According to UNICEF, there are 990,000 orphaned children in Nepal. But, for the two N.B. adoptive families who are in Nepal and praying to come home with the precious children, only two children “count” today. Thank you for praying for all of the American families who are in Nepal, who have been matched with orphaned children, and those who “unmatched” continue to believe that God called them to adopt from Nepal.
New Beginnings is no longer accepting applications for the Nepal adoption program. For all “abandonment cases,” with the exception of those that are already in “the pipeline,” the U.S. State Department suspended adoptions on August 6th, 2010. The State Department stated that the pipeline cases would continue to be processed in the same memo.
Adoptive families in “pipeline” cases were provided with additional information about travel late in the day on August 11th.
For more information, please visit http://adoption.state.gov/news/nepalalerts.html
We appreciate the leadership role that has been undertaken by the U.S. State Department and Special Ambassador, Susan Jacobs in regard to Nepali adoptions. With numerous rumors and accusations about Nepali adoptions (some probably true and some probably false), the commitment of Secretary Hillary Clinton and Ambassador Jacobs to promote more ethical adoption practices in any country is encouraging.
For the most up-to-date information on Nepal adoption, please visit U.S. State Department-Nepal adoption
Regarding the 7/20/2010 State Department Conference call on Nepal adoptions, please visit StateCall.
The following is a note from Paul and Robin Pennington, co-founders and executive director of Hope for Orphans:
“By now you no doubt have heard about the Russian 8-year-old adoptee sent by his American adoptive mom….alone…back to Russia with a note. The repercussions of this decision on hundreds of Russian children waiting for families are devastating to be sure. What many don’t know is that failed adoptions, or disruptions as they are called, are on the rise and Christians are not immune even if it does not reach such a dramatic level. In fact, Christian families are in some ways more at risk.
“Little noticed in the story of the Russian child is that his master-degreed, medical professional mom chose to pursue a ’special needs’ child because she wanted to get a child more quickly. It also appears that despite the routine communications of her agency post placement, she did not have an effective post adoptive support system.
“This story teaches us about two very important trends in the North American adoption and orphan ministry movement. One trend (though a very small percentage of the total number of adoptions) is negative and dangerous, the other positive and encouraging.
“In an ever-increasing cosumeristic American church there is emerging a troubling trend — families who see adoption as a new badge of spirituality. At Hope for Orphans, we stress that those considering adoption should carefully examine their motivations before they ever begin the adoption process.
“Common red flags we see are: pursuing adoption as a mission, wanting to please God as a result of sins of the past, desiring a sister or brother for a biological child, or thinking it will help a struggling marriage. Orphaned children do not want or need to be a mission, an act of atonement, a companion strategy or a marriage enhancer….no, they want and need what every child wants and needs…..a mom and dad that loves them unconditionally. Motives that are not geared towards the ‘unconditional’ love of a child, but rather focused more on meeting a need in the parent(s) are dangerous.
“It is a sign of a more ‘me-centered’ Christianity that leads to adopting special needs children as a means of getting into the ‘express lane’. This sort of thinking, which minimizes or dismisses the true needs of hurt children and doesn’t take the time to count the costs, has led to an 8-year-old who sits today confused in a Russian hospital.
“On the other hand, more and more there is a wonderful trend and work of God that is the counter to this very sad case. Lay leaders led by the Holy Spirit are launching orphan ministries in their local churches. Many of these new ministries are creating adoption support groups. Typically, adoptive families blessed with years of experience, come alongside new adoptive families, as mentors, coaches, crisis responders, prayer warriors and respite caregivers. This is what the Bible calls “body life”. The Scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 12: ’so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.’ As you read this month’s Hope for Orphans E-newsletter, remember that God wants to use you as an instrument of grace in the lives of your body of believers. He also wants to use that body to help you when the wheels of your life come off. Does your church have a support group for families adopting special needs children? Does your church have an orphans ministry at all? Pastor Chuck Swindoll says: ‘The test of our morality and theology is passed or failed by our response to the weakest and most helpless among us’. May God use you and your church as a demonstration of pure religion that is pleasing to Him.”
This article can be found in the Hope for Orphans April 2010 ENewsletter at http://hopefororphans.com.
UPDATE - MARCH 27, 2010
New Beginnings of Nepal Children’s Home
Our fifth report and the Good News continues…
The Nepal Children’s Home has a new refrigerator, a microwave oven, a new cook stove, a new water filter system, an instant hot water heater, a vacuum cleaner, wall murals that brighten every room, new kitchen cabinets, a washing machine and some very happy house mothers.
What were they most excited about? When the men moved the new kitchen cabinets in, Laxmi gave a superb smile to the group and hugged the ladies in appreciation. The humble nature of the Nepali people overwhelms those of us who view what we are doing as such a small thing.
For the precious children, the highlight of our creations is the new swing set. Kudos to Randy Gould and Bill Rosser for the work on this project.
Randy was planning to head home tomorrow, but changed his flight plans just so he could stay and help us complete more work next week. While there is more to be done, what has been accomplished is nothing short of amazing! And, unless you understand the lack of a consistent electrical supply and the difficult nature of shopping for basic items such as paint, lag bolts, cleaning fluids, paint thinner and wood stain, you can’t appreciate how much has been done.
We’re going to miss Rodney, Marcie and Carrrigan Weekley when they leave for home on Sunday. Carrigan, one of the first children to be placed for adoption through New Beginnings, has brought much joy to the children in the Home and has been a delightful addition to our group. Thank you for coming, Carrigan! And…without a doubt…this trip was the brainchild of Rodney. Thank you!
Our day will include a flight along the Himalayan Mountain Range.
For Monthly International Partnership information, and to make a true difference for a child, please contact the New Beginnings’s office at 662-842-6752 or e-mail us at Office@NewBeginningsAdoptions.org
UPDATE - MARCH 26, 2010
New Beginnings Children’s Home of Nepal
Our fourth report…and the “good work” goes on.
The bulk of our work on the Children’s Home has been completed, but there is much more to be done in future trips. We’ve exhausted our budget, and we’re extremely grateful to some special donors who completely supplied the unfinished portion of the work. What a blessing and a great thank you is owed-I haven’t received permission to publish the name so we simply say “Thank you.”
The Kathmandu Resort Hotel in Thamel has been our home for the past week. The service is excellent, the rooms are comfortable and the breakfast on the Rooftop is very nice. Overall, we’re pleased with our lodging and recommend this hotel for future travelers.
Tom has met with individuals who server the adoption community on three occasions, and on Friday night he enjoyed meeting with his friend, Mr. Paudel, who visited Tupelo in 2008. Together, they enjoyed a delightful traditional Nepali dinner-Tom skipped the Dhedo.
We’re having a wonderful time! George “Fly Paper” Miller has become a legend on streets of Thamel. The local vendors know an “American Banker” when they see one. He has more followers than Joel Olsteen. If you don’t like the Fly Paper nickname, how about “Big Laughing Buddha?” In case you don’t understand, this is quite a compliment in Nepal.
In the next edition…cold showers, airport “bombings” and whatever.
UPDATE - MARCH 24-25, 2010
New Beginnings Children’s Home of Nepal
Our third report to those of you who are following the day-to-day efforts of a fantastic group effort to benefit children brings you a variety of stories that will, hopefully, portray a small portion of our efforts. We are at the end of Day #4 at the Children’s Home in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The Wounded Warrior #1, who shall remain nameless until our return, survived a heroic effort to move the new washing machine with bare his bare hands…until the machine slipped. Bandaged, taped and moving on like a “real man” has been easy and a source of pride for a seasoned veteran of mission trips.
All of us have received an Artistic Education compliments of Amber Corey and her arsenal of paint brushes. The five children who presently reside in the lovely home are awed by murals of Noah and the Ark, “1…2…3,” “A…B…C,” balls of multiple colors, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” a Manger scene and a “Jesus Love Me” message, along several more lovely full-size art projects.
The Ladies have outworked the men…at least in “their minds.” I’d vote in favor of ladies. They have painted several rooms, hallways, a three-level staircase and they’re still going strong. Word has it that Rodney will be starting a new church-in-a-day project just for ladies. They are awesome!
The old saying “What Goes Around, Comes Around” certainly holds true for Carrigan. This beautiful and sweet-spirited young lady has watched over children, painted with the ladies, and been a bright-shining-smiling spot in the middle of chaos. Who is she? The daughter of Rodney and Marcie Weekley and one of the first children to be adopted through the New Beginnings domestic program many years ago.
New Beginnings International Children’s & Family Services (of Mississippi) Board member, Andrea Blaylock and Tom Velie, President of NBICFS, spent the morning recording segments with the volunteers and children. This DVD project will be available for viewing…sometime. J Seriously, please request your copy now. They project will be free to Nepal Children’s Home monthly Partners-please e-mail Tom Velie at TomVelie@nbicfs.org to request your copy. Or…you may call Brenda Vinson at 662-842-6752 to place your order.
George Miller and Bill Rosser have combined efforts to build kitchen and library cabinets with Sporadic bursts of electricity available. Have any of you tried building cabinets when the electrical power is off from 11:00 a.m. - 8 p.m.? Well…we rented a generator on Wednesday, but it didn’t run until this morning. Hand-sanding, hand-sawing, hand-everything are a way of life in Nepal. If you don’t believe it, just as George and Bill.
Chief Cleaner and “Go-To” Cleaner is none other than Marcie Weekley. She’s a super trooper. No kidding, she hasn’t said much, but she has done much. Always smiling, always offering to help, and always ready to sing “Jesus Loves Me” to one of the children.
Swing set Construction: You had to see it to believe it! Rodney and Randy carrying a huge beam down the road from the lumber yard. No delivery truck for these guys.
Appliance Shopping 101 with Bobby Adhikari and Tom Velie was quite an experience. But…we managed to purchase a refrigerator, microwave, stove top, rice pot, water filter, gas water heater, even a new washing machine.
Pat “Eagle Eye Blaylock ministered to the Wounded Warrier and painted her heart out today. However, I keep seeing her getting sidetracked by the beautiful children. Yup, that’s why we’re here!
Randy Gould and Craig Peterson completed their version of a Nepali Temple on the “Top of the House” at the “Top of the World.” No, it’s not a shrine to a pagan god. It is an example of ingenuity and frugality. And…it lets in light while protecting against the annual monsoons. Why don’t you come to Nepal and check-it-out yourself?
The stories are simply too numerous to tell, from “How to not purchase a mirror” by Rodney Weekley. “How to carry a REAL 2X4 up the stairs” by Craig Pedersen, “How to move a washing machine by one of he guys. “Why I’ll always curry my food” by the Blaylock Sisters,” “How to start a generator” by Randy Gould, and “How to survive shopping in Nepal by Craig Pedersen.
After meeting with adoption representatives, our hope continues to be that caution and diligence will be exhibited in the adoption investigation process.
Top of the World - Nepal - March 23, 2010
By Amber Corey
It’s hard to believe that we have only been working at the orphanage for 2 days. So much has been accomplished!
The orphanage consists of an extremely nice building with drab décor and a long list of needed repairs. Our team jumped right in with both feet. A group of men headed out to find the needed materials (quite a feat in a country that appears to be stuck in the 70s) while the ladies did what we do best…take over! =)
We began cleaning, painting and loving on the 5 beautiful children that are currently living at the home. In the two days we have been here, we have almost completely finished all of the background painting for 5 rooms. We have even started on the next step…the murals! The kids’ school room now has ABC, 123, colors, and a chalkboard painted on the fun blue walls. Talk about an improvement from the dirty, dingy grey we started with!
The guys have had many unexpected obstacles. Paint is not readily available…and what we found is more of a plaster consistency that is mixed with water to form a white wash. The power goes off right in the middle of the day. Yesterday, that meant they were unable to sand, saw, or even fill the new water tank we purchased with water! These obstacles have really us pull our knowledge and resources together to think outside the box. Sure, we can cut the tops off of water bottles and use them as paint cups. Yes, sticks from the yard work perfectly for stirring paint. Of course, we can build our own scaffolding out of lumber.
These first days have been enlightening, to say the least. Our eyes have been opened to a culture very different than our own. Never will we walk in Lowes or Home Depot with the same mindset! Once again, through seeing poverty first hand, God has reminded us of His blessings in our lives and how He intends for us to use them…to be a blessing to others.
From “The Top of the World”
March 22, 2010 – Nepal Journal
The 51 ½ hours of traveling from Tupelo, Mississippi to Kathmandu, via Nashville, Los Angeles (7 hour layover), Hong Kong (10 hour layover), with a one hour stop in Dhaka, Bangladesh was “long.” For those of you who are just joining us, a group of 11 men and women from Mississippi, Wisconsin, Alabama and Florida are in Kathmandu, Nepal.
We’ll be blogging daily, electricity permitting, for the next 10 days. Due to a water shortage in Nepal, the government turns off the electricity for up to 14 hours each day. Yes, you may be standing in the shower, talking on Skype with someone at home, trying to catch up on e-mail or doing whatever. The government is no respecter of persons—the power is going off!
This small inconvenience does make it difficult for our group who are working at the New Beginnings of Nepal Children’s Home. On Monday (we are ½ day ahead of the folks at home) we painted two rooms, began constructing kitchen storage units, bookcases and furniture for the children. Yes…right in the middle of cutting plywood…off goes the power.
Who is in the group? Rodney, Marcie and Kerrigan from Florida. Randy from Florida. Amber from Alabama. Andrea (a New Beginnings International Children’s & Family Services—located in Tupelo, Mississippi—Board of Directors member), Pat and Tom (me) from Mississippi. George, Craig and Bill from Wisconsin.
A great thanks to all those at home who provided over $5,000 in direct assistance with our project work. Before the week is over, the home will have a refrigerator (none now), a stove, a new water heater, several painted rooms (the children in the home are really excited about this) and the beginning of a library.
On Monday, we met Laxim, Rejue and others who work so diligently to provide 24/7 care for the children and to educate the children. What is really neat is seeing the posters around the day room that share the message of the Gospel’s hope.
Shopping for materials…let me put it this way…there is no Home Depot, Lowes or Menards in Kathmandu. It took us several hours to find a ladder store, a paint store (the paint resembles watered-down toothpaste in consistency), and to secure a few power tools that will run on the 220 circuits. For example, my rechargeable Milwaukee drill doesn’t convert to accept the 220 and the converter we brought along isn’t large enough. So…we buy tools.
A GREAT BIG thanks to churches in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Apopka, Florida, Bismarck, North Dakota, Amory and Corinth, Mississippi for helping to provide the much-needed funds for the trip. And…to all of the individuals who helped…thank you. We’ll be posting some photos. If you’d still like to help, please go to “Donate Now” at www.NewBeginningsAdoptions.org (secure through PayPal). Or, you may call Brenda at 662-842-6752 or e-mail me at TomVelie@NBICFS.org. We still need about $2,000 to complete all of the work that we are committed to doing.
Today (it’s already Tuesday morning here), we meet with Ministry officials related to our adoption work. Please continue to pray for the Nepal Adoption program as we work to encourage those involved in Nepal to work toward greater transparency and high ethical standards in adoption.
Every try Mexican food in Nepal? “Not bad,” according to Bill. Perhaps we’ll write about food one day.
Questions for us? Please e-mail me at TomVelie@NBICFS. org or text me at 662-213-0361. I won’t respond to the texts due to cost, but we will respond via e-mail or blog.
Thought for the day…
“Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them” Psalm 104: 1-8, KJV).
There are many rumors and interesting tidbits of information seeping out of Nepal. Will adoptions be processed in 2010? Will the Nepali government continue to strive to meet Hague Accreditation Standards? Nepal…the home of the New Beginnings of Nepal Children’s Home.
What would you like to know about adoptions from Nepal? Questions? Please send them to tom@newbeginningsadoptions.org