A whole lot of change!

Wow, where to begin! I started this blog over a year ago as we began our adoption journey. It proved to be a great way to keep family and friends updated on our progress as well as provide much needed awareness and education about the need of the children in Congo. I am sad and embarrassed to say, that I haven't kept up with this as I had originally planned. I have spent the last few months just loving my family and spending my "extra" time tending to them. Because of this, things like blogs, facebook, email and yes, sometimes even bills have been put aside. All of that said, I feel very different now and drawn to reconnect and continue the awareness and support for the forgotten children of the world.

When we brought Joshua home (a year ago last August), I think he was the first child from Our Family Adoptions that was brought to Indiana from the DRC. I don't know the exact numbers, but since then 3 children have been brought home and four others are in progress (and those are just the ones I know about!). It is truly amazing to me how God works through each of us to make an impact on the lives of others even when we don't know it.

I think the best way to get back into blogging is to draw attention to an awesome fundraiser. A week stay at a 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo in Destin, FL is being raffled off to raise funds for the orphans in Congo and relief for Haiti. If you are interested in purchasing a raffle, please visit http://terryhousehold.blogspot.com. This family is bringing home a little boy in the next few weeks from the DRC. An extremely generous woman offered this condo stay as a way to help raise much needed funds for the orphans in Congo. If you visit their blog you will learn much more about their story and this wonderful opportunity. The raffle ends Feb. 2nd, so hurry!!

Lastly, I need to at least post a few pictures of the kids! Caleb is 7 and in 1st grade, Amelia is 5 and in Pre-K and Joshua just turned 3 and attends a small preschool. They are all doing great. Joshua has been home 17 months and has celebrated two birthdays in the United States. I often forget that he is adopted, which I think can be good and bad. I have so much on my mind to report that this seems like a pretty boring place to begin, but it is a start. Follow along and I promise more excitement to come! :)

Images of DRC

Please take a moment to view the link below. It is a photo essay that documents the current situation in DRC. These images truly help put life into perspective. The DRC is beginning to gain a little press regarding the horrific conditions and war, but it just doesn't seem enough.

I am rereading one of my favorite books - The Poisonwood Bible. It takes place in Congo in the early 60s as the Belgium rule was ending in Congo. One thing that makes me pause as I read this book is how different the situation in Congo looks today - so much worse. These pictures leave me speechless...

DRC Photo Essay

With Gratitude

Thanks to so many generous family members, friends and neighbors, we were able to raise almost $3000 for Jamma Letu orphanage!!!! The money will either be used for a new well once the boys orphanage is complete or repair the inoperable wells in the meantime. We were surprised and grateful for the out pouring of generosity. Many people didn't know us or a thing about Jamma Letu, but were drawn nonetheless to help children in need. You can follow the progress of the new orphanage at the Hope for the Children of Africa webite.

It has been entirely too long since our last post. This blog was originally started to chronicle our adoption journey. Joshua has now been home 6 months and things are going great. Our journey now turns from one of adoption to a journey of family. We enjoy the craziness that comes with raising a 2, 4 and 6 year old and although our family may look different than most, it is perfect in our eyes.

Pictures worth a thousand words

We have had such a great response to our fund raising efforts - thank you! Our friend Cami in AZ provided us with this link - A picture worth a thousand words. In this picture from the International Rescue Committee you can see how water treatment plants are helping to supply clean water to many areas across the globe. This picture really does say it all.

Speaking of pictures, we had our first family portraits taken a few weeks ago. They turned out great and we were thrilled with the results! There are too many to post online, but I will attempt to insert a link below to view them. These pictures are our first official family portraits and we can't wait to hang them on the wall!

Ott Family Portraits

A random act of kindness

Little over a month ago, Tim and I decided to raise funds for Joshua's former orphanage. We specifically wanted to raise enough money to dig a new well. The current well doesn't work sufficiently and the children do not have clean drinking water. I posted request on our blog (see post entitled More Water Please) and we told a few close family members, but we didn't go much beyond that. A few weeks ago I was contacted by the mother of one of Amelia's classmates. Their daughter was turning 4 and in lieu of birthday presents, they wanted to raise money for our cause. I was touched by her generosity and realized I needed to do more.

We are called to be the voice for the voiceless, so I am asking again. I have emailed friends and neighbors and am again putting in a request. If you would like to contribute to this worthwhile cause, please send checks made out to Our Family Adoptions to our home. We are planning to mail the checks to the agency on February 15th, so please hurry. If you do not feel you are able to contribute financially, then please take a moment to pray. Please pray for hope for the millions of children worldwide who remain voiceless in the midst of extreme poverty and global injustice.

Our human popsicles...

As I reflect on Joshua's journey to his new home and family, I just can't help but feel bad that we brought him to Indiana! Last week, we experienced temperatures around -20!! Once the heat wave came and it warmed up to the high 20s, the kids begged us to go sledding. As you can see from the ground, there wasn't a whole lot of snow, but we felt so bad about the cabin fever that we bundled up and headed out. Johsua doesn't mind winter coats and hats as much as I thought he would, but he really doesn't enjoy the snow suit. He loves being outside so much however, that he quickly forgets and joins the fun. These are a few pictures of our African son beginning to like the Midwest and fun in the snow.



We are getting more snow tomorrow and I just can't get my mind off of somewhere warm. Living in the Midwest has many perks, but there comes a point somewhere between January and February that you begin to think spring can't come soon enough. There has got to be a travel deal out there somewhere right?

Inspiration

Inspiration comes in many forms, but one way to be inspired is to hear remarkable stories of humanity. I won't try to summarize this wonderfully touching story, but here is the jest of it...

*A woman in Phoenix also adopting from Jamma Letu is involved in her refugee community.
*She learns that the daughter of a Congolese refugee family recently died in childbirth leaving 3 daughters and a newborn baby in a refugee camp in Goma. *She works to have the girls transported 1200 miles in a war torn country by volunteers to Jamma Letu orphanage where they will be well cared for. During their stay she is working to have them adopted by their family here and brought to the US.

People changing the world one story at a time - true inspiration.
Please read the full story at www.thecamjam.blogspot.com.