Flight Update! The Good And The Bad

We have an emergency medical flight secured!! This is the good news. The bad news is the cost is $140,000. Unfortunately the other flight situation we were pursuing for much less is not going to work out. So get the word out! We need to raise much, much more than we had anticipated. If you are able to donate even $5 it will make a difference.

Alvin's adoptive dad, along with Patty (and possibly some other AOH staff) will be flying home with him on the emergency medical flight.

Paperwork is being processed and we are hoping to have Alvin out of here on Saturday. Alvin is hanging in there but as I mentioned before; he could take a turn for the worse at any moment. But we are trusting that God will spare Alvin and that he will be able to make it to his new family and the care he needs in the US. We are trusting that the staggering amount of $140,000 raised will be a great testimony of the Body of Christ coming together to save one of God's precious children. We are trusting that Alvin will grow to be a great testimony of God's goodness to the least of these, the seemingly forgotten. Don't loose your opportunity to become a part of this amazing story! Click here to donate now (specify "Alvin's Flight").

ALVIN IS WORTH IT!!!

-Melodie (AOH Volunteer)

Levi

Meet Levi. Levi Hope, as Patty named him.

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare placed Levi with Acres of Hope in March of 2007. He was abandoned in a local hospital. Abandonment of children, especially special needs children, is all too common here in Liberia.

(Levi, March '07, right before he was placed in our orphanage.)

Levi still does not have an adoptive family.

We don't know exactly how old Levi is, since he was found abandoned, but when he came to us

almost two and a half years ago, doctors said he was about 18 months old. Levi has been diagnosed with moderate to severe cerebral palsy, along with extreme developmental delays and microcephaly (and a few other possible problems). In my observation he behaves like a 2-3 month old. He is easy to please, eats a lot, and loves to be sung to. Levi's adoption fees have been reduced by $2000.

(Levi in October of 2007.)

When a Liberian mother of a child with severe special needs realizes her baby is not developing normally, and he is getting bigger and bigger, she has to find a solution for his care. (There is no way your average poverty-stricken Liberian woman can make an honorable living while having to care for a severely handicapped child at the same time). Healthy, normal children are abandoned as well, though this is not as common and usually it is small babies. Teen mothers, or simply those who feel they are unable to care for their child, will abandoned their babies under market tables, in boxes floating down rivers, or even on garbage piles or buried in a hole in the ground. It is a very sad reality. Poverty brings people do to do things one would never imagine in good conditions. Illiteracy, and a vast lack of Biblical training makes the options for these desperate women seem very few. Those who abandon their babies in hospitals actually love them. They know that the child will probably be placed in an orphanage, which is much more loving than leaving them on a garbage pile where they will die if no one finds them in time. (A newborn baby in our neighborhood was abandoned on a garbage pile a couple years ago. Unfortunately no one discovered her in time…)

The wonderful thing about adoption is that it gives these desperate single mothers (and sometimes fathers) a loving option for their children. Some people are surprised to learn our orphans usually have one living (or present) parent. But as you can see, adoption in Liberia is offering a loving option to those mothers who feel there is no way they can provide their child with the care they deserve and need to survive (like Alvin's mother). Adoption truly saves lives.

Though physically Levi's body is broken, he is a beautiful child that God has created for a purpose. His handicaps were not an accident and God has a plan for this little boy's life. While Levi will never be "normal" he is a testimony of God's love for the least of these, as his life was preserved, he was placed with an adoption agency, and God's children have become His hands and feet to care for this needy little one. The family who adopts Levi will be storing up treasure in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-20) as they give to someone who will never be able to repay them (Luke 14:13-24), as they reach out to the least of these with God's love (Matthew 25:40), and as they seek justice for the orphaned (Isaiah 1:17). Those who live in light of eternity are the wise ones on this earth.

Because of Alvin the Liberian government has decided to start processing special needs children for adoption, in spite of the moratorium. A homestudy ready family could bring Levi home very soon, if everything were to go as speedily and smoothly as we hope. Do you know of a family who could bring Levi home?

Is it you???

Contact Patty at aoh.savinglives@gmail.com for more information.

-Melodie (AOH Volunteer)

Alvin and His New Dad

Today Alvin's adoptive dad spent the whole day at the hospital with his new son. I was able to drop by after my Bible study and visit. Alvin is of course so excited that he is here. He had his dad's camera hanging around his neck and he was taking pictures. Very cute.

When you see this beautiful little boy sitting in his wheelchair, covered with a blanket, it is easy to forget what is underneath and what Alvin has to sit on. Thankfully Alvin said the chest pain is going away. Remember to keep Alvin's health in your prayers as any day he could take a turn for the worse. We are so close to getting him home!

We are moving as fast as we can to get Alvin out of here, but it still feels as if it isn't fast enough. This is Africa so things are moving at an "Africa" pace. We are still waiting on the Ministry of Health to process Alvin's paperwork before it is then transfered to the next step (Ministry of Justice) and then the next...We are very grateful for Mr. Gebro, the acting Minister of Health, and his assistant Lydia, for focusing on Alvin's case last weekend and this week. Patty continues to work closely with the Ministry of Health on behalf of Alvin and our other special needs kids, like Secret.

As far as the flight is concerned, there is still much that needs to be done. As is common, all the money needs to be given up front before the flight can arrive. This is an area you can focus on now while AOH works out all the other details. If you will note on the right side of the blog I have added a fundraising thermometer so you can monitor the funds as they come in. I will update that as often as I am able to. You can also click on Alvin's picture to easily donate towards his flight and his in country medical expenses.

I will soon be sharing about some of our other special needs kids, including two that are available for adoption, and another story about Acres of Hope's medical outreach ministry. Stay tuned for those stories along with the Alvin updates.

-Melodie (AOH Volunteer)

Quick Alvin Update

Alvin's adoptive father made it safely into the country! He has already been able to visit Alvin. Alvin was very happy to see him, but a little nervous at the same time. Alvin's birth mom prayed over the occasion and Alvin sang his new dad an entire African praise song! Isn't that so precious?!?!?!

Please continue to keep this whole situation in your prayers. Every aspect of this process involves many steps:

-We are still awaiting confirmation for the less expensive flight.

-Tomorrow the processing begins for the adoption and that needs to go fast and smoothly.

-Alvin needs to remain strong physically.

-We need to raise a lot of money for the flight. Please donate towards this cause by clicking here, if you are able.

I do have a lot of faith that all of this will work out in time for Alvin to make it safely to the US, especially since the hardest part has been accomplished (getting the adoption approved), but everyone needs to continue to pray for Alvin and every aspect of getting him home.

-Melodie (AoH Volunteer)

"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective!"

"Therefore confess your sins to each other

and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

James 5:16

It is with extreme gratitude to God that I share today that Alvin's adoption has been granted! Patty's persistence with the Ministry of Health has payed off. The acting Minister of Health wrote a letter to the President and the Minister of Justice, asking special permission for Alvin to be adopted. We are so grateful for Mr. Gebro's willingness to address the President on this issue. We received word that the President was brought to tears after hearing about Alvin and looking at the pictures.

Alvin's adoptive dad will be arriving in Liberia tomorrow night. We look forward to the beginning of next week being a very busy time processing the adoption, visa, and moving Alvin out of the country!

We want to thank those who have been researching medical flight options for us. At first we were pretty discouraged when the quote for medevac was coming in at over $100,000. The next idea was down to $80,000...which was better. But are delighted that we have found a medical flight that would be willing to come in for $25,000! (IF the UN can write a letter saying that the airport is safe for private planes to land in.)

So in addition to praying for Alvin's health, please pray that the finalization of Alvin's adoption will go smoothly and fast, that the plane will be able to land in Liberia's airport, and that we would be able to raise the $25,000 for the flight cost.

Please donate whatever you can spare towards Alvin's emergency medical flight. Through PayPal you can do that right away. Just click here.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, do you SEE what our God can do through the power of prayer!?

GOD IS GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!

-Melodie (AOH Volunteer)