Adoption.  Foster care. Are you called to adopt or foster?  Do you have questions about adoption and foster care? We will have our next adoption workshop in July to answer your questions. Also, for our next family fellowship and Mom's coffee break hop on over to our support page!

From Aimee': Yesterday I was part of an event where we were able to display the Louisiana Heart Gallery to pastors around Louisiana. It is always such as emotional time for me. Up until the event I have probably looked at these children's faces 100 times. Most are my children's ages. Over and over again I fight back tears thinking I CANNOT imagine my children being without a Mom or Dad to hold them and hug them, encourage them, love on them, pray for them. These children do not have that. I look into their eyes and it breaks me. These days I especially find myself watching the time waiting for my children to come home so I can just hug them tight. At times I feel like I am not doing enough for these children because they are still there in a system that although protects them from harm and bad situations cannot possibly replace a family to call their own. There is a lot of work to do and these are not the only children. There are children in China, Africa, Russia, Thailand, Bulgaria, Peru, etc..... that deserve a family to call their own.

Yesterday I felt so deflated during this event. I know I was under attack from the enemy but I couldn't shake frustration and anger and failure thoughts. Then at the very end of the event while people were leaving I was standing at the Louisiana Heart Gallery display talking to a woman who was moved by this one child on the display. I love when God moves on the hearts of people as it relates to the fatherless. I love being a part of this but what came out of her mouth next I just was not prepared for: As she was filling out her name and contact information I shared with her how we had eight children and six were adopted one from here and five from Peru. As I was talking she stopped writing her information and looked at me and said "why in the world would you adopt children in another country when there are children here?" I wish I could say she said it with an air innocent wonder but she didn't. She said it as if to say "how dare you adopt outside of the USA when there are children here!" Her tone was strong and I am sure my face showed how I thought but God has called me to be a peacemaker and bridge builder not a pot stirrer. My flesh had lots I wanted to tell this woman but I ended up looking at her straight in the eye and said, "because God called my husband and I to adopt these children. These children are also created by God just like the children here in Louisiana. They too deserve a family to call their own." I then said "a child without a Mom or Dad is a child without a Mom or Dad no matter where they are." I then said, "you know we have a child with special needs who we adopted from Peru who is diagnosed as mildly mentally retarded and if she would have not gotten adopted there is a great possibility that she would have been sexually abused, used to sell things on the street late at night, the list could go on and on. But God chose her for us and I wouldn't have it any other way." I stopped and she just looked. Our conversation ended. I took down the Louisiana Heart Gallery with Mr. Richard and Paula, got in the car angry, frustrated, deflated! Got home so tired and teary eyed. I was emotionally spent.

Let me be very clear about how I feel: I am called to be salt and light. I am called to be a peacemaker and bridge builder. I am not called to be a pot stirrer and judgmental fool who reacts with harsh words when someone says something I definitely do not like to hear. Through the years God has worked on me ..... worked on my flesh, worked on my spirit. It has taken years to get to this spot. I have a long way to go but I definitely am not who I used to be thank You Lord.

With that said let me say ALL children without a Mom or Dad wherever they may be in this world deserve a family to call their own and I will continue to be a voice for all of them. And to you who agree but you run into a situation like this and someone says the same thing to you can I encourage you to chose your words carefully and be gentle with them because God may be using you to remove the blinders from their eyes and soften their hearts. We cannot do this with anger and harmful words because that person "offended" us.

For those being called to adopt in another country other than the USA but family or friends are questioning your place of choice to adopt be encouraged that everybody has an opinion but what is God calling you to do? You will know because You will have peace about the decision. Family and friends mean well. A lot of time there opinion for your situation is from a pure motive of love for you but they do not know the conversation between you and God and that is ok. Just smile, tell them thank you for caring but I must follow the call of God and walk where He is asking us to walk or adopt where He is asking us to adopt. Be gentle with your words towards family and friends and don't get offended. We are peacemakers and bridge builders.

I had a good night sleep. Today is a new day! The difficulties we faced yesterday are over. Today God needs us engaged and focused not offended and angry. We stay on course, feet planted firm and press on. There are many children without a family depending on it

On January 18, the March for Life was held on the Louisiana State Capitol steps:  marching towards an abortion-free Louisiana!  The theme this year was ADOPTION. What an honor it was for Healing Place Church's His Heart for Orphans Adoption Ministry to be able to advocate for children in the foster care system who are available for adoption by displaying our 20' Louisiana Heart Gallery with over 60 precious children!  What a beautiful day at the Louisiana State Capitol for this event. 

We would like to give a big shout of thanks to Jessica, James, their daughters, and Mr. Richard for all their hard work to help pickup, setup, take down, and bring back :)  If you are in Louisiana and are interested in finding out more about foster to adopt you may email us at [email protected]

   

What an incredible day we had at Healing Place Church for Orphan Sunday!  We were able to advocate for 64 children who are available for adoption in the Louisiana Foster Care System.  Thank you to all who volunteered to help and for all those that stopped by to get more information.  If you are interested in adopting from the Foster Care system please visit www.adoptuskids.org or email us at [email protected].

If you are a church and would like to participate in Orphan Sunday next year please visit www.orphansunday.org

Such an amazing event yesterday:  Over the Edge for Adoption!  people rappelling over the One American Plaza Building to bring forth awareness about the children in the foster care system available for adoption that are waiting for a family... to adopt them.  We were honored to be a part of creating the Louisiana Heart Gallery  in the Louisiana Family Forum's OVER THE EDGE FOR ADOPTION event downtown BR.  We were able to advocate for 65 children who are available for adoption in Louisiana.  We were able to witness Governor Bobby Jindal sign Senate Bill 220 / Faith and Families Act which will reduce the wait for adoptions to be finalized, allow for homeschool or private school if DCFS says is in best interest of child and will also help with the medical cost for children with special needs. 

What an awesome team of people that made the Louisiana Heart Gallery  happen!  The Team: Becky Perkins, Bethany Wray, Chad Dinkel, David Wray, John Schutz, Greg Alford, Eric, Lauren Song, Tim Kirkpatrick, DCFS staff, Ashley Beth Photography, Natalie Miller, Leah Conti, Angela Pino, Kristine Kotter and our Pastor Johnny Green who rappelled OVER THE EDGE FOR ADOPTION! And many thanks for some awesome volunteers that came out to help: Aimee' Foster and her beautiful daughters and friends and Tracy!  To the team and volunteers THANK Y'ALL!! 

Our beautiful Louisiana Heart Gallery

Pastor Johnny Green about to rappel OVER THE EDGE FOR ADOPTION!

Louisiana Senator Mike Walsworth (District 33) and DCFS staff member Kelly rappelling down the One American Plaza Building to raise awareness about foster care adoption.

Governor Bobby Jindal signing the Faith and Families Act Senate Bill 220

One of our amazing volunteers!

Some awesome Healing Place Church volunteers!

Hello!

HPC is excited to be a part of the Over The Edge Initiative led by  Louisiana Family Forum.  The goal is to find families for children in foster  care that are currently available for adoption.  More information on this  project can be found here www.lafamilyforum.org .
 
We would love for you to join us  at One American Place, 301 Main St  Baton Rouge, LA 70801, in  Downtown Baton  Rouge this Friday, May 31st! Nearly 100 individuals will be rappelling from 9  a.m. until 4:30 p.m. the second tallest building in Downtown!
 
Pastor  Johnny will be rappelling at 10:00am! Come on out and support him as he goes  Over The Edge for adoption!  Pastors, lawmakers, lawyers, organization  leaders, mothers, fathers and so many others are going Over the Edge for  Adoption this Friday!   A few of the
courageous souls rappelling include LSU  Head Football Coach Les Miles; Miss Louisiana Lauren Vizza; Louisiana Supreme  Court Justice Jeff Hughes; Louisiana State Senators Rick Ward, Fred Mills, Jr.  and Elbert Guillory; Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle.

Also, we  will be hosting a Heart Gallery at the event, featuring pictures of 68 children  in Louisiana that are available for adoption!
 
 Here are a few ways you  can get involved:
 
1.  It’s not too late to sign on! If you want to join  us in going over, sign on atovertheedgeforadoption.com.
Also you can help Pastor Johnny go  “Over the Edge” by donating on his donation  page, http://www.stayclassy.org/fundraise?fcid=244672!  
2.  Bring your friends and family on  the 31st and show your support for foster care and adoption!
3.  Volunteer at  the event.  Volunteer shifts are from
7am-12noon or from 11am -5pm. We need more  volunteers for the 11-5 shift. 
PLEASE EMAIL [email protected] IF YOU WOULD LIKE  TO VOLUNTEER AND WE WILL SEND YOU ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

Thank you and  we hope to see you there this
Friday!

Bethany Wray

It never ceases to amaze me how coming together with families that have adopted or fostering or coming together with Mom's who choose to walk the path of adoption or fostercare re-energize and re-inspire me to stand firm and go forward with all that God wants us to do as it relates to adoption and fostercare.  If you think you are called to foster or adopt but you have questions, feel free to come to our next Adoption Workshop April 14 or join us at our next Mom's Coffee Break April 16.  You can get more information by emailing us at [email protected].