Adoption Blog

Adoption Resources at Your Church

If you are looking for ways to introduce adoption to your church in 2010, we have some resources for you.  Along with free adoption seminars, America World can also provide resources to families in your church who may be considering adoption.  Information packets, tri-fold brochures and promotional DVD’s (2-1/2 minutes) are available for church information booths or at special church events.  We may also be able to schedule “Spirit of Adoption” seminars at your church as well.  Please contact our Public Relations department about seminars and/or adoption materials at Mike.Stone@awaa.org.

China Program Referrals Arrive!

America World is pleased to announce that we received 3 healthy female referrals today! Families receiving referrals were logged into the China Center of Adoption Affairs on April 3, 2006 (group 257).  The little girls are currently located in the Guizhou Province and range in age from 13 to 24 months old. Please join us in congratulating these families, and in praying for them as they prepare to travel!

Dates Matched 
Families who have an LID of April 1-3, 2006 have been matched with a referral.

Next Group To Receive a Referral
America World’s next group anticipating a referral has an LID of 4/6/2006.  America World will continue to update families as new referral information is received.

Current Wait Time
The current wait time from LID to referral is 44-45 months with a trend of increasing from a half a month to a full month each month.

Christmas Message from the Miller Family

Little Georgia Mei hops and dances, her smile as wide as her face can hold as she follows behind her brother lovingly mimicking everything he does. It is moments like this that make my eyes mist and all I can do is thank God that His plans were so different from mine.

 

The greatest gift that we have this season is not one wrapped under a tree; it is our Georgia Mei who covers us daily with kisses so extravagant that she has to wiggle all over after giving them. But the gift is more than that; it is what God has done in our hearts as we stepped out on a journey far beyond anything we ever imagined we could handle. Our whole family is forever changed and we would never want to go back.

Prayers Requested for a Member of our Ethiopia Team

Please keep Robel Alawi, our in-country Ethiopia Travel Coordinator in your prayers. Robel was injured in a motorcycle accident over the weekend. He is currently in the hospital with a badly injured knee. Families who would like to send a note of encouragement to Robel can send them via email or mail to our office for us to pass along. Robel is a valued asset to our AWAA team in Ethiopia and has blessed our traveling families with his hard work and heart for orphans and street children. Please keep Robel in your prayers during this time.

Inclement Weather

Due to inclement weather in the Washington, DC and Northern Virginia area, the federal government has alaready anounced that it will be closed tomorrow, Monday December 21st.  America World has always followed the federal governemnt's weather closing procedures, and will therefore also be closed on Monday.

We wish everyone who also experienced the snow this weekend both safety and fun!

March 2010 Mission Trip to Costa Rica

Visiting Orphans is leading a mission trip to work with two orphanages in Limon, Costa Rica from March 3rd to March 10th, 2010. 
 
Visiting Orphans, is working in partnership with PANI, the Patronato Nacional de la Infancia. PANI is an organization in Costa Rica which protects the rights of children and adolescents. This includes the rights to health care, education, justice, work, culture and recreation, and the right to a safe and healthy family life.  We will visit two orphanages each day in the port town of Limon on the Caribbean Coast.  Port towns have many issues and one of the greatest problems in Limon is family life due to the instability of the area. 

Costa Rica is one of the most bio-diverse countries on the planet.  Its natural beauty is stunning and its beaches breathtaking.  However, on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica in the port town of Limon there is something that is breathtaking in a different way.  There are kids sleeping in the streets, there are problems with drugs and prostitution, the Afro-Caribbean population there that originally came from the Caribbean islands has been forgotten by the central Costa Rican government.  Social programs are seldom seen and the ones that do exist have a difficult time getting resources. 

Fortunately, there are two orphanages in the port town of Limon that fight hard to take care of the town’s youth.  Run by an energetic woman by the name of Gabriella, these two orphanages offer hope to children from broken families.  Not only hope but education, justice, recreation, access to health care, culture and recreation.  Limon is one of the locations in Costa Rica with the most needs.  This town is still very much 3rd world and these orphanages rarely receive mission teams, if ever.

Your support and action are necessary to the advancement of these young children and teens.  At the moment there are 48 orphans in two orphanages in Limon that will be readily anticipating the arrival of Visiting Orphans in March. 
 
We will be staying in a town called Cahuita.  It is a coastal town on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica that borders a National Park.  It has a laid back atmosphere and it utterly stunning in its coastal beauty.  Turquoise tropical waters caress white and black sand beaches right outside the hotel that will soothe your heart allowing time for reflection every morning and afternoon.  

Most of our time will be spent in the port city of Limon where we will participate in activities with the local Orphanages. This is a time to put the love of Christ into action by ministering to orphans. We will be doing all kinds of projects that may include anything from painting murals to gardening to playing sports with the kids, arts & crafts, holding them, playing games, teaching them about Jesus, and music.

The orphanages need school supplies off all kinds, from pen and pencils to books.  They also need diapers and towels, educational toys and infant, kids and teen clothing.  This team will work to collect and deliver these needs to the orphanages.  The ages of the children range from infants to 16 years of age.
  
This team will also connect and work with a ministry to the local indigenous Bri-Bri people of Costa Rica and a ministry to local surfers in the area.

There will also be some time for some sightseeing activities as well - including a guided tour of the National Park in Cahuita one morning and on our final day in Costa Rica - we will go white water rafting on one of the top 5 rivers on the planet for rafting. This river cuts through virgin rainforest so the scenery is stunning. For those of you who choose not to raft, you can choose to visit a museum or a local pineapple plantation.

The cost is only $1800 per person.
 
We would love for you to join us on this life changing mission trip.  To learn more or apply for this trip please click here.

End of the Year

I’m back in the office this week, after having been to China to meet the new director of the CCAA.  He seems like a great fit for that position – he is excited about his role in helping build families and he expressed a sincere desire to help orphans in his country.  Although my time in China was brief, it was good to have met with him, meet with our staff in Beijing and one of the travel guides we use.

We’re excited for all the families recently back from Rwanda, Ethiopia & China.  It was great to meet a few of the Rwanda families while I was traveling last week.  I enjoy meeting families in country – it’s a joy to see them with their children.

We’ve had a busy week, which always seems to happen at the end of the year.  We have the office Christmas dinner on Monday night – it’ll be nice to spend time with co-workers outside of the office.

The 2009 inter-country adoption statistics have been put out by the Department of State.  As many of you can guess, there has been a dramatic decrease in adoptions this year.  My prayer for 2010 is that many countries will be more amenable to inter-country adoption as an option for children in their care. 

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince Of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with Judgment and with Justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.  ~Isaiah 9:6-7

USCIS Announcement for I-800A Families Applying or Renewing

First Time Applicants:
Families must file their 800A application and applicable documents with the USCIS Dallas Lockbox Facility at one of the following addresses:

If using U.S. Postal Service:
PO Box 660087
Dallas, TX 75266

If using Courier services (UPS, FedEx, etc. )
ATTN: Hague
2501 S. State Highway 121 Business, Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067

Applicants Renewing the I-800A application:
Families renewing their I-800A form must still submit their application for renewal (Supplement 3 form or 800A form) to the address listed above, regardless of where the original I-800A form was filed. 

For more information on this change, please go to the following link ( click on Download I-800A instructions/ information is located on page 8 of the PDF) :

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=af78b3dfc7c58110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD&vgnextchannel=c88fd1eb6dc43210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

Filing for an I-600A Renewal - Update from USCIS

Families filing for a renewal of the I-600A form for Grandfathered cases (i.e. an I-600A filed prior to April 1, 2008) must file their form at the USCIS Field Office having jurisdiction over the place of residence of the perspective parent(s), not with the Texas Lockbox facility.  For more information, visit the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov and click Adoption forms, choose I-600A, and then instructions for filing the I-600A. The following link has been provided for your convenience:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=abde5f56ff55d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=c88fd1eb6dc43210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD
Families Residing Abroad
For families residing outside of the U.S., please consult your nearest American Consulate for the overseas or stateside USCIS office designated to act on your application. Information on being fingerprinted while living abroad can also be found on page four of the PDF at this link: (choose- instructions for completing the I-600A)

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=abde5f56ff55d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel

PR Coordinator Employment Opportunity

America World Adoption Association is seeking a full-time PR Coordinator to work in its McLean, Virginia office.

Responsibilities include mailing PR/Marketing materials to prospective adoptive families, shipping materials and supplies to affiliate offices, website maintenance, monitoring inventory, updating event registrations and seminars, working with marketing vendors, interfacing with Program Directors to receive updates on all public information, maintaining orderly mail and storage rooms, participation on phone answering team, as well as other duties as assigned.

The qualified candidate is a committed believer in Jesus Christ, possesses a high school degree, and has had two – three years of work experience. A heart for families and orphans is a must, as well as an energetic, can-do attitude. We are looking for an individual who shows initiative and professionalism, in addition to strong skills in verbal/written communication, organization, and multi-tasking. Basic computer knowledge and experience required. Some experience in marketing/public relations/communications is a great advantage. Because of job responsibilities involving shipping and receiving large quantities of paper products, the successful candidate is able to regularly handle weights of up to 50 pounds. Local applicants only, please!

Interested applicants should email cover letter, resume, and Statement of Faith** to Human Resources or fax to 703-891-0051, ATTN: Human Resources.

**Statement of Faith

What is a Statement of Faith?
A Statement of Faith is a brief description of your Christian faith and how you believe it would impact your involvement with America World. It should include, at a minimum, a brief narrative of your faith journey and how that journey has continued to shape your daily life, along with a description of the spiritual disciplines that have helped to develop your faith.

Why do we require a Statement of Faith?
As an agency, America World exists to help America’s families and the world’s orphans experience the love of Jesus Christ through the Spirit of Adoption. We strive to support families in the adoption journey, as well as promote the placement of as many children into Christian homes as possible. By requiring that our staff members are experiencing a growing relationship with Christ, we are able to provide the Christian support and guidance that helps realize this vision.