As I have stated many times in e-mail to our donors as well as posts on this blog, Addy's Hope has struggled since President Sirleaf placed a hold on adoptions in January 2009. As we come upon the 18 month anniversary of that decision, it's effect on our ability to care for the children of Liberia God has entrusted to us became more severe. Addy's Hope has always relied on the money from adoption fees to support the programs we ran in Liberia. That includes the feeding of the children, the salaries for staff and the necessities for the school we dreamed of opening. God has been so faithful in providing for those needs over the last 18 months. However, we knew we could not continue for much longer at the pace we were.
God in His infinite wisdom had already begun a friendship, a kinship, with Bishop Emmanuel Jones, his wife Romona and Addy's Hope last year. John and I had the honor of meeting Emmanuel at the Orphan Summit in 2009.
We spent many hours talking to him about Liberia and were amazed at the similarities in the vision God had given us for our ministry and the words Emmanuel spoke as his vision for Liberia and the children there. It was my privilege to visit Emmanuel and his children at Master's Home of Champions last August when I traveled to Liberia.
The first thing I noticed at the Master's Home was the standard by which they cared for the children. It was one that I admired and felt aligned closely with ours at Addy's Hope. Little did I know the direction God would take us in just one year. After much conversation between Lifesong, Addy's Hope and Bishop Jones, I am please to announce that Addy's Hope has donated our children's home and land to Lifesong and Master's Home of Champions for the furthering of God's kingdom in Liberia!
This is bitter sweet for me. I will not lie and say that it has been an easy task. However, I can say without a doubt it is the right move for Addy's Hope as we seek to follow God's will in all our ministry. Lifesong partnered with Master's Home of Champions has the resources to do with the home and land what Addy's Hope did not once adoptions were halted. The children who were under our care will remain at the home. Plans are already in the works to open the school on site to start this school year, September 2010. This was a dream we had not been able to see fulfilled after our container was held up by the Ministry of Health and were required to pay the money needed to complete the school for the taxes on the container so it could be released. That school will now be opened thanks to the generosity of Lifesong and the dedication of Emmanuel and Ramona Jones to the children of Liberia.
What will Addy's Hope look like in Liberia now? As I have asked myself that same question throughout this process, I have been reminded of Matthew 6:34, "Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough troubles of its own." For today, we know that God has asked us to pass the stewardship of what He has entrusted to us to these brothers and sisters for them to run the next leg. We at Addy's Hope believe in the Body of Christ. This has never been about Addy's Hope. It is about God. It is about children. It is about whatever role we can play while here on this earth to spread the love of Christ and care for the orphans and widows. For this day, that means allowing Lifesong and Master's Home of Champions the opportunity to fulfill the vision God gave us for the land and building this past year and a half, and more importantly for the children He has entrusted to us for the past five years in Liberia.
Bishop Emmanuel Jones is dedicated to teaching children in Liberia about our Savior. He is dedicated to teaching them that they have a hope and a future that is good...whether that future is in America or Liberia, it is good! He will equip them for the life God has for them. That is what I am most excited about during this time of transition. Our children, God's children, who have been wounded by the decisions made by the leadership of their country now have hope! Their hearts will need time to heal. Pray for that with us, please. For now, adoption is not an option for them. For some, it will never be as they will be too old to go through the process they once thought would bring them to America...would bring them to families who already love them and whom they already love.
But now they have a new family! They will learn in this new family what their role in Liberia, and more importantly in the Kingdom of God will be.
But now they have a new family! They will learn in this new family what their role in Liberia, and more importantly in the Kingdom of God will be.
I will continue to fight for adoptions in Liberia as long as God calls me to. The enemy is out to steal, kill and destroy all that shows God's love, and adoption definitely fits that description! I will continue to contact government officials both here and in Liberia to ask for their cooperation in opening adoptions in Liberia so that more children have a chance at the basic human rights that are supposed to be guaranteed by all the international codes and treaties they throw around in argument against adoption while children starve, get sick and die under their watch.
Addy's Hope will continue to have an active role in the Master's Home of Champions, Marshall. Those children are my children. Yes, they are God's, but those little voices singing, "Mother HollyAnn" will always ring in my ear and tie my heart to them until God takes me from this earth.
Addy's Hope will continue to have an active role in the Master's Home of Champions, Marshall. Those children are my children. Yes, they are God's, but those little voices singing, "Mother HollyAnn" will always ring in my ear and tie my heart to them until God takes me from this earth.One of our biggest roles at this time is to ask you to help us. I know you are asked for money at every turn these days with the economy hurting all non-profits. But I know the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills and is not concerned with what the US economy is or is not doing. I am talking to His children now. Lifesong has taken a huge step of faith in taking on the financial responsibility of our home and property. If you have traveled to our home and met our children, you can sponsor one of them through Lifesong for $50 a month. You will receive letters and photos of your children twice a year. These are real children. They are not pictures on a flyer. I have met them, held them, tucked them into bed and kissed them goodnight. I have told them Jesus loves them, now I need you to help me prove that to them. Would you consider sponsoring one? Or would you just send a general donation to Lifesong with "Liberia" in the memo line? Lifesong for Orphans is an amazing organization run by all volunteers. One hundred percent of your donation will go to Liberia. Let me write that again, 100% of your donation dollars will go to your child. Go to their website! Check them out! They do amazing things for adoption and orphans who remain in their home country. That is one of the major reasons we feel so blessed to be partnered with them now! They share our philosophy of adoption and training leaders to turn countries like Liberia around! Praise God!
John and I will be sponsoring children that God has laid on our hearts. Will you do the same? If you want to know some of the children who are there, if you really want personal stories about them, e-mail me at hollyann@addyshope.com. I will be happy to talk to you about "my" children! They need you! Will you help Lifesong help them?
What will Addy's Hope do now? Well, we have many things that God has laid on our hearts and given us great vision to do. Many of those things are right here in the United States. We are not going away! For one, we are doing homestudies for families in the West Texas area who are looking to adopt from any adoption agencies. If you are in Midland, Odessa, or any small surrounding town and need a homestudy, give us a call at 432.879.1503. We offer personal, professional and prompt homestudy services. Besides that, we will be taking the next couple of months to pray, fast and seek God on our faces to know for sure the next venture He would have us take. Would you pray with us?
Pray for me and our board of directors as we seek God's will for this ministry. Pray also for Lifesong. Keith and Kay Knapp are the Liberian Liaisons for Lifesong. Please pray for them as well. Pray for Emmanuel and Romona as well as the staff at Master's Home of Champions, Marshall as they care for the children and add one more thing to an already full plate. The harvest is plenty, but the workers are few. Pray that God sends more workers...willing, heartfelt, Christian workers!
If God has spoken to you to give a one time gift, or to possibly sponsor a child, you can do that by sending your donation to Lifesong for Orphans. You can donate online here or by mailing a check to Lifesong for Orphans, 202 N Ford Street, Gridley, IL 61744. Please be sure to put "Liberia: Marshall" as a note on your donation whether online or by check. They have stepped out in faith, will you help be the hands of Jesus to make their faith become site?
Lastly, let me say, thank you! Thank you to all of you who heard our pleas for the children and donated. Whether you gave $5 or $5,000 over the past 18 months, you fed the children. You staffed the home. You educated the little ones. May God bless you 10 fold and more for what you gave to allow us the privilege of caring for these children even when the enemy tried to destroy our work. And thank you to my Liberian staff who have worked for us at times without pay! To Him be all the glory!
Lastly, let me say, thank you! Thank you to all of you who heard our pleas for the children and donated. Whether you gave $5 or $5,000 over the past 18 months, you fed the children. You staffed the home. You educated the little ones. May God bless you 10 fold and more for what you gave to allow us the privilege of caring for these children even when the enemy tried to destroy our work. And thank you to my Liberian staff who have worked for us at times without pay! To Him be all the glory!Serving along side all of you,
HollyAnn Petree
Executive Director
Addy's Hope
