We're Drilling for Water!

Some of you were warned before we left town.  For the others, SURPRISE!!!  

We're here to ask you to give of your money!  :-)  

I know, it's everyone's favorite request to receive!  

But, it's important.  Really, really important. 

To save myself time (which I have very little of right now since we just got home with Markos a few days ago), I am just copying the email that I sent out to friends and family here.  If you've already received it, sorry.  You can leave now (and go to the mycharitywater site & donate).  Thanks.

 Dear family and friends,

As many of you know, Eric and I have recently traveled to Ethiopia on two different occasions for our adoption of Markos.  While we were there, our hearts were broken over the extreme poverty and the depth of need for just basic essentials of life -- food, water, clothing, shelter.  Everywhere we drove while we were there, we saw yellow water bottles.  Children carried them, donkeys had them strapped to their backs, boys walked along pulling or pushing make-shift carts loaded with them.  We were told that, on average, the majority of people in the Southern region in Ethiopia, where Markos' surviving family lives, walk 6 miles a day to find water. 

We saw people filling their water bottles in dirty streams where they waded in along with their cattle.  We watched boys and girls scoop water from filthy puddles on the sides of the road.  We could always tell which way the nearest water source was, by the direction that people were walking with their water bottles.  At our guest house in the capital city, we experienced several water shortages while we were there, when the water would just be shut off for hours until the guest house could have some water trucked in. 

Until you see it for yourself, until you experience not having water, it's really hard to imagine.  We take so much for granted here in the United States. 

Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of diseases and kills more people every year than all forms of violence, including war. Children are especially vulnerable, as their bodies aren't strong enough to fight diarrhea, dysentery and other illnesses.

90% of the 42,000 deaths that occur every week from unsafe water and unhygienic living conditions are to children under five years old. Many of these diseases are preventable. The UN predicts that one tenth of the global disease burden can be prevented simply by improving water supply and sanitation.

Lack of clean drinking water was most likely the major contributing factor to the reason that Markos is now our son.  He lost a mother, a 5 year old brother, and a 3 year old sister to "diarrhea".  With no mother to care for him, no mother to walk miles for water every day, his father was forced to make a decision that I can't fathom.  If Markos would have just been a little older, chances are great that he would have had to assume the job of walking for hours each day to get the families' water supply.  We saw many little boys and girls, out walking alone, with their yellow bottles.  These boys and girls then can't attend school, the cycle continues, and, as Markos' father said to us when we asked him about his childhood, "It is all the same.  Nothing ever changes."

Eric and I have decided to give up our birthdays this year.  We have also asked that people not buy Markos a bunch of gifts (that we really don't "need").  Instead, we are asking that everyone consider donating to our Charity: Water campaign to help us raise funds to drill a well in a developing nation like Ethiopia.  Each well serves an entire village of 250 people and will provide clean drinking water for 20 years!  Seriously, $20 will provide clean water to someone for 20 years!!  That's less than one fast food meal for a family of four.  100% of all donations go directly to the water project.  Additionally, Charity:Water trains the local people to drill and to maintain the well, helping to keep the projects sustainable.

Words can't describe the depth of poverty that we saw.  Please consider donating to our campaign.  Water = life.  Water = hope.   Things can change for these people with a little help from you and me.  You can donate online via credit card or you can send Charity:Water a check.  Just please be sure to write our campaign code on the subject line of the check.  It is MYCW-13206.  The mailing address for checks is:

Charity: Water
200 Varick St., Ste. 201
New York, NY 10014

If you wish to include a message for the website & are mailing a check, simply include the message with the check in the envelope.  Charity: Water will enter these donations to the web page by hand.  All donations are tax deductible.  You will receive a receipt with every donation sent.  (Online donations will receive an immediate receipt via email.  Mailed donations will receive a receipt within 3 - 4 weeks after the check is processed.)  Our campaign can only last for 90 days.  We are starting now,a few days after my 40th birthday.  We will end on April 29th, about 2 weeks after Eric's birthday. 

Please help however you can:

1) Go to: http://mycharitywater.org/starkfamily to make your donation. 
Or, if you prefer, mail a check, including the campaign ID# (MYCW - 13206), to the above address.

2) Help us spread the word. 
Feel free to forward this email to all your friends and family or to give the above web address to people.

3) Pray that we can successfully raise the $5000 needed to drill a well and provide water to a community in great need.

Thank you for your support! 

For those of you who weren't already  aware, Eric and I just returned from Ethiopia with our new 4 year old son, Markos, on Friday.  He is an absolute doll with a smile that lights up the room!  Feel free to check out our adoption blog at www.starksjourney.blogspot.com for pictures and videos.

With love,
Lori & Eric Stark

P.S.  A little challenge for us all -- when we returned from Ethiopia on Friday, Mackenzie surprised me with a "birthday present".   She gave me $150 of her own money that she had been saving to buy herself an i-Pod touch or an i-Pad to put towards the Charity: Water well project.  Eric and I have matched her gift.  If a 13 year old can give almost all the money that she has been saving for months, surely we all can give something.  Right?!  ;-)

And so that there is at least a little new content, here are a few pictures that we took while in Ethiopia of people carrying their water jugs, some wells that we passed, etc.  I tried to take about 350 more than this, but it was from a moving van on horrendous roads so they're a little bit blurry.  I picked a few of the best for you, my fine bloggy friends.

 

 

 

We're Home!

I am completely exhausted after these emotional, stressful, joyful 2 weeks in Ethiopia.  No details about the trip now (because I'm lucky that I can remember my own name at this point), but just wanted to let everyone know that we made it home safe and sound.  Thus far things are going amazingly well.  Markos was surely picked by God for our family.  He is a laugh a minute and we are so thrilled that he is here to stay FOREVER!

A few pictures and video clips before I crash for a few days, possibly weeks:

Markos' during our visit to his care center before our trip to Durame

 

What a laugh!!

Markos and I with my surprise birthday cake on my 40th birthday - the day that we left Ethiopia to bring him home.

Finally home!!

Checking out the playroom

Daniel is so excited to be a big brother!

Mackenzie showing Markos how the toys work

 

Daniel and Markos dancing and laughing

Markos' first night at home, snuggled on the couch with the kids, watching Thomas

In Ethiopia

We arrived in Ethiopia at 8 AM this morning.  Our flight was as good as could be expected.  The flight wasn't full so we had an empty seat next to us.  This is a blessing on a 14+ hour flight!!!  Especially one on which none of the TVs in front of your row of seats are working so you can't watch any movies.  Unfortunately, I still couldn't sleep, but I did, at least, lay down and try.  Unfortunately, one of the couples from our travel group were attempting to fly out of Vermont in a snow/ice storm and their flights were all canceled.  They tried to rearrange flights as best they could, but ended up driving to Montreal in order to be able to catch a flight to Germany so they could make a flight to ET.  They were to arrive on the same flight that we were on this morning, but instead will be arriving here soon.  We are happy that they were able to arrive on the same day, just later in the day.

It is Timkat in Ethiopia today (and for the next 2 days).  If you don't know what that is, you can read about it here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timkat
We went out and drove through Addis today to see some of the processions, then we went to the main festival site and walked around, watched the festivities, talked with some of the children, tried some new foods (pray for no ill effects), and just generally LOVED seeing this amazing time of worship.  I can't upload pictures here, but I will post pictures and videos when we are home (and recovered).

Tomorrow, we are traveling north of Addis to Debre Libanos, and to a variety of other sites along the way.  I can't wait!  Then, we will get to start our time with our sweet Markos on Friday!  Really can't wait for that!!

We met some other adoptive couples at the airport and at our guest house.  I can't begin to tell you how incredibly awesome it is to be amongst this group of people, to share this love, to share this experience.  Despite these new people being with two other agencies, their hearts are the same.  My old MOPS friends, you remember how you teased me when I found out I was pregnant with Daniel when Mackenzie started school and you teased me that I only got pregnant so I could stay in MOPS with all of you?  Well.....if we would decide to adopt again, it will not be solely for that reason, but I have to say, it certainly doesn't hurt!!  :-)

Love to you all from Ethiopia!

Introducing Markos!!

Wooooo hooooo!!! The moment that many of you have been waiting for! We're finally on our way to pick up our son and are therefore allowed to publicly share pictures. Enjoy!!

This is the very first picture taken when Markos entered care. It was taken in Wolayta at the orphanage there. Unfortunately, when they first opened, their digital camera usage or camera was poor and all the pictures received from there were these tiny little images.


Thankfully, Markos was moved to Addis fairly quickly so we also received these 2 pictures with his referral packet:




Our first picture update:


Our second set of update pictures:




Finally, a few pictures from our first trip to Ethiopia:




(this is not the greatest picture of me, but look at his big, beautiful, brown eyes!)




Can't wait to share many more happy, smiley pictures of Markos in the future!

Prayers Please

I can hardly believe that we are approaching the end of this adoption process journey (and the beginning of our new life with 3 kids!). What a crazy, crazy trip it's been! And, yet, despite the ups and downs; the many, many tears shed; the mid-process changes; the frustrations; and the seemingly endless waiting; one thing has been amazing to me throughout it all -- the peace that we've had the majority of the time. Definitely a peace that passes all understanding. Definitely a peace that only comes from our God. So, thank you for all your prayers thus far, and thank you in advance for praying for us over the next few weeks as we travel to Ethiopia again. We rest in the knowledge that our God is in control.

Many people told me that they appreciated the break-down of our days with regards to specific prayer requests that I did on the blog for our first trip, so I thought I'd do it again for this trip. Here is our itinerary and some specific prayer requests:

Monday, January 17th - Please pray for my dad as he travels to our house to stay with the kids, also that we would get all the packing and preparations completed!

Tuesday, January 18th - Please pray for our flights and that there would be no delays or cancellations due to weather; also pray for my dad as he manages the kids schedules, packs lunches, prepares meals, etc.; and pray for the kids - that they would also have peace (and fun with Pappy - not that that is ever really much of a problem though).

Wednesday, January 19th - Please pray that we arrive safely in Addis, and that our luggage does as well. Also pray for a good day and safe travels that day in Ethiopia. We are in the process of arranging a possible day trip to the south of Addis, or visits around the capital to see a variety of other agencies, orphanages, etc.

Thursday, January 20th - Please pray for the bulk of our travel group who will be arriving late this evening, that they would arrive safely. Also, pray for Eric and I and our travel friends who will be accompanying us north of Addis on a day trip.

Friday, January 21st - Please pray for our time with Markos. We should spend a majority of this day with him at his orphanage, learning his routine and his likes/dislikes, etc. Pray that Markos would be comforted and would also feel peace in this transition. **Back on the home front, please pray for my mom as she travels to our house to meet up with my dad for the remainder of the trip. Pray for no snow as she travels over the mountain because she is not a fan of driving in the snow.

Saturday, January 22nd - Pray again for our additional time with Markos at the care center. Also that we would have clarity of mind to ask the questions that we need to ask to make our transitions easier.

Sunday, January 23rd - Please pray for us as we travel 7 hours south, close to the area where Markos was born and raised for the first 3 years of his life. Also, please, please, please pray for our meeting with Markos' birth father. My heart hurts at the thought of this meeting. I am scared, anxious, excited, and in awe of the possibility. Please pray for our composure -- that we would not be complete basket-cases who are crying so much that we can't even talk. (seriously, it could happen!) Also, pray that his father attends the meeting. We long to be able to share as much as possible about his family, his birth, his infancy, etc. with Markos as he gets older, but we need his father to show up for this meeting in order to do so.

Monday, January 24th - Please pray for our trip back to Addis, and also for all 3 of us as we take custody!! Pray that we are comfortable in our hotel room with each other, that Markos transitions into our care easily, that we continue to have peace and confidence in our ability to parent once we are all he has! (yikes! what a responsibility!) Also, pray for our ability to communicate with him. We are grateful that we are staying at the same guest house where we stayed for our first trip and that the staff there are AMAZING. We know that they will be helpful with this, but it's still a little scary that we won't speak the same language as our son!

Tuesday, January 25th - Please pray for our U.S. Embassy interview and also for all our travel buddies' interviews. There are a lot of rumors going around right now regarding changes in American policies regarding relinquished children, changes in Ethiopian process, etc. It's scary, but our agency is assuring us that we have nothing to worry about (and yet that won't stop me from feeling called to worry!) ;-)

Wednesday, January 26th - Please pray for Markos and his friends as they say goodbye at the farewell ceremony. :-( Pray for Markos as he again says goodbye to the caregivers who have loved him and cared for him this past year, and as he, once again, has to endure great loss.

Thursday, January 27th (otherwise known as MY 40th BIRTHDAY!) - Please pray for the start of our trip home! Pray that all of Markos' documents from the U.S. Embassy are completed on time and accurate. And, pray for the start of our LONG trip home! We fly out of Addis at 10:15 pm. We have a direct flight to DC, but we will stop in Rome to refuel, we just won't get off the plane.

Friday, January 28th - Please pray that our flights continue to be on time, and go smoothly. Also that Markos is getting along well with us, and that we are able to communicate effectively. Also please pray that everything goes as it should as we go through customs with Markos. After a few hours in Washington, DC, we should arrive in Pittsburgh around 1:15 pm (and hopefully our luggage will arrive there, too).

Of course, we ask for prayers for our kids and parents back home as they attempt to get along without me/fill my shoes. (they're BIG, you know?!) ;-) kidding!

Thank you all for your prayers and your support throughout the journey! Thank you, God, for allowing us to participate in Your Kingdom! Oh, how WE are blessed when we choose to do so!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21

FIVE!

Sing it Elmo! Yes, that's right! We leave in FIVE days!!





Cleaning, packing, preparing. Hoping and praying that all this snow doesn't affect our flights, or my parent's ability to get to our house to stay with the kids!

Eric's and Lori's Birthday Wish List: Water

Warning: This post may seem presumptuous,
but it's a risk we're willing to take.
:-)

As most of you know, we're leaving in NINE days to go back to Ethiopia to pick up Markos and bring him home. We are so very excited to go back to Ethiopia - not just to get Markos, but also to be in Ethiopia again, to travel around and see more of the country, to learn more of the culture, and meet more of the people. There is a part of me that finds it strange that I have such a strong desire to go back to a place that broke my heart the last time I was there; a place where I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, I will have my heart broken all over again.

When I look through the pictures from our first trip, in the background of many of the pictures that we took driving through the city -- the CAPITAL city -- I see large yellow plastic water jugs being carried. Being carried by children. Being carried by the elderly. Being carried by women. Being carried up roads so steep that I truly thought that the van we were riding in was NEVER going to make it. Water. Walking and walking for water. And this was in the capital!

On our next trip, we will travel south. South, not quite to where Markos lived, but far enough out to get the idea of how he lived. In rural Ethiopia, women and/or children sometimes walk for hours to get water. Miles & miles to fill that yellow jug with water. Then, they get up the next day and do it again. And the water they walk to get is not clean. It is teeming with parasites and bacteria. It sickens and kills. Here's a few statistics:

• More than 1/2 of Africa has no access to safe drinking water.
• 76% of Ethiopians have no access to safe drinking water.
• Every 19 seconds, a child dies from unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation facilities.

I prayed that I'd be changed by what I saw in Ethiopia, and I have been. What I fear is that I will forget and that I will come home to my nice, cushy, American life and forget. That I will become complacent and happy to keep the news turned off and my blinders on, so I don't have to have my heart broken. But, I certainly hope that doesn't happen.

One thing that became convictingly clear while we were there the first time, was how very much we have, how very little we need (if anything!), but how very much others elsewhere in the world need. And need to SURVIVE. Not to be more comfortable, not to be "happier", not to live an easier life, but need simply to LIVE. And, so, after struggling to get through Christmas this year with this painful knowledge, Eric and I have decided that we absolutely WILL be giving up our birthdays this year. (This is where the slightly presumptuous part comes in!)

As you might know, I turn 40 the day that we leave Ethiopia to come home with Markos. I'm not having a big party (and have threatened Eric's life re: any surprise parties!). I don't want gifts. I don't even want cards. What I want is for you all to donate to the well that we will be sponsoring through Charity:Water. Each campaign lasts for 90 days, so we will start around my birthday and end around Eric's birthday -- thereby giving up both of our birthdays!

I will send more information later, but for now, please know that we have all that we need and so much more. Our heart's desire is that all the beautiful people in Africa would have at least the simple basic necessity of clean water. That other little boys like Markos will not have their mother, brother, and sister die from disease caused by the unclean water that they were drinking, thereby forcing their father to relinquish them for adoption.

We hope to raise $5,000 which will cover the cost of drilling a well in Africa, supply a rural village with clean water for 20 years, and train the local men to drill and maintain the well! $20 will provide one person with clean water for 20 years!! That means that with the cost of birthday cards and stamps these days, the sacrifice of 4 birthday cards will provide one person with clean water for 20 years. 100% of your donations to our Charity: Water campaign will go directly to the well drilling project, and in 2 years, we will receive the satellite coordinates to the well that was dug and be able to go to Google Earth and see the area where the well is located.

I know that some of you might also want to buy gifts for Markos when we get home, but again, we have all we need. Truly. Markos is already going to be overwhelmed with all the toys and such that he already has waiting for him here. Please save your money and give it to the well in honor of his family in Ethiopia instead.

OK, this was my little heads-up, we're going to be hitting you up, warning. :-) As I said, more information will be coming after we're home. Just wanted to catch you before you start sending those birthday cards, or buying birthday gifts (MOM!) ;-) Instead, watch the following video and begin praying about giving to our well!





For additional information about Charity: Water, go to:
http://www.charitywater.org/