Well, what I have read and seen has been amazing. I think I am done being a stalker and ready to get involved with their ministry. There are several outlets to their ministry. One is they have support groups that meet once a month specifically split up into categories of what type of fostering/adoption you are doing. This is going to be my first step. The category I fall under meets in a couple of weeks and I can not wait to check it out.
They do so many other things to minister and support families that are considering or have already started the process of foster care/adoption. One thing that has really touched me is their yahoo group I mentioned. Anytime somebody posts on it, I get an email. Even though I have just been a stalker of this group, I have been so touched by the encouragement these families show each other. I want that and I want to be that for others!
Here is the link to their website. http://tapestry.irvingbible.org/ You can find a plethora of information and here testimonies that will knock your socks off.
One email I received recently from their yahoo group was a link to listen to a doctor named Dr. Purvis who had just done an interview with Family Life Today. So I clicked on it and was blown away. If you are at all considering fostering/adoption or just want a lot of information about these children and what they've been through and how we can help them, please listen to this interview. It's really difficult to hear some of what she has to say, it will absolutely break your heart, but at the same time she offers so much hope.
It's broken up into 3 parts.
Part 1: Dr. Purvis talks about the realities for children from hard places and encourages parents to "count the cost".
http://familylife.edgeboss.net/download/familylife/flpod/fl20100322.mp3
Part 2: Dr. Purvis talks about the importance of parents having realistic expectations as they begin and travel the adoption or foster care journey.
http://familylife.edgeboss.net/download/familylife/flpod/fl20100323.mp3
Part 3: Dr. Purvis offers tools and strategies for parents to help them connect with their children to help them heal and become all that God intends.
http://familylife.edgeboss.net/download/familylife/flpod/fl20100324.mp3
One of the awesome things about this is we just got a list of books that Covenant Kids considers required reading. It's part of the training they do there. (Another thing I love about CK.) One of the books is called The Connected Child, by Dr. Purvis! So I was so thrilled by this and can't wait to start it.
4 comments:
Hey Janelle!
Thanks so much for your comment on my blog. I'm horrible with posting, so I am now just trying to succeed at posting a status on our new facebook page (child haven). Check us out if you are on facebook, if not-don't worry, nothing impressive.
I'm so glad you found this book, I was going to write soon to tell you to read it ASAP, so I'm thrilled you found it.
I'm sure you have been on the webpage for the book, with more videos, www.empoweredtoconnect.org
last year I went to the orphan summit at Tapestry and then followed that up with a conference at TCU with dr purvis. She is an amazing speaker. I hope to be like her someday but I better get to work and start reading all of those important books she recommends. :)
grace grace,
amy
Janelle,
I saw your post on facebook and then read your blog. We are currently fostering to adopt. We are adopting 2 little boys and they are the biggest blessing! The journey is a long journey but so worth it in the end. Are you and Heath looking into adoption? I am glad to see that there is a ministry out there for foster/adoptive parents. Where we are at there is nothing like that. Our church is finally getting interested in it but we are actually moving so we will not be able to be apart of their new ministry.
Mindy
Catching up- we're on vacation in the States for a month while my husband takes a class here at the base in OH. I've read your last posts and I'm so excited for you!!! I love the name of the organization and all that it implies about them!!
Our boy had a fall on a playground while we stopped for lunch on our way back to the base from a visit to my parents (in WI)- spent the afternoon in the ER and then again this morning. It looks like he'll need a cast when an orthopedic dr. can look at him, but we're "out of area" and need a referral from the European office and it's all just a royal pain, so please pray we can get the necessary healthcare and someone will take pity on us! :)
Janelle...have you heard of this?
http://marybethchapman.com/?p=369
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