Thursday, December 4, 2008
Happy Holidays!
Hello to everyone! We hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are enjoying this holiday seasong. We are continuing to work hard here at CAS with our El Salvador program and are thankful for the small steps that have been taken. Currently, we have been given verbal permission to obtain photos and updated social and medical history files on our waiting children and are waitng for the written consent to be given to our lawyer. Once this has been given, we are hoping that it will not be much longer to get that information. To help the process along, we have contacted Cristina, a relative of Doris Woodward in El Salvador, to go with our lawyer and get the much needed information quicker. We ask that you join us in prayer as times can be frustrating both for us as CAS staff, our waiting families, and especially the children in the orphanages. We know that the Lord is working and His timing is perfect so we are working diligently to do as much as we can to bring these children home and find families for those that are still waiting. Blessings to you!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Thinking of Adopting Older Children?
This is the name of a recent article published on the Rainbow Kids website. It has useful information and encouragement in adopting older children. Make sure you read the comments below to see what families have to say. There is a comment from a family that has adopted a 7 & 8 year old from El Salvador on there!
Here's the link: http://www.rainbowkids.com/articledetails.aspx?id=616
Enjoy!
Here's the link: http://www.rainbowkids.com/articledetails.aspx?id=616
Enjoy!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Exciting News!
After many months of waiting to be cleared by OPA and ISNA to get updated files and pictures of our waiting children, our lawyer in San Salvador got the go! We are very excited to move forward with obtaining this updated information and continuing the journey of finding "forever" families for these children. It is encouraging to see that the Lord is moving us forward step by step and showing us HIS faithfulness in that. Our prayer is that the process would move quicker and that these children will finally be in families that can provide not only for their physical needs, but a loving embrace to grow from. Just as we live out of the embrace of Christ, we desire that these children come to know Him and are able to live out of that holistically -- from the embrace of the Father and their new families!
We are so close to finding families for these children, with serveral applications sent out already and are eager to see what happens next! A sibling set of girls may have found a home and one other family is already in the process of being adopted!
Thanks for praying with us for these children!
We are so close to finding families for these children, with serveral applications sent out already and are eager to see what happens next! A sibling set of girls may have found a home and one other family is already in the process of being adopted!
Thanks for praying with us for these children!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
La Prensa Grafica
If you would like information on what is going on with ISNA please check out this recent posting in La Prensa Grafica (spanish only). Here ISNA is being criticized for not taking sufficient care of their children. These articles bring to light what has been going on recently with the news of the death of a child in their care. Although this breaks my heart, it also spurs our agency on to work quicker to bring those waiting children into loving homes. Along with that, this criticism is in our favor even within the El Salvador side of the process because it will case ISNA and OPA to look at the care of their children with a more critical eye and hopefully clear more children and quicker for adoption.
Website: http://www.laprensagrafica.com/epaper/20081001/default.html
Website: http://www.laprensagrafica.com/epaper/20081001/default.html
Continuing the process...
The waiting process continues for us here at CAS. As the interest in our waiting children and in the program increases we are awaiting the updated information and pictures of these children. From what we have been told, we are half way through obtaining permision for having the pictures taken and are crossing our fingers that this will happen soon!
Over the past few weeks, we have had well over fifty families interested in the program and the children that are waiting! This has been a great encouragement to us and has also shown the Salvadoran goverment agencies our desire and heart to care for those children in need. With the high rate of malnourishment in children and the recent criticism that ISNA has recieved, it is obvious how much these children need a "forever" family. One that will care for them, love them and raise them in a Christian home. We are thankful for those families that have taken the step in faith to start this process and are eager for other families to do so as well.
In addition to adoption, there are other ways that we can help the need children in El Salvador. One major way is to help with the malnourishment problem and help raise awareness here of the help that is needed in El Salvador. Please visit http://www.love-link.org/contact.shtml and see the story of an incredible couple that has answered their call to love and care for these children and see how you can get involved.
Praying that our next update will bring more good and encouraging news!
Over the past few weeks, we have had well over fifty families interested in the program and the children that are waiting! This has been a great encouragement to us and has also shown the Salvadoran goverment agencies our desire and heart to care for those children in need. With the high rate of malnourishment in children and the recent criticism that ISNA has recieved, it is obvious how much these children need a "forever" family. One that will care for them, love them and raise them in a Christian home. We are thankful for those families that have taken the step in faith to start this process and are eager for other families to do so as well.
In addition to adoption, there are other ways that we can help the need children in El Salvador. One major way is to help with the malnourishment problem and help raise awareness here of the help that is needed in El Salvador. Please visit http://www.love-link.org/contact.shtml and see the story of an incredible couple that has answered their call to love and care for these children and see how you can get involved.
Praying that our next update will bring more good and encouraging news!
Monday, September 29, 2008
And the wait continues...
I have been so encouraged and excited at the incredible amount of people that have had adoption placed on their heart! It has been is amazing to see families desire to love and care for kids that are in need and fulfill our calling as Christians to care for the orphans and the least of these. The longer I work here the more I see families living out this call and being active in their faith through this avenue.
As I mentioned before, we have several waiting kids from El Salvador and are slowly getting families for them. Right now we are waiting on updated file for their medical and social history for them. I am hoping that this wait won't be too much longer and that we will also get some pictures of the kids. We are patiently waiting for these updates although our hearts are really desiring to place these children in homes as soon as possible. I'll post an update with any new information that comes it, but as of now if you know of anyone interested they can email me and I'll send them the information that we have on the children. They are between the ages of 4-15. Have a great day!
As I mentioned before, we have several waiting kids from El Salvador and are slowly getting families for them. Right now we are waiting on updated file for their medical and social history for them. I am hoping that this wait won't be too much longer and that we will also get some pictures of the kids. We are patiently waiting for these updates although our hearts are really desiring to place these children in homes as soon as possible. I'll post an update with any new information that comes it, but as of now if you know of anyone interested they can email me and I'll send them the information that we have on the children. They are between the ages of 4-15. Have a great day!
International Adoption Info. Meeting
Just wanted to let you know that CAS is having their next International Adoption Informational Meeting next month on October 24th from 1-3pm. If you are at all interested in adoption this would be a great place to start and just gather information and have your questions answered. If you would like to join us, just give us a call at 704-847-0038. Hope you will join us!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Have you adopted from Latin America?
As I am waiting on the updated documents and pictures for the children we have had referred to us from El Salvador I am putting together a manual to help couples seeking to adopt from El Salvador. This manual includes specifics on our adoption process here at CAS, requirements for the Dossier completion, country information, travel information, post-adoption articles, etc. Although these are very helpful, I would like to get some personal stories from people that have adopted from El Salvador and get their opinion on what is needed and not needed. I know that a support group would be essential as new families start on this journey to adopt so my hope is that we can help get you guys connected here in the Charlotte area. So, if you, or someone you know, has adopted from El Salvador or any other Latin American country please shoot me an email. I would love to get together and hear your story so that I can better prepare these families and better care for these children. (caselsalvador@gmail.com)
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
A Little History
As I start this blog, I want to give you a little history on myself as well as Christian Adoption Services, Inc. and why the start of this program is so significant to the agency and myself.
I am currently a grad student at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC getting a Masters in Christian Counseling. For years now I have had a great passion for children and adolescents and their care. Along side this passion, I have also grown very aware of the many problems they face both here in the US and abroad and the lack of awareness that exits. After doing urban ministry in Durham, NC for a few years and going to Costa Rica on work projects, my desire to be a voice for those that don't have one has grown.
As I prepared for my move back to Charlotte to begin school, I knew I wanted to work in a field that would allow me to use my giftedness with children/adolescents and my love for the Latin culture and language...so, CAS came along. What struck me most as I researched the agency and spoke with Jim Woodward, the Executive Director, was that their focus was not to find a child that fits a family, but a family that fits the child. Their focus on the child first was huge. Their desire is to make sure that the child that is waiting will get the perfect family that will meet his/her needs from a physical, emotional and spiritual aspect.
As Jim started telling me more about their initiative to start a program to adopt out of El Salvador, it became clear that this was a place that all of my skills were finally coming into play along with the passions that the Lord has put on my heart.
To make things more interesting, the country of El Salvador is the reason that CAS even exists. In 1979, as a result of the success that Doris Woodward had in facilitating adoptions from her native country (El Salvador), the agency came into being. And now we have come full circle. You may be asking why I am saying that it is a new program. Well, many years ago, due to the civil war in El Salvador, the country was closed. Now, as it has opened back up, we would like to make the full circle and come back to serving the country and the children that help found this organization.
So, with that said, it has been an adventure and I am growing and learning more and more each day as I work here at CAS. We have gotten 7 referrals and are extremely excited about finding families for these children. Here are the gender and ages of the children we have and if you would like more information on them and on our agency please contact me at caselsalvador@gmail.com
Waiting Children:
Male - 9 years old
Male - 15 years old
Male Sibling group (2) - 10 & 14 years old
Female Sibling group (2) - 7 & 12 years old
Male - 4 years old
Male Sibling group (2) - 12 & 13 years old
We are currently waiting on updated social and medical histories on these children and photographs. I will post additional information on adoptions soon.
I am currently a grad student at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC getting a Masters in Christian Counseling. For years now I have had a great passion for children and adolescents and their care. Along side this passion, I have also grown very aware of the many problems they face both here in the US and abroad and the lack of awareness that exits. After doing urban ministry in Durham, NC for a few years and going to Costa Rica on work projects, my desire to be a voice for those that don't have one has grown.
As I prepared for my move back to Charlotte to begin school, I knew I wanted to work in a field that would allow me to use my giftedness with children/adolescents and my love for the Latin culture and language...so, CAS came along. What struck me most as I researched the agency and spoke with Jim Woodward, the Executive Director, was that their focus was not to find a child that fits a family, but a family that fits the child. Their focus on the child first was huge. Their desire is to make sure that the child that is waiting will get the perfect family that will meet his/her needs from a physical, emotional and spiritual aspect.
As Jim started telling me more about their initiative to start a program to adopt out of El Salvador, it became clear that this was a place that all of my skills were finally coming into play along with the passions that the Lord has put on my heart.
To make things more interesting, the country of El Salvador is the reason that CAS even exists. In 1979, as a result of the success that Doris Woodward had in facilitating adoptions from her native country (El Salvador), the agency came into being. And now we have come full circle. You may be asking why I am saying that it is a new program. Well, many years ago, due to the civil war in El Salvador, the country was closed. Now, as it has opened back up, we would like to make the full circle and come back to serving the country and the children that help found this organization.
So, with that said, it has been an adventure and I am growing and learning more and more each day as I work here at CAS. We have gotten 7 referrals and are extremely excited about finding families for these children. Here are the gender and ages of the children we have and if you would like more information on them and on our agency please contact me at caselsalvador@gmail.com
Waiting Children:
Male - 9 years old
Male - 15 years old
Male Sibling group (2) - 10 & 14 years old
Female Sibling group (2) - 7 & 12 years old
Male - 4 years old
Male Sibling group (2) - 12 & 13 years old
We are currently waiting on updated social and medical histories on these children and photographs. I will post additional information on adoptions soon.
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