pretty big "storm" that lasted well over a year after Phile came home. We spent a lot of time in and out of hospitals, doctors, offices, therapies, counseling, schools, etc. trying to find help for our son and our families "new normal."</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">We live in a small town of about 20,000 people in Utah. Each summer, our community has a week long celebration including a parade, carnival, rodeo, concert and a variety of other activities. As a part of the celebration, a community hero is selected based on nominations. To kick off the celebration, the "Hero" is announced. Phile was secretly nominated by a neighbor and was chosen by the city as the Hero. The city got in contact with members of my family to get more information about Phile and our family. We had no idea any of this was going on!</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">One afternoon my sister told us she had a surprise for our family and that we needed to go for a short drive to get to it. So we all got in the car and followed her a little over a mile from our house to a new park the city was building. When we pulled up, over a hundred people were there cheering and chanting Phile's name. There were family, friends, teachers, nurses - all people whose lives have been affected and hearts touched by their interaction with our son. It was incredible and we were completely shocked and overwhelmed! It turns out that the park the city was building is unique in that it is a handicapped accessible, special-needs park...and it was named after our son. There is a plaque on display with a picture of our son and his story which was written by my mom. The mayor was at the "reveal" and honored our son and our family. Our family was invited to ride in the parade and to be special guests at the Clint Black concert that weekend. It was also announced that all the proceeds from the city's celebration would be used to fund a rec program for the 200+ special needs children in our area. We were speechless! The park is nearly complete and we have asked to the city if we can add a handprint mural so Phile's park can honor all the special needs children in our city.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfXemdZzb6XvAFFXz1XcXVhjIEwyftYjFqmZeuEWGimFG6_aG5jbjFR6GIHeNA2ZcUrCErV1fRCq3n2CuL0h4ziHN-nKFK-kVQ4hKPrWxwj1hJ1CX1KHLCIAqXfNDtOH_dxqLIbTYcsRd/s1600/Screen_shot_2011-08-12_at_10.40.48_AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfXemdZzb6XvAFFXz1XcXVhjIEwyftYjFqmZeuEWGimFG6_aG5jbjFR6GIHeNA2ZcUrCErV1fRCq3n2CuL0h4ziHN-nKFK-kVQ4hKPrWxwj1hJ1CX1KHLCIAqXfNDtOH_dxqLIbTYcsRd/s400/Screen_shot_2011-08-12_at_10.40.48_AM.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Where Phile lacks in "ability" he more than makes up for in heart. He has truly taught us the meaning of unconditional love. There are days where I find myself in a bad mood or feeling upset for one reason or another. Then I see my son who, in my mind, has every reason to be frustrated at life but is so happy and just smiles, laughs and finds joy in the simplest things. I am so grateful for his example, for my neighbor, the community that I am a part of, and my family who take the time to find the rainbows in the storms of life.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">-Becky A.</span> <div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">wife to a fabulous man and mom 4 beautiful bio girls and 2 amazing boys we were blessed to find</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1z0pZf8e3e9Rl5r8PhHYC5_Q5wbWt56JOhNxHE761TD_IkC-mqiUludr_NSIVf2_YIgbmmsSzJ8lL0KqC5OqPRyMtih45gLvVl99FMfNqk3i0qJgHJacVareExmVt2aodD2xong1BsLXj/s1600/Pony_Express_Days_Clint_Black_058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1z0pZf8e3e9Rl5r8PhHYC5_Q5wbWt56JOhNxHE761TD_IkC-mqiUludr_NSIVf2_YIgbmmsSzJ8lL0KqC5OqPRyMtih45gLvVl99FMfNqk3i0qJgHJacVareExmVt2aodD2xong1BsLXj/s400/Pony_Express_Days_Clint_Black_058.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">> </span></div> Susan PDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08294399087396258496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904162830959391470.post-17900745091446845552011-08-25T07:23:00.000-07:002011-08-26T09:31:56.857-07:00AAI Thailand Program -- Recent staff visit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUdBjPpOlyMKaPiu1K2UTS28G8PwHefJ-72y6kD5GtcHvriTzBC3KBhkyIKiX7JJ4lK41jwwt2nQacTMDRX4g9MKA_O23Qr1J13T29MXfOSNxiJPOHaXKMXfXt9ZmrudsjMDURLv315JQ/s1600/DSC_0214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUdBjPpOlyMKaPiu1K2UTS28G8PwHefJ-72y6kD5GtcHvriTzBC3KBhkyIKiX7JJ4lK41jwwt2nQacTMDRX4g9MKA_O23Qr1J13T29MXfOSNxiJPOHaXKMXfXt9ZmrudsjMDURLv315JQ/s320/DSC_0214.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">AAI Thailand/China Coordinator<a href="mailto:ky@adoptionadvocates.org"> Ky Bower</a> recently visited Thailand to visit orphanages and attend events for adoptees from that country. You can read more about our Thai adoption program at <a href="http://www.adoptionadvocates.org/thailand/thailand_process.php">this link</a>. Here is a report from Ky's trip to this beautiful country. </div><div class="MsoNormal">*********************************************</div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9EmA5srjrdKJ0l5OBMqw3HE_Eq93jEwuPv-RlK7QZreb5jcJ8nH7eRscnY-V71O26-CJ2xnvrZzn7CcMqhhgGfpJx0ClKR8qtfudAj0uTRM46EMnrfSSY-OwMI4cl41rgS4FJUjpHtqS/s1600/IMG_0107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9EmA5srjrdKJ0l5OBMqw3HE_Eq93jEwuPv-RlK7QZreb5jcJ8nH7eRscnY-V71O26-CJ2xnvrZzn7CcMqhhgGfpJx0ClKR8qtfudAj0uTRM46EMnrfSSY-OwMI4cl41rgS4FJUjpHtqS/s320/IMG_0107.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ky and Mrs. Anchalee at Pakkred Baby Home</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am back from my trip to Thailand and had a wonderful experience as part of the <i><b>Nativeland</b></i> visit program. AAI was the only agency from the US that was represented and I was very grateful for the opportunity. I highly encourage Thai adoptive families to participate in this program in the future. It is a wonderful experience for the children to return to the children’s homes, see their caregivers again, and really get to experience the culture and traditions of their birth country. The tour really focuses on the children and the love that their birth country has for them. No matter where their new lives and families have taken them, the tour organizers believe it all started in Thailand and they try very hard to help the children realize how loved they are by their country. The Nativeland visit takes place about every 2-3 years and we will send out information about the next one when it is made available.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBdJpHxXyIBcKJsWMUQD-e8Wg6Z9Wq_WThw-Dle4ggWMlb06cMMVM2g47KxXkR7O55WpsaUE56MsubbNAa-8UA2i04CEHxNXJTd9NcgVnWZyNlWREtLGp3xZaZ77Jx08EJyASSluqFY5Z/s1600/IMG_0189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBdJpHxXyIBcKJsWMUQD-e8Wg6Z9Wq_WThw-Dle4ggWMlb06cMMVM2g47KxXkR7O55WpsaUE56MsubbNAa-8UA2i04CEHxNXJTd9NcgVnWZyNlWREtLGp3xZaZ77Jx08EJyASSluqFY5Z/s320/IMG_0189.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Child Adoption Center</td></tr>
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</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was able to meet with our Social Worker Ms. Anchalee for a meeting prior to one of the activities. She informed me there are special needs files ready for our agency and that we should expect to receive those within the next few weeks. It is my understanding that these are completed files of special needs children- medical, child history, photos, and possibly video as well. AAI will review these files and match them with families who have completed dossiers. Depending on the number of files we receive, we will then advocate for the rest of the waiting children who in need of families. I will update the list of waiting children and notify families in the program once the information has received and processed. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTE20ULsiqGMRA4MCYIi8wwyNQXDHHRn8g3Ys-Dt5XQG64oZu7F4IQ-CUgGSIPEzJL7sMwuXX7DxfZwTmI595yCvYPUS5byR7s3UHloqVubLpQF9UxD6F9DCh-ZfqnfUDuo4_J28CeZ9Pk/s1600/IMG_0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTE20ULsiqGMRA4MCYIi8wwyNQXDHHRn8g3Ys-Dt5XQG64oZu7F4IQ-CUgGSIPEzJL7sMwuXX7DxfZwTmI595yCvYPUS5byR7s3UHloqVubLpQF9UxD6F9DCh-ZfqnfUDuo4_J28CeZ9Pk/s320/IMG_0087.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome music and dancing at one of the children's homes</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We will also be notified later this year if the Thai healthy child program will re-open. We hope to know this fall if AAI will be able to submit applications for healthy children for the 2012 year. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFotF0YxRyraWELZU_HcchvEMK_P64pdTEVtV0I75DN0pjEAacwYF8q-2_mAC1uOIyx4L1YGUWYVIJB7w6iWXYTKUFyA351IHQyObxZAzJYFtcZ8C0j7M8VpHejQ0kceCqA0273VwppHMu/s1600/IMG_0101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFotF0YxRyraWELZU_HcchvEMK_P64pdTEVtV0I75DN0pjEAacwYF8q-2_mAC1uOIyx4L1YGUWYVIJB7w6iWXYTKUFyA351IHQyObxZAzJYFtcZ8C0j7M8VpHejQ0kceCqA0273VwppHMu/s320/IMG_0101.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the children's homes that Ky visited</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was able to visit the Child Adoption Center as well as the US Embassy and to get familiar with the offices and the processes there. It was very clear how busy the Child Adoption Center is with the workload each social worker has because they work with many adopting countries and many different children’s homes. After meeting with several different social workers I can tell you their hearts are in the right place and they too want to see these children home with their adoptive families. The biggest news to report about my meeting with the US Embassy is how valuable Ms. Oh is in that process. She has a wonderful working relationship with the staff members there and will see to it that families complete the process as quickly as possible. The lines at the embassy of people applying for visas can be very long can be long of people and adoptive families take priority. Families are told to go to the front of the line and notify the officer that they are there for adoption. I was happy about that because they day I was there the lines were very LONG. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSdY5aceNqBVAIKHIBMhQqsca9WfkCraVgGM4U1_BE-Ej77eTHDcJdlyyeFf0pTEgU2Zz-5OUQ839k4W9R5aJCQToiCQixLczKfaBCMQZ5vMmb3YyKn2nO-zNpkoJUT-9jIwzZU8BBAqU/s1600/IMG_0227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSdY5aceNqBVAIKHIBMhQqsca9WfkCraVgGM4U1_BE-Ej77eTHDcJdlyyeFf0pTEgU2Zz-5OUQ839k4W9R5aJCQToiCQixLczKfaBCMQZ5vMmb3YyKn2nO-zNpkoJUT-9jIwzZU8BBAqU/s320/IMG_0227.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">l-r, Mrs. Oh, Janelle and Ky </td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The highlight of my trip is my visit to one of the children’s homes. The director of the home was very welcoming and a lot of preparation took place for our arrival. Seeing how excited the caregivers were to see “their” children again brought tears to my eyes and gives me goose bumps as I write this. It is very clear that these kids are loved and well cared for. The love the children returning to the home have for their nannies was obvious and they couldn’t wait to be in their arms again. It was a special reunion that I am honored to have witnessed. This home in particular had several sections to it; a room for the babies under a year old, a room for the toddlers and then a room for the older children up to age 6. Playrooms and reading rooms were also included in each section. The home was beautifully maintained and the feeling that I had while touring it was a positive one. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Often when we think of children being in orphanages we think negatively of the conditions but I can tell you that this particular home was gorgeous and very child-friendly---with beautiful bright colors, lovely landscaping and an abundance of toys and play equipment. From what Janelle, AAI’s former Thai coordinator and my traveling companion on this trip, tells me, this is the general condition of most of the homes she has visited in the past within Thailand .</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPHpE808Pb8o2p2JkatyjhJex1ZF6nwBvT1MQCpxBaUY6OsZFWBzv-XcKE4N70TlBrBhUHLpuAomK-9QnKw5kFRNCsc1JVPnZe6MIx6piG1ZjAa7ZJt_Td4OQ_-bYXWx7Lj8nYYRUg5K8/s1600/IMG_0132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPHpE808Pb8o2p2JkatyjhJex1ZF6nwBvT1MQCpxBaUY6OsZFWBzv-XcKE4N70TlBrBhUHLpuAomK-9QnKw5kFRNCsc1JVPnZe6MIx6piG1ZjAa7ZJt_Td4OQ_-bYXWx7Lj8nYYRUg5K8/s320/IMG_0132.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ky and social workers </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Overall, it was a very successful trip and I feel optimistic about future Thai adoptions. During the visit the social workers at the Child Adoption Center hosted a dinner for the representatives of the agencies that attended. This was another highlight of my trip as it was comforting to speak to other agencies about their experiences with Thai adoptions. It was a wonderful time to connect personally with the Child Adoption Center workers as well as to make new friends with agencies from around the world.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div> Susan PDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08294399087396258496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904162830959391470.post-43728000019146459532011-08-11T10:36:00.000-07:002011-08-12T11:40:23.359-07:00Another AAI family storyRecently we received the following story and pictures from an AAI family, the Bossleys of Ohio, that adopted two special needs children years ago from our Taiwan program. It is so inspiring to read success stories like this and we thought we just had to share it more widely.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTuG9uDFxl2cphH0HoeD2yQAKIKpQ97d1NqhX3clbA3pXIMCwuk8QYthpCR2tQbwitRq_-Sdi_sSQa6EDQfzK-XkTTjC8HaaQJvqU_cFyAfi3L_egxKbiSi1ERZ_LdguUZDs9_AOa3lfvA/s1600/Peter+and+Benjamin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTuG9uDFxl2cphH0HoeD2yQAKIKpQ97d1NqhX3clbA3pXIMCwuk8QYthpCR2tQbwitRq_-Sdi_sSQa6EDQfzK-XkTTjC8HaaQJvqU_cFyAfi3L_egxKbiSi1ERZ_LdguUZDs9_AOa3lfvA/s320/Peter+and+Benjamin.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Peter and Ben</b></td></tr>
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<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When our oldest son went away to college, it left an empty spot in our lives - both physically and emotionally. I had always wanted another child or more. We had 3 biological children and one adopted daughter with some severe emotional issues. We were stressed almost beyond our limits with her. I think emotional issues are tough ones and dealing with them takes a lot of real time, wisdom, and love.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I wanted another child as we had been married young and still had child rearing time but my wife had gone through a tubal ligation at the time of our third child. To compound the issue, we were not wealthy - not at all. When we decided to adopt, I went through 12 agencies that turned us down until I finally got a photo and information about a 2 year old boy from Taiwan who had been blind from birth but was as cute as a button and seemed to be a normal bright boy. I had friends who were blind so I did not have a problem getting past the lack of vision. I had a vision for that child and so did Sister Rosa from the orphanage.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The greatest problem I had was getting my wife's signature on the papers. She was not sure about adding another child because of what we were going through. I never believed it possible but six months later we were at the airport waiting for our newest son. Peter was soon enrolled in a preschool for blind children. Three days a week I also took Peter to the Cleveland Sight Center and waited with other parents - all mothers of blind children. As I watched Peter at normal tasks and at play, it was clear to me after a year that he would have a much easier time if he had a sighted sibling.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I wrote to Adoption Advocates again - just to drop a hint that we would be interested in adopting again. I did not think that anyone would allow a second adoption but again Sister Rosa surprised us and responded that she had "just the right child for us." This was a child whose photo would bring a shocked look to anyone I shared it with because the little 17 month old boy had a huge " hemangioma" on his entire lower left jaw. These blood tumors are red because they are filled with blood and this one was fully the size of the rest of the toddler's face. This child had been hospitalized (mostly kept on his back) for his entire young life. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9TUSFKNG9OFVxQ-71-OUVguXxuf-QDZroJov4FdQqoK-xEgV-YrtlKW3rum8epDhv0qGKBW_UgKI20otF_wmAcUymuWttZLHKS5cFxZfqCCfm5UW1VnvbynEJ16ljlRPUjJOvaClAxa8B/s1600/Benjamin+with+tumor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9TUSFKNG9OFVxQ-71-OUVguXxuf-QDZroJov4FdQqoK-xEgV-YrtlKW3rum8epDhv0qGKBW_UgKI20otF_wmAcUymuWttZLHKS5cFxZfqCCfm5UW1VnvbynEJ16ljlRPUjJOvaClAxa8B/s320/Benjamin+with+tumor.jpg" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ben before surgery</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I wanted to be certain that the rest of my children could deal with the comments and interactions of others when seeing him for the first time, so I had the children each take the photo to school to show it to their friends and to deal with the comments. The family members each handled the comments and questions and I tried to learn about the remainder of his medical conditions. We had heard that one family had turned him down. We decided to accept him but my hesitation was that there was no real indication of his mental ability. I could handle most handicaps but I was uncertain about how I could do with a child with limited mental growth. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Benjamin, as we named him, would take only formula through a bottle and was only 12 pounds at 17 months old . His legs were especially shocking as they were still as he had been as a newborn. Both Peter, and Benjamin came into this world weighing less than 2 pounds each. The percentage of babies who survive at this low birth weight at the time was 10% The Early Childhood Intervention program in our area was just beginning to get underway and I was one of two parent representatives for our county's program.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I began Benjamin in the program for children under 3 years for 2 days a week and then the other 3 days a week, I took both of the boys fifty miles into Cleveland for Peter to go to the class at the school for the blind. For some of the time, while Peter was in class at the children for the blind, I took Ben over a few blocks to a speech specialist as he was almost 4 years old and still did not speak.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Over the next two years, surgeons worked in nearly 30 surgeries to remove the tumor on his face. He had 4 other surgeries to correct other problems. Both boys went to the local elementary school. I remember in 1994 when I took Peter to enroll him in kindergarten</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">the principal of the school looked at me and said "There is a place for kids like him" (referring to the schools for the blind). I said "I know - this is one right here" ---affirming my decision to have Peter mainstreamed. This law was 20 years old and yet I still had to battle fervently to have things done in a practical way for him to learn. "Braille and Speak" notepads were coming out and Peter got his first one in the fourth grade. He really took off academically then and even learned to fix it himself so we didn’t have to send it away when it need servicing because that took many weeks. During their school years Peter and Benjamin were involved in wrestling for at least one year and Peter also participated in Model UN.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDWacgttJnzgQ_NyUnKpWyVcI9Yjua5J35PxA5JTma-2ErLPUHX2sPb-bLuB5yKvg6doKgKqXLReImvQ6ZGaanikE-GZxa26O1M1W8m4UGSMwxMrHDmjDkh1M72mqyg8He86eMZxwn4Kf/s1600/Peter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDWacgttJnzgQ_NyUnKpWyVcI9Yjua5J35PxA5JTma-2ErLPUHX2sPb-bLuB5yKvg6doKgKqXLReImvQ6ZGaanikE-GZxa26O1M1W8m4UGSMwxMrHDmjDkh1M72mqyg8He86eMZxwn4Kf/s320/Peter.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Peter</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Peter was able to take university classes in his last year of high school and began studying on the Ohio State University campus to be an Information technologist for the Office of Research. Benjamin graduated with honors from high school and followed a couple of years behind Peter also at Ohio State University. Ben received a bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing and then went on to graduate school at Kent State University. He is now licensed as a teacher in Early Childhood Intervention and specialized in three to five year old children.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheO7JgLq_bzPk0Ox9KjcWTYjX5BWB2GgMRVx38xmz2iolHm5B-kChsE6Ub8hlVmItXjUZ2Inx-IuUBOAMNsQpwPQIgnHuTh47AMBGTtVe2yXnIPSpbpD-P4jHxbDfv4-92hPqGANdNYvue/s1600/Benjamin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheO7JgLq_bzPk0Ox9KjcWTYjX5BWB2GgMRVx38xmz2iolHm5B-kChsE6Ub8hlVmItXjUZ2Inx-IuUBOAMNsQpwPQIgnHuTh47AMBGTtVe2yXnIPSpbpD-P4jHxbDfv4-92hPqGANdNYvue/s320/Benjamin.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ben</b></td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Having Benjamin go from a class of children in an early intervention program to directing a class of the same made me think of the days I was waiting for him to finish the class and reading the books on degrees of mental retardation - and wondering what I had gotten myself into. Both boys live independently in their own condo and put themselves through school. My motto is now “<b><i>Teach a child to fish and you will be envious of his trophy catch."</i></b></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div> Susan PDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08294399087396258496noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904162830959391470.post-16170578173082907832011-07-26T17:37:00.000-07:002011-07-26T17:37:10.212-07:00July 2011 Families for Children newsletter<a href="http://app.e2ma.net/app2/campaigns/archived/1405117/152e24838c0bf66b68b83162dc1f96e2/">Click here to read! </a> Susan PDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08294399087396258496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904162830959391470.post-90953096836794642532011-07-26T14:28:00.000-07:002011-07-26T14:28:31.036-07:00Report from AAI-Ghana<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_82fOCUGAtspKQKWsBVN0BvrTikYmJq1I00DN4AcYBm-RCEuZuu3Z0pG-ZEVVr_6khp9nZvHYfSu2Ab81KoMRpPfXiuArIGJXjFl4GOD5T1xlpQMAzGU02zs-jiPjdWE9sqxo9cgxB1e/s1600/DSCN8957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_82fOCUGAtspKQKWsBVN0BvrTikYmJq1I00DN4AcYBm-RCEuZuu3Z0pG-ZEVVr_6khp9nZvHYfSu2Ab81KoMRpPfXiuArIGJXjFl4GOD5T1xlpQMAzGU02zs-jiPjdWE9sqxo9cgxB1e/s320/DSCN8957.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Our Ghana Coordinator, Anita Gillispie, traveled to Ghana for two weeks in June. It was a very busy trip, with visits to around 15 orphanages and non-profits in 5 regions of Ghana and Togo. In this part of the world in-person relationships are of the utmost importance. Culturally, some things must be communicated in person rather than by email or phone.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRyXd2IFVSnMOdMJHSxJTcI_GrPJ2h_l-BDYG6fiDMyabIlMf22FvDjRYFFcUhzYhie4TOU_EzUTBTCf7omNfp_l1uUDK_8yt1_LNl8DQkx2NvRmu44ntm0l8zcagWKah36sb9egT0CToR/s1600/DSCN9046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRyXd2IFVSnMOdMJHSxJTcI_GrPJ2h_l-BDYG6fiDMyabIlMf22FvDjRYFFcUhzYhie4TOU_EzUTBTCf7omNfp_l1uUDK_8yt1_LNl8DQkx2NvRmu44ntm0l8zcagWKah36sb9egT0CToR/s320/DSCN9046.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Thanks to generous donations by AAI families and friends, Anita was able to take over 300 pounds of donations, and give over $2500 in food and supplies to orphanages and non-profits in Ghana.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFu1bhLojcWoYNOZAMs3bMIBCuRDP_nPRbpVuKcATPST6vXn1CpTH5sV2cE6umNdvrqkGQgKOclKMoJLEF_YzXQlgscH8ybkBfWqWGkFM2wjiAPY5RwNd_1LIhYIZJpSXnC01etpnpuVS/s1600/DSCN9401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFu1bhLojcWoYNOZAMs3bMIBCuRDP_nPRbpVuKcATPST6vXn1CpTH5sV2cE6umNdvrqkGQgKOclKMoJLEF_YzXQlgscH8ybkBfWqWGkFM2wjiAPY5RwNd_1LIhYIZJpSXnC01etpnpuVS/s320/DSCN9401.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>AAI helped a group foster home receive 12 new mattresses for the children.</b></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Directors of the group foster home choose donated shoes and clothing for their children</b></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing"> </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Earlier this year families raised $5000 for the construction of a new dormitory at Nyame Dua Foster home. Anita was able to tour the dormitory that is now nearing the end of construction. When finished, the addition will have a new sitting area, 2 new bedrooms, a western-style restroom, and a storage area.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtTzOc762YWfqCq90LDO_BK3_4OmRwHI8g3s-tRy6I5BSZ11v99m8sDL-hm-bjAMelLyyivWEFqaLMv4-gxwfHJO3yI4VilWsOxYFhpnjFGNdNcAYQTqp46L-xToo7_IDxdT3iNzgDq3j/s1600/DSCN8942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtTzOc762YWfqCq90LDO_BK3_4OmRwHI8g3s-tRy6I5BSZ11v99m8sDL-hm-bjAMelLyyivWEFqaLMv4-gxwfHJO3yI4VilWsOxYFhpnjFGNdNcAYQTqp46L-xToo7_IDxdT3iNzgDq3j/s320/DSCN8942.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>construction of the Nyame Dua boys dorm</b></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnxjUMjtjF4JNTQVEaiF7ZMp0M3okX3Nd8P42Ff5fLP7sdFbban3FvgiS0v1q7KFrXqli5bIlaNR5W6s4-zH65M-6BIavNDG_a_njPknD6YfqcOHRLd3wzx0PixqSCB2OEPSmHuaW-C36/s1600/DSCN9022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnxjUMjtjF4JNTQVEaiF7ZMp0M3okX3Nd8P42Ff5fLP7sdFbban3FvgiS0v1q7KFrXqli5bIlaNR5W6s4-zH65M-6BIavNDG_a_njPknD6YfqcOHRLd3wzx0PixqSCB2OEPSmHuaW-C36/s320/DSCN9022.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>The current restroom facility at Nyame Dua--a new one is planned. </b></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Family Preservation is a significant part of our program in Ghana. Anita was able to observe these programs in action when she went along to deliver food to vulnerable families and to visit the sponsored children in school.</div><br />
The trip was very fruitful, in part, thanks to the private vehicle Anita was able to use during her time in Ghana. Unfortunately, The Ripley Foundation (our primary NGO sponsor in Ghana) is in dire need of vehicles to be able to effectively do their work in Ghana. Currently, they are borrowing one vehicle (to be returned in August) or using public taxis/buses. Please consider a donation to our <b><a href="https://npo.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=2269">Ghana Vehicle Fund</a></b> to help put this program back on the road. <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">The roads are sometimes almost impassable even for a 4X4 SUV, so you can imagine how difficult it is for TRF Humanitarian Director Muna Saeed to do her work hiring public taxis each day. Many times she can only take a taxi to a certain point before she is left to walk the last few miles on foot (often with donations in hand and her son on her back). This is, at best, an inefficient way to accomplish the work that must be done on behalf of orphans and vulnerable children. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCIfIhCV1RgVphuCMQoPu_AAP6TZLjIWx9azS_zqXYZaifZkifpRR73_7eLNCg5tapJupyeWzZXC0Lr9sKaqgMFhQmPvGoc81bIM6HQJQF26acqHr73A49_dMURmWA1E348dtvg8hsu-X/s1600/DSCN9796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCIfIhCV1RgVphuCMQoPu_AAP6TZLjIWx9azS_zqXYZaifZkifpRR73_7eLNCg5tapJupyeWzZXC0Lr9sKaqgMFhQmPvGoc81bIM6HQJQF26acqHr73A49_dMURmWA1E348dtvg8hsu-X/s320/DSCN9796.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b> </b></i><i><b>Muna, walking with a mom whose children are sponsored through AAI</b></i></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">Joha, TRF's Director of Development, often takes a public bus from Accra to Bolgatanga--a 17 hour ride--in order to work on adoption cases in the Upper East Region.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTg0BuQGK-LJwolk0lOLfQHhzL7U3OKmyO_FZbHUvhk_j-sc4Udyk3EPYx6gZftRApvnOZCkikZmce3wacxe_tjocpuix2smeRgF_3GPZj78MGnTBYuO0EEmSwobmvQuRRyH6vd2gMp2KD/s1600/DSCN2813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTg0BuQGK-LJwolk0lOLfQHhzL7U3OKmyO_FZbHUvhk_j-sc4Udyk3EPYx6gZftRApvnOZCkikZmce3wacxe_tjocpuix2smeRgF_3GPZj78MGnTBYuO0EEmSwobmvQuRRyH6vd2gMp2KD/s320/DSCN2813.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Joha (in brown shirt) settles in for the 17+ hour bus ride</b></i></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">Without access to a dependable SUV, Anita would have been unable to visit at least 5 of the orphanages she visited during the last trip. The SUV barely made it through the muddy road below.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVwj5HzSInkYlSiBwx0tiGvawE5dBKDJ9HMVGmWl_eUswhJd7GcN-jTVQXfU7XCBQZeJDRpwPKxbwKbXmF0aaxYTTmp3c2tXEresca-AVrgACIFCJMSSEo2TwB0K-XnVVQW3Dtn4bfTSm/s1600/DSCN9881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVwj5HzSInkYlSiBwx0tiGvawE5dBKDJ9HMVGmWl_eUswhJd7GcN-jTVQXfU7XCBQZeJDRpwPKxbwKbXmF0aaxYTTmp3c2tXEresca-AVrgACIFCJMSSEo2TwB0K-XnVVQW3Dtn4bfTSm/s320/DSCN9881.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">In the coming months we hope to assist The Ripley Foundation in purchasing two used vehicles--one for city travel and one for "rough" travel. The organization is doing its best to raise money within Ghana (including their own personal funds) to meet this need, but they ask that we come along side them. The fact is, at this point, AAI adoption and family preservation work is being inhibited by the transportation problems.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBdgDPbSGB6zI2D7rlVkEJuEx00DYXUTM9p2OPlCj0wKW_N9nzjn2UT40Z-J-HTwR06DV5jkH6KlDb96NP9chJqMoIQPzryE1K5UPpJSNUhr8A7DJv3_It0qdkVWhRtF-LU5NgTsOYcxl/s1600/DSCN9538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBdgDPbSGB6zI2D7rlVkEJuEx00DYXUTM9p2OPlCj0wKW_N9nzjn2UT40Z-J-HTwR06DV5jkH6KlDb96NP9chJqMoIQPzryE1K5UPpJSNUhr8A7DJv3_It0qdkVWhRtF-LU5NgTsOYcxl/s320/DSCN9538.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Thank you for your continued support in Ghana.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Anita Gillispie</div><div class="MsoNormal">Adoption Advocates International</div> Susan PDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08294399087396258496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904162830959391470.post-79077084582568565372011-07-19T13:41:00.000-07:002011-07-21T11:41:27.333-07:00Holiday Project Kicks off with an Online Gift Auction!--Items needed now. This year we are trying something new and different for our annual Holiday Project. Coordinator and volunteer extraordinaire Mandie Doak just sent this message to our country yahoo groups and I'm sharing it here for those who read the blog. And wow--look at some of the items she's already received--they would make great gifts!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Hi All! I know its hard to believe that I'm posting about the Holiday project and its only the middle of July... but I have to tell you, I've already been thinking about it for a month now, and today I saw aisles and aisles of Christmas decorations out at Hobby Lobby.... so apparently, I'm not the only one!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The reason I'm typing is because I am putting together a silent online auction </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(and possibly an event in Kansas at its end...) to raise money for this year's </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Holiday Project. The auction will take place the beginning of October, but I </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">wanted to get the word out early so that those of you who are crafty and quilt </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">or knit, or do some other great thing that requires a bit of time to put </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">together, could have time to do it! I'm asking for donations from all of our AAI </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Africa families , since this project will touch children and caregivers in </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ethiopia, Ghana and Uganda this year! </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBb53pa3w5jtElJu60zDOarshvXPvbfVLduw6897EK_tbZJpNdxbWVIwWAMxbaiVm_P8ZSMbId3pgpwYY-C7NhxF1rIpjEhIVcI76I9q_YUT4wCSyCNMGniHAwd9y3E9P0JmEqd_uLYhqM/s1600/IMG_6738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBb53pa3w5jtElJu60zDOarshvXPvbfVLduw6897EK_tbZJpNdxbWVIwWAMxbaiVm_P8ZSMbId3pgpwYY-C7NhxF1rIpjEhIVcI76I9q_YUT4wCSyCNMGniHAwd9y3E9P0JmEqd_uLYhqM/s320/IMG_6738.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My name is Mandie Doak, I'm an Ethiopia adoptive parent, volunteer with AAI, and I have </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">been organizing the Holiday project for the past 5 years.... I put the word out, beg for money, do the shopping, beg for more money, remind you all that we still have money to raise, and finally carry all the gifts to Ethiopia and oversee that portion of the project. You can visit </span><a href="http://aainews.blogspot.com/search/label/2010%20Holiday%20Projecgt" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">this link </a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">and see photos from last year's projects in both Ethiopia and Ghana. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm very excited to be including <a href="http://aainews.blogspot.com/2011/07/report-from-aai-uganda.html">AAI's new program in Uganda</a> in this year’s project, and I can't wait to see the photos of their celebrations! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Last year’s project brought in more than $20,000... Half of which went to AAI's </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">humanitarian aid projects. The remainder of the funds went to provide gifts for </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">all of the children in AAI's care, special Holiday party and foods, modest </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">bonuses for the caregivers, special treats for our sponsorship kids, and holiday </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">meals for several of AAI's partner orphanages. The project will touch more than </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">500 orphans and caregivers in all three countries. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-x0sunvlilPXHbU8pt06ByZBXodGkhU9DATHvd1CgbeBJ-SKInYxUL9SgGf7uhrr5_rcWF3Lcqx6xFYzCCCcBRQGLfF0g5rqE1uLweTnIyQlof_AaLa-ITpSziUy0NTELIPFdR7gPU_c/s1600/IMG_6758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-x0sunvlilPXHbU8pt06ByZBXodGkhU9DATHvd1CgbeBJ-SKInYxUL9SgGf7uhrr5_rcWF3Lcqx6xFYzCCCcBRQGLfF0g5rqE1uLweTnIyQlof_AaLa-ITpSziUy0NTELIPFdR7gPU_c/s320/IMG_6758.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Please help us to make this year’s project a HUGE success! If you are able to </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">donate an item or two, please <a href="mailto:socialbug69@hotmail.com">let me know </a>and I’ll send you my shipping address! If you are crafty and you know it...raise your hand! Calling all quilters, clothing makers, bow makers, </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">photographers, jewelry makers, artists, etc.! Travelers, you can help out too! If you are traveling soon, and would be willing to pick up some souvenir type items (drums, baskets, scarves, clothing, coffee, spices, jewelry, etc...) to donate to the cause, let me know! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The auction is not limited to physical items.... If you own a salon, how about' a </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">do? Own a restaurant or have a friend who does? How about donating a dinner for two? Maybe you can donate a weekend getaway or charter fishing trip? You can see where this is going! If you can offer a good or service that someone else could bid on, let me know! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You don't have to be a crafty-traveling-business owner to participate, either! If you have an item, or want to purchase an item to donate to the cause, that would be welcome too! Just as a reminder, donations should be new or like new items that you would want to give or receive as a gift during the holidays... We are hoping that folks will use this auction as a place to do some of their holiday shopping, so please keep this in mind! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have the Holiday Project FB page up and running, and have started posting previews of the items that will be offered for auction! I will update it as I receive the items. Stop by, "Like" it, and get ready to bid! Please be sure to check out donor's websites, many of them work with organizations in Uganda, Ghana and Ethiopia. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you have a website associated with your goods, I would be happy to link it </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">to your items. They will also be linked on </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AAI-Holiday-Project/118557238236654" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">our Facebook page</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">, where I will have a preview </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">of the items as I receive them. Take a look; there are some beautiful things already that will make great gifts for a special someone on your list. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Please feel free to contact me with questions! Items need to be shipped to me by Sept. 16th. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Looking forward to hearing from you! Thanks so much for your help with this! </span><br />
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<a href="mailto:socialbug69@hotmail.com" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Mandie Doak</a><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="mailto:socialbug69@hotmail.com"></a></div><a name='more'></a> Susan PDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08294399087396258496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904162830959391470.post-43896815204263396562011-07-11T13:42:00.000-07:002011-07-11T13:42:24.719-07:00Fun in Wenatchee!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A group of AAI families gathering at a state park in Wenatchee, WA over the past Fourth of July Weekend. By Saturday evening, there were over 150 people there attending a cookout planned by Chris Little, the event organizer and AAI Board President. A highlight of the weekend was a panel discussion featuring about a dozen older Ethiopian adoptees discussing and answering questions about their unique experiences. Families also enjoyed games, marshmallow roasting, swimming, bike-riding and hanging out with old and new friends. Below are some photos of the weekend taken by Marta Little, Jessica Alderson (AAI Volunteer) and Susan Poisson-Dollar (AAI Director of Development). Director Merrily Ripley and her husband and grandchildren were also in attendance. </span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, yes there was Ethiopian dancing!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And doro wat cooked on a campstove...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the older kids fielding questions and talking about their experiences</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more members of the panel</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AAI Volunteer Jessica enjoyed seeing some old friends from Layla House</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Impromptu hair-braiding sessions went on all weekend</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old and new friends enjoyed each other's company</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The games Chris planned were a big hit and helped keep us all cool in the hot weather.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hula-hooping contest with the AAI Family Tree Quilt in the background</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The teen set could not get enough socializing in!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDCzQy9HKz-fMTJvyZaOuB6PFb4dNn5bkl1qv6F9Pt-4lHjDY1DQybrOqLeAZaOJv0lg97gg1sas2cw7jgf9Uk6ghqDTxtrp61mKck0BD8NB3uL2hyhO6dmWWipyPvqps8IaX5XH2rdVE/s1600/IMG_4997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDCzQy9HKz-fMTJvyZaOuB6PFb4dNn5bkl1qv6F9Pt-4lHjDY1DQybrOqLeAZaOJv0lg97gg1sas2cw7jgf9Uk6ghqDTxtrp61mKck0BD8NB3uL2hyhO6dmWWipyPvqps8IaX5XH2rdVE/s400/IMG_4997.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was always a line to try out this cool bike that Chris brought</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Susan PDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08294399087396258496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904162830959391470.post-53648383084700797292011-07-08T07:43:00.000-07:002011-07-08T07:43:15.242-07:00Report from AAI- Uganda<a name='more'></a>Our Uganda program is less than a year old but is making fast progress in lots of areas. Coordinator <a href="mailto:salem@adoptionadvocates.org"><b>Salem Richards</b></a> just returned from a trip there in June and sent us this report and photos.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wNFbITv-0NPFjgopANAq4WJZDh60CHV_scVnXywYSybyPQMHHM17Qgp1dnhJKYOOdGjemSWycfD6BVC0M5mU_87ADL0OIAc6tV6kax0Lly2zAaOKUvEQdqyJ01ZXqQZCF5O9sUlcUrLh/s1600/orphanage+kids.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wNFbITv-0NPFjgopANAq4WJZDh60CHV_scVnXywYSybyPQMHHM17Qgp1dnhJKYOOdGjemSWycfD6BVC0M5mU_87ADL0OIAc6tV6kax0Lly2zAaOKUvEQdqyJ01ZXqQZCF5O9sUlcUrLh/s320/orphanage+kids.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">children at one of our partner orphanages</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wNFbITv-0NPFjgopANAq4WJZDh60CHV_scVnXywYSybyPQMHHM17Qgp1dnhJKYOOdGjemSWycfD6BVC0M5mU_87ADL0OIAc6tV6kax0Lly2zAaOKUvEQdqyJ01ZXqQZCF5O9sUlcUrLh/s1600/orphanage+kids.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">This was an extremely busy, exhausting trip to Uganda. It was an eight day trip but due to flying time and layovers I was only in Uganda for six full days. They were busy days!!</span></div><br />
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</style> <![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I arrived in Uganda on Monday morning and we got right to work visiting orphanages and evaluating new places. We delivered donations to each of the homes, purchased food and got information on waiting children. We had meetings with officials, orphanage directors and lawyers and were on the go from sun up to sundown every day. </span><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Each day we visited multiple orphanages. We met most of the wonderful children being adopted by AAI families and were able to get updates on them. We were able to deliver care packages to the children and pictures of their new families. It was so fun to introduce the children to their families and see their expressions as they took in these new faces for the first time. The idea that someone across the world loves them, wants them and is coming for them is so exciting for most of these kids!</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTlG741YRTi_xAK2ZrO_d-djWifHTpPfFrsmu83ywesH7usXxZVVWhXHN0Cz-CDotWkt0pmefKRgymzg-XZNAqx4xufZRb0LiaVrGYj-1oNOkQmMadFJ-vdDGupOY4X-zQPPfMHsEH-Xx/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTlG741YRTi_xAK2ZrO_d-djWifHTpPfFrsmu83ywesH7usXxZVVWhXHN0Cz-CDotWkt0pmefKRgymzg-XZNAqx4xufZRb0LiaVrGYj-1oNOkQmMadFJ-vdDGupOY4X-zQPPfMHsEH-Xx/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></b></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Supply delivery to partner orphanage</b></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">We had the opportunity to not only visit with children currently matched with AAI families but</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"> to meet children who will potentially be adopted through AAI. We got lists of new children that need families and our in-country staff will be working hard over the next few months to get orphan investigations done and determine the best interest of each of these children. Each investigation is started with a list of three questions: <i>1) Can this child be reunited with family, relatives or community members?; 2) If no, can they be adopted within Uganda?; and 3) If no,is international adoption in their best interest?</i> These investigations are slow going but so important to our program! We continue to see the trend of very few healthy infants referred to our program. Most of the children we met that will need to be adopted are over toddler age and a good number of them are boys.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tZGgxPyYT0FQsu4E1f8V7p66vjcqLQRCHIuFvJI4lpjGfSGQb_19H469wGXwXeRS2CFZrQ9wrSV9Zno0rmfbVfPkrjS5y1TA87BtI_9KH9W3HqGM_TrTpB8A_zKVhsE9_EBusGocDmHu/s1600/sponsored+kids.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tZGgxPyYT0FQsu4E1f8V7p66vjcqLQRCHIuFvJI4lpjGfSGQb_19H469wGXwXeRS2CFZrQ9wrSV9Zno0rmfbVfPkrjS5y1TA87BtI_9KH9W3HqGM_TrTpB8A_zKVhsE9_EBusGocDmHu/s320/sponsored+kids.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>children sponsored by AAI</b></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">One highlight of the trip for me (there were so many!) was getting to see two of AAI’s sponsor children. Many of you might remember them as “Maria’s kids”. Theresa and David are doing phenomenally well at the boarding school they now attend. They look wonderful and seem happy. Placing them in a boarding school was not something we took on lightly. We have full responsibility for their upkeep now. The monthly fee we pay the school pays for schooling and three meals a day but we must also provide them with clothing, books, snacks, toiletries (including toilet paper!), eating utensils, laundry tub, sheets, shoes, etc. For two children that came literally with the clothes on their backs, this has been a big job to keep up with! But their progress, safety and happiness has made it all worth it. They are doing amazingly well!</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Another highlight was being able to meet the three AAI families currently in Uganda. Seeing children that were living as orphans on my last trip now in the arms of their loving families was so amazing. These families are currently going through the court processes in Uganda. We are keeping them in our thoughts and hope we’ll have news of homecomings soon! (update!--first child home, pictures coming soon)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBKvy1c9LdXmUOKWNra2jX5SnujcsDE8CLLI8DXxZHWlHxByMFyUOEY5133Kte8PkllpleBsSp3g_NtFZDtL8ix1J2YzlWAH4Hu_kBO9ID-omWk5bcNzYsPBEmqwalCKwTR0PPFfvyusZ/s1600/cribs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBKvy1c9LdXmUOKWNra2jX5SnujcsDE8CLLI8DXxZHWlHxByMFyUOEY5133Kte8PkllpleBsSp3g_NtFZDtL8ix1J2YzlWAH4Hu_kBO9ID-omWk5bcNzYsPBEmqwalCKwTR0PPFfvyusZ/s320/cribs.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"> </span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Many Ugandan-American adoptive families were kind enough to send me photographs of them home in America with their children. I can’t begin to tell you how much it helped having these photos. I had a whole photo album full of them. The moment we showed them to people in Uganda you could see their countenances changing and their hearts softening. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an amazing thing to witness. People were starting to get it….they said things like “wow, they really love these kids!” Exactly what we want to continue to show them!</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Overall, this was a very successful trip. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always wish I had more time, but we did almost everything on our schedule and I feel made some real progress in the development of the program as a whole. My heart is always stretched and stirred with each visit I make to this beautiful country. I feel grateful to be able to work with this program and that we have been given the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of some of the children we meet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvMIQd21VaPDwy082x51r_8yoqIYE6Ve-TJ8Z_R2i-FZ51dPljFqV8PW7vUPRy1TP7G4NxzFTblFwG2B7CYgUYEdUSPcHid5SAQr6aJynv-YMcr_v8l5ZyVaHYAdYXs7ubl8YTLoHKUzV/s1600/rural+road.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvMIQd21VaPDwy082x51r_8yoqIYE6Ve-TJ8Z_R2i-FZ51dPljFqV8PW7vUPRy1TP7G4NxzFTblFwG2B7CYgUYEdUSPcHid5SAQr6aJynv-YMcr_v8l5ZyVaHYAdYXs7ubl8YTLoHKUzV/s320/rural+road.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"> </div> Susan PDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08294399087396258496noreply@blogger.com2Uganda1.373333 32.290275000000065-1.4740365000000002 29.556945000000066 4.2207025 35.023605000000067tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904162830959391470.post-34484107418173111392011-06-24T05:10:00.000-07:002011-06-24T05:11:58.957-07:00AAI needs new vehicles! Can you help??<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKN1Q3gh3T6qpggLzKynpVgjcvXIwpz62rOpRXme_rFVeRcc-P4TrIdSIf4lo_hRgXrUHY2ugVA1cHycKUD2H9jRC7xlNLcjpTJBMS1vPFZk8UcyebSyxWw90m2Ft0rpBXb1aVwzwYacpz/s1600/kids+and+van+small+BLOG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKN1Q3gh3T6qpggLzKynpVgjcvXIwpz62rOpRXme_rFVeRcc-P4TrIdSIf4lo_hRgXrUHY2ugVA1cHycKUD2H9jRC7xlNLcjpTJBMS1vPFZk8UcyebSyxWw90m2Ft0rpBXb1aVwzwYacpz/s400/kids+and+van+small+BLOG.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Children piling in the van for another trip to the doctor's office</b></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you've visited Layla House in Ethiopia, you have undoubtedly seen and probably ridden in one of our old red vans. Each day when they are not "in the shop," these vans travel miles and miles with children, staff and visiting parents. They go to medical and dental clinics, the airport, the U.S. embassy, passport offices, the Mercato for food and supplies, and often to small villages in remote areas. They carry social workers to visit children in our sponsorship program, adoptive parents to meet birth family, and staff to visit our partner orphanages all over Addis and well beyond. At this point, they are really on their last legs with engines, bodies, seats and upholstery falling apart. They are spending more and more time in the repair shop which wreaks havoc on the schedule and prevents us from operating as efficiently as we'd like. As our staff there informs us, it's finally time to say goodbye to the oldest red Toyota van and to thank it for serving us well all these years!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Although the situation with our present vans has gone from bad to worse these past several months, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">we have </span><b style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">GOOD NEWS</b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> to report. New vehicles are usually very expensive in Ethiopia but because of our recent official agreement with the Ethiopian government to operate and expand Opportunity House, our home for special needs children, we have special permission to import a duty-free vehicle. That means we will be able to purchase a vehicle for about $10,000, a deal we don't want to pass up but also a cost we don't want to pass on in increased adoption fees. A generous adoptive family has already come forward with a <b>$5000 challenge grant</b>----if we can raise the other $5000, they will match each donation dollar for dollar. So every dollar donated to our <b>ETHIOPIA VEHICLE CAMPAIGN</b>, is actually $2! <b><a href="https://npo.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=2269">Make your donation count twice</a>.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4j4TXBO6A6pbjPdPnT-HGwM35JNaoxwr5ZCoLhkt9sVRz5A5XgP1ivjJ4SoxKg8realSfgjAaSmxr34sfZnFdpFLTRyw2lmkvd9eMYk_jep6DvIE7gss1W3pr3rk40bkGh2zoEkmxnlB/s1600/kids+in+the+car+BLOG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4j4TXBO6A6pbjPdPnT-HGwM35JNaoxwr5ZCoLhkt9sVRz5A5XgP1ivjJ4SoxKg8realSfgjAaSmxr34sfZnFdpFLTRyw2lmkvd9eMYk_jep6DvIE7gss1W3pr3rk40bkGh2zoEkmxnlB/s400/kids+in+the+car+BLOG.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Abraham, one of our drivers, embarking on yet another trip with a full van of kids</b></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Our Ghana program is also in need of a new vehicle. The Ripley Foundation, our affiliate in that country, has had no van for months now and families and stuff are increasingly reliant on taxis and public transportation to get around Accra and to travel to other parts of the country</span>. <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As our adoption program in that country has grown, we able to do more and more humanitarian work and reach out to more orphanages delivering food and supplies donated by our families and supporters. The lack of a reliable vehicle is the biggest impediment to improving our work there and to giving visiting families a quality experience in that country. Anita Gillispie, our Ghana coordinator, is in-country right now and she reports that sometimes it is very difficult to find a taxi big enough to take three or four kids and a staff member to a medical appointment and that without their own van, they are having to forgo many important errands. So we are also starting a <b>Ghana Vehicle Campaign </b>and welcome any of <a href="https://npo.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=2269"><b>your donations</b> </a>to get the Ripley Foundation staff moving again! </span></div> Susan PDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08294399087396258496noreply@blogger.com0