Warriors Needed

My time is short this morning, but I feel a pressing need to get this information out there. I will elaborate in the days to come!

I was up into the morning hours doing battle, but I need more warriors! Ephesians 6 tells us in verse 12 tells us that "our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places". We are not warring against the government of Liberia to release these children, we are warring against satan himself. I am asking for warriors to stand up with me by getting on your knees. It is easy to see that adoption is under attack everywhere - not just Liberia. Russia, Guatemala and Vietnam just to name a few are countries where adoptions have been shut down. The enemy does not want such an awesome and tangible picture of God's love to be shown to the world. He will stop at nothing to destroy adoption. I refuse to stand by and let that happen. I am asking you to join me on your knees!

Psalm 10 says that God is the helper of the orphan, and that He will "break the arm of the wicked and evildoer." Verses 17-18 says He will incline His ear to vindicate (deliver) the orphan and the opressed so that man of the earth will no longer cause terror. I can think of no more fitting verses for the situation in Liberia than these as government officials have stolen money for personal gain from orphanages working to feed children. Adoption workers in Liberia working to complete papers that will allow children legally adopted to leave the country have been threatened with physical violence for working in adoptions. This is evil and wicked. We must war against it!

Please pray these verses out of Psalm 10 with me over the next few days. Will you be a warrior for these children and all the oppressed of a "democratic" country that receives billions of US dollars? Please pray with me! And please pass the link to this post on to prayer warriors that you know.

In my waking hours this morning, I wrote both US and Liberian Senators and Congressmen. If you would be willing to inquire of your US representatives and Senators about the accountability of US funds going to Liberia or about signing a letter that will be drafted by JCICS and sent to the Liberian congress urging them to get a new adoption law on the books, e-mail me at hollyann@addyshope.com. I will send you the information.

God bless you for opening your mouth for the mute, for the rights of the unfortunate in Liberia. Thank you for defending the rights of the afflicted and needs. This is our duty as Christ Followers according to Proverbs 31:8-9.

Concerned for the rights of the poor,
HollyAnn Petree
Executive Director

Feed the Motherless this Mother's Day!

Mother's Day is right around the corner. As I hold my five beautiful blessings, I can't help but think of 46 other children sitting in Addy's Hope Home in Liberia with no mother to hold them. They have no mother to kiss them when they fall and scratch their knee, to wipe their tears when another has teased them or to tell them they are a priceless treasure! Last time I was in Liberia, I took a night and "tucked" each child into bed as I do my own. You should have seen the smiles and heard the giggles as I kissed each precious face and told them I loved them! Even the "big" boys rushed to get in bed so I could tell them good night! I had to choke back the tears even as their laughter filled the rooms as I knew this was probably a first and last, at least until I return, for many of them. For those being adopted, they wait ever so patiently for their mother's to pick them up, but for the 29 who are not committed to for adoption, they don't even have the hope of a mother's touch!

We are on month 18 of the halt on all adoptions. This means we are on month 18 of no cash flow for Addy's Hope. Each month is a struggle to meet the basic physical, spiritual and emotional needs of each of these children. We are in desperate need of more sponsors and one time donations just to keep these children in clothes, fed and provided with proper medical care.

This Mother's Day, would you consider giving a gift to these children by asking your family to donate to Addy's Hope for your Mother's Day gift? As a fellow warrior working for the cause of under privileged children and mother's said, I have not trinkets to sale, but I have worthy cause that is in need of the attention of Christians!

If you have a child to hold this Mother's Day, would you help feed the children who don't? Would you request for your family to make a donation to Addy's Hope in your honer in lieu of a Mother's Day gift, or honoer your mother with a donation? All donations are tax deductible! It takes $60 a month just to feed each child. Could you feed one or more this Mother's Day? Forward this to friends and family also to help us spread the word of those without a mother who need your help!

You can donate by going to www.addyshope.com and clicking on the “donate” button. You can also send your check to Addy’s Hope, 1908 W. Wall, Suite D, Midland, TX 79701.

In Christ,

HollyAnn Petree
Executive Director
Addy’s Hope

Pajamas for all!

Addy's Hope would like to send a big "THANK YOU" to Innovative Learning Academy in El Paso, Texas! The students at Innovative Learning Academy held a pajama drive for the children of Addy's Hope. They collected pajamas of all sizes and colors for the children.

For many of our children at Addy's Hope Home, this is the first pair of pajamas they have ever owned. Another thank you to Eric Lewis, one of our adoptive parents, for taking the pajamas to the children on his last trip to Liberia! The smiles on the faces say it all!

Still need sponsors!!!

We are still in need of sponsors for our children. We have three children who are 2/3 funded. That leaves 9 children totally available for sponsorship and three 1/3 available.

The sponsorships are $150 per month per child. This covers everything we need for that child: food, nanny, education, clothes, etc. This will give them the standard two meals a day with protein added to their diet. We realize that is a large amount to ask from any one person. So we are asking you to provide $50 and we will find two other sponsors to share that child. Or maybe you have an organization, Sunday School class or Bible Study group who would combine efforts to sponsor a child. We are also so appreciative of one time only gifts that get us through the tight spots like we are currently in! Any amount is appreciated and used wisely to care for the children currently in Addy's Hope home.

This past year has taken its toll on everyone in Liberia who care for her children! The halt on adoption has halted many humanitarian projects simply for a lack of funds.

We need your help! We need prayer that God would move on the hearts of officials and the band on adoption would be lifted. Most of all we need financial support to feed our kids. If you are unable to help us financially, would you pray for people who can to hear of our need and give generously? Our children need you!

Thank you for spreading the word! There are boys and girls available for sponsorship. If you e-mail HollyAnn at hollyann@addyshope.com, she will send you the picture of the boy or girl in the age range you request. Then you can prayerfully decide on a child to sponsor.

Our children know we rely on the generosity of donors like you! They pray for you regularly...not prompted by any adult, just because they are children who understand to a certain extent the situation they are in. Please help them regain at least some of their childhood by not having to worry about the basic needs!

We Need Sponsors!

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

Tour of Homes Was a Success!

A great big thank you to everyone who made the Tour of Homes possible! We made $2,900! We are so blessed by all of you who bought tickets and donated money. This money fed our 49 kids for the month of December and paid some of our staff salaries!

A special thank you to those who opened their homes for us! People are still talking about all the colors in the house, the concrete counter tops, the warmth of the holiday decorations and the peacock tree! Without each of you, this event wouldn't have been possible!

We also owe a huge debt to John Petree, our board President, for organizing the event this year! We learned much and will have to replace him with a team of committee's next year! Thank you, John!

Two people who were invaluable to us as we planned and sold tickets for the event were Laura Lyon Sales and Leigh-Anne Salcido. Laura sold tickets for the tour just as amazingly as she does houses! She helped make the event as successful as it was with her ticket sales as well as recruiting of houses for us. Thank you, Laura! Leigh-Anne was absolutely amazing at helping us get the word out by scheduling our news spots and teaching us about marketing our event. We are so thankful for each of you ladies and the talents you brought to our event.
Another invaluable part of our event was Carol Siddall who helped recruit, deliver tickets and pick up packets for the Odessa tour. She is also the supportive mother of our Executive Director..thank you, Mom!


Start planning now.... "Hope for Christmas: A Holiday Tour of Homes 2" will be in December 2010! It's sure to be even more amazing!

Addy's Hope Receives License!

As of January 12, 2010, Addy's Hope is officially a licensed child placing agency in the state of Texas! We praise God for His faithfulness in walking us through this process and providing the knowledge, wisdom and people necessary to make this happen. HollyAnn Petree, our executive director, attended an informational meeting with Texas licensing in October 2005. At that time Texas would not license internationally only agencies. Since that time, we have stayed in close contact with licensing. All the hard work has paid off, and we are now licensed!

As a licensed agency, we can now provide more services such as home study reports and post placement reports for families in West Texas in need of these services. Please pass our name along to families who are adopting in this area. We also look forward to providing support services to families in this area who have adopted, both internationally as well as domestically.

Feel free to contact us at hollyann@addyshope.com or 432.897.1503 if you have questions or are in need of our services.

To God be the glory!