Adoption Stories: Growing Paynes

We continue today to share snippets of adoption stories from 4theVoiceless's forthcoming adoption cookbook.  (We hope to have a name for said cookbook by sometime today.)  Today, I want to introduce you to Joe and Annette Payne's story of adopting their little girl, Hayley, from China.

Anyone who has been through the adoption process, whether domestic or international, knows that the waiting and the unknown are the hardest parts of the process.  Yes, the paperwork is daunting, but at least you are DOING something. As I read Joe and Annette's story, I couldn't help but notice many very familiar phrases that I have heard from other families at similar stages of the process.

Life on Hold

"We knew something was missing."

 

"I was totally shocked."

 

"...I wasn't fully on board yet..."

 

"At the time it all seemed endless."

 

"...we did not have the resources on hand..."

 

"...still no word from our adoption agency."

"We were growing a bit impatient."

 

"We began to question..."

 

"Out of frustration we even made statements..."

 

"...we had to know something."

And then...

Annette, Joe, & Hayley Payne

"A special needs child?"

 

"There was no way imaginable that WE could care for a special needs child."

The Rest of the Story

The rest of the Paynes' story will be available in the adoption cookbook.  For now, I'll leave you with one more significant phrase from their story:

"...God intervened..."

 For the rest of Joe and Annette's story, along with all the others, we hope you will invest in our cookbook for the sake of others following in their footsteps and walking through that long process and great expense of adoption.  Oh, and there are some pretty good recipes in the cookbook, too!  Personally, I'm looking forward to making the Haitian gratinee. 

We are working feverishly to make the cookbook available by the end of next week. Pre-orders will be taken locally at the 4theVoiceless table at the SHE ministry crafts fair at the CHC Southaven Go Center this Saturday from 9:00-5:00.  As soon as we have a production date, we will let the rest of you know how to order.

Thanks for reading and making a difference for the fatherless.

4theVoiceless,
Al

Friday Little Bits: Progress Report

Here are a few ministry progress updates from 4theVoiceless:

Orphanology

Wednesday night was the first night of our Orphanology study at CHC Southaven.  There were 18 of us in attendance, a great group.  The study will continue through November 7 on Wednesday nights from 6:30-8:00.  This past Wednesday, we focused on how orphan care reflects the gospel and how God’s commands to help the “voiceless” have always been to His people.  Therefore, believers have a responsibility to minister to orphans.  We ended with this video, which.powerfully captured the first session of our study.

Lauren Johnson, adoption specialist, will join us the next two weeks as we focus on adoption and foster care.  Lauren and her husband Chris are active in the orphan care ministry of Lifepoint Senatobia.  If you live in the DeSoto County area, please join us on Wednesday nights.

Adoption Cookbook

We are hoping to complete the 4theVoiceless cookbook sometime around Orphan Sunday (Nov. 4) so that they will be available during the Christmas season.  The cookbook will help fund our adoption fund as well as create awareness about adoption through some pretty remarkable stories.  The recipes are still coming in slowly.  Would you use your influence to help us gather about 300 more recipes in the next month?  Each person can submit up to 10.  Click here for the form.

Hope for Haiti

Not much change in the Hope for Haiti campaign over the last couple of weeks, at least as far as funding goes.  We are still at about 26% funding for the new House of Abraham.  4theVoiceless will be selling paracord bracelets and paper bead jewelry at the Trinity Baptist Church (7200 Swinnea in Southaven) crafts fair tomorrow from 9:00-3:00.  We will be at the Tricia’s Hope fundraiser extravaganza at Jim Saucier Park in Southaven (near the library and police department) from 11:00-dark on October 13.  Finally, we will be at fall festivals at CHC Southaven (Go Center) and CHC Hernando (Conger Park) on October 31.  Get the word out!

Work continues on the orphanage in Jacmel, Haiti, as you can see in the photos below.  Thanks to Dusty Cooper of IsleGo Missions for the update!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Orphan Sunday

Orphan Sunday is a day when churches around the world focus on God’s call to defend the orphan.  This will be the first Orphan Sunday at CHC Southaven and CHC Hernando, and we are still in the planning stages.  More and more churches are joining in.  Check out the Orphan Sunday website for the story behind the day and to see what churches around the world are doing on this year’s Orphan Sunday, November 4.  If you are part of a church that would like to get involved, please let me know; I have recently been asked to serve as an area coordinator for the Orphan Sunday organization and would love to talk to you and share ideas.

Thanks for reading.  Now, move.
Al