My Adopting Story

Tony Dungy, Super Bowl winning head coach and adoptive dad has teamed up with "The Adoption Journey" to put together a package for the Super Bowl halftime. They have created a free downloadable kit to raise awareness for the orphan crisis and promote adoption.

For those of you who know someone watching the big game or hosting a party, maybe this would be a good resource. Dungy is a well-respected leader in the football community and a great champion for the adoption movement. Stop by their website, The Adoption Journey, for details.

If you're stuck for a Valentine's Day idea, stop by the ABBA Canada page. They're putting on an elegant dinner for you and your date to raise money for adoption grants. There will be live music, free childcare, a door prize, entertainment, a fancy meal and rumour has it, it might top up the credits in your romance bank! 

We're very excited to welcome Kim Schilstra to the MAS family and to the ABBA Canada story page! We met with Kim at our Orphan Sunday in November, after she stumbled upon a video of Tamara promoting adoption through the Focus on the Family webpage. She is from Vancouver Island and is very passionate to promote adoption and help families reduce barriers to bringing home their children.

When we met, she told us about her vision to meet with churches and help them start orphan ministries and begin raising funds for adoption grants. We left the meeting feeling very encouraged about the possibilities of someone dedicating their time on Vancouver Island to further the adoption movement and assist families.

In her first post on the MAS site, she announced that she has a vision to see 20 churches on Vancouver Island begin raising money for adoption grants and/or start practical ministries to support adoptive families. Lofty goal or passionate, motivated adoption-advocate that’s going to start a storm on Vancouver Island? We’ll let you decide, but based on what we’ve seen passionate young people accomplish, we’re going with the latter!
 

Pop over to her page and check out her vision. Kim we believe in you and we’re excited to see what happens! ABBA Canada - Vancouver Island 

Came across this story via www.nogreaterjoymom.com, the orignal source being Focus on the Family, faces of life contest winning story.  The story:

Candice is a squatter - one who hops trains for a living and is homeless by choice. She was pregnant and had planned on an abortion, but decided to make an adoption plan for her baby after going to Life Choices. Watch this video to see the baby and the adoptive family.

About mid-November, we received a twitter message letting us know what was happening in the UK for International adoption month. We were really inspired by the fact that all over the world, people are excited about adoption! It's really interesting to hear about what others are doing. We love following different stories about how different individuals and groups of people rally together to support adoption and care for the orphan.

Last month, on November 20th, we got our chance to do something. The pastor at our church gave us the opportunity to preach all three morning services on the global orphan crisis and challenge the congregation to respond with what they could do to help. If you’re interested, here is the message: The Orphan Crisis – Kristjen Hull

Everyone has a sphere of influence. We are involved in a church, but I also go to work at a day job every day. I play hockey on a rec team. I snowboard with friends. I do outdoor adventure trips with other friends and help run a family canoe trip business. I interact with people every day in my neighbourhood and community. We love being around all different kinds of people and we love sharing with them the things we’re passionate about.

Who is your circle of influence? Have you shared your passion for the adoption with them? They probably don’t know or trust me, but I bet they’d love to hear from you!