A Few Steps Closer

I'm so sorry that I have delayed in adding a new post...We have been at a stand still with no new BIG news!

Until NOW!

Our Homestudy was finally completed and returned to us with a clean background check and fingerprinting! I overnighted the paperwork to our Kenyan connection so that the Kenyan lawyer could begin to proceed once again on our behalf! Waiting is always SOOOO difficult! During this waiting period we sent Benjamin another package from his American family. It was so fun gathering books, puzzles, trains, cars and a photo album containing pics of all of his family! Apparently,  Benjamin has become quite popular in the village with all of his new toys. However, I'm told that he doesn't like to share them! We will definitely need to work on that!

Last weekend we completed a large fundraising push to begin digging a well at the church and preschool. Enough funds were raised to get the process started. This week they have been able to dig  up to 23 feet and have successfully reached water!!! They will dig a little deeper and then begin securing the well and purchase a pump! This is such an amazing "team" accomplishment and so exciting to know that many people will no longer walk several miles a day to obtain a basic necessity.

We feel so incredibly blessed and thankful for this journey and ask that you continue to partner with us in prayer for favor in Kenya!

Benjamin's New Preschool

It's been a couple of weeks since my last post but a few recent updates that I wanted to share.

On Saturday, we had our 1st homestudy visit. We were all very excited to get the next steps put into motion.
The adoption investigater was very kind and helpful in leading us in the right direction. Brett, Melia, and I will be headed to the police station in the morning for our mandatory finger printing! Melia was really excited to have her prints filed with the federal government! Once, our second visit has concluded and the reports have been finalized we will be filing for pre-adoption approval (I-600A) with the United States. We hope that the remaining paperwork will continue to go smoothly and that we will be able to forward all the necessary documents from the US to the Kenyan courts and receive final adoption papers on schedule.

In the meantime, it has been our prayer to help fund a pre-school and a well to be drilled on site at the new church. With much joy, monies have been donated to help with the initial start-up costs and to help build a kitchen where we will facilitate a feeding program for the 50 children who will attend the school daily. We are in need of raising a monthly operational overhead of 400.00 a month. This will help employ a fulltime teacher and cook at the church. A one time donation has been given toward the drilling of the well, and we continue to need an additional 3500.00 to complete this project. This well will provide clean drinking water for eveyone in the village and surrounding villages. It's amazing how such little funds for us as Americans can be life-changing for an entire village. If you feel connected to this story, and project, and would like to contribute please send your charitable donations to House of Freedom at 1721 Ashwood Drive SW, Altoona, IA 50009. All donations are tax deductable. We appreciate your contributions and prayers as we continue on this journey.



I look forward to passing on more information regarding the pre-school and well!

Thank you for sharing in this great commission,

Jennifer

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A Phone Call with Benjamin!

Saturday morning at 8:30am we had set-up a conference call with Benjamin. The gentleman assisting with the adoption would help translate. We were so excited just to hear his voice, even if he didn't say much or anything we could understand! My husband answered the phone when it rang, Joshua was on the line and said that Benjamin was as well. Brett greeted Benjamin and mostly heard laughing and a restless 3 year old in the background. Joshua told Brett that Benjamin had been asking for "momma". Brett smiled and then asked me to get on the phone. I said "hello Benjamin this is momma". With the phone on speaker we all heard in this sweet high voice "MOMMA" with excitement! Then repeatedly he said "hi, hi, hi"! So exciting, my heart just jumped. I was told that he colors everyday with the crayons and book that we sent and that his blanket is always with him. Following the call, Joshua informed us that he had began carrying our photo with him as well. What a great day! We hope to be able to talk to him every couple of weeks until he comes home!

At the church in Benjamin's village we have been discussing launching a preschool for the entire village. The preschool would accomodate 50 children 5 days a week and also provide them a hot meal before they go home. We had received information that the start-up costs would be 300.00 and the ongoing operational expense for the teacher, books, and a cook would be 400.00 a month. This weekend, at our church, the start-up costs and operational expenses for one month were donated. We continue to look for monthly sponsors of this preschool and are excited for the first classes to begin in about a week. If you would like to make a contribution to this project please log on to http://www.fomministry.com/ . All donations are a tax credit. Below is a photo of the new church building and home of the preschool.

I look forward to keeping you posted on the preschool and Benjamin's adoption journey!

The High Courts Decision!

This morning has left us in a flood of emotions! At approximately 8am I received information that a cholera outbreak had hit the Kimondo Village where we sponsor 2 beautiful children. Early this morning one little boy from the orphange died from this illness. My husband spent time with him last summer and our dear friends T.J. and Allison are his sponsors. This has been difficult for all of us, and now we simply pray for health and protection for the remaining children. Medical supplies are being brought in and distributed today.

On the other side of Kenya, where Benjamin lives, the High Court began proceedings regarding the adoption of Benjamin.  A judge in a nearby village was appointed to the case and determined that we would be eligable to adopt him!!! What an exciting moment for our family! We still have a long road of paperwork and details to complete but this has a been a huge step in the right direction.

We are so thankful for all of your prayers and words of encouragement. I look forward to continue to provide good news as it comes!

Benjamin's Package From His Family

A couple of weeks ago we were told that we could send Benjamin a package . I asked for guidence in sending appropriate items for him. The box contained: 2 pairs of pajama's, crayons, coloring book, pictures of the family and a Thomas the Train blanket. Today I learned that he had received the package and was very excited to show off all of his new stuff. The pajamas were the first pair he has ever owned and fit quite well!
The blanket was a favorite, he proudly showed it to his grandmother telling her that "his family had sent it, and not to touch it"! This cracked me up, his 3 year old american cousin tells us not to touch his stuff all of the time. This confirmed that he will fit right in and they should be fast friends!!!

At the end of last week, I received photos of him at church. I noticed that he was the only boy in the church photo without a suit on. I asked if it would be possible to send money for a suit to be purchased. Today I received this cute photo of him sporting his new duds! Looks a little big but, so handsome!

Benjamin is very excited about his new family and repeatedly speaks of us and his new American home. When Benjamin speaks of his new home to his grandmother he tells her that "there will be lot's of food there. WOW, how unimaginable that wealth for them is food.

In two days, the families adoption petitions will be presented to Kenya's High Court. Please be praying for the right judge to be assigned to our case and that we will have favor in the Kenyan courts. This will be a day of many decisions and an outline of the required steps we must take to complete this adoption will be determined.

I look forward to receiving more good news!

A New Home for Benjamin

We were asked to email a photo of our home to Benjamin so that he and his family could see his new home in America. There were several thoughts that went through my mind at that point. "Will Benjamin be confused or scared"? How would his 3 year old mind understand?
Since homes in America are usually larger than homes in Kenya I wondered  laughingly, " will he think this is a palace"?

Well, I didn't have a photo of our home but, fortunately, since I'm a photographer, I rushed out in the snow with camera in tow and snapped a few pics! I came inside with my family all laughing at me and decided to edit the image (of course) and add his photo to the front of the house. I hoped that it would be a way for him to see that this would be his new home.

Eagerly, I sent the image. A few days later I received a phone call from our friend and liason for the adoption saying that Benjamin had been showing the photo to everyone in his village and saying " this is my new home in America"! My eyes teared-up and heart leaped imagining the whole scene.

We continue to be encouraged by the progress of this adoption and hope to bring more good reports as they come.

Until next time...Jennifer

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Journey to Adoption

For  many years my husband and I have discussed the topic of adoption. Having four biological daughters, we have always considered adding a son to our family!  For the past 2 years we began conversation a little more seriously and began to research the many options that are available.

Last August my husband had the opportunity to take a missions trip to Kenya. While there, he spent time at a local orphanage where we sponsor a little girl. The experience of Kenya and the photographs captured both of our hearts and caused us to investigate the possibilities of a Kenyan adoption. With the connections God had placed in our life we initially thought we would look to adopt from the orphanage. In December, land was donated in Kenya to our church to build a kenyan church on. Unknown to us at the time, the grandmother who donated the land for the church also had an orphaned grandson. She had been praying that someone would be able to adopt him. Upon hearing that we were looking to adopt a little boy she asked if we would consider Benjamin for adoption. We were so overjoyed with this news that we immediately said "yes" and began pursuing the possibilities.

Benjamin turned 3 on December 21st. (my dad's birthday)We have exchanged pictures with Benjamin's family, and the family has signed the necessary documents to allow adoption proceedings to move forward. There are so many emotions that are tied to this journey. Through all the excitement there is also a guarded heart not wanting to feel so vulnerable to a possible rejection from the Kenyan government. We are hopeful to keep you updated with lots of good news regarding Benjamins journey to America. We are praying for favor and a smooth transition. Brett and I are in the midst of fund raising for a new missions trip in August. We hope that while on this trip we will also be able to finalize the adoption and bring Benjamin home with us.

I have posted a few photos and will update information as I have it.

To all of my client families who have adopted, thank you for all your support and invaluable information! Keep your phones on, I may have more questions!!!LOL

Optimistically looking for a happy ending,

Jennifer

Kiva-helping entrepreneurs around the globe!

Hi!


I just made a loan to someone in Philippines using a revolutionary new website called Kiva (www.kiva.org).

You can go to Kiva's website and lend to someone across the globe who needs a loan for their business - like raising goats, selling vegetables at market or making bricks. Each loan has a picture of the entrepreneur, a description of their business and how they plan to use the loan so you know exactly how your money is being spent - and you get updates letting you know how the entrepreneur is going.

The best part is, when the entrepreneur pays back their loan you get your money back - and Kiva's loans are managed by microfinance institutions on the ground who have a lot of experience doing this, so you can trust that your money is being handled responsibly.

I just made a loan to an entrepreneur named Remelyn Calenada in Philippines. They still need another $25.00 to complete their loan request of $1,200.00 (you can loan as little as $25.00!). Help me get this entrepreneur off the ground by clicking on the link below to make a loan to Remelyn Calenada too:

http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=170561

It's finally easy to actually do something about poverty - using Kiva I know exactly who my money is loaned to and what they're using it for. And most of all, I know that I'm helping them build asustainable business that will provide income to feed, clothe, house and educate their family long after my loan is paid back.

For those of us who are parents, I encourage you to get your children involved. One of my daughters has actually funded this particular loan. I'm excited to see how this will help blossom her giving spirit, and teach her some basic loan principles.

Join me in changing the world - one loan at a time.



Thanks!

Happy New Year!

I'm told that I have really fallen off the blogging wagon! I realize that it has been a while since my last post so I'm making a resolution to do a better job of keeping you posted on the latest happenings of Black Photography!

2009 was another great year thanks to all of you! A special highlight of 2009  included a few families that some of you nominated for complimentary photography services. I firmly believe that we are blessed to bless.  This year I was shown true strength and serventhood by families who were faced with a diagnosis of a termanilly ill child or individuals who were reaching far beyond themselves and adopting form 3rd world countries. I have been enriched as a parent to have simply met these individuals. In 2010 it my goal to continue take nominations  for deserving families.  Please feel free to let me know if there is an area that I can serve for 2010.

Another BIG highlight of 2009 was moving to a new office.  I was so excited when the opportunity presented itself for me to move next to Hobby Lobby on Merle Hay Road. It tripled my square footage and and was budget friendly. An awesome blessing!
If you have not been by the new space, feel free to come and check it out!

I can't wait to see all of you again in 2010 and once again  be apart of capturing your growing families and changing seasons!

I pray God's richest blessing on you for the New Year!