Monday, May 24, 2010

Africa

Yes, I am thoroughly in the midst of the world of adoption.
Yes, I am an AVID reader.
Yes, I have heard about this book, and seen mention of this book, and have looked at this book on shelves.

So do I know WHY I have not read it until now???  No. Clue. 

All I can say is, God has a great sense of timing! :)

I am LOVING Melissa Fay Greene's book There is No Me Without You!  I am just getting into it, but keep stopping every few pages to really give myself time to digest what I'm reading.  My usual is to just read read read something.  I love reading, and when a book captures my attention, as many do, I tend to read them so quickly that a week or so later I can barely remember many of the details.  I'm trying NOT to do that with this one!

For example, here is something I loved in the pages I read today...

Adoption is not the answer to HIV/AIDS in Africa.  Adoption rescues few.  Adoption illuminates by example: these few once-loved children - who lost their parents to preventable diseases - have been offered a second chance at family life in foreign countries; like young ambassadors they instruct us... For every orphan turning up in a northern hemisphere household... ten thousand African children remain behind alone.

"I am deeply respectful of the families who care for our children," (Haddush Haleform... head of Children's Commission under Ethiopia's Ministry of Labor) said.  "But I am so very interested in any help that can be given to us to keep the children's first parents alive.  Adoption is good, but children, naturally, would prefer not to see their parents die."

Isn't that the crux of it.  We need to do even more than "just" adopt.  We need to HELP.  It's amazing how truly wonderful all those "new" ARVs are, what a mighty difference they can make.  In fact, why not see for yourself.  I plan on watching this with Olivia.  Because as much as I try to explain to her what HIV "used" to be in our country, how it used to be a "death sentence", she gives me that smirk.  That kid smirk you get when they just don't really believe you.  As if you are saying that just to get your point across, but it's not REALLY true.  I want her to know the truth.  It's still a death sentence to many.  Will you take 30 minutes of your time to watch?

2 comments:

I'm so glad you are loving the book!! I'm like you, an avid reader, who tends to fly through books. I did that with There Is No Me... which is why I'm reading it again. :-) Enjoy!

Thanks also for posting that link!! I was upset that i missed it last night.

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About Me

I am a single mom to four amazing kids; each of whom just happen to have been adopted. The first three were adopted through foster care, and we just completed an international adoption from Haiti. Our family has grown through adoption and I am all the more blessed to know each of my children. I worship a mighty God, teach Special Ed, love bargains, and am inspired by Pinterest... come along with us for the ride!


Olivia - 14

Olivia - 14

Braeden - 11

Braeden - 11

Liam - 9

Liam - 9

Macy - 5

Macy - 5

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What you should know about HIV

-HIV can NOT be spread through casual/household contact. HIV is not spread through hugging, kissing, shaking hands, sharing toys, sneezing, coughing, sharing food, sharing drinks, bathing, swimming or any other casual way. It has been proven that HIV and AIDS can only be spread through sexual contact, birth, breastfeeding and blood to blood contact (such as sharing needles). - HIV is now considered a chronic but manageable disease. With treatment, people who are HIV+ can live indefinitely without developing AIDS and can live long and full lives. - People who are HIV+ deserve to be treated with love, respect, support and acceptance as all people do. Additional information on transmission of HIV can be found on the Center for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources

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Orphan Crisis

• 147 million orphans in the world
• 50 million orphans in Africa 
• Every 14 seconds a child is orphaned by AIDS
• 16,000,000 have been orphaned by AIDS
• Every week, AIDS claims as many lives as American fatalities in the Vietnam War
• 854 million people do not have enough to eat
• Malnutrition is associated with the deaths of 5 million children under the age of five
• Every 2 seconds an orphan dies from malnutrition


Hence the title of my blog

Little Did I Know

Little did I know that the road would be so rocky
Little did I know that the trip would take so long
Little did I know that my heart could hurt so much
Little did I know that God is never wrong

Little did I know that love could be so powerful
Little did I know that a dream so far could go
Little did I know that God would place the right ones
Little did I know that my heart, so large, could grow

Little did I know that a dream has it’s own timing
Little did I know that this day would finally come
Little did I know that four souls would be sent to guide me
Little did I know that they would choose to call me mom

But God knew all along and He had a plan to follow
God knew all along that my dream would soon come true
God knew all along that we five should be together
God knew all along that I’d share it all with you