Caroline's Promise News

Today at the CP office, we received a list of children that will be attending Casita for the school year 2013. Lisa asked me to go through the list, and figure out the kids who will be returning to the school and who wouldn’t. Not really thinking, I started my job. I went through the new list of kids looking for the names to match up. About half way through, I felt my heart get heavy. I had to mark in yellow the kids who had left the school and I realized the list was starting to become more yellow than I had anticipated. So I did what I always do, I triple checked the list. Still the same. Lisa came back in from her morning meeting and asked me to read off the list that I had marked yellow. I started reading them off, one by one. I could see the hurt in her face as she pulled out the children’s pictures and put them in a discard pile, and I felt it too. “How is it that these children left the school?” I asked Lisa, she responded quite simply, “It’s the economy.” I thou

We always love to hear the creative ways people find to raise funds, whether for an adoption or to go on a trip with Caroline's Promise. The ingenuity and creativity of each story amazes us, as we watch God prove His faithfulness when we take that first step in faith. The Soutter family is no stranger to watching God's providential hand. Caroline's Promise was able to award them with a grant when they adopted their son from Guatemala. And when Rob Soutter and his daughter Anna, went on one of the family teams to Guatemala, God provided again. Last year,  15-year-old Anna witnessed first hand how God provided exactly what she needed with her own unique step of faith. While planning a second trip with Caroline's Promise, she started an art camp for kids to help pay for it. It was a great success. This year Anna is planning on returning to Guatemala and is hosting two more craft camps this summer to help pay for her trip. If you live in the Raleigh area, this would be a

Our journey started 12 years ago, in the spring of 2001, as a 17 year old girl and a 20 year old boy. We had not been dating but a few months when my (now) husband Brian went on a missions trip to Kenya, Africa. He worked with orphans while he was there and came home a different man. He wanted to bring those children home with him. He told me that he wanted to adopt one day. So from the first few months of our dating relationship, we knew this was a calling for our future. For these past 12 years it was always part of our future plans and we just continued to pray that the Lord would direct us when the time was right to start the journey of adoption. In 2007 we had our first son, and then we welcomed our second son in 2010. When our youngest was not even a year old, we began to feel like the Lord was calling us to start the process of adoption. We were led to the country of Ethiopia and sent in our first applications in October of 2011.  We were concerned about the fin

Caroline's Promise is blessed to partner with others as they work out God's plan for their lives. Sometimes we don't get to see the end of the story, we only get to walk a small part of the journey with them. While we don't know the end of the story for these ladies, we did get to witness a huge milestone for the sewing ministry at Iglesia Adonai. We wanted to share their excitement with you! Seven ladies successfully graduated from the sewing ministry last week. They received their very own sewing machine and a Bible. What is amazing to us is the way God weaved so many different groups into the path of these women. When we first mentioned the s ewing ministry last August ,  we shared that a local preschool had a fundraiser to support the start up of this ministry, that Iglesia Adonai provided a teacher for these women and a space for the sewing classes. We told you about the sweet girl who asked to receive a donation of pillow cases for her birthday party in lieu o

 " STUCK is a new award-winning documentary film, produced by Both Ends Burning that uncovers the personal, real-life stories of children and parents navigating a roller coaster of bureaucracy on their journeys through the international adoption system, each filled with hope, elation – and sometimes heartbreak. STUCK steps into the complex human experience of adoption, exploring the challenges faced by birth parents, prospective adoptive parents – and children. The purpose of the film is to help the average person understand the issues and create a movement that will ultimately put pressure on U.S. officials to force a more supportive attitude toward International Adoption. One objective while we are on the road is to gather over 1 million petition signatures asking congress/global leaders/President Obama to take specific actions to change the landscape of adoption. The petition will be hand carried to members of Congress in the Step Forward for Orphans March i

From Angie: I have learned in my time working in Plastic City, to stop looking for the big numbers as a means to measure success because the elation of the big “Wow!” is very short-lived. In order to stay with this work I have turned to celebrate the “one” or in the case of the cake decoration course, the “five.”  These ladies pulled together in class and encouraged one another outside of class.  Every Friday my feet hastened to get there just to be around them to hear them laugh with one another, give advice to one another, and push one another to be a little better.  Friday’s were bright, bright days in the Jetty! In six weeks ladies found a way to have an apron, a head covering, a bowl, whisk, eggs, limes, icing sugar, cake thimbles and all they needed to bake one cake a week to bring to class.  Some of them borrowed from the community box we established, and gave back to it when they had it later in the course.  Others borrowed from friends, but the bottom line was

Join us for this fun, family event on Saturday, April 13 .  Proceeds will be used to build a new school in Guatemala City.  The event will take place at Triad Park in Kernersville, NC. You can participate in the competitive 5K run, 1 mile or 5K fun run, or 1 mile or 5K walk.  This is a great event for experienced runners, individuals, or families.  You can even bring your dog!  Each participant will be running or walking for a child at Casita Adonai in Guatemala. Registration:   8am Zumba Warm Up: 8:45am 5K timed run:  9am Family Fun Walk:  9:15am Early Registration by April 5: 5K Timed Race or Walk for an individual - includes a t-shirt:  $25 Family Fun Walk for a family of 4 or more - includes 2 t-shirts  $50 5K Run or Walk for children 12 and under - includes a t-shirt:   $12 If you live out of town or aren't available the day of the race you can walk or run on your own!  $25 Once you register you will receive information on how to set up a personal fundrai

  Last spring we found a great deal on kids' back packs. We were so excited because this gave us an opportunity to offer backpacks to the children at Casita Adonai! Offering a child a useful tool that is their very own is so special to them. We are excited to tell you that the kids received their backpacks this week!  The parents and kids were thrilled not only for the kind gesture it represented but also because the economy is so bad right now, buying simple things like school supplies is extremely difficult.Thank you for allowing us to share in their joy!

So many times Caroline's Promise has offered opportunities for you to partner with us in loving the children at Casita Adonai in tangible ways...we love it when God's children from all over the world partner together to care for one another. It feels great! We wanted to tell you about a new way for you to show that love to another great group of kids. In March, when Lisa heads back to Guatemala, she'll be spending some time with a very special group of people: the teens at Iglesia Adonai! These teens are so awesome! They volunteer at the church in the youth ministry, caring and loving on the kids and becoming a positive influence and role model for them.  The church is having a one day conference for the teens and Lisa will be speaking to them. While there, the church wanted to love on these teens in a special way, and we need your help! While we already have a small gift for the girls, we have an opportunity for you to help out with the guys! We are looking for toiletry

Exciting news from our partner missionary in Guyana, Angie! The time has finally arrived for Tina and I to travel to India for her heart surgery.  Once again thank you to every person who has prayed for the entire process of paperwork. The organization we are traveling with raised funds for Tina's medical expenses and airline tickets and special donors like yourself have taken care of her other needs and my travel expenses.  So many of you have given financially and many churches and Sunday school classes have taken up love offerings to meet our travel needs. Thank you to all who have surrounded us like a family, adding a layer of peace to what now lies ahead of us.    Tina and I depart with a group of 22 others on Friday, Feb. 15th.  We will touch down in Toronto, Canada for the weekend and spend time with the host organization.  Our 16 hour plane ride takes us through Austria on our way to New Delhi, India and travel begins on Monday evening.  The hospital room

  Here's what our intern Natalie has been up to! This past week in the Caroline’s Promise offic e we have been very busy! Last Tuesday we had a board meeting, where I presented the pitch for the   Hope Grows: 5k and Family Fun Walk and we were approved! I am so excited to get the ball rolling on this amazing project. So get ready to have a fun time with friends, family and Caroline’s Pr omise supporters on  April 13 from 8:00 AM -12:30 PM! The Hope Grows 5k and Family Fun Walk is designed to raise money, solely for the new school building at Casita Adonai in Guatemala City.  The idea is that each participant at the event will be running/walking for a child at Casita. What is great is that if you sponsor a child, you can run for them! You will get the child’s story and a button with a picture of the child (that you will wear during the race) in your packet pick-up before the event!  We are really excited for people to start registering for the event and also

Have you been thinking about going on a summer mission trip? Two of our teams to Guatemala have a few spaces open but you need to decided asap! Wilson Community Church is taking a team June 21 - 29, 2013 and they need a few more people.  This team is being led by our amazing board member, Tami Rumfelt and is for adults 18 and up.  Our camp team is July 5 - 13, 2013.  This team is mainly young adults/adults and we need some men!!!  If you love kids and camp then this team is for you!  We'll take more ladies too:) Cost for either trip is $1900 and includes everything but passport and personal spending money.  Application and $100 non refundable deposit are due this week.  However, if you are interested and need more time to get the deposit together, let us know.  Catch all the details here.   Call or email LisaHolbrook@CarolinesPromise.net.  336-669-7340.