Saturday, April 12, 2008

AWAA Associates for Maine.

I am so excited!!! I have seen a need for an international adoption group for quite awhile. A place where people can come together for encouragement, support, prayer and help with paperwork and to get answers to questions relating to international adoptions. I had been praying for almost two years asking the Lord if this was something he wanted me to do or was he calling us to just adopt. In those two years I've had several families approach me with lots of questions regarding international adoptions and asking for some help with their paperwork. I don't have any experience with adoptions only what we went through during our two years of paper chasing and waiting for Noelle, but I was willing if he wanted to use me. I have to say that anyone who has ever adopted and done the paperwork themselves know that you learn A LOT in a relative short amount of time : ) I loved doing all the paperwork involved and love the thoughts of helping other families with theirs....if they need it.

Well this past week AWAA emailed me and asked if we would consider being associates here in Maine.....of course I said YES! Part of our "job" would be holding monthly AWAA meetings, help assist families with paperwork, hold two seminars a year, get the word out about international adoptions and promote AWAA to name a few.

I also want to somehow start raising money to help other families who have the desire to adopt, but may need some financial help. Our church has a wonderful adoption ministry already so I hoping we'll be able to do more in that area. I know not all are called to adopt but we are all called to help orphans and widows (James 1:27). Helping an orphan may be helping a family financially bring a child into a home where he or she will learn about Jesus and how He adopted us as God's children. I really believe this is something more families need to consider and pray about.

So this week we are waiting for the paperwork from AWAA and hope to get started soon!

Mike and I are very excited about the opportunity given to serve as America World Adoption Associates here in Maine!

Here are a few new pictures.



6 comments:

Nicole said...

Tonya that is so exciting! What a wonderful opportunity! You will have to keep us all posted!

What pretty toes Noelle has! Thanks for the picture update I was beginning to go thru with drawls! LOL!

Patty said...

Thanks for being obedient and serving the LORD! You have been a great help to us already! We love you guys....

Jeanette said...

Congrats Tonya! You will be AWESOME AWAA associates!!!!

the Steiger's said...

Sounds like lots of fun. I am very happy for you. Do you want to get together this summer?
Lenka

Cheri said...

Oh Tonya, I think that's wonderful news! I've been begining to wonder where you've been! Hope all is going well!

Lizard said...

Tonya- we are being a host family in late May for AWAA at a seminar. I am equally excited! Congrats!!

I love looking at little Noelle-she is simply lovely.