HIS Little Feet in Concert

Our LFCC Orphan/Adoption Ministry hopes to present HIS Little Feet in concert this fall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbYOB9AW2YM&feature=player_embedded

About HIS Little Feet Choir:
Over the next nine months, the choir made up of 15 Haitian orphans will be performing concerts all across the United States with the help of a local non-profit organization.

Michael and Christa Hahn are the founders of the His Little Feet Foundation.

"His Little Feet exist to help love and train vulnerable children all around the world. And so what they do the children come from Haiti, they be the voice for many children and then at our events Americans are giving the opportunity to respond they can go and serve orphans around the world, they can sponsor children in other parts of the world that need help and even people that are interested in adoption. We give people that outlet," Christa Hahn said.

This is the first group of orphans that have been released by the United States and Haitian government since the deadly earthquake.

The 15 orphans represent a small portion of the thousands of children still fighting for their life in Haiti from the aftermath of the earthquake.

"The opportunity for these kids to do something like this at such a young age is life changing for them," Hahn said.

We will keep you posted as the concert schedule gets finalized so you can plan a trip to Linton, IN to see these beautiful children in concert.

God bless you,

Angi & Tim

What goes into an Ethiopian Adoption?

Here is a brief description of what happens in an Ethiopian Adoption and is the reason "Why" we need an experienced adoption agency like America World.

 PROCESS

Ethiopia’s international adoption process is relatively inexpensive and uncomplicated. After filling out an application, receiving approval through America World’s intake process, and signing an Agreement with America World, prospective parents initiate what we call the “paper chase," which takes 4-6 months
(6 months in our case)to complete. During this stage of the adoption, families begin assembling their dossier (set of adoption paperwork). America World assigns each family a personal Family Coordinator (Caitlin) to help them compile their dossier, which includes a home study and approval from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Before America World can submit a family’s dossier to the Ethiopian government’s Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, it must be sent through a careful process of certification and authentication in order for it to be used as a legal framework for adoption. Certification and authentication is a three-step procedure in which dossier documents visit their respective Secretaries of State, the U.S. Department of State, and Ethiopia’s Embassy in Washington, D.C. Family Coordinators will assist families through this process as well. The authentication process concludes the paper chase, and America World delivers the finished dossier to the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (08/19/10).   

Once the dossier is in Ethiopia, it is translated, processed and examined by the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs. Our staff works with government officials and orphanages as a match is made between prospective parents and a child. Prospective parents typically wait 3-11 months  (we are at 9 months, 3 weeks, and 5 days) before receiving a referral of a child from Ethiopia. (This is where we are in the process...waiting for a referral)
These parents are given a picture, medical test results and a short profile of the child’s life. All children are tested for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis and other medical conditions. Prospective parents are given the option to accept or reject the child referral they receive. America World plans travel arrangements for families choosing to accept their referral.

There are two in-country stays required in Ethiopia. Both parents must travel on the first trip, which is typically 5-7 days. Only one parent is required to return for the second trip, which generally lasts 3-5 days. America World’s staff will coordinate travel logistics, including air and ground transportation, lodging, translators, and some meals. Families fly into the capital city, Addis Ababa, where they are assisted by an America World representative. During their second stay, adoptive parents visit the U.S. consulate in Addis Ababa to receive their child’s visa.

America World is pleased to be able to offer families the opportunity to adopt from this beautiful African nation, and we are also eager to partner with others in our commitment to provide humanitarian aid and sustainable development projects for orphans’ welfare in Ethiopia. Your decision to adopt through America World will not only change your life and the life of the child you adopt — but will also affect the life of your friends, family and community.

We believe that our adoption program in Ethiopia offers a great opportunity to build families through God’s plan of adoption (so do we). As the 9th US agency licensed in Ethiopia, our program staff is experienced and ready to help serve your family in your adoption.

If anyone would like to talk with us about our experience we would love to share.  It has been a long wait, but nothing worth having is easy :)  

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? 
The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. 
He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. 
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:28-31

Hugs,
Angi & Tim

Fistual Hospital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Our Hospital

A haven of healing

Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital provides care for women with childbirth injuries and has done so since 1974. It is located in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. It is the only hospital of its kind in the world dedicated exclusively to women with obstetric fistula – a condition common in the developing world where the maternal health provisions are poor. It treats all patients completely free of any charge.

Background

Founded by Drs. Reginald and Catherine Hamlin both obstetrician/gynaecologists, from New Zealand and Australia respectively, the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital has treated over 30,000 women with a success/cure rate of over 90%. Today, the hospital provides free fistula repair surgery to approximately 2,500 women every year and cares for 50 long-term patients. Catherine Hamlin has chronicled the history of the hospital in her autobiography and she and the hospital have been the recipients of many awards and nominations

What is a Fistula?

The most devastating of all childbirth injuries

An obstetric fistula develops when the blood supply to the tissues of the vagina and bladder (and/or rectum) is cut off during prolonged, obstructed labour. The tissues die and a hole forms through which urine and/or faeces pass uncontrollably. Women who develop fistulae are often abandoned by their husbands, rejected by their communities and forced to live an isolated existence.

More than two million women live with fistula

Eradicated in the “developed” world at the end of the 19th century when caesarean section became widely available, obstetric fistula continues to plague women throughout the developing world. It is estimated that there are 100,000 new fistula cases each year, but the capacity to treat fistula is only around 6,500 per year. The United Nations Population fund (UNFPA) estimates the world’s population of fistula sufferers at more than two million.

Nerve damage and psychological trauma

The WHO has called fistula “the single most dramatic aftermath of neglected childbirth”. In addition to incontinence, a fistula victim may also have nerve damage affecting their ankles and feet. If a woman lies on her mat for a prolonged period of time, waiting for the urine to dry, she may also develop contractions of the joints of her legs, as her muscles and tendons shorten from lack of use, and be unable to walk. Fistula victims also suffer profound psychological trauma resulting from their utter loss of status and dignity.

How to Help

The Fistula Hospital is delighted that so many people want to help us in our work to cure and prevent obstetric fistula. The main way in which you can help us is to make a donation. Additionally you can contact one of our Partner Trusts who have merchandise for sale, can provide you with materials for fund-raising, can keep you informed of our work and may be able to accept offers of voluntary assistance.
www.hamlinfistula.org

Dear Cooper Friends,
Tim and I plan to deliver Adult Disposable Briefs to the woman at the Fistual Hospital.  We would also love to take them some personal gifts such a perfume, hand lotion, pretty scarves, necklaces, hair bands, etc. 

If you would like to donate anything please let us know. 

Love you all,
Angi &Tim

Aerie update

Hi everyone!

We wanted to let you all know that we are getting closer to the referral for our baby girl!

We are still

#3 for a baby girl and


on the waiting list over-all
(there are 5 families above us on the list,
 some of them are asking for older kids, or boys)

So the good news is that we are still moving up the list and we are
getting closer to our girl one day at a time.

Stay posted for the day we get to announce her referral :)

Please continue to pray for us and for Aerie as God makes the
plan for our lives.

Praising God for HIS timing,
Angi & Tim