Foster Care Interview

I (Matt) am a substitute teacher.  Part of what is fun about being a substitute teacher is getting to meet a lot of people.  A few months ago I was subbing at a local middle school and met an amazing lady, Tiffany McKnatt-Smart.  She was so good with the students.  As I got to know more about her, I learned that she is a foster mom.  She shared stories with me about her experiences and I was just amazed at all that she does to help kids.  I saw a love in her for kids that reminded me of Jesus' words in Matthew 19 where the disciples are shooing the children away and Jesus stops them and says, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." 

The month of May is "Foster Care Awareness" month and I thought it would be great to do an interview with someone who is fostering children.  Right away I thought of Tiffany.  I hope you enjoy it.

1. What is your name?  
Tiffany McKnatt-Smart

2. How many children have you fostered?
I have fostered a total of 7 children in 3 years.
A 14 yr old girl still with me who is now turning 17
A 14 yr old girl still with me who is now 17 and whom I have adopted
A 17 yr old girl who aged out at 18 but still comes to me for guidance (she was with me for 6 mos)
A 16 yr old girl who was with me just for respite (babysitting), but she messed up in her other home and last I heard she is in a girls school
A 1 yr old boy (respite) while a home could be found, he is in the process of adoption by the family and we keep in contact
A 14 yr old girl who just came to me

3. What lead you to start fostering?
I have two reasons why I decided to foster:
1. I was a kid who was on the streets at 16 and could have ended up with a horrible life, but people came along and helped me make good choices, so I am paying it forward.
2. I work at a middle school and see many of our kids fail at school and life because of "misery at home" and wanted to do something to change that.

4. What is the most rewarding thing about being a foster parent?
All the little moments that you see these kids blossom. When you see a hurt child change into a confident child with just a few scars left from their past, makes it ALL worth it.

5. What is the most challenging thing about being a foster parent?
For me the most challenging thing about being a foster parent is realizing that I can't erase years of neglect and hurt and make this child all better. I am such a control freak and this is one area I can't control and I have to give it to God, do my best, and then let it go. The next biggest challenge is the flaws of our foster system.  We have laws that are not "kid friendly" but instead "Government make money friendly."  The whole foster care industry is so flawed (ie. parents have years to work on getting their kid back with little effort, so the kid just sits in foster care waiting to see whether or not they will be adopted or if their parents will get it together and get them back) and needs reform, but that is not a reason for us to not do our part and help these kids as much as we can.

6. What is one thing that others could do to help you as a foster parent?
If someone wanted to help a foster parent there are many ways: We don't get a break unless we send the kid to respite and for my girls they feel like I am "giving up" on them so I don't use it. I could use a support person to come to the house and let me have some "me" time. I am trying to get a program off the ground where each foster family would have 2 families be the support family. What that would look like is the support family would do a background check and then they would be willing to volunteer 2 hrs a week to help the foster family with things like transportation to appts., tutoring, respite, projects at the house etc... It would give families a chance to see foster care without jumping all the way in and maybe some would decide to do this and others could just continue to be a support.

7. What would you tell someone who is thinking about becoming a foster parent?
DO IT!! We currently have 600,000 kids in the USA looking for a home If not you then who?  I would also tell them make sure they go through an agency that is known for supporting their foster families, make sure they have their own life together before they get into this because it can be mentally draining, and most of all get linked up with a good church for support.

8. Do you have a favorite resource about foster care that you would like to share?  
God, my church, and facebook sites that are for foster parents to share ideas

9. Do you have any other comments?
I am available to help anyone that wants to walk this journey. It is so worth it.

Dodgeball For Kids

On April 26, five teams and over 70 people showed up to play in a dodgeball tournament.   We were able to raise over $1,100! All the money will go to help children in need around the world.

Thanks to everyone who played, what a great group of people

Here are what some people had to say about the tournament.

"When are you doing this again?"
"Can I play next time you do this?"
"How often are you going to do this?"
"That was a blast!"
"I cannot believe how much fun that was."
"That was awesome!"

I would like to thank Boht Trophy for the donation of the trophies, Renew Elkhart for your sponsorship, The Elkhart Youth and Community Center for allowing us to hold our event there, everyone who put teams together and recruited others to play, and Paul Baldwin for your help with organizing the event.

If you would be interested in helping support Village to Village by hosting your own dodgeball tournament, contact Matt Borst at matt@villagetovillageintl.com.  This is a very simple and fun way to raise some money for a great cause. 

Thoughts From CAFO 2014

As many of you know some of our board had the opportunity to attend the Christian Alliance For Orphans Summit last week; here are some thoughts from our board members.

From Matt Borst:
CAFO 2014 was a great time of meeting new people who are like minded in trying to help children all over the world.  We had the privilege of taking our whole family.  Our kids were able to meet other kids who are part of a multicultural family and it was so much fun to see them interact and enjoy each other so much.

Some of the kids our kids got to meet and hang out with.

One thing that I remember was a quote that was shared by poet, Shawn Welcome.  "What if you woke up with today, only the things you thanked God for yesterday?"  Wow, that is a great perspective on life.  Be sure to check out some of Shawn's work here http://shawnwelcome.bandzoogle.com/

Secondly, I was challenged by a young man named Austin Gutwein, who started an organization called Hoops of Hope.  He shared 3 things that were very encouraging to me;
1. Do what you love, and let others do what they love
2. Think like a child
3. Do not give up
Here is his website to find out more about what Austin is doing http://www.austingutwein.com/

Lastly, I was so encouraged by meeting new friends, and catching up with old friends.  It was a great time of encouragement and great information.

From Terry Waggoner:
I had the privilege of sitting in a workshop taught by Krista McCoy about raising children in a transracial family.  I was challenged with thoughts like "Don't say that you are color blind, say that you love all colors" and "We need to live in the reality that we are all unique and celebrate that we are all beautifully and wonderfully made."

Secondly. the theme of "Everyone can do something to help vulnerable children; if we all do a little, a lot will be accomplished." was very hope filled.

Lastly, the words of Dr. Purvis are always amazing.  She stressed the importance of infants needing love and how vital proper nutrition is at such a young age for proper brain development.  You can learn more from Dr. Purvis at http://empoweredtoconnect.org/

From Stacey Borst

One powerful workshop I attended was called "Life in Limbo."   It was a simulation of life in the foster care system.  I was chosen to act out the role of a foster parent. Although it was only role play, it left a powerful impression as my senses were opened to the confusion and chaos that many children experience in foster care.  And to the blindness that I felt opening my home to a child with open wounds and an unknown history or future. 

Added to that was the lasting impression of a 19 yr old that encouraged us with three thoughts:

Do what you love and let others do what they love.

Think like a child.

Never give up.

Simple words that were communicated with grace and have stuck in my heart. 

Family Spotlight: The Ward Family

What is your name and where are you from?  Kelly and Tracie Ward both originally from Arkansas. Go Hogs!! :)    
What is your favorite place you have visited? Kelly-Israel Tracie -Cayman Islands   
What is your favorite movie? Kelly- John Adams  Tracie-Grease    
What is your favorite thing to do on a date? Coffee and antique stores     
What is your favorite sports team, if you have one?  Arkansas Razorbacks    
What is your favorite food?  Kelly-fajitas Tracie-Seafood    
What is your favorite book?  Kelly- Deep and Wide by Andy Stanley, Tracie Angels of Humility by Jackie Macgirvin   
How did you meet your spouse?  We met at church! Kelly was the Childrens Pastor at the church Tracie attended    
Who is someone you would like to meet someday and why? We both would love to meet George W. Bush because he seems like a really great guy to be around!  
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?Kelly-DJ  Tracie-News Anchor      
If someone asked you to give them a random piece of advice, what would you tell them? Kelly-Make good decisions daily Tracie-Don’t sweat the small stuff     
Have you ever tried sushi?  Did you like it?  WE LOVE IT    
What are two of your favorite websites?  Kelly-facebook and twitter Tracie facebook and pinterest    
Do you have any updates on your adoption process? Kids are doing phenomenal! Pending a couple of things falling into place we hope to have them home by the end of the year!

Interview with Hannah Samuels

Hannah (second from the left) with the rest of her family.

1.     In what context are you involved with orphan care? 

Since 2009 I have had the privilege to work with an orphan-care facility in Beijing. New Day Foster Home provides life to orphans from all over China who otherwise wouldn't survive, and it's been an incredible experience. At first my role at the foster home was working one-on-one with children to help them develop and thrive, however in 2010 I was given the opportunity to run the foster home's social network and begin to work more with our sickest, most critical little ones. I would spend half of my day taking pictures, writing stories and responding to e-mails and the other half in our Critical Care Unit working with the nannies to keep the babies stable and comfortable. July, 2013, my family and I moved up North to Inner Mongolia where we are starting New Day North. My role in this stage is communication with orphanages, weekly trips to local orphanages, translating for trainings, assessments of the children's developmental and nutritional status and a whole lot of other small things.

2.     In your current context, what do you see as the biggest need? 

In one of my first orphanage visits a few years ago I was struck with the lack of "enough" in orphanages. I saw food, warmth, comfort, love and care... but not enough. This realization has stuck with me as I work with other orphanages, help to spread the word about orphans in China, and advocate for children's medical care or adoption need. There is just not "enough." Not enough people know about the little ones waiting over the ocean in cribs lined up against the wall. Not enough families are willing to take a leap of faith and begin the paperwork to bring an unknown child home. Not enough of us will sacrifice financially, with our time or our energy to really make The Fatherless a priority.

If each of us were to tell just one more person about orphans, adoption, the needs or the, often small and do-able, ways that we can be involved, so much more could happen and so many more children would know life and the love of a family.

3.     What is one thing that you wish other people would know about orphan care? 

Just one? In all of the orphanages that I have visited there were more boys than girls. This is a shock, because our history and experience with orphans in China is that they are all girls. Nope! Also, the effects of living in an orphanage are huge on most children. They have suffered many things that cannot completely be resolved in a few weeks of one-on-one love and care. I'm currently watching a few children in an orphanage that we visit regularly act more and more institutionalized each week. This shouldn't scare families from adopting, but should inspire them to get the kids out as soon as possible. Don't let a child wait one more day. They can heal. Their broken hearts can be stitched together, just don't be in ignorance that there will be a seam. 

4.     What is one resource you would recommend and why would you recommend it? 

I would hope that most churches have an adoption support group. If not, start one. If so, get involved.

5.     What advice would you have for Village to Village Intl. as we seek we seek to make a difference in the lives of children?

Don't just advocate for adoption and support parents through the process... be there AFTER the airport. Piles of paperwork and approvals and funds are overwhelming, but it's nothing compared to bringing home a sad and scared child who needs to learn

An Opportunity to Save a Life (Literally)

We have been involved with New Day Foster Home on many levels; we have taken two trips to this amazing place, bought 45 cases of formula for the babies, raised money for corrective surgeries to take place, and help buy a brace for a little boy in need.  Here is a copy of note sent out by New Day about a little boy named Albert and his need for a liver.

Meet Albert, a chubby-cheeked, one-year-old orphan with a big smile that just melts your heart. Albert celebrated his first birthday on December 19th, but unless we help him, Albert won't survive to celebrate his second birthday.  This sweet baby boy was abandoned on a village street in China when he was only three months old. He was born with severe GI defect called Biliary Atresia, which affects his liver. His little belly is distended, and his big, bright eyes are yellow with jaundice. If he doesn’t get a liver transplant soon, he won’t make it. Surgery is expensive, but without surgery, Albert will die.

Albert is an orphan. He has no family. He has no voice. Albert needs you to be his family, to be his voice. We want so badly for Albert to get this surgery, so he can be adopted by a loving family and live a long, happy life. We want him to experience the love of a family. We want him to celebrate not only his second birthday, but also his twenty-second, fifty-second, and ninety-second birthdays. But none of this will be possible without your love, support, prayers, donations, and a new liver for Albert.

We need to give this little guy a chance. His parents abandoned him, his orphanage didn’t have the resources to help him, and the local hospitals in his orphanage’s province were unable to give him the Kasai procedure (a treatment for newborns with Biliary Atresia that could delay the need for a liver transplant). As a last ditch effort to save Albert’s life, his orphanage sent him to New Day Foster Home in Qingyundian Township, China, which has a loving staff of volunteers and nannies and is close to the hospitals in Beijing with doctors who have the skills and equipment to perform the surgery that Albert needs to survive.

With your help, Albert has hope of a future. Albert needs you to advocate for him! Please give what you can, and please help spread the word! Every life is precious; little Albert’s life is no exception. Help us reach our goal of raising $40,000 to save Albert's life!
For more information about New Day Foster Home, please visit: http://www.newdaycreations.com/foster/index.html

Please help Village to Village Intl. help New Day Foster Home help Albert by giving a tax deductible donation here.  100% of all your donations will go to help Albert.

Dodgeball Baby!

One thing that we all like to do is have fun.  I am so glad that we have the opportunity to enjoy the things of life.  That is why we are going to have another dodgeball tournament.  It was so much fun last time that we just had to do it again.  This time it will be on March 22, at 2 p.m.  in Elkhart, Indiana.  We are so grateful for the Elkhart Youth & Community Center and their willingness to host our event at their facility.
Check out the flyer here.  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B54T0-qUF4MhMUk5MkFEQW82V1k/edit?usp=sharing

If you are interested in playing please email Matt at matt@villagetovillageintl.com

If you are interested in hosting a dodgeball tournament in your area, we can help you do that.  Contact Matt at matt@villagetovillageintl.com to get started.