We are two moms who love orphans! We met seven years ago as we were both going through our first adoptions (one domestic and one international) … Thirteen kids and seven adoptions later, we are bound together through faith and mission. We love “doing life together” and accepting the call to speak up for orphans everywhere. We want to help as many people as possible to see the 147 million orphans as scripture calls them, “…those who have no voice.”   We want you to see YOUR PART in helping change the life of an orphan. Could it be adoption, sponsoring a child, volunteering for orphan care ministry, rocking babies at an orphanage, financially supporting someone adopting, or buying these products?

GWEN’S BLOG: oatsvallteam@blogspot.com

SUZANNE’S BLOG: joiningthejourney.blospot.com

Where We Give

Two Families “Doing Our Part”:

**Helping FEED children in Uganda, Haiti, Honduras, China and Ethiopia with each product purchased (Donating 50%+)

**Educating and encouraging families about the HIV+/Aids crisis along with financially supporting several ministries that care for these children.

**Offering Adoptive Families wholesale products to sell (100% profit from fundraising for families)

**Helping Local African Refugees earn a sustainable income from handmade products

**Working with Ugandan women in Africa on sustainable income from their handmade necklaces

**Encouraging other adoptive families on their journey

**Partnering with churches to help grow their Orphan/Adoption Ministry

**Speaking Up For Those Who Do Not Have a Voice

Chasing Our Calling,  Gwen & Suzanne

STATISTICS … DON’T GET CAUGHT UP IN THE NUMBER, BUT IN THE CHILDREN !!!!

• Did you know there are hundreds of millions of  children worldwide who have lost one or both parents.
• Every 14 seconds an AIDS death leaves another child orphaned.
• Approximately 88 million orphans live in Asia.
• Approximately 45 million orphans live in Africa.
• Approximately 14 million orphans live in Latin America & the Caribbean.
• Approximately 1 million children live in public care in Central & Eastern Europe
• More than 800,000 children pass through America’s foster care system each year.

These statistics do not even include the UNKNOWN children living orphaned both here and abroad that go uncounted, unnoticed and unloved.

James 1:27 “Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for the orphans and widows in their troubles  and refuse to let the world corrupt us.”

QUESTION/ ANSWERS ABOUT ADOPTION

I was sitting in church one day, when the Lord spoke to me and said He had a child for me. There was an African-American little boy sitting in front of me that day with the biggest smile. While I looked into his eyes the Lord was speaking to my heart. After a little research, we found that African-American boys are the last children to be chosen in the domestic adoptive community. My husband and I soon became of one heart in the decision to bring home our first son and after the blessing of him joining our family, we gave him a brother. Domestic adoption is an emotional journey and one we would encourage anyone to take who has heard the call.

Are you afraid the birth parents will come back one day?

Legally, my sons are mine. Using a reputable agency and understanding the legal paperwork for domestic adoption is a must. Ultimately, God is in control of all of our futures and there might come a day when my sons ask to meet their biological parents and I am already praying about that day. If this day arrives, the Lord will walk us through that moment just as He does each day.

How does it feel to live as a multicultural family?

The blessings far out weigh any challenges we might face. Adoption has changed all of our hearts, not just our boy’s lives. We have changed our community, our school, church, and our extended family with our adoption journeys. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

Gwen:  Why did you adopt from China and Africa?

It is a simple answer really. God directed our hearts first to China because of some very close friends. We began to educate ourselves on the plight of little girls in China and knew God was calling us to adopt from there. It forever changed our life! Standing in that governmental room in China was a turning point in our life, our family, and our purpose here on earth. God is now directing our family to Africa. The Father has once again opened our hearts and eyes to His children and how we are to grow our family and welcome in THE LEAST OF THESE.

My favorite comment is … I would adopt if I only had the money.

We are here to say it can be done if you are willing to work. We are a family who has not had any extra money for the adoption fees, but my husband always says, “God will fund what He favors.” It has taken a lot of work, a lot of sharing our story, and a lot of time to raise the funds, but at the end of the day the JOY of being one step closer to our child is so worth it. We hope our site can help you in your fundraising efforts.

How do you handle the wait for your child?

Waiting is never an easy process. We begin to dream about our child and fall in love with a person, whom we have never met. I will say that with each wait God has done some amazing work in our lives. He has taught us how to submit to His will, how to trust in His perfect plan for our life, and how to reach for His word during the hills and the valleys. Always remember that others are watching you wait and you want to WAIT well by shining a light for the glory of the Father.

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