The Dorsey Family, in Progress.....: April 2014

"It is FINISHED!"

This was the subject line from Ruth on March 7th, 2014, when our adoption was finally approved in the courts of Koudougou, Burkina Faso.

The last approval.

The final approval.

The good news we had been praying for since our first court date in November of 2013!!

Although our son is currently living in West Africa, he is ours and we are HIS!! What an amazing blessing, to be part of God's story, and know that there is now one less orphan in the world!

We are so thankful for so many who have been waiting and praying right along with us, all these long months. Through our frustration, impatience, despair....and eventually to our surrender. Waiting is not, as one might think, a passive activity, but one of intention and will. Choosing how to wait, and what to do (or not do), are decisions which reveal who we trust and how we trust. (More thoughts on the spiritual aspects of waiting in a future post, but for now, the details:)

Ruth has helped us to coordinate our travel, and she'll be with us every step of the way, once we arrive in country. Our family will be leaving the U.S. on May 19th, and we will meet our new son on May 24th.

Our Beautiful Son~ The Newest Dorsey

Some of you have asked about what we'll do while in Burkina, and what we'll bring. We'll have the opportunity to visit and work with two extremely impoverished communities and orphanages. I'd like to invite you to join me, gentle reader, as you are interested, in our efforts to help the children still living as orphans in Burkina.

As God calls us to help the “least of these”, (Matt 25:40), truly, we see that these children are indeed desperate for our care and our help.

The children at these orphanages need simple things that are so easy to come by here at home, but are unavailable, living in Burkina Faso. Please consider joining us in following God's call to care for orphans and widows . (James 1:27)

Here is a list of items most needed:

Advil and Tylenol-- (Children's, Infant, and Adult)

Benadryl (Children's and Adult)

Anti-bacterial/anti-fungal cream

Bandages and first aid supplies

Anti-itch cream

Burn creams and treatments

Girls' and boys' underwear, (children's sizes through adult Med.)

Plastic diaper covers

Cloth or disposable diapers

Baby wipes and rash cream

Baby formula

Sun hats and baseball caps in good condition

Sunscreen (spf 30+) ** (for children who are albino)

Small, med., or large sport shorts for boys

Backpacks in good condition

Games that don't require you to understand English (checkers, Connect Four, jump-ropes, frisbees, cards)

Not-inflated soccer balls, hand-held pump

If you are local, you can donate at North Coast Church, Carlsbad campus, or where I teach, at Carrillo Elementary School, but I am happy to pick up too-- just email me! Feel free to include a note or photo with your donation, if you'd like (if you write in French, all the better!). Our hope is that friends will share this "orphanage donation" request with others….maybe in your book club or bible study, so that our suitcases will be FULL of items that will go right to the children who need them most--- how's that for "zero overhead"?

If you live far away, we'd be so grateful if you'd pray for safe travels and a smooth transition for our family, and especially for our new son. If you'd like to contribute financially-- (checks payable to Sheltering Wings are tax deductible), that would be great too, click here: Sheltering Wings Donations

The last day for collecting donations will be on May 11th., to allow planning and packing time.

Thanks for partnering and praying with us. We are so grateful for your support! I’ll be updating our blog with details of our journey and our time in Burkina in the next few weeks. I’d love to share our news and our adventures with you!

I’ve included photos of some of the kids you’ll be helping at the orphanages in Yako and Kimini, Burkina Faso.