January 26, 2010 marked the one year anniversary of the halt on adoptions in Liberia by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. The past twelve months have been a challenge for Addy's Hope as we have had no cash flow since that time. It has been a bleak time for Addy's Hope as we have worked to care for the 49 children still in our care. We have lost Matthew because we couldn't get him out of Liberia and provide him the medical attention he needed. We have turned away many children in desperate need because we knew we just couldn't take them in with adoptions on hold; not because they would be placed for adoption but because adoption funded the care of all children at Addy's Hope Home. My heart breaks for my Liberian staff who has to look into the eyes of Liberian parents who have already been to the government who has halted adoptions and been turned away because the government has no resources to help them. Then my staff has to tell them that we can't help either because the halt placed by President Sirleaf has stopped the funds we used to help the children still in Liberia. For every one child adopted, tens more were assisted through scholarships, clean water or medical care.
As one of the smallest agencies working in Liberia, we are proud that we are also the only one that has kept the full staff to care for the children. This is only due to God's faithfulness to lay us on the hearts of those who know about us. As adoptions are still on hold, we have a need for more consistent support in order to care for our children the way we believe God orders. We have instituted a monthly fee for adoptive parents to help care for their children while we wait for adoptions to open, but that does not cover the expense of the children who do not have adoptive families. All the children need care! So we need your help!
There is so much attention on Haiti right now. Our hearts go out to the Haitians as they rebuild their country. But even before the earthquake hit, there were Haitians in need of clean water, stable housing and ample food for survival. Liberia has not had an earthquake. There are no TV cameras covering the deplorable situations in Liberia, but that does not mean they do not exist. We are asking you to help us with these children who, were it not for Addy's Hope, would be in the same state as some you see pictured in Haiti now. Liberia needs your help too!
The biggest need is child sponsorships. We have 14 children in need of sponsors. Most of these children have been in the care of Addy's Hope for two years or more. We care for them because they have need, not because they will be adopted. This has always been our commitment. However, up until the halt, the adoption fees covered our care of other children. Without adoption fees, we have no way to care for these children. Would you sponsor a child? By sponsoring a child you will ensure they have three meals a day, education, safe living conditions and the love they need to grow into productive and healthy citizens. Email HollyAnn at hollyann@addyshope.com for the children in need of sponsors and detailed sponsorship information. For the privacy of these children we will not post them here or on our website.
"For in You the orphan finds mercy" ~Hosea 14:3
