Added info on Lifesong Donations

Please be sure to mark any donations to Lifesong that you intend to go to our former children's home as a donation to "Liberia:Marshall" as they have several projects in Liberia and want to ensure your donation goes where you intend. Thank you in advance for donating to Lifesong and helping them care for orphans!

Day of Prayer and Fasting for important meeting

Hello all!

I am so excited to ask for you to join us in fasting and praying this Friday, July 16 for a crucial meeting in Liberia on Saturday, July 17. There will be a meeting that will allow the adoption service providers a chance to tell the whole truth of adoptions in Liberia. To this point, the only public stories told were the lies spread by the Ministry of Health and some at the Justice Ministry. But thanks to a new Justice Minister, there will be a public hearing where the truth can be told!

I have asked before that you pray Psalm 10. God has taken me back there. Please pray this for the children of Liberia and those who have been taken money when/how they should not have been. Pray it for the officials who have the power and obligation to speak up and publicly take a stand against the lies being told to President Sirleaf about adoptions. Pray for President Sirleaf, that un-like Pharaoh, her heart will not be hardened, but softened to the plight of the children in her country. As I have always said, adoption is not the solution, but is a small piece to a large puzzle that can help turn this country around. One of our children will be attending the meeting to speak. He is one of our amazing young men. Pray for him. Pray that he has the opportunity to speak on behalf of all the waiting children in Liberia. Pray that God gives him the words and the boldness to speak just like David as he approached Goliath!

As always, this battle is truly not against these people....any of those in power who have acted in wicked ways. This battle is against the evil forces of darkness in this world. So let's pray those evil forces back to the abyss! It's time for the children to be victorious in this battle and God to receive the honor and glory due Him in the adoptions as they occur!

A huge thank you to Maria Luiken from WACSN for her efforts and courage in speaking with officials and fighting for the children of Liberia and working to make this meeting happen. She came to our rescue when Deputy Minister Geebro illegally tried to stop us and three other families from bringing home our children in January 2008. She is a true warrior for the children of Liberia. Pray for her and the others on the front lines as they meet with these officials this week.

Many now agree that it is time for the corruption and lies to be made public! I am so thankful for this as God has told me for some time that it is time to expose those in power who are acting in wicked ways toward the children and prospering personally. Now we, the adoption service providers, are united in exposing those people. May God's justice reign!

Thank you for praying! I will post more specific prayer requests and scriptures to be praying as the week progresses. Please pass this along to other prayer warriors. Its time for the adoption band to be lifted and these children to come home to the homes God has prepared in advance for them!

For the children,
HollyAnn Petree
Executive Director
Addy's Hope Adoption Agency

Exciting News in Liberia

It is with great excitement that I announce to you the passing of the baton! Addy's Hope has recently partnered with Lifesong for Orphans here in American and Master's Home of Champions in Liberia. Lifesong and Master's Home of Champions have been in partnership for some time now. Addy's Hope has just joined them in order to further the ministry we all feel God has called us to in Liberia.


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.

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.

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!

Serving along side all of you,

HollyAnn Petree

Executive Director

Addy's Hope

James Rutherford Siddall

March 19, 1922 - May 13, 2010

Addy's Hope would like to thank the Siddall family for lovingly requesting memorials for James Siddall to go to Addy's Hope. James, or Granddaddy as we all knew him, is the dearly loved grandfather of our Executive Director, HollyAnn Petree. All memorials have been and will continue to be used to feed the children in Addy's Hope home in Liberia and carry on the work that God has called Addy's Hope to do in caring for the less fortunate of this world.

James Rutherford Siddall, 88 passed away Thursday,May 13, 2010. He was born March 19, 1922 in Coleman County to Robert and Bessie (Cathey) Siddall. He lived all of his youth around Fisk, Texas. He was a member of the World’s Greatest Generation, serving his country proudly in the United States Army Air Force from 1942 – 1946 as an airplane mechanic. He married Ilma Bairrington on April 17, 1945 in Coleman, Texas. She preceded him in death on March 7, 2008, being married nearly 63 years.

After his discharge from the Army Air Force he went to work for Taylor Motor Company in Coleman, Texas. In 1948, James began work with El Paso Natural Gas. While working for El Paso Natural Gas, James and Ilma lived at the El Paso Natural Gas Camp #1; Carlsbad, New Mexico; Loving , New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. He began working for Shell Pipeline at the tank farm in 1963 in El Paso. In 1965, he was transferred to Odessa, Texas. He later became a welder for Shell and moved to Eunice, New Mexico. After being promoted to welding inspector, James and Ilma worked all over the United States. He retired from Shell Pipeline in 1985.

He was a member and past president of the Lion’s Club in Eunice, New Mexico, and an Elder in the Eunice Christian Church where he often led the singing. He never met a stranger and would talk with anyone as if they were an old friend. He enjoyed woodworking, and made candle holders for all of his children and grandchildren. The family will miss his “sayings”, and him singing the gospel songs he loved to sing so much. At 80 years young, he was the oldest member of The Faithful Men, a group of men that sang together for almost seven years. He was a member of Antioch Christian Church.

He is survived by his two sons, Jimmie and wife Carol of Odessa; Bill and wife Bonnie of Abilene, TX. Five grandchildren: Keith Siddall and wife LouAnn of Madison, IN; HollyAnn Petree and husband John of Midland, TX.; Shaun Siddall and wife Jessica of Lovington, NM; Casey Siddall of Midland, TX; Heather Hawkins and husband Kenneth of Seminole, TX. He was blessed with 9 great-grandchildren: Callie, Noah, Toben, and Ava Petree; Ashland Siddall; Shauntell, Aliyah, Kenneth Jr. and Alara Hawkins. He is survived by sister-in-law Florine Siddall of Morrilton, AR. He was preceded in death by 3 sisters Clara Bee and Mary Blanche Siddall, Ina Mae Sheffield, and brother Robert Siddall.

The family would like to thank Dr. Francisco Salcido for his loving care of our father. To the staff at Sherwood place and Buena Vida Nursing Home, words of thank you are inadequate for all you did for our father, and for the love that you showed to him.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Addy’s Hope Adoption and Child Relief Ministry, 1908 W. Wall, Suite D, Midland, Texas 7970l or to the American Heart Association.

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!