Opportunities to Help

Dear Friends and Family,

We apologize for not posting an update or prayer email in quite a long
time! We've written a few posts but due to internet access have not
been able to upload them to the web. So we'll play catch up with some
posts later. We decided to put the most important post/prayer email
up first.

Our most recent post is something very dear and close to our hearts
for many reasons. Primarily three reasons… Adoption, Ethiopia and
Close Friends. We have some close friends, Doug and Danielle Banker
from Colorado Springs, who are in the process of adopting siblings
from Ethiopia! They have completed all their paperwork and homestudy
and are now in the waiting process. Like I said this is very close to
our hearts.

First, because of Adoption. As many of you know I was adopted along
with my younger brother, Gideon. We think it is wonderful that Doug
and Danielle are willing to bring not just one child but TWO into
their home. They are truly providing life to these children. These
children will have opportunities that they would never have. And more
importantly they will experience love and belonging. Adopting is one
of the most selfless things that a family can do. My whole life is a
testimony to the change and impact that can happen when parents decide
to adopt!

Second, Ethiopia. We've now been in Ethiopia for over 4 months. We
love the country, culture and especially the people. We plan to share
with you more and more as time goes, but the poverty is reality for
millions of people in this country. They need our help. They need
your help. Doug and Danielle are responding to this need; they are
tremendously changing the lives of two children.
Third, they are our close friends. We've known Doug and Danielle
since 2004, when they participated in a young married bible study we
helped lead. Doug and Danielle have been impactful in our lives in
many ways. They have been examples to us by living their faith with
width (knowledge) but more importantly depth (living). Specifically
they are inspirational in their marriage, finances and community
building. Personally, they have provided us with true accountability
and fellowship. We could write more and more about them, but the most
important thing we can say is that they WILL be amazing godly parents.
We've already seen them in many ways trust God through their adoption
journey up until now.

You might be asking why we're telling you all this? Before we left
the US, many of you knew that we were not fundraising while we served
in Africa. But many of you did ask us to let you know about any
financial needs or opportunities where you could help Ethiopia. So,
here is the first opportunity for those who are interested and able.
We know the timing isn't best, with the financial crisis and with
Christmas, this might not the ideal time to ask. Nonetheless, what
better time to give a gift that really does GIVE LIFE, than Christmas.
Our prayers and dreams are that those in our "community of support"
would bless Doug and Danielle as they step out in faith and trust God
to provide for them and their soon to be children. We'd encourage you
to send ANYTHING to show that you too believe in what they're doing.
Maybe that is only $5 right now or maybe for some of you it is $1000.
Whatever amount it is…I know that the encouragement and the support is
more important than the dollar amount to them. I'm sure if there are
other resources or ways that you can help (outside of monetary),
they'd love to talk with you. You'll find this address on our blog.
We want to thank you for reading and if you are able… giving! Most
importantly, please pray for Doug and Danielle. They'll have many
special memories as well as many challenges ahead! We'll be providing
updates about Doug and Danielle as time goes on!

Many Blessings,
Anne & Keegan

A Great Way to Help

Yes, friends and family, we are still very much alive! We've gotten very busy lately and have not made time for updates. Whenever we did prepare an update, it also coincided with lousy internet. So, we'll be posting some more, real updates soon. As for now, let us tell you about a way you can help Ethiopia.

As we prayed and considered moving to Africa, a great many friends encouraged us along the way. Doug and Danielle Banker were one couple particularly involved in the process. While Doug and Danielle were encouraging God's plan for us, they were considering a significant step in their own lives. Around the same time we decided to move toEthiopia, Doug and Danielle decided to adopt children from Ethiopia. As we walk the streets of Addis and see countless orphans, we realize what an amazing thing the Bankers are doing. Below is a letter from the Bankers. Please read it over and consider joining them in this Christmas season.

Dear fellow brothers and sisters,

The Bible tells us in James 1:27 that "pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world". Isaiah1:17 says "Learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow." This is the calling my wife and I have humbly and graciously answered.

Our journey began shortly after Danielle and I met when we both shared our interest in adoption and how we'd be open to it in the future. This past winter, after being married almost 3 years, we decided it would be the right time for us to pursue this dream of ours. Since that first conversation we have had a heart for the continent of Africa and the struggles that many of the people there face daily. More recently, our hearts have steered in the direction of Ethiopia.This direction took place around the same time MarlAnne and Keegan Combs found out they'd be taking their calling and ministry to Ethiopia.

One of the most blessed relationships the Lord has brought Danielle and I is MarlAnne and Keegan Combs. Watching their journey come to fruition with their going to Ethiopia has been inspiring and praiseful (though we miss them like crazy!). Since their arrival several months ago Danielle and I have started the adoption process, completed all of the paperwork, have gone through many hours of training required by the agencies and are getting ready to submit our dossier to Ethiopia awaiting our referral. Words cannot even express the excitement we both currently share as our "paper pregnancy" is about to begin! After long consideration we have decided to submit a request for 2 children under the ages of 36 months, most likely blood siblings. Due to this request our wait will likely be longer than usual. Therefore,we're hoping to receive our referral in late 2009 or early 2010. Once this happens, we'll go over to Ethiopia soon thereafter to meet our children!

As many of you may already know with adoption comes many challenges. Issues with the child's heath, language barriers, attachment disorders, high financial requirements and many others are very likely to occur. Thankfully, we have many great resources at our hands to take advantage of to help us through each of these trials/tribulations. Danielle and I have been saving up for this process knowing we would want to pursue adoption. Due to this we initially chose not to pursue raising support financially. The Lord has changed our hearts to be open to others who may want to in some way, shape, or form assist us in His heart for the orphans of this world. If you would be interested in helping us we would wholeheartedly welcome any form of generosity. We thank you for your prayerful consideration in taking part in our journey.

In His Loving Name,
Doug & Danielle Banker
930 N. Logan Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
719-268-0866
daniellebanker@yahoo.com