4-more.org

One Week from Orphan Sunday

2011-10-30T21:08:00.002-03:00

How will you respond?

An Uncle and Aunt Give in Honor of their Adopted Nephew

2011-10-14T10:44:00.003-03:00

Moved by the Rwandan adoption of their brother and sister-in-law's son, an uncle and aunt decided to give a generous donation to 4-more. They requested that we find a location in the place of birth of their nephew. Here is one of the places (of 2) that their gift will impact:

The project is creating clean water and sanitation systems for a primary school which will serve 700 children. The Rwandan individuals involved in our second October clean water project in Butare have us humbled. The pastor of the church adjacent to the school is being a tremendous help. His church runs programs for the "at-risk" and orphaned children in the area, as well as giving assistance to widows and to women and children whose husbands/fathers are in prison. We are honored to be part of this amazing Rwandan-initiated ministry.

A 35,000 liter underground tank for drinking water is being constructed and their existing tank will move to a toilet area for hand washing stations. Sinks currently do not exist at the school.

At this point, one of our partners will move from Kigali to Butare and stay through the end of the project - which should be approximately 3 more weeks. Some families with children at the school are housing the technicians as a way of contributing to the project.

To follow the progress of this project, click here.

Smartglass Fundraiser Event!

2011-09-19T12:00:00.000-03:00

CITYFOLK PRESENTS

SmartGlass Jewelry Trunk Show & Special Fundraiser Event
Wednesday September 21st
Wine & Cheese Party, 4-6pm at CityFolk on Gallery Row
www.cityfolkonprince.com
Smart Glass Jewelry, CityFolk, and 4-more celebrate our partnership with a special gathering for our Water-to-Water Project.
The evening will feature information about a current project in Rwanda that has already been funded through this partnership - and offer the opportunity for YOU to be a part of the next clean water project with 100% direct proceeds from your purchase of Smart Glass Jewelry during the event.
www.4-more.org

Can’t make it? Visit smartglassjewelry.com on September 20th, 21st, 22nd
and place an online order. All proceeds on those 3 days will be donated to 4-more for our current project. Just use the “4-more” code when placing your order. www.smartglassjewelry.com

Finally...a children's book

2011-09-17T23:27:00.007-03:00

When we were going through our adoption of our son Myles, adopted from Rwanda in 2009, we searched and searched for a book to read to our other children about adoption. It seems that there are several books, good books, depicting children from Asia or Eastern Europe, but none that we could find that involved a white family adopting a black child. Nope. None.

Finally, Christina Kyllonen of 4-more and Peter Greer of HOPE International have co-authored a beautiful story of a mother longing for her adopted child. The goal has been this: Adopted children want to know their story. Siblings want to know what to expect. Parents want to know how to convey the deep love they feel. This children’s book brings the beauty of international adoption to the entire family through a simple story of love for a child. It ends with resources for families exploring their own adoption journey.

4-more's goal:
1) to finally have a resource for children that relates to both domestic and international transracial adoptions
2) 100% of the proceeds will go toward the Ruby and Myles Fund: 4-more's adoption grants and clean water in Rwanda

PLEASE be a part of this project! Click here to play a part and pre-order.

wine & water...

2011-09-14T22:27:00.001-03:00

Drop into CityFolk (146 North Prince Street, Lancaster, Pa) on Wednesday, September 21st from 4-6pm for a wine and cheese party!!! Smart Glass jewelry, CityFolk and 4-more celebrate our partnership with a gathering for our Water-to-Water Project. We will focus on one project and you can be part and be proud to sign your name to it. The Water-to-Water Journey: The drop of water that becomes the beverage in a bottle, the bottle that is recycled into Smart Glass jewelry, The jewelry that you love and purchase at CityFolk, The proceeds that go straight to 4-more.Tonight we have a clear goal- help us make it and enjoy the beautiful jewelry of Kathleen Plate whose work was featured in the Guggenheim this summer.

Water-to-Water Event: Sept 21 4-6pm

2011-09-14T22:25:00.000-03:00

September 21, 4-6pm

Join us for a wine and cheese party!!! Smart Glass jewelry, CityFolk and 4-more celebrate our partnership with a gathering for our Water-to-Water Project. We will focus on one project and you can be part and be proud to sign your name to it. The Water-to-Water Journey: The drop of water that becomes the beverage in a bottle, the bottle that is recycled into Smart Glass jewelry, The jewelry that you love and purchase at CityFolk, The proceeds that go straight to 4-more. The many ways 4-more provides access to clean water is through a unique and resourceful network of rain catchment gutters, sanitation stations, water tanks and wells. Tonight we have a clear goal- help us make it and enjoy the beautiful jewelry of Kathleen Plate whose work was featured in the Guggenheim this summer.

For the Event details on Facebook, click here.

At City Folk: 146 North Prince Street, Lancaster, PA 17603

Our action is needed in the horn of Africa

2011-08-21T16:25:00.001-03:00

Reflections on the Crisis in the Horn of Africa

Smart Water

2011-07-22T00:31:00.002-03:00

The project at Ntarama has offered a wealth of opportunity. We've learned a great deal through our partnership with Water for Life - and they've shown ingenuity and resourcefulness in their application of clean water. For example, clean water for cows means more milk - which means healthier kids. Makes sense!

Water for Life shares:

"If you look straight across the hill to the other side there is a small brown square of dirt. This is a natural spring that lasts about halfway into the dry season, and is the closest water to the stables. It is about a mile round-trip- this is done twenty times each day with a thirty-liter jerry-can. (600 liters per day for the stables.) Currently three boys share the responsibility for water at the stables."

In a few short weeks - this long path will no longer be tread by these children, who will have more time for education and other activities.

Other great news is that the tank at the maternity ward building is complete, full of clean water and being used now.

Next up: washing stations for the toilets/kitchen area at the orphan village homes. Sanitation is such a crucial part of these water projects. Without the education and opportunity for sanitary conditions, clean water can only go so far to improve lives. We're trying to learn more about opportunities in this area, and listening to how we can meet these specific needs. We're learning more every day and loving it!

Drilling Underway at Ntarama Orphan Village!

2011-06-13T12:30:00.000-03:00

Drilling has begun! We're so excited that the deep water well drill is on site and clean water for the village is just a week or two away. A water tank has already been installed adjacent to the maternity center, and water will be incorporated into the latrines too. Our great partners, Water for Life, will be keeping us updated along the way with info and pictures as the project progresses. Check out our website link for more information and details!

the Walk for Water...the reality.

2011-04-20T15:44:00.000-03:00

Following your Journey in Prayer

2011-04-19T18:11:00.003-03:00

Hi Rwanda Mamas: We know that many families are either about to leave to bring their children home or will be in the next few months. If this is you, can we follow your journey? Please consider sharing your blog with us so others can follow and pray along with your journey.

We are SO excited for you!!!!

remembering...

2011-04-10T15:08:00.000-03:00

In April of 1994 Rwanda was in the early stages of one of the most horrible genocides the modern world has ever seen. 17 years later those who vow to never forget are in a time of mourning. We grieve with those who lost everything and rejoice with those who have been a part of so much redemption and healing in the last 17 years.

We promise to never forget

Adopted for Life

2011-02-05T15:38:00.000-03:00

Click here to listen.

The gospel of Jesus Christ—the good news that through Jesus we have been adopted as sons and daughters into God’s family—means that Christians ought to be at the forefront of the adoption of orphans in North America and around the world.

Moore does not shy away from this call in Adopted for Life, a popular-level, practical manifesto for Christians to adopt children and to help equip other Christian families to do the same. He shows that adoption is not just about couples who want children—or who want more children. It is about an entire culture within the church, a culture that sees adoption as part of the Great Commission mandate and as a sign of the gospel itself.

Sacred Waiting

2010-12-10T20:42:00.003-03:00

for those who are waiting, here's a post from Keri Atland that you should read. click here

gifts that give and give and give...

2010-12-06T17:19:00.005-03:00

This year as you prepare to give gifts to those you love, consider giving gifts that will also help to give the precious gift of clean water to children who need it most. This Christmas season we're so excited to have two amazing options for gifts that give water:

Andrew Lindberg is the artist behind Walk On Watercolors, unique and beautiful prints that tell a Biblically based story in a way you've never seen till now. Visit Walk on Watercolors to browse available prints. Just use the promotion code '4more' at checkout and 50% of each sale will help to give the life changing gift of clean water to precious children in Rwanda.

Kathleen Plate is the creative vision that turns recycled glass bottles into stunning jewelry. Visit Smart Glass Jewelry to view her current collection. Proceeds from the sale of Smart Glass products purchased at CityFolk in Lancaster, PA are given to help fund 4-more clean water projects in Rwanda.

This year give gifts full of meaning, gifts that will continue to give long after the holiday season has past.

Gifts That Give Hope

2010-10-25T10:50:00.000-03:00

4-more is excited to be participating in the Pennsylvania Gifts That Give Hope fair. “At a Gifts That Give Hope fair, shoppers meet and learn about nonprofit organizations and make a donation to a cause in honor of a friend or family member. In return, they receive an attractive card with a description of their gift, which can be presented to the friend or family member.”

4-more will be providing the following gift options for purchase:

$10: Water 4 Food – Support a Rwandan orphan’s organic farming class, teaching food/water reuse skills.

$25: Water 4 Health – Give a rain catchment system. Supply clean water to a Rwandan orphan village.

$50: Water 4 Community – Change the lives of a village. A well of clean water to last for generations.

Date: Saturday, November 20, 2010, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Rd, Lancaster, PA 17601

walk4water

2010-09-30T01:23:00.000-03:00

Walk with us Saturday, October 2nd and help bring clean water to Rwandan orphans. Visit our website for more information and to register.

'A' stands for...

2010-09-28T17:11:00.004-03:00

You can decide what the letter 'A' stands for if you are the lucky one who gets to take home this beautiful piece by artist Kathleen Stoltzfus. Created specifically for the tapestry of art and home decor that is CityFolk (located in Lancaster, PA), this letter 'A' was featured in the artist's volume of the FIG and is now being auctioned off by CityFolk's proprietor, Karen Anderer, to benefit 4-more. We would once again like to thank Karen for her heart for the children of Rwanda and for her endless determination, encouragement and support in the endeavor to see each of them receive the gift of clean water. The auction ends October 8th.

Click HERE to Bid.

(you know you want to)

You're Invited to an Authentic Ethiopian Dinner

2010-09-18T14:17:00.001-03:00

Thrown by our interns for 4-more, cuisine by Ethiopian chef Mrs. Getahun!

What: Authentic Ethiopian Dinner
Why: Fundraiser for the walk4water
Cost: Donation that will help bring clean water for a Rwandan orphan village
When: September 25, 2010 5pm-7pm
Where: Hempfield Church of the Brethren http://www.hempfieldcob.org/

AMAZI event in Portland, Oregon--tonight!

2010-09-17T13:43:00.005-03:00

Tonight two amazing adoptive mothers are throwing a high-end event called AMAZI. (Kinywarwanda for "water") All proceeds from this event will go to 4-more toward the village shown in this video. On behalf of over 1,000 people in and surrounding the village, we thank you so much Kelly and Mandy!!!!

to view the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq17HYPWmR0

one morning . one mile . one mission.

2010-08-14T14:01:00.000-03:00

walk4water!

2010-08-14T11:09:00.003-03:00

Did you know…Thousands of Rwandan children walk
miles every day in search of clean water only to find dirty,
contaminated water to drink.

Did you also know… you have the opportunity
make a difference in their lives? Middle school through
college age students are invited to take a life-changing
walk for water.

Saturday, October 2nd at 10am
at Community Fellowship Church in Lancaster, PA.
$12/person to register
*Registration includes concert by Melody Olson, lunch,
and a T-shirt.

Participants are encouraged to raise additional
support to walk one mile, carrying water. Funds
raised will provide clean water systems for
orphan villages in Rwanda.

Your participation in this walk will give these
children a chance for health and hope in the
future.

Register online at 4-more.org

just a bake sale

2010-05-31T15:25:00.006-03:00

Just for "funzies" and our focus, we decided to have a bake sale today. For years, we (the Greers) have enjoyed the Memorial Day tradition with friends--the massive flea market at our local park across the street, combined with our neighborhood yard sale. Last year, Christina, Heather, and another friend of ours--Carrie Grace, enjoyed the chance to purge our houses of unused items. Today, instead of the yard-sale focus, we had a bake sale for 4-more. Many adoptive families contributed their time and resources.

It has been emotional for all of us to be part of this outpouring of love from the community and adoptive families--even for this "simple" Memorial Day sale. Families have been dropping off donated items for the last several days--some of whom we met for the first time. One mommy-in-waiting said, "somehow I felt like I was loving my child as I baked." While the money raised today will not be going toward the particular orphanage your children will be adopted from, the money will go directly to an orphan village nearby in Kigali so that other orphans will have a better chance at survival. Clean water systems (rain catchment) will be installed by Water for Life once all of the money is raised.

Today we had the most delicious baked goods (homemade beautiful pies, patriotic cookies on sticks, cupcakes, brownies...) hot dogs, sodas, and many other snacks. It was a great opportunity to share the mission of 4-more with the community, have fellowship with other adoptive families, and just be together! Our total for the sale (which lasted from about 8:30-1ish) was $625!

Memorial Day For Water

2010-05-26T16:43:00.000-03:00

This coming Monday, May 31st, we will be celebrating Memorial Day by participating in Landisville's Community Day! We will be having a bake sale in the hope of raising awareness throughout our community about the water situation in Rwanda and raising some funds towards our next clean water project. If you live locally (Hershey/Elizabethtown/Lancaster) and would like to contribute by donating baked goods, hotdogs/buns or boxes of soda, please let us know by responding below and we'll be in contact about where and when we are able to receive the donated goods. Thank you!!

APPROVED!

2010-05-08T00:42:00.002-03:00

So excited to announce that our status as a 501(c)(3) organization has been approved!

reflecting on the time in rwanda

2010-04-29T11:11:00.000-03:00

We've been back in the States for almost a month now and still processing the amazing week in Rwanda. We had an inspiring trip learning about how we can come alongside existing orphan villages to provide clean water.

We spent time learning more about the orphan crisis in Rwanda (orphans are considered children ages birth-25 years). The Survivors of the Rwandan Genocide Fund have been building villages to restore the social fabric that was torn to shreds for the tens of thousands of orphans in Rwanda. We were humbled by how our dear friends in Rwanda continue to move on, forgive, yet still grieve, after the genocide of 1994.

We anticipated seeing despair, hopelessness and pain during our orphan village visits; instead we left with hope, admiration and great expectations for the children living in these villages.

45 beautiful village establishments have been built for the orphans around the country of Rwanda, but water is not part of the construction. Children are still walking as far as 3-5 kilometers (per way) to buy water to fill their gericans, which is not necessarily drinkable. After seeing our finished rain-catchment project at the Village of Peace, we are more than eager to begin bringing clean water to hundreds more children in Rwanda who desperately need it. Our partner in Rwanda, Water for Life, is now working on assessments of many of these villages-some will need rain catchment systems, others will need wells drilled. Not only will the water meet the most basic of needs for these villages, but they will also have ownership of it--the ability to sell the water to surrounding villages. Water is a precious commodity in Rwanda.

We are awaiting to hear back from the IRS about our non-profit status--we filed our 501(c)(3) before we left for Rwanda. Although we've been functioning as a non-profit, it will be fantastic to be official!

Orphan Villages

2010-03-29T22:31:00.000-03:00

Today, we were touched by the story and plight of Rwanda's orphan villages.

Rwanda Trip Update

2010-03-28T21:08:00.004-03:00

Visit our website www.4-more.org for updated stories and pictures from our trip to Rwanda - going on right now. 4-more will be in Africa until March 31.

World Water Day

2010-03-22T21:28:00.002-03:00

Did you brush your teeth today? Two times, even? How about take a shower? Wash dishes, do laundry, buy a bottle of water, clean your car windshield? Did you do all of this without thinking twice about the availability or cleanliness of the water?

Today, on World Water Day, we want to take a moment to think twice.

"Over one billion people around the world lack access to clean water. Two million of these die every year from a water-related illness. Of those that die, 90 percent are children." http://www.worldhelp.net/causelife.aspx

As 4-more plans to embark in a little over 24 hours to visit Rwanda, a country where over 80% of deaths are caused by waterborne illnesses, we are humbled by the support we've received towards providing clean water to two orphanages so far. We hope that you are able to follow us 'virtually' on our trip via our website.

Leaving for Rwanda in 9 Days

2010-03-15T23:02:00.003-03:00

We would ask for prayer as we draw closer to our time in Rwanda. Our itinerary while we're there is completely packed. Meetings with other development NGOs to learn from their mistakes and what works/lasts, meeting with government officials, and going to up to 7 orphanages/orphan villages to assess their needs for clean water.

We look forward to seeing how the first 4-more funded Clean Water Projects have gone!

Thank you again to those of you who shipped Crocs, blankets, developmental toys, crib mirrors, etc--the last of the enormous overflowing of these will be coming with us!

Current Water Project Update

2010-02-16T18:27:00.000-03:00

For a very exciting update on our current water project at the Village of Peace orphanage and school, please click here.

Following this project, a sanitation system will be installed at the Home of Home, so the children will have CLEAN drinking water with a high-tech, but low-maintenance system.

can we post your blog address?

2010-02-09T16:17:00.000-03:00

We are going to be launching our website shortly (we know, it's taking FOREVER)...but one aspect of the site is going to be a forum for adoptive families-to foster community (and commiserate) about the adoption process, to offer support, encouragement, and help along the way. In our Adoption Center, we will have a resource center, Kinyarwanda guidance, ways to get involved, funding options, and a list of adoption blogs. We would LOVE to have your blog listed so other families can learn, pray, and journey along with you. No matter what stage you are in your adoption, or if you have already adopted, can we post your blog on our list? Please let us know by commenting below. THANK YOU in advance!

breaking ground

2010-02-08T11:35:00.003-03:00

This week our first groundbreaking of a water project at the Triumphant Cross Orphanage in Kigali! We will have pictures following. Water for Life has been AMAZING to work with and definitely involved with their hearts.

trip to rwanda in march

2010-02-05T16:18:00.000-03:00

We are heading to Rwanda (3 of the 4 of us) at the end of the March, the 24- 1st of April! We will be meeting with several organizations doing great work with orphans in Rwanda, visit orphanages and child-headed households, and most importantly...LISTEN to mothers, widows, and caretakers. We hope to seek out ways that we can bring support, mostly in terms of bringing clean water. Please join us as we are praying that our ears would be open.

Tees from the Heart

2010-02-05T15:06:00.000-03:00

from the designer:

"Tees from the Heart was created for those families that are in the adoption process from Africa. While this time can be long and heart wrenching, these shirts can remind us of those children waiting to come home. I am willing to do customized order as well.

A portion of the proceeds will go to the non- profit organization 4-more, in their mission to provide clean water to orphanages in Rwanda, Africa. For more information on this non-profit, please go to http://4-more.org."

Click here to order!

total heartache

2010-01-16T21:10:00.002-03:00

Please be praying for these children waiting to come home from Haiti to their adoptive families. Heartbreaking.

Click here for the CNN clip.

help haiti

2010-01-13T18:56:00.003-03:00

There are so many options of organization that are responding to the crisis in Haiti.

Two good options are:

HOPE International. Click here.
Salvation Army. Click here.

clean water coming!

2010-01-12T16:54:00.005-03:00

We are currently at financial goal to provide clean water for 2 orphanages in Kigali, Rwanda. Very excited to be moving forward with these projects with the amazing Water for Life organization. Click here for more about Water for Life.

This picture is from the WFL site, about some of their current water projects working at schools.

and we're back!

2010-01-09T16:19:00.000-03:00

Actually, we never left, but it seems that we've neglected our dear blog as the Christmas season swept over us! 2009 ended on a high note for us at 4-more. I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we were moved when well over 100 people gathered to show their heart for the children of Rwanda at the Folklore Holiday Coffee House...more on the results of that coffee house to come soon!

Happy New year to you all! I'm so excited to be standing on the tip of a new year and looking out to see all of the possiblities that lie ahead! Although I'm always sad to see a happy year end, it's exhilirating to feel the freshness of new beginnings. I feel as though God has exciting challenges for us this year. Our year took off to a fantastic start when Laurel visited the Starbucks at Fruitville Pike to see how the collection of develomental toys & blankets was going. The collection area was overflowing and she left that day with a huge garbage bag full of donated items!

developmental boxes

2009-12-15T11:42:00.001-03:00

If anyone is traveling to Rwanda in the next 6-8 weeks, let us know if you'd like a box to go with you! We will be packaging up boxes of our 4 items (that we've been collecting at local Starbucks in our area--thanks again Starbucks!!!)

Boxes will be shipped UPS and will include: bumbo seats, crib mirrors, rattles, baby blankets, and possibly more crocs.

Comment below with your address or email: laurel@4-more.org

SUCCESSFUL night!

2009-12-10T22:26:00.002-03:00

We thank you so much for your support! The Folklore night was a great success with a fantastic crowd. A large sum of money was raised toward the water filtration at the orphanage. We are so so thankful.

Since the event, we have heard of two families just this week who are currently with their children in Rwanda-- and the children have serious water-borne illness. This is fuel for this project--we are so eager to get the water purification system in place!

'tis the season...

2009-11-20T16:38:00.005-03:00

'Tis the Season of Celebration!

This year, as your celebrations include: family, friends, community, gifts, food, warmth, comfort, beauty, wealth, health, hope...

Take some time to join us on behalf of those who have: nothing

Please Join us

as local artisans come together

to help make a difference for those who have so little

during this Holiday season.

Featuring:

Whimsy on a Wire

Handcrafted beaded jewelry by Jo Davidson

(all orders will be completed in time for Christmas)

Music by:

Rob & Joyous Derner

This is a free event being held

Folklore Coffee & Company

1 North Market Street

Elizabethtown, PA 17022

Monday, December 7, 2009

7-9pm

All purchases and donations will go towards a water purification system for a Rwandan orphanage in need.

PLEASE TURN OFF BLOG MUSIC FIRST

For you waiting families...

2009-11-19T20:41:00.006-03:00

Laurel:

This song "Little Myles" was written about out son, but I thought the words might be an encouragement to you as you wait. My mother-in-law wrote these words in a poem about 7 months before we traveled to bring Myles home, when the deep ache (that you all know) began to get painful for us. Our friends Rob and Joy Derner made this poem into a song.

I thought that when we brought Myles home, the ache would end. It has, of course, been changed by the miracle of having our son home and loved and cherished and snuggled...but I still ache. I am thankful for these pangs, because I'm brought to my knees again and again asking Him to be with those precious orphaned children. I pray for families, both Rwandan and from the international community to become their forever families. I pray for us, at 4-more and anyone reading this, that we would be sensitive to His leading in how to respond to the orphan crisis in Rwanda. Now I listen to these words and am thankful for the provisions--all of the pleas and prayers from the song were answered with our Myles. But I also listen and pray for your children who are waiting for you, we pray those same words from this song for each child.
Click on:

Our Rwandan friend is reading Scripture and another friend sings a Rwandan lullaby at the end.

Starbucks Display

2009-11-19T14:13:00.002-03:00

This is the display from one (of the 2) Starbucks that are promoting our drive this month. Christina and Heather set it up yesterday and we already have 2 Bumbos, and much more!

Shipping Boxes

2009-11-18T16:33:00.002-03:00

Families who hope to be traveling SOOOON (yes, we share your HOPE!):
We have 5 boxes ready to be shipped to you.
Volunteers that we have so far are these families:
1) Jones,
2) Vincents,
3) Potthoffs,
4) Furrs.

We definitely have one more box that needs a destination family, and possibly 1-2 others. Volunteers?

You can stuff the items in your travel bags! :)

THANK YOU!

Croc Washing Pictures

2009-11-17T01:47:00.002-03:00

Clean Crocs Ready to Go!

2009-11-17T01:06:00.001-03:00

Heather:
Tonight, we gathered in the culmination of our very first initiative… washing, cleaning, and boxing up the hundreds of donated shoes ready to be delivered to Rwanda.

Shoes of all sizes and colors arrived from all over the country – a great combination of new and ‘gently used’. We cleaned them up, and boxed up an assortment of sizes that will be shipped with families traveling to pick up their children in the next few weeks.

We started out the night with a prayer for the children that will wear these shoes – that they will be blessed with the unique joy that comes in childhood, those moments of feeling carefree, loved and special – even for just a moment as they see their new shoes. Also, we prayed for the families journeying to their children – for safety, good health and peace. And for special strength and courage as they also encounter the children that, for now, must be left behind.

Washing an endless mountain of shoes was surprisingly satisfying, and drew to mind the story from Luke of the honor of being able to wash the feet of Jesus…and a reminder to keep pressing forward in service of doing more for the children that are so precious to Him. Thank you to all of you who contributed shoes, scrubbing, prayers, time, and support!!!!

Luke 7:44-47

44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

Crocs

2009-11-12T14:58:00.002-03:00

Laurel:
Thank you all so much for the Crocs! We are boxing them up and about to ship them off to families who will be traveling to Rwanda! Myles is so happy he can send shoes to his precious friends...

Developmental Toy Drive at Starbucks

2009-11-08T22:41:00.002-03:00

4-more has launched our second gifting campaign to benefit the vulnerable children of Rwanda with a developmental toy drive hosted at two local Lancaster, PA Starbucks locations. The campaign will run through the month of November.

We are focusing on the collection of 4 primary items that have been identified by the Rwandan orphanage as specific needs:
1.Baby Rattles** (because they are easy to clean, provide mental stimulation and aid motor skills and are fun to play with!)
2.Crib Mirrors* (the children's cribs are bare, and they spend a lot of time in them)
3.Bumbo Seats* (a durable seat designed to strengthen a baby's core - especially helpful for these children that are not often held or allowed to explore)
4.Baby Blankets** (lightweight cotton is best)

*New or like new items only
**New items only

We are unable to accept stuffed animals or items that require batteries. Items that are not able to be accepted by the Orphanage will be donated to local children’s charities. Because 4-more is currently in the process of filing for non-profit status, monetary donations are not yet tax deductible but can be gifted via cash or check.

To donate, visit one of two Lancaster Starbucks locations: 1398 Columbia Ave or 1950 Fruitville Pike. For more information, feel free to contact us at give@4-more.org.

You can also mail donations to:
4-more
1390 Columbia Avenue, #140
Lancaster, PA 17603

A special thank you to Starbucks for partnering with us!

name

2009-11-08T11:00:00.003-03:00

Christina:
Today is Orphan Sunday. I had been looking forward to today for quite some time as I hoped that it would open some doors for us to talk about what we are seeking to do with 4-more. However, I woke up this morning feeling defeated; earlier in the week I had finished the book Scared and begun The Poor will be Glad and on Friday I had the pleasure of going to HOPE International's annual breakfast where the issue of extreme poverty was of course brought to life. This morning I woke feeling the overwhelming weight of the reality that lies on the other side of the world and powerless to do anything to help. There are moments where I simply lose sight of God's goodness and instead see only the injustice of poverty and the resulting orphan crisis. I have to be honest and say that I've gone through my day today thinking, "What’s the point of Orphan Sunday anyway. The problem is so huge and it seems that so few people really care."

Tonight Chad and I packed the kids up and went to the Orphan Sunday program at our church where they were broadcasting 'The Cry of the Orphan' live from Tennessee. The event opened with Geoff Moore telling a story about his little girl who was adopted from China. He told of how one night, while tucking her into bed, she asked him if God knew her name when she was in China waiting for her forever family. He finished the story by singing the song 'He Knows my Name'...

I have a Maker
He formed my heart
before even time began
my life was in hands

He knows my name
he knows my every thought
he sees each tear that falls
and hears me when I call

I have a father
he calls me his own
he'll never leave me
no matter where I go

What a gift is was for me to be reminded that God knows the name of each of his little ones, no matter where they are tonight. He knows the name of every child who has not even been given a name here on earth. He knows and loves the children who are lying in their cribs in a dark orphanage in remote parts of the world waiting for their forever families. He knows and loves every child who will never be an heir to anybody here on earth and every baby who passes through this world without anybody noticing or caring. Tonight I feel re-energized to know that the orphan crisis is not so big that God cannot handle it. I pray that He will continue to open doors for us as we seek to make even a small difference in the lives of these children through 4-more.

Orphan Sunday

2009-11-08T10:00:00.000-03:00

"On Orphan Sunday, Christians stand for the orphan. We are a people called to defend the fatherless...to care for the child that has no family … to visit orphans in their distress...Nov. 8, 2009. Orphan Sunday is your opportunity to rouse church, community and friends to God’s call to care for the orphan."

www.orphansunday.org

Waiting is HARD

2009-10-29T16:38:00.000-03:00

Laurel:

This was same post title from our adoption blog from last spring. I just spent time reading through the latest posts on many of your adoption blogs. I am weeping. My heart aches that same longing-painful-missing ache. Waiting for your heart-born child because of paperwork, expired fingerprints, wrong address, a vacationing person in Rwanda who needs to stamp a paper, ohhhh it is SO hard to wait when all you want to do is HOLD. We are praying for your families by name and wish so badly that we could take away some of that pain and that sense of deep longing. These are the labor pains of your paper-pregnancies. My sisters in Rwanda would write to me as we neared the end of our wait and just encourage me to BREATH, like women are encouraged to do in labor. They meant it in jest, but I did it. I breathed in His Words and physically breathed in the air around me, thanking Him for it but begging Him to let me share the air with our heart-born son. Wait on Him, but know that while you are waiting we are praying.

Isaiah 41:9-10

9 I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, 'You are my servant';
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.

10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Continue to Croc us!!

2009-10-26T22:39:00.000-03:00

We've decided to extend our Croc drive for another week. Please continue to send your new and used Crocs our way! After this week we'll be working on getting them ready to ship to families who will be traveling to pick up their babies in Rwanda in the weeks to come! Thank you so much for your support as we've put this drive together. We look forward to reporting that these shoes have made it to their new little feet so many miles away!

Boxes for Rwanda

2009-10-24T19:40:00.000-03:00

Thank you again for your croc donations! Many have been asking how we're getting the crocs to Rwanda. Several families who are waiting to travel to Rwanda to bring their child/children home have offered to bring a box to the orphanage when they go. We want to do the most cost-effective thing each time we do a drive for the orphanage and we do NOT want to waste money on astronomical shipping costs and the taxes that will be charged once items arrive in Rwanda.

If you are a family traveling soon, please let us know if we can send you a box of crocs to bring to Rwanda. You can comment below and we'll follow up with you to get your shipping address. Thank you!

coming soon: 4-more website!

2009-10-20T16:01:00.001-03:00

Christina:
We are into our second week of the Crocs drive and feeling SO energized and encouraged by all of the positive feedback that we've had from so many of you! We're so amazed at the creativity with which Crocs are being collected by people other than us, Thank you for making this a productive effort! We're nearly halfway to our goal of 200 Crocs, Yay!

Last week we held our first official board meeting! We are excited to share our developments with you as we are able. For now, the big news is that we have found a team of web desingers who are creating our website pro-bono...this is a huge answer to prayer! We are so grateful to the designers for their willingness to use their creative talents to help benefit the vulnerable children of Rwanda. We are anticipating that the site will be up and running within the next month!

75 pairs!

2009-10-18T14:38:00.005-03:00

We're to the halfway point in our CROC DRIVE and currently have 75 pairs of crocs!!!!

Thank you so much for donating and passing on information about sales, etc. We are excited to send boxes of crocs with families traveling to Rwanda to bring their child/ren home.

Please keep passing on the word to CROC US!

2009-10-15T09:27:00.001-03:00

PLEASE JOIN US!!!

2009-10-12T18:31:00.002-03:00

We are so excited to invite you to join with us in gathering 200 pairs of Crocs!

What: Send us new or used children's Crocs, all kid's sizes, we'll clean them up and send them out to the children at a particular orphanage and to various child headed households near Kigali, Rwanda.

When: The program begins today and will run through Monday, October 26th

How: New or used, dirty or clean, put them in a box and ship them to us at:

4-more

1390 Columbia Ave., #140

Lancaster, PA 17603

Why Crocs? When we were adopting Myles, a Rwandan friends looked at Myles' feet (he was wearing CVS crocs) and she said, "those shoes would be perfect for these children," because they cover the feet but are durable and easy to clean. That's why!

coming together

2009-10-12T16:45:00.000-03:00

christina:
This last week has been an eventful one for us with the launch of our very first gifting program, sending Crocs to the children in Rwanda. I think we all feel particularly excited about this because it is the very first idea that we discussed as 4-more came into being and to see it finally coming to fruition is a huge answer to prayer! In addition, we have finally found a designer for our website, who has actually agreed to work pro-bono, this is yet another way we see the bits and pieces of this organization coming together.

Tonight we hold our very first official Board meeting! We will be electing officers and adopting policy. While this may sound a bit tedious, it is just one more step that takes us closer to our non-profit status! Next Monday I hope to be able to share all kinds of excitement from this coming evening!

adoptive books

2009-10-12T14:00:00.000-03:00

Hi friends-we are in the process of building our website. One part of the site is a resource list for Rwandan adoptive families. If you have suggestions of:

Rwandan books
Adoption books for children
Adoption books for parents

Let us know by commenting below or emailing us at more4-rwanda@gmail.com

You Can Adopt

2009-10-12T12:39:00.003-03:00

about this book
From Adoptive Families magazine, the country’s leading resource on adoption, this warm, authoritative book is full of practical, realistic advice from leading attorneys, doctors, social workers, and psychologists, as well as honest, intimate stories from real parents and children. You Can Adopt answers every question–even the ones you’re afraid to ask:

• When should I shift from fertility treatment to adoption?
• How do I talk to my spouse about adoption?
• Can we find a healthy baby?
• Do I need an attorney? An adoption agency?
• Can the birth mother take the baby back?
• How much will this really cost? How long will it take?
• Aren’t all adopted children unhappy?
• Can I love a child who “isn’t mine”?
• How can I ease the rest of my family into this decision?

You Can Adopt will be featured on The Martha Stewart Show on Tuesday, October 13
Click here to order

children caring for children

2009-10-08T16:50:00.001-03:00

christina:
According to UNICEF there are currently about 100,000 children in Rwanda living in homes where the head of the home is a minor, children taking care of children. Child headed households are one alternative to orphanages and in some cases when a child has "outgrown" their orphanage they are sent to live in one of these child headed homes. The head of these homes has most likely given up school to try to meet the needs of his/her younger siblings. In a country where poverty is the norm, a child with no vocational training trying to provide just the basic necesseties, not just for themself, but for other children as well, is a challenge beyond what i can personally imagine. However, there are already organizations in place that are seeking to provide help in managing the health and wellbeing of these children. It is one of our goals to partner with these organizations and to advocate for these vulnerable children of a beautiful land.

praying for you by name

2009-10-08T11:30:00.000-03:00

Laurel:

Not only are our hearts burdened for the children in Rwanda, but for you-dear families who are waiting to bring home your Rwandan child/children. We have decided to pray for a specific family, of the Rwandan adoption blogs that we follow, every meeting we have. If we are not currently following you, please comment below and we will be sure to!

Not too long ago, I was walking through the same, excruciating waiting for our Myles. I just read my friend Adrianne's post and was moved back to that familiar aching. For more on this family's journey, click here. We are praying for you Adrianne and Hunter!

more to come!

2009-10-05T20:14:00.000-03:00

Christina:
Today has been exactly one week since we launched our blog and we've had well over 1000 hits! Thanks to each of you who have taken an interest, we're so excited to share this journey with you! I will be aiming to post each Monday with any new updates from the week. Look for other posts from Heather, Alanna and Laurel throughout the week as well. We are continuing to work quickly toward achieving our non-profit status so that we can soon accept monetary donations that will be tax deductable for the donor. We covet your prayers as we work together and hope to have exciting news to share with you in the days to come!

inc.

2009-09-28T18:00:00.000-03:00

We're so excited to share that as of today, 4-more is officially registered in the state of Pennsylvania!

What this means? We have completed a key step in the process of beginning our non-profit organization. Our name, 4-more, is now registered in Pennsylvania, and we have a mailing address!

What's next? The interesting: Working on strategic planning, marketing materials and website development. The not so interesting, but extremely important: Applying for 501(c)(3) status with the IRS. It is necessary to be recognized by the federal government as a non-profit
501(c)(3) charitable organization in order for donations to be tax-deductible to our donors.

We are moving forward!

vulnerable children

2009-09-28T14:00:00.000-03:00

Heather:
When’s the last time you felt vulnerable? I bet it had something to do with what you thought someone was thinking of you… your clothes, your life choices, your parenting, your YOU-ness. Maybe it was even something much more serious; a friend was suddenly very sick, a parent, a child.

But the last time you felt vulnerable probably wasn’t because you were completely alone in the world. Perhaps never named, your birth or death even recorded.

I put my child to bed tonight with cuddly bears, cozy blankets, dim lighting and a light up seahorse. With a story-book read and hugs and ‘Mommy loves you’ and feet kisses, my little one falls asleep – waking up each morning to more of the same. Every day.

Vulnerability is going to sleep and waking up truly alone in the world, and then doing it again and again.

Vulnerability is being raised in an orphanage where the caretakers are cautioned against holding the children, for they may come to yearn for it.

Vulnerability is not knowing how to be loved, and when finally held, crying at its foreignness.

In coming up with the tag line for 4-more, we ultimately replaced the word ‘orphan’ with ‘vulnerable children’… for that is what they are… children – not to be forever defined as ‘orphans’. These children could not be more vulnerable. They will be that way until we all do more.

adoptions in rwanda

2009-09-27T20:29:00.001-03:00

Laurel:

Yes, adopting from Rwanda is so important and needed (and speaking from personal experience, AMAZING!)...but I think we'd all agree, it's insufficient. We want to do all we can to address the underlying issues that contribute to the crisis with vulnerable children in Rwanda. I love what HOPE International does with Christ-centered microfinance and economic development in Rwanda (www.hopeinternational.org). Their approach is different from normal charity because they focus on employment and helping families work their way out of poverty. I've seen this approach have a direct impact on vulnerable children in Rwanda - a woman my husband knows started a small business, increased her income, and then took in four more orphans. This is the type of local approach that we also want to support, even as we're examining how to help find homes immediately for the children in orphanages.

Many of my Rwandan friends have told me that they don't think Rwandans fully understand the orphan crisis in their country. Some don't even know that orphanages exist! Apparently, it's about $70 to adopt in-country for Rwandans. (our friends just went through the process recently) The paperwork is minimal. The awareness is not there. We are currently partnering with 4 Rwandan women to work together to begin a campaign in Rwanda to raise awareness of the vulnerable children who need homes. Not only do we want to care for the orphans in institutions, but we want to work together with the government of Rwanda to launch an awareness of this problem, with the incredible solution of heart-children, adopting locally in Rwanda.

possibilities

2009-09-27T00:31:00.000-03:00

Alanna:

Rewind to early May... Mark enters the room. I glance up from my laptop screen to see the panic spread across his face as he looks at his often unexplainably emotional wife, yours truly. I realize that the tears are streaming down my face. I immediately clarify that I am seriously so very happy and proceed to show him the pictures I have been poring over. It is real -- baby Myles Mugisha is home! Laurel and Peter are in Rwanda, finally gazing into the eyes of their new little one....finally holding the baby son of their dreams and many prayers. And my tears are full of joy for this reunion, for celebration of this moment. Myles is home.

In the weeks and months following, I learned more and more of Myles' story. I was broken with the reality that Myles has many friends remaining back in the Rwandan orphanage. Those precious, beautiful children are continuing on...lacking many necessities. From the very beginnings of my life, I grew up in a family that took care of me and had responsibility for my safety and health. I grew surrounded in the knowledge that I was loved and accepted. In fact, I can truthfully say that I never knew otherwise. Why was I privileged to have that for my foundation, giving me the freedom in which to form my worldviews, opinions, and life experiences? And then the tears flowed for this...all of this.

Three months later, in August before I left for vacation, Laurel says..."Something to think about while you are away. Christina, Heather, and I are in the early stages of forming a nonprofit to focus on meeting the needs of Rwandan orphans. We have had a few meetings already. No pressure, but would you want to meet with us sometime when you get back?" She continued on to say they were in need of a redhead (read: strawberry blonde) who had some experience with numbers...haha! My initial thoughts were - "Wow! I could be a part of this??" Then at the same time...and exactly the same time..."Wow! Meetings? Sounds very formal...am I cut out for this?" Let me tell you, it kept coming to the forefront of my mind that entire week away. I came back and excitedly said: YES, I'd love to join you them for a dinner "meeting". Off I went...and the rest you have heard....the olive oil, the planning, the wine, and absolutely most important of all--the possibilities for change.

Left

2009-09-19T23:17:00.003-03:00

Laurel:

Ever since Peter and I left the orphanage the last day with our precious Myles Mugisha , we have been haunted by the images of the children we had to walk away from. To finalize our adoption, we were in Rwanda seven days. Three of those days we had to return Myles to the orphanage by 5pm every evening. Peter encouraged me not to enter the orphanage until the final day that we had our son and could take him home.

The last day came, and we carried Myles down to the orphanage room where he spent about 5 months of his life, to say "goodbye." As soon as we entered the hallway that led to the different rooms of age-grouped children, I was hit with a smell-mix of dampness, wet diapers, and musty unopened windows. There really is no explaining it. When I entered Myles' room, I saw dark aqua walls, rows and rows of tiny basinets, each one holding a child, an orphan with a story, a child who needed/s a home. Most of these tiny beds had a string across the top with dangling toys for the babies to look at. The only empty basinet was the one that had held Myles for those months of waiting. It was the length of his little body, no wonder he still at 7 months had no idea how to turn on his side. After spending some time visiting with the babies in the room, and trying to control the depth of anguish I felt for the orphaned children in the room and for the 2-3 care takers who were trying their hardest to feed, clothe, bathe, change, and care for the 35 infants in the room, we left to look into the other rooms of the orphanage. The other room that I remember was full of 2-5 year olds (I think) and there were many rows of cribs, 2 children to a crib. It was 11am when we were there and you could have heard a pin drop in the room. It was nap time, in the morning. I took in the room for a moment: nothing on the walls, not toys to be seen, nothing. A few children saw a visitor standing in the doorway (me) and peaked up without moving their precious heads, smiled, and did mini-waves.

There is so much more to write, but the end result is how we felt when we left. As we backed out of the driveway, I vividly remember waving to a small group of 2-4 year olds--and remember especially a bright-eyed little girl in a worn yellow dress, smiling and waving to us as we left. While we were so happy to be leaving with Myles, we were leaving many many more.

Coming home: I shared with my friends the grief we felt (and many other families feel) for those children left behind. What can we do? How do we start? My friends Christina and Heather, right away, responded with: "we can." A month and a half after we had settled into our new life with our baby Myles, they began talking about the action plan again. After much prayer, we kept coming back to..."we can do something." My mind went back to the children waving goodbye to us, standing in the dirt outside the orphanage, they weren't wearing shoes. "We can" send shoes. We can work together, with the help of others who have same-heart-desires for change. Praying all the way.

not just someone else's job

2009-09-18T10:38:00.000-03:00

Heather:
“Adoption” equals, via the thesaurus, acceptance, implementation, taking on, embracing.

So, how did I get here? From the place of vaguely knowing that something terrible had happened in Rwanda years ago, deliberately walking past “Hotel Rwanda” at the video store because I didn’t want to watch a sad movie, uncomfortably changing the channel when a commercial about starving children came on because I wasn't doing anything about it… to the place of incessantly checking my email to see the first photos of my friend embracing her heart-born child… her adopted Rwandan son Myles.

Finally, FINALLY, the pictures were up… she in Rwanda, us in America – and there, on the screen, a photo-image of what we’d all been praying for – a new family, born, embracing, adopting, taking on.

It could’ve ended there… with a sob-fest, a cute outfit purchased for the new family member, and a big welcome home hug. But there was something else to adopt, more babies to take on, many more families to embrace while they journey to their heart-born children.

I’m a clear example of someone that cared, but never knew what to do about these babies across the world that had no mommies to hold and love them. The distance seemed too vast, too problem-ridden, too someone else’s job. Until it wasn’t, until it was my job - to accept, or pass by.

I don’t know if I’ll ever adopt a child, don’t know if God will lead me there, but what I will take on is this: doing something MORE than I did yesterday for these precious babies in a foreign land that are just waiting for arms to sweep them up and carry them home.

second home

2009-09-18T10:05:00.000-03:00

Laurel:

Peter and I lived in Rwanda from 1999-2002. We fell in love and got married in this Land of a Thousand Hills. We had a Rwandan wedding and consider our second home to be in Kigali, Rwanda. In our wedding rings we have inscribed, "Ndagukunda, " : "I love you" in Kinyarwanda. Peter's Rwandan name is "Muzungu Cyene Cyene" (very, very white man)...but also "Mutabazi" : "Rescuer" and mine was "Umuhosa"= "Comforter." Peter worked with World Relief doing Christian microfinance (which is what he does now with HOPE International) and I worked at Green Hills Academy, an English speaking Rwandan school, and also worked with Amani ya Juu, a small group of amazing artisans "sewing peace." Seven years and two biological children later, and many doors the Lord opened for us, we began our process of adopting our son. (...journey documented http://milestomyles.blogspot.com)

the proposal

2009-09-16T23:00:00.000-03:00

Christina:
It was just like any first date and I could tell that Laurel and Heather were feeling it too. We had gotten all dressed up and arrived somewhat punctually to the restaurant, there was even an unspoken promise that we would all be on our best behavior. Laurel and I were sitting across the table from her and Heather was sitting next to her. Poor girl, looking back now I can see that she never really had a chance, she was surrounded and we were not letting her out of that restaurant without a big, fat yes.

Alanna Heath. We had all had our eyes on her from the very beginning. It wasn't just that she was sweet, had great style and that we enjoyed spending time with her; it wasn't just that she had previous experience working with non-profits; the thing that really got all three of us was that she was just so good with numbers. Our proposal went something like this, "Alanna, we have no money to pay you, we will be working long hours and meeting together as often as possible. We aren't completely clear on what this organization will look like yet, but we hope to be up and running by the end of the year. We think that you are fantastic, would you please consider coming on board with us as our accountant and financial advisor." After the words had been spoken and were hanging there in mid-air, the three of us eagerly leaned forward in our seats waiting for her answer. I thought that I saw a flicker of "you girls are crazy" flash across her face but I must have been wrong because a moment later she said yes. Naturally, we all had to double check to make sure that we had heard her properly, but once we realized that she had indeed said yes we figured she couldn't take it back and the celebration began. Wine was ordered and a toast made. Heather somehow ended up with olive oil in her hair and we all laughed till we cried. We talked about our plans and dreams for the organization and we talked about a name. It seems so obvious now, but we tried on many different names before we found the one that fit just right. Four women wanting to do something more, 4-more.

spark

2009-09-14T15:12:00.001-03:00

Christina:
Who knows exactly how, when or where it started, that first spark. I imagine it began somewhere in between Laurel and Peter filing their paperwork to adopt a baby boy from Rwanda and the photos, videos and stories that they brought back with them after Myles had come home and was finally theirs. For me it was the images of the rows and rows and rows of small, bare, cribs and the tiny brown babies for whom they were home. It was looking into Myles' face and knowing that until Laurel and Peter had come to take him home, he had been one of those babies.

The night that it all really began, though, was the night that Laurel and I had gone over to Heather's house for the evening. It had been a long day for all of us for reasons that I can no longer remember. I just know that at some point after the first glass of wine, after we had all aired our grievences with the world, the conversation turned to the orphanage in Rwanda. Heather and I had both seen the pictures and heard the stories, but sitting there that particular night reflecting over Laurel's trip we all knew that we needed to do something. Laurel had mentioned several times since she'd gotten back that the children at the orphanege had no shoes. They needed shoes. This, we felt, was something that we could do. We could buy shoes. About 100 pairs were needed and we decided that it would be absolutely reasonable for us to raise the money to send approximately 100 pairs of Crocs to the children who have no shoes. Of course that conversation turned into another conversation and another and so on, as all conversations among good friends do. Looking back though, it was that first conversation, the one about the shoes, that really sparked the whole idea, and after all, it's the spark that starts the fire.