Students in Georgia making a *HUGE* difference for orphans in Ethiopia

“A little goes a long way! Help buy formula for orphans in Ethiopia!”

Hebron Christian Academy’s Missions Club made posters with these logos and carried them to carpool every Tuesday and Thursday for 6 weeks along with change buckets to collect money for Into the Streets of Ethiopia. They also put collection buckets in each homeroom, and had a competition to see which class could fill their bucket the most. After collecting, the hard part began: rolling all of the change! Each week the group met for 45 minutes to roll quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies. 6 weeks later, all the coins were rolled, and the students eagerly awaited the total. They were ecstatic to find out they had been able to raise $1128.50!

Here are some quotes from the students {that participated}:

“The hope of being able to affect the lives of others provides incredible joy to people.” –Cole Redman (on what he learned from the campaign)

“It made my fingers smell gross like copper, but it was worth it.” –Elise Murray (on rolling coins)

“I learned a lot about how big a problem not having formula is for orphans and how much a little money could do to help.” –Tiffany Bagley (on what she learned)

“Early morning carpool is kind of difficult with sleepy parents ignoring us, but just do some jumping and attract attention, and there ya go!” –Amanda Fischels (on what it was like to stand out and collect change early in the morning)

“I hope the loose change provides hope for the kids and provides for them so that they know there’s people that care.” –Brooke Felt (on what she hoped the loose change would accomplish)

“To me, it’s completely unfair that some children don’t get opportunities to grow and develop like others only because they lack resources. Collecting change for formula gave me a say in it.” –Anonymous

Thank You Hebron Christian Academy!  You guys ROCK!!

A Special way to Celebrate your Child's Birthday

Years ago, before we even had children, my husband Craig and I had decided to be different than the typical Americans. We wanted to build houses in Mexico on Spring Break and to spend our Saturday mornings at the food bank. We wanted to spend our money on things that mattered...not just new cars, more toys, or a larger house. Our goal was to be servants and God's hands and feet on the Earth. To live out the Great Commission in our daily lives.

This included how we decided to grow our family. Instead of a traditional pregnancy, we opted for adoption. We adopted our daughter Zamara from Ethiopia August 2008. At that time, she was just over 5 months old. Over the last 2 and 1/2 years we have racked our brain on ways to serve even while she was young. We wanted to teach Zamara that life was about giving of ourselves on behalf of Christ. She was a Salvation Army Bell ringer (with mom's help!) this last Christmas. This summer Zamara will go on her first mission trip to the San Carlos Indian Reservation where we will build a house for a family in need. We are always looking for unique ways to serve. As we were planning her birthday last year, we came up with a rather clever idea that any family can do...Instead of birthday presents we collected donations!

We are blessed and have a house full of toys and clothes-Zamara does not need anything else. Last year for her birthday we collected clothing, medicine, toys, and cash donations for Zamara's orphanage in Ethiopia (Kids Care). We were able to send two giant boxes full of items to Ethiopia! It was amazing to see people respond generously to such a request.

This year we wanted to keep the theme of serving Zamara's home country. We collected both cash and baby formula for Into The Streets of Ethiopia. We happily collected 14 large cans of formula and over $300 in cash donations! We had a great birthday and were able to share information about many of the issues of poverty going on in Ethiopia and around the world.

We want to send out the challenge to families all over the U.S. to do the same at their child's next birthday.

Craig, Laura, and Zamara Ducommun

If you would like to learn more about the Ducommon family, you can go HERE.

Thank you Craig and Laura for your support of Into the Streets of Ethiopia.

An auction to raise money for FORMULA!

*** UPDATE:  This incredible auction raised a total of $1100---all to purchase infant baby formula in Ethiopia!  Praise the Lord! Thanks to all who helped make this such a success!***
In February, I had the pleasure of joining many other adoptive mommas at the Created for Care retreat in Atlanta, Georgia.  Laughter, relaxation, making of new friends, bonding, sharing and learning were among the many things I took away from this incredible weekend.

One of the highlights for me was the privilege of sharing about Into the Streets of Ethiopia in a couple of break-out sessions.  I met so many women that inspire to take the passion within their hearts and spread it to a hurting world!  We have been blessed by the outpouring of love from this retreat!

Courtney Williamson is one of the new friends that I made.  Her love for Ethiopia is contagious! After talking with her by phone we had an instant connection.  I'm sure for all you fellow adoption moms, you totally get what I mean about "instant connection."  Courtney, along with her husband Chad, wanted to do something that would help Into the Streets of Ethiopia in aiding our current partnership with Adoption Ministry of YWAM-Ethiopia and our commitment to providing formula for the four orphanages in Ethiopia.

I am a mom. A mom to an amazing almost 3yr old boy, who was born in Ethiopia to another mom and dad, but malnutrition and poverty distorted their family. Its odd to have family that was created at the hand of a lack of food. I don’ t know if I have a full understanding of it emotionally or if I have a compartment to logically put it in. But what I do have is sadness. Sadness for all the children that are orphans in Ethiopia (about 4.7 million). Sadness that a lot of children are hungry there. Sadden by the fact, that once poverty and hungry has distorted a family. That hungry child is placed in a orphanage with limited formula. And all I know, is that hungry child was my son, and formula in the orphanage saved his life. Which, both his birthmother and I are very thankful for.

So why this project??? Because all mothers know formula equals life....its just that simple!!! We might be able to adopt, we might not want to, we might not be able to go to Ethiopia, we might not want to, but we can help. That is why Chad, Tegegn and I are putting on this auction for I nto the Streets of Ethiopia to simply help. Will you please help too?

The need for formula is huge and never-ending but the results are life-changing!  To raise money for formula, they are auctioning some pretty wonderful items...

A two-night stay at the beautiful Oregon coast
A gorgeous hand-made quilt
Jewelry
Wall stencil
Christmas ornaments
Into the Streets of Ethiopia t-shirts
Worship CD
Ethiopian coffee
and lots more!!

100% of the proceeds of this auction go to Into the Streets of Ethiopia to purchase formula for the YWAM orphanages in Ethiopia!  How is that for amazing?  One family among many who are responding to the call to support orphaned children in a very tangible way.  

Be sure to go to the Formula Is Life blog and lend your support!

Just do it!

A wonderful family and dear friends, Bruce and Jaime Watson, held a fundraising dinner (to benefit Into the Streets of Ethiopia) in celebration of their sweet son, Teg, being united with his forever family for a year.   We are honored to be at the receiving end of this family's efforts and are excited to see what God has in store for the Watson family!

Read this powerful recap of a simple family, being obedient to the prompting of the Lord!

Quit Making Excuses and Just Do It!!!

This is what I had to tell myself over and over.  I had such a desire to DO SOMETHING for the sweet, sweet kids that we had met while we were in Ethiopia.  But I'm just a mom, no special skills, no special talents.  I don't sew, paint, make jewelry, design t-shirts, or any of the other really great fundraising ideas I've seen out there.  I really wanted to do something, but WHAT???? 

The Lord spoke to me and said, "just put the need out there for people to see, and let Me do the rest."  Ahhhh, I could quit trying to rack my brain for something to wow people, and just make myself available and let the Lord do His thing.  It's not about me or what I can or can't do.  So, I talked to my in-laws and secured the location (their backyard).  I talked to my family and closest friends and they became the help.  The Lord brought a wonderful Ethiopian woman to me, and she became the caterer.  Perfect!  We picked a day, Sunday, May 30th and sent out an invitation on Facebook. 

We bought some Ethiopian colored decorations (red, yellow and green), ordered some cupcakes in the ET colors, bought some snack foods and drinks.  The most important part of the day would be making people aware of the kids in Ethiopia and how far their money would go to making a difference in their lives.  We made an information board with pictures and statistics.  We printed out pictures of the people and places we saw in ET, we made bookmarks for people to take home to remind them to pray.  And we put out a box for people to put their money in.  That's it.  That simple.  And people put their money in!  They ate the Ethiopian food.  They drank the Ethiopian coffee.  They looked at the pictures and read the information.  They were moved by what they saw. They loved the food and the coffee.  But most importantly, they loved the kids faces.  They "got it".  They were exposed to a culture and a people and need that they really had no idea about.  God was good and He did His thing.  He brought the people that He wanted.  He inspired people to give to His children. 

In the end, we raised almost $3500.  God is good!  We were blessed.  I learned a lesson.  It's not about any great talent we have or don't have, it's about being responsible for the calling that we all have, to take care of these precious orphans.  

Just do it!