Category Archives: You Can Help

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HELP RAISE $4800 in 48 HOURS!

August 20, 2010 – 4:13 PM

{Scroll to bottom of post for updates!}

Our case manager called this morning and told us to go ahead and book tickets for our next trip to Ethiopia – which will be in TWO WEEKS!  We leave Nashville on Saturday, September 4th, go to our Embassy appointment on Tuesday, September 7th, and arrive back home on Friday, September 10th WITH OUR SON!!!

This weekend we’re doing a FACEBOOK/TWITTER/BLOG-A-THON to raise the money needed to purchase our airline tickets, and we could use YOUR help!  Here are the details:

Our goal is $4800 in 48 HOURS!
Begins TONIGHT at 11:59 and ends at 11:59 PM on Sunday.
If 480 people each contribute $10 . . . our goal will be met!
Donations will be run through the Paypal “Donate” button here on the blog (top, left-hand side).

***Please consider donating $10 or more & help us spread the word exponentially using Facebook, Twitter, blog posts & any other forms of social media you use!  It’s easy – just copy and paste this information:***

$4800 in 48 HOURS: Help bring a little boy in Ethiopia home to his forever family for only $10!  Visit www.dunlapadoption.com to donate online!  Re-post this to help spread the word!

Your help is GREATLY appreciated!  Check back here for progress updates throughout the weekend!

We can’t post {full} pictures of our son yet, but these will give you an idea of how PRECIOUS he is! . . .

**UPDATES:**
Friday 8/20 @ 9 PM: $800!!!
Friday 8/20 @ 11 PM: $1,045!!!
Saturday 8/21 @ 8 AM: $1,220!!!
Saturday 8/21 @ 2 PM: $1,510!!!
Saturday 8/21 @ 8 PM: $1,720 (one ticket down, two more to go)!!!
Sunday, 8/22 @ 8 AM: $2,175!!!
Sunday, 8/22 @ 1 PM: $2,535!!!
Sunday, 8/22 @ 9 PM: $3,030 (two tickets down & one to go)!!!
Sunday, 8/22 @ 10 PM: $3,445!!!
Sunday, 8/22 @ 12 PM: $3,500!!!
Monday, 8/23 @ 4 PM: $3,910 (donations are still coming in . . . WOW)!!!

By Katie | Also posted in Adoption, News | Comments (11)

two fun pictures

July 15, 2010 – 11:55 AM

I saw this picture on Facebook yesterday, and it made me smile!  Christie went to high school with Brad & me, and she’s in Uganda right now.  She took one of our shirts and gave it to her new friend there.  I think it looks good on him!

This package arrived yesterday afternoon, and I was so excited to receive it!  It was packed with donations for us to take to Hannah’s Hope.  The thing that made it extra special is that I really don’t even know the people who sent it.  Sarah went to school with my sister and recently heard about our adoption journey.  She and her husband decided they wanted to help, so she emailed to get our mailing address.  I know these things will be MUCH appreciated at Hannah’s Hope.  Thank you so much Brian & Sarah!  For anyone else interested in donating items, please make sure you have them to us by Wednesday, July 28th.  Thanks!

Life around here feels a little crazy right now.  We leave for Ethiopia two weeks from tomorrow, and it seems like my brain is in overdrive.  In some ways it feels like July 30th will never get here, and in some ways it seems like time is flying by and it will be here before I know it.  Yesterday marked one month since we got our referral and saw pictures of our little boy for the first time.  A lot has happened since then, and it still seems surreal that we’ll get to meet him in 18 days!

By Katie | Also posted in Africa & Ethiopia | Comments (2)

how YOU can help

July 8, 2010 – 9:38 AM

Our placing agency (AGCI) suggests that all traveling families consider including some donations for Hannah’s Hope (the transition home where our son lives now).  Without these supplies, the staff there cannot provide the excellent care that they do.  We would love to collect as many donations as possible to take to bless the staff there.  We are so thankful for each person who works at Hannah’s Hope, and we’re confident that our little man is in very good hands while there.

If you’re interested in helping us gather some of these things, please leave a comment or email me and let me know.  If you’re in the Nashville area, I’ll be happy to pick up the items.  Feel free to be creative and enlist the help of co-workers, friends & family.  James 1:27 says that we are responsible for looking after orphans and widows, and this is a great way to put that verse into action!  Here’s a list of specific needs:

Diapers of all sizes (including preemie sizes)
Baby wipes (always needed)
Bibs
Hand sanitizer
Kleenex boxes
Infant and children’s vitamins
Formula (vegetable based Similac, soy based Similac as well as regular formula)
Children’s Clothing (new or like new)
- Toddler clothing & shoes (no infant clothing needed at this time)
- Light jackets or sweaters for all ages
- Boys clothing – ages 6-10 years old
- Girls clothing – ages 6-13 years old
Underwear for all ages
Shoes for all ages but especially older boys and girls (“Croc”-like shoes are great!)
Bottles (Avent for both 8-12 ounce feedings)
Diaper rash cream (Desitin is preferred)
Baby shampoos and baby oil
Shampoo, conditioner & lotion for older children
Age appropriate development toys for infants and toddlers
Blow up balls/outside toys
Sidewalk chalk
Bubbles
Children’s DVDs and CDs
Men and women’s deodorant
Good quality electric shaver
Rechargeable camping lanterns (for when electricity is out)
Twin sheets (mainly flat sheets) in the solid colors or children patterns of pink, purple, red, blue & green

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.  Thank you!

By Katie | Comments (0)

another fun call!

July 7, 2010 – 5:54 PM

So . . . I’ve been asking you all to pray that our file would be opened in Ethiopia this week.

Well . . . I got a call from our case manager yesterday.

And . . . she said that not only do we have an open file.

But . . . we also have court and travel dates!!!

As I mentioned in a previous post, adoptive parents are now required to travel to Ethiopia twice.  The first trip is to meet your child and attend court, and the second trip is for your Embassy appointment and to bring your child home.  Our court date has been set for August 4th, so here’s what my calendar looks like right now! . . .

I spent a good part of the afternoon researching flights, and we’ll probably book them tomorrow.  I can’t believe that we’ll be leaving for Ethiopia in TWENTY-THREE days, and we’ll meet our son for the first time in TWENTY-SIX days!  Four weeks from today is our court appointment . . . unbelievable.

Thank you so much for praying for us along the way.  Please keep praying.  Here are some specific things to pray about:

1) Our little man’s birth mother.  She is scheduled to be in court on July 19th.  Pray that she is able to travel from northern Ethiopia down to Addis Ababa to attend.  Also, please pray for her heart in this process.  I have cried many tears on her behalf and will post some of my thoughts about her sacrifice soon.

2) All of the documents necessary for court to be in the right place at the right time.  There are documents coming from several different organizations, and it’s very common for one or more things to not arrive in time for court.  Please pray that everything makes it there by his birth mother’s court date on July 19th.

3) Fundraising.  We still need $13,000 for travel and in-country expenses.  That seems like a very daunting figure, but we continue to trust God to provide.  We plan to book our airline tickets tomorrow, and I’ll just say that they are not cheap this time of the year (around $2400 each).

Thank you so much for your prayers, support & encouragement!

By Katie | Also posted in Adoption, News | Comments (4)

Financial Update (& get your Show Love t-shirt!)

June 23, 2010 – 2:34 PM

In my last post, I mentioned that I had updated the “Fees” page here on the blog.  We cannot tell you how amazed we are at the amount of money that we’ve raised/saved for this adoption.  We knew going into the process that we certainly did NOT have an extra $30,000 – 35,000 laying around.  We knew that God would have to provide, and He certainly HAS . . . through many of YOU!

We’re excited to announce that we have spent $20,000 so far on this adoption, and we’ve never had a fee due that we could not pay.  Fees are divided up and due at different points along the way, and we’ve always had just enough money for the next check . . . AMAZING!  We mailed our referral acceptance documents to AGCI yesterday, and with them went a check for $4,550.00.  We were SO thankful to have the funds to write that check and know that the only remaining expenses are travel costs and post-placement costs!!!

Since writing the check for the referral fees, our adoption fund is pretty much back down to zero.  We still have about $13,000 to raise/save for those expenses.  That figure seems a little daunting, but we truly believe that God will continue to provide the money when it’s needed.

If you’re interested in helping us get our little boy home, please feel free to contact us for information on how to contribute OR click the “Donate” button at the top of the blog.  We also still have 57 “Show Love” T-shirts left.  There are limited amounts and sizes available, so click HERE and view the drop down boxes for more information.  They are $20 for adult sizes and $12 for kids’ sizes, and they’re super soft and comfortable.  All of the money will go straight towards airfare and in-country expenses.

Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support.  Once we’re finally able to post full pictures, many of you will be able to look at his sweet face and know that YOU played a part in his story.  For that we will be forever grateful!  And since I can’t show you his face, I’ll leave you with a picture of his little toes and him posing with “his” ball! . . .

By Katie | Also posted in Adoption | Comments (2)

so thankful

May 24, 2010 – 2:18 PM

If you’ve looked at the blog header recently, you may have noticed that more of those dashes across the ocean from the United States to Africa have turned red!  It’s hard to even believe, but we’ve saved/raised $19,000 so far . . . yes, you read that right . . . NINETEEN. THOUSAND. DOLLARS.  We’re really just in awe.

Raising money can be pretty intimidating.  It’s not always easy to put yourself out there and ask for financial help.  To be honest, it felt kind of weird adding a Paypal “donate” button to our blog.  The things is, though, we knew going into this that we wouldn’t be able to fully cover the expenses associated with adoption.  We knew we’d have to be willing to ask for help.  To say that we’ve been completely humbled and amazed by the response would be an understatement.  To say “thank you” from the bottom of our hearts to each person who has contributed almost seems like a disservice.  I hope each of you know that YOU are helping us to change the world for a child (or a couple of children) on the other side of the globe.  We would not be where we are without you.  I could do all the paperwork for the dossier, but without the $5000 check to accompany it, we would not have been able to submit it.  This is a team effort, and to those of you who have played a part, we cannot express our gratitude appropriately.  It is my hope that one day when you see our Ethiopian child(ren) in person or see pictures here on the blog, you will look into their eyes and know without a doubt that God used YOU to help give them a family.

To see a breakdown of what all the money goes toward, click on “Fees” at the top of the page.  You will notice that the remaining fees are associated with referral and travel expenses as well as post-adoption expenses.  We continue to trust God to provide for the remaining portion, and we will also do our part to save toward those fees as well.

I’ve been asked a lot recently why adoption is so hard and expensive, so stay tuned for a post later this week that will help answer those questions.  I hope you all have a great week!  If you want to see a sweet, sweet video that had me in tears this morning, click HERE.  The mom of this family went to high school with Brad and me, and they passed court today!!!  That means that as of today, they have a new son, Isaac!  I’m thrilled for them and can’t wait to see pictures of their little addition soon!  To read more about their journey, click HERE.

By Katie | Also posted in Adoption, Links | Comments (2)

flood cleanup

May 6, 2010 – 9:02 AM

These pictures really don’t capture what it felt like to drive through this neighborhood.  There are piles of furniture, wet insulation, sheetrock, ruined appliances, and wet rolls of carpet everywhere you look.  The road is covered with a thick layer of dirt that was left behind when the water receded.

We helped Mary, who was evacuated from her home by boat.  She’s lived in the house less than a year.  The guys cut about 4 feet of sheet rock out of the bottom of the entire house. The hardwood floors were ruined, so the tedious work began of tearing it out. And I’ll just say that it didn’t really “tear” out. It was glued down reeeaaalllyy well, and it had to be chipped away one little plank at a time. The guys worked SO hard and got (maybe) half of it done. Some of the girls hauled debris out to one of the piles outside and took down a bunch of wallpaper (on the upper portion of the walls that remained). Meanwhile the homeowner and her her daughters cleaned out cabinets and sorted through what was left. They spent a lot of time trying to salvage old photographs as well. It was so good to get out and help. I’m just sorry their loss was so great.

[Photos compliments of Mike & Tabitha Harder]

By Katie | Also posted in Green Hills Church | Comments (2)

it’s really as bad as it looks

May 5, 2010 – 10:55 PM

Check out THESE incredible images of the flooding here in Nashville (and surrounding areas).  After spending much of our day in Bellevue (west Nashville) helping with cleanup efforts in a completely devastated area, I can ASSURE you that it’s really as bad as it looks.  More on today’s experience later when I find some energy, but I can tell you that it was very eye-opening and sad.  Please pray for people here in our city who are having to completely start over.  If you live in the Nashville area, you can volunteer to help with Hands On Nashville.  They are doing some great things all over the city, and we’ve worked with them in the past.  Check back tomorrow & I’ll post some pictures from the house and neighborhood we worked in today.  I’ll leave you with these two for now . . .

I can’t tell you how proud I am of Riley and Cole.  They worked right along with the rest of us and sincerely wanted to do as much as they could to help.  It’s important to us that they grow up learning to have a heart to serve others.  Today provided a very tangible lesson in doing just that.  They made me proud to be their mama!

By Katie | Also posted in Family, Links, News | Comments (0)

g i d d y

April 19, 2010 – 5:32 PM

Look what I got today . . .

In case you’re still wondering what in the world those are . . . they’re workbooks so I can start teaching a Level 1 ESL class next week!  Last week I posted about my experience visiting the Sudanese Community and Women’s Center (which has now been renamed the Nashville International Center for Empowerment).  Today I went back to observe two classes and left with workbooks in my hand so that I can teach next week!  I had the best time there today, and I’m really excited about this opportunity.  Today as I was leaving I was overwhelmed with the thought that it feels like this is part of what God created me for.  To be able to befriend and help the people I saw today just falls right in line with everything else I’ve been learning lately.  It just feels so right.

When I first got to the center, I met Donna & Connie.  They are currently teachers there, and Donna is the volunteer coordinator.  I sat in Connie’s Level 1 class first.  There were people from ALL over the place in there, and I felt very honored to be with them.  They are working so hard to learn English, and they all seem very fascinating.  As I took notes, I couldn’t help but think about what it must be like to be in their shoes.  To be in a country where everything is so different.  To not be able to communicate well.  I imagined myself trying to learn another language in another country while adjusting to a new culture and possibly dealing with painful circumstances back home that brought me there in the first place.  I sat beside a man from Haiti.  His children are still there.  There were three Ethiopian women at the front of the room, and they were so beautiful to me.  I hope to get to know them better as time goes on.

After about 30 minutes (the classes are 1.5 hours long), I went into Donna’s Level 2 class.  They were discussing fact vs. opinion and also talked about synonyms.  Most of the people in there were from Ethiopia, Sudan or Burma.  I couldn’t for the life of me remember where Burma is, so I looked at the globe when I got home and still couldn’t find it.  I googled it (thank goodness for Google – what did we do without it?!) and was reminded that it was officially named Myanmar.  It is east of India.  See . . .

In the Level 2 class, I got to hold a sweet little 18-month-old girl while her mama learned.  Her mom, who is from Sudan, just became a citizen and will attend her oath ceremony this Friday.  She came to the center about 1.5 years ago when her little girl was a tiny baby and literally began by learning her ABC’s.  She has come so far and has worked so hard to get where she is today.  As she talked about the ceremony on Friday, she just beamed.  I don’t even know her, but I am so proud of her!  The Ethiopian ladies in the class asked me some questions about our adoption, and I just wanted to sit and talk with them all day.

I will teach a Level 1 class at 9 AM on Mondays and Wednesdays.  I really don’t know what I’m doing, but I know I’ll figure it out along the way.  I’m looking forward to developing relationships with my students outside the walls of the center as well.  I’m so thankful for this opportunity and grateful that God has given me this passion and an outlet to use it – and it’s right in my backyard!  I’m sure I’ll keep you posted as I travel down this road, and I’ll probably have funny stories to tell along the way . . . so stay tuned!

By Katie | Also posted in Africa & Ethiopia | Comments (2)

a new adventure!

April 13, 2010 – 3:42 PM

{Edited to add:  The Sudanese Community & Women’s Center has been renamed since the writing of this post.  Their new name is Nashville International Center for Empowerment – or NICE.}

I have become increasingly aware of the number of refugees in Nashville and the difficulties they face in transitioning into American culture.  After watching God Grew Tired of Us, I felt moved to do something to help, even if it was small (if you haven’t watched that documentary, you really should!).  Since then I’ve been praying that God would show me where to go and who to partner with.

After hearing about it from a friend and looking at their website, I decided to stop by the Sudanese Community & Women’s Center yesterday to check out the place and find out what help is needed there.  When I walked in, I was met by Idah, a beautiful and super sweet lady from Kenya.  After completing a volunteer application, she showed me around the building.  There were three ESL classes being conducted, and the little rooms were packed.

I explained that I had been made more aware of how hard it is for refugees to adjust once they arrive in America, that we’re adopting from Ethiopia, and that my heart has become connected to East Africa.  She asked if I could teach ESL.  I told her that I’d never been formally trained, but that I’d be willing to try.

I’m really excited about this opportunity.  I’ve been frustrated about our adoption wait, and the other day I realized that I don’t need to just sit around and wait for the adoption ball to get rolling again.  There are things here and now that I can do.

The need at the SCWC is great.  Their little building is busting at the seams, and there are more than enough people that need assistance.  The Executive Director, Gatluak Thach (seen in the video above), seems like an incredibly humble man, and his story is inspiring and amazing.  I had the privilege of meeting him yesterday.  If you’d like to hear more about his story, I would encourage you to do so HERE.

I’ll keep you posted on my experiences volunteering there . . . can’t wait!

By Katie | Also posted in Africa & Ethiopia, Links, Media, News | Comments (1)