Uganda Report Day 2: Meeting Sisters

Follow along with Dawn Patterson, our Director of HOPE+Sisterhood Uganda as she visits Uganda this week.

When God brings you full circle:

There are so many things I want to share with you about today. It was an AMAZING God filled day. Beautiful testimonies were heard, tears were shed for the broken, prayers were said and encouragement filled the air. But, it was a 13 hour day today and this mama is so very tired. I promise to share so much more but for now, I have one very special story I want to share.

Last April when I came to Uganda I visited the pediatric unit of a local hospital. It was one of the most heart breaking days of my life. You can read about that day here. I met this beautiful boy, John and his mother. I can’t begin to explain the pain and burden on my heart that day. I was visiting the hospital to get a better understanding of why the town of Mukono needed a medical clinic. That visit had nothing too do with Project HOPEFUL or the Hope + Sisterhood. The young Mama was in a dire place. She didn’t have a relationship with Jesus and she was lost.

Today, as we traveled to Mukono to meet with the sisters, we picked up a young mother and a boy who needed to be transported to the meeting for the HOPE+ sisterhood. It was John and his beautiful mama! They were both healthy and happy. Both Mama & John are taking their ARV’s and understand the importance of adherence. Most importantly, Mama had given her life to Christ and was attending church. She is also one of the “Mamas of HOPE” that was selected to be part of the HOPE + sisterhood, Uganda.

I knew God would make it clear to me who He wanted my sister to be. Today He spoke loud and clear. There are many, many more stories of women who need a sister. I hope you will be praying about the sister that God as in store for you. I believe in this partnership and I am so excited to see what God does in these precious women’s lives through you. He spoke loud and clear.

What You Can DO: A Follow-up Post

Copied from oureyesopened.org . This post was written as a follow-up to Tesney Davis’ recent post.

I finished a book back in October called Love Does by Bob Goff. In a nutshell, it talks about love being an action word. You can’t love others without DOING. So after reading my last post about Russian adoptions, many of you who believe love is an action word have asked what you can DO to help. I’ve compiled a list of things you can do to help and add your voice those who support U.S. adoptions continuing in Russia. If you do everything listed below, it will take a total of about thirty minutes. Some of them take a matter of seconds, some take a few minutes and the cost of a stamp. My point is, most of these things are fast, easy, and inexpensive. Please, I’m begging you, on behalf of Kirill and the 700,000 children who reside in orphanages in Russia, love actively and DO these things.

1. Contact your Representatives and Senators. You can find your elected officials on this website:

http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/

and

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

When you talk with someone in their office please say something to this effect:
“Hello, my name is _____ and I live in _____. I am calling on behalf of my (friends or family members…if you don’t know of anyone, you may use the name Jenni and Josh Johnston, who are dear friends of mine…you can see their interview with CNN HERE) who are in the process of adoption from Russia. They have already met their child and signed a letter of intent to adopt her. I ask that Congressman or Senator ______ contact Secretary of State Clinton and other members of the State Department to talk to them about the ban on adoptions from the United States, but specifically to work out a deal that would allow families like Josh and Jenni, who have already met their child, to bring them home safely. We also urge you to ensure that the United States State Department is following through with every commitment made in the agreement signed in July to ensure that adoptions can continue for years to come.”

That is all you have to say and it only takes a few moments of your time. If you would rather email, you can also do that. My suggestion would be to do both…CALL AND EMAIL.

2. Call on the White House directly. You can contact the comments line and talk to an operator at 202-456-1111. Please say something to this effect:

“Hello, my name is _____ and I live in _____. I am calling on behalf of my (friends or family members) who are in the process of adoption from Russia. They have already met their child and signed a letter of intent to adopt her. I ask that President Obama contact President Putin directly to talk about the ban on adoptions from the United States, but specifically to work out a deal that would allow families like (friends or family members), who have already met their child, to bring them home safely.”

Again, just takes a few moments.

3. The US State Department has suggested that adoptive families (and even older adopted children), write to the Russian Embassy in DC to express their opinions and thoughts on the recent ban. However, even if you haven’t adopted, you can write and express your opinions on the ban. I am giving you permission to use Kirill’s story if you don’t have personal stories of adoption from Russia to share.

EMAIL:
russianembassy@mindspring.com

REGULAR MAIL:
His Excellency Sergey I. Kislyak
Ambassador to the United States
Embassy of Russia
2650 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20007

4. Sign this petition:

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/help-46-families-wchildren-caught-politics-bring-their-court-approved-adopted-child-home-russia/SgvPTKR2

It needs to have 25,000 signatures and then it HAS to be addressed by the President. It has a long way to go, but I believe this could be knocked out if every reader of this post will re-post it on Twitter, Facebook, and personal blogs. Things like this can happen super duper fast with social media. So please, sign it…but also SHARE IT.

Thank you so much for standing with the families in the adoption process in Russia as well as the hundreds of thousands of orphaned children who will not have a chance to be adopted if this ban is upheld. This is Kirill’s before and after photo after just three months in our family. I pray that it will inspire you to act because LOVE DOES.

God’s will be done on Earth. Trusting his promises and knowing that HE is sovereign.

On Disclosure…

A guest post by Suzanne Mayernick

Josie will turn SEVEN in February.  It is so hard to believe.  

We will forever be dealing with the stigma that is attached to HIV/AIDS.  There have been many children with HIV adopted through Josie’s story.  While it brings a smile to my face, it also fills my heart with sadness.  

Many of the families that have gone to bring these children home are not willing to disclose that their children are positive.  While I COMPLETELY understand the fear that accompanies what your child might endure because of the virus ( I feel the fear also, thankfully, Christ carries that burden on my behalf)  If we are not willing to walk the journey and bring light to the darkness that accompanies it, then Christ is not glorified in the capacity that HE could be.  Which in the end, just adds more stigma.  

This is a VERY controversial subject, one that I really struggle with deep down.  The past several years I have encouraged these adoptions and maybe haven’t done my due diligence in preparing hearts on how to deal with life and not fear once you get these children home.  It saddens my heart.  

It makes life harder with Josie because there are MANY “positive” children in the US now, sitting in the infectious disease doctors offices all over the nation, not willing to take a bold stand on behalf of these children and educate  others on the virus.  If their parents are not willing to educate, encourage, and enable then who will be their advocates?  Why not just hand it over to Christ and walk in the light?  No lies, no secrets, just living out your faith walk that HE has given you to show who HE really is, each and every day.  

Is it hard? YES.  Does it make you more dependent on Him? YES.  Does it free your family up to live out LOUD the journey that HE has given you? YES.  Does it release you from the fear that Satan  has you bound in? YES.  Does it make my heart ache that fear overrides Christ? ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU, Cultivate Wines!

By Deb Steiner

A few months back, I emailed Project HOPEFUL Executive Director, Carolyn Twietmeyer, and asked whether I could sign up Project HOPEFUL in a contest run by Cultivate Wines.  We were familiar with the competition because, among other ways, we had advocated for other much-loved organizations in the same contest in previous quarters of voting.  Carolyn agreed that we could give it a try.  Our thought was that if we didn’t succeed in receiving a grant, at least we would have the opportunity to educate people about Project HOPEFUL and waiting children around the world.  Little did we know…..

Prior to the kick off of the Cultivate Wines voting, we strategized and brainstormed; prayed and strategized some more.  We didn’t really know what we were doing, but we were good at appearing as if we did!  We developed a staff schedule for posting about the vote, which promptly went out the window when voting began.  We circulated and re-circulated the rules, determined not to blow it, even inadvertently.

For two months – 61 days – we begged, cajoled, pleaded, and stomped for the vote.  We were relentless.  We were irritating.  We lost friends.  We gained supporters.  And, low and behold, we won.  Or better said, the children WON.  Project HOPEFUL was awarded the $50,000 grant.  Thank you, Jesus!  But that was only the beginning.

Throughout our conversations with Cultivate Wines, something became very obvious to us:  They get it.  They really, really get it.  Not only are they giving away 10% of their revenue to organizations like Project HOPEFUL, they aren’t even profitable yet.  Not only do they really care about issues affecting our world, they are doing something about it.  Not only have they been encouraging to us as a staff, but now we are working together to figure out how to be partners going forward.  Talk about counter-cultural!

Cultivate Wines is a wonderful business founded by people with fantastic hearts.  We are so grateful to them for the grant and for all of the grants they have given in the past and will in the future.  Would you consider supporting Cultivate Wines by purchasing your wine from them?  You can be sure that a percentage of your purchase will be paid forward to another worthy organization.  THANK YOU Cultivate Wines; we look forward to seeing where this crazy ride called life takes us next!

Cultivate Wines 2012 Q2 Give $50,000 Winner: Project HOPEFUL, NFP

We WON!

An Important Message from our Founder, Carolyn Twietmeyer:

Friends!

I am sure you are tiring of the begging that has taken place over the last 8 weeks to VOTE FOR PROJECT HOPEFUL through the CULIVATE WINES big grant giveaway!! But, as we always say, “NO SHAME IN OUR GAME”.

I am SHAMELESSLY begging for you to VOTE and keep Project HOPEFUL in FIRST PLACE for this $50,000. LIFE GIVING, FAMILY MAKING, STIGMA SLAYING gift opportunity!! All we need to do is stay in first place for 4 more days and we WIN!! PLEASE SHARE this with YOUR friends and help us to continue EDUCATING, ENCOURAGING AND ENABLING people to adopt the most overlooked children for adoption in the world AND help HIV+ mothers KEEP their children and expand to bring LIFE to children in places like Guatemala, where treatment is currently unavailable!! Lock arms with us through the finish line!!!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!!! We can’t finish this without you!

VOTE HERE: http://www.cultivatewines.com/give

All for ONE!
Carolyn

YOUR VOTE = LIFE!

VOTE: Every Day. Once a day. 60 Days.

Join Project HOPEFUL Honor Roll and take the 60 Day Pledge! Email us at projecthopeful@projecthopeful.org to be added.

“I took the 60 day pledge to vote for Project HOPEFUL once a day — every day — through June 30 on the Cultivate Wines website. All for ONE!”

Job Openings at Project HOPEFUL

Are you someone who has a passion for spreading the TRUTH about HIV/AIDs Adoption education, advocacy, and encouragement? Do you have a penchant for organization? Project HOPEFUL is looking for someone to join our All Volunteer Staff….could it be YOU?

HR Administrator:

This position would require a self-motivator, who can navigate and utilize Microsoft Office programs, work well interdepartmentally within the organization, and has a passion to serve with and for others. If this volunteer position interests you, please contact our HR Director at tamarahopeful@gmail.com .

Web Designer

Seeking volunteer to do website design/maintenance for Project HOPEFUL. Must be familiar with Joomla. Initial project estimated at 5 hours with the possibility for additional future projects if interested. Contact media@projecthopeful.org to discuss details.

We have our first winner in the Send Me T-shirt Giveaway!

Thank you to everyone who shared the video for Challenge #2!  The winner for that challenge is Amber!  Congratulations, Amber! We will be contacting you today to get your shipping information so we can get your t-shirt right out to you.

Do you want one of our exclusive ‘Send Me’ t-shirts?  Be sure to enter our first challenge! We’re almost ready to give that one away, too.

9 days and counting!

Remember to tell everyone you know about the Project HOPEFUL ‘Send Me’ t-shirt giveaway!  We’re about 280 guests away from drawing a name.

Vote on June 11th!

Today’s Project HOPEFUL Fact of the Day:  Did you know, Project HOPEFUL provides a way to make a difference in the life of a struggling Mother with HIV? Project HOPEFUL’s HOPE+Sisterhood connects you with a way to change the future for a mother and her children.