KAS Logo
A Child Waits
Spring 2010 Newsletter for All Blessings International
Transition to All Blessings International, Inc.

We are absolutely thrilled to formally announce that Kentucky Adoption Services is transitioning to our new name - All Blessings International, Inc. For the past couple of years we have realized that our name was not accurately conveying the full scope of our services and mission.

We are launching our new website: www.allblessings.org

We hope you will like our updated look!
Update on Haiti by Diana Boni
 
Lucy and I visited Haiti in late April, along with my eighteen year old Haitian born son, Garlise.  This was my first trip to Haiti since the devastating earthquake of January 12th, and Lucy's second.
Seeing the devistation firsthand.
Haiti Trip April 2010
  
Amazingly, daily life goes on much as it did before.  They have lost homes, friends, and family, but they had so little to begin with that the resilient Haitian people are able to go on among the rubble.
Lucy and I visited various facilitators and orphanages to learn the current state of adoptions in Haiti.  One of the main messages they all shared is that the need for qualified families is greater than ever.  There are thousands and thousands of children in need of permanent, loving families.
 
The qualifications for families to adopt from Haiti are:
  • Married/cohabitating for 10 years
  • parents 35 years or older
  • no more than three biological children (of both parents) living in the home
OR
  • Single women
  • Age 35 or older
  • No more than three biological children living in the home
 Occasional exceptions are made for couples married cohabitating 10 years with one parent under 35 and documented infertility.  The children are infants through age 12, with sibling groups and twins in need of families too.  Referrals are made by ABI staff.  Each part of the process has been tested and proven functional by our coworkers in Haiti, but we do not yet know how long it will take to process a complete adoption case post-earthquake.  Prior to January 12th, families with birth children waited an average of 18 months from the arrival of the dossier in Haiti and a referral to travel, and those with no birth children in the home waited at average of 15 months. Families should be prepared for longer waits.
 
Follow us on Twitter
Orphan Walk 2010
Orphan Walk Logo

All Blessings International, Inc. (ABI) invite you to participate in our signature event, the 2010 Orphan Walk. The first ABI sponsored Orphan Walk occurred in 2009 and raised over $6000 in orphan assistance. These funds helped children to be fed, clothed and cared for overseas. Until there are no more orphans our fight will never end. Unfortunately, due to the ravages of disease, natural disaster and poverty the number of orphans is increasing worldwide! With your help we can make a difference in the life of an orphan. We hope you will join our efforts through All Blessings International's (ABI) 2nd Annual Orphan Walk.

The Orphan Walk is a team event that brings attention to orphaned and abandoned children around the world and raises funds for the ABI's humanitarian aid, education, advocacy and adoption services. It is a fun, outdoor fundraising event where teams take turns walking or running around a track and participate in a variety of team events.  

You or your team will be joined by others July 23rd at the Apollo High School Football Field from 6pm to 12 midnight. 

To register for the event go to the Register Now! link below. This will take you to our registration page, where you can sign up to sponsor a team or walk as an  individual.

 
Find us on Facebook
Thank you for supporting the Krispy Kreme Fundraiser
ABI would like to thank Karen Vincent, Dawn Woodruff and Carried Clements for their hard work putting this fundraiser together. ABI was able to raise close to $350.
 
Thanks to those who purchased doughnuts and those who sold them. Every penny raised will help ABI with their missions. 
Welcome Home!
Jason & Danielle welcomed Naomi from the US.
Keith and Angela welcomed Asia Grace from China.
David and Amy welcomed Charlotte from Haiti.
Steven and Amanda welcomed Joshua from Haiti.
Steven & Mendy welcomed Paxon from Haiti.
Jason & Jennie welcome Josie from Haiti.  
Grant & Cassie welcomed Addyson from Korea.
Mark & Laura welcomed LiAnn from China.
Chris & Bridget welcomed Benjamin from China.
Terry & Lisa welcomed Leah from China.
Kevin & Karen welcomed Ian from China.
Jeffrey & Kari welcomed Jacob from the US.
Justin & Lia welcomed Wesley from the US.
 
 
We praise God for each of the miracles that he has bestowed upon our ABI families. We pray that God continues to bless our ministry and each of our families.
Mexican Orphans Help Haitian Orphans
Carlos knitting for Haiti
Hogar infantil
 
It takes one to know one and some orphaned, abandoned and homeless children of Mexico are thinking of the orphans in Haiti!  When the youngsters of Hogar Infantil (www.hogarinfantil.org) in Chiapas (Mexico's southern-most state) heard about the plight of the children at Bresma, they wanted to help.  They know how it feels to be in need and they're eager to share with others.  (Hogar's motto is "A Place of Sharing". )
 
With the help of two visiting volunteers, they launched a fundraising campaign of their own design.  They knitted winter scarves and hats and sold them in the town square.  (It gets cool in their mountain valley.)  Since they live on a working farm, they raffled off a pig and a goat.  And since their farm home has a big patio and dining hall, they organized a Valentine's Day dance and sold tickets to the public.  After three months, they tallied their profits and found they had raised $620 to send to the Bresma orphanage!
 
These wonderful children have their school pencils rationed out to them and live in no-frills housing.  But they know their education and their home comes through the charity of people who want to share.  They're eager to pass the favor along and pass their good fortune along to children who have less - unimaginably less - than they do.  And they're happy to know that Bresma and All Blessings International are helping to make that connection and will put their donation to good use!
Welcome Jenni!
 
Jenni Ramsey.
jenni ramsey

All Blessings would like to welcome Jenni Ramsey to our staff. Jenni will be working in the position of Missions and Outreach Coordinator from her home office in California. She comes to ABI with a wealth of experience in missions as she has served as mission director at her church for 13 years. Jenni has been married to Mike for fifteen years and they have been blessed with two sons, Jordan and Aidan.  They are currently waiting to adopt their third child through international adoption. 

 

When asked why she wants to work in adoptions she answered:  ""In addition to my new role as the Missions and Outreach Coordinator for All Blessings International, I have been blessed to serve as the Missions Director at our church in Southern California for over thirteen years.  It has been a privilege to travel and minister in thirteen countries and I love to see how God's Spirit is moving throughout the world.  He truly is the defender of the orphan and the Father to the fatherless.   My heart has always been broken for abused and abandoned children and our church has partnered with orphanage ministries throughout the world for many years.  Our family became open to adoption through our own journey of infertility.  We were also touched by the miracle of adoption when my husband's sister adopted in China.

 

I am passionate about leading short-term teams and absolutely love what I do.  Jesus told us to go and take the gospel to the nations in Matthew 28 and that is exactly why I love to go.  Every trip is life changing, although painful and challenging at times.   It is good to leave the comforts of home, and travel to minister to 'the least of these.'  God's heart is for the orphan and He blesses those who give to the poor.  I am honored and grateful to work for an amazing adoption agency that ministers to adopting families, and also advocates for the needs of orphaned and forgotten children who may never have a 'forever family'."

His Hands His Feet Mission Trips 2010
 
In keeping with the Lord's calling to serve the Least of These throughout the world, ABI's mission team division, His Hands His Feet, has scheduled a number of mission trips to several countries for the remainder of the year.
 
El Salvador - July 10-17
We currently have a team of 10, but space is still available.  We will be ministering at two different orphanages in the San Salvador area.  Trip cost is $2,000/person.
 
Guatemala - Sept 16-21
Space is still open.  We will be ministering at a village clinic as well as a GT Mission Trip 2009children's home.  Cost is $2,000/person.
 
Haiti - late fall 2010 or early 2011
Dates for this trip have not yet been decided. Please contact ABI if you are intersted in taking a short term trip to Haiti in late 2010 or early 2011. The primary purpose of the trip will be bulding projects and ministry to orphans.
 
If you are interested in participating in any of the above mission trips please contact our Missions and Outreach Coordinator Jenni Ramsey or contact the office at 270-684-2598.
Thank you !!!
 

On behalf of the staff and board of directors of ABI we would like to thank all the named and anonymous donors who have provided their generous support of this organization and our relief fund for the Haiti Earthquake victims. To date, we have received over $77,0000 and people are still continuing to give!

 

Deb Gerard

Maria Dalupan

Linda  Donovan

Squarei Technologies

Christopher Pinkham

Jeeva and Rachel Ratnathicam

Peter Tarkulich

Sarah McIntosh

Sally Clark

Piper Kinney

Gwen Waite

Cindy Chen

Melissa Gensic

Diann Shannon

Gena Tadewald

Angeline Merkel

William Falconer

Jean Leonard

Kris Schneider

Christine Akers

Valerie Burke

Lisa Iddings

Mark Mayer

B Parker Lindner

Mark Sherman

Regina Gray

Eleanor Trice

Jonathan Morgan

Yasuyoshi Komoto

Nancy Rogers

Ken Crosson

Eric Wooley

Cyndi Mousner

Therese Stein

Carly Borders

Brian Perry

Michelle Frederick

Susan Patrick

Lynn Callahan

Harvey Dershin

Melanie Brunell

Christine Record

Kathy Van Etten

Leah Romaine

Darren Straus

Kimala Lynn

Lyndi Khanna

S. Wilson

Effective Database Management

Sherry Babbitt in honor of Alexander Haskell

Michael Williams on behalf of Forsyth Sunrise Rotary

Jeffrey Hassler

Forest  Peterson

City Career Services

Catherine Aldrich

Michelle Wright

Brian Nelson

Peter La Prade

Jim Griebel

Jim Parker

Melissa Gensic

N. Yellin

Linda Cohen

Cevia Yellin

Debbie Olken

Robert Foernsler

Leslie Perletz

Jeanie Martinez

James Boston

William VanMatre in honor of Faith and Andre Carvalhaes

Karen Curran in honor of Sherry Cluver

Susan Marotta in honor of the Haskell Family

Stacy Kleespies

Gerald Riccioni

Ethan Bright

William Booth

Suzanne Kane

Rodney Milton

William Boselli

Patricia Nunez

Sherry Cluver

Stephanie Cluver

Sara Stricklen

Julie Baldwin

Michele Roth

Joel Gershowitz

Jane Menville

William Flanagan

Charles Jones

Nancy Rapport

Cynthia Ropek

Remy Garard

Michele Wright

Anthony Christo

Suzanne Beatty

June Lobell

Maureen Franzone

Lisa Ward

Lindsey Taylor

Barbara Belmont

Patricia Goff

Linda Toukan

Candace Poquette

Remy Garard

Thomas Bailey

Deborah Beal

Gina Kelly

Holly Graubins

Crossbreed Holsters

Barbara Trucken

Carole Marie McCann

Christine Laughead

Cathy White

Marvin Clark

Clean Cut Lawn Service

Bonita Irvin

Stacie Beckner

National Philanthropic Trust in honor of Dr. Jean C Griffith

Lance and Kathy Houck in honor of Damien and Lorraine McCann and Samantha Couse

First Baptist Church of Humansville

Judith Guglietta

Mary Nixon Azbill

Lazarus' Tomb

Margery Koenig

Donna Blincoe

Sarah Simpson

Donald Hajek

Margaret Bloom

Lynne Stuart

Ellen Nelson

Joan McMullen

Trenya Pierce

 Bernard Ewell

Elizabeth Stuart

Elaine Feddersen

Elizabeth Smith

Diane Wagner

Ed Hidgon

Betty Herring

Sara Beth Morrison

Andrea Canales

Rosetta Lecocq

Mary Ellen Jones

Jill Lear

Lynne Armstrong

Sally Tammes

Mark Chase-Jacobsen

Tammy DeVore

Kyle Vermeer

Geneva Stephan

Amy Baird-Larkin

Verna Walker

Jarvis Spreng

Hogar Infantil Inc.

Yolando Chiarello

Janice Vastola

Ellen Rehn

Kathleen Britnell

Maroa Forsyth High School

Sally Baker

Barbara Martin

Bill Roberts Middle School

Whitesville Elementary School

South Hancock Elementary School

Rocky Mountain Christian Academy

The Slade Family Foundation

KT Productions Inc.

Allison Doering

Microsoft Matching Gifts Program

Watertown School District No. 14-4

Turnabout Environmental Services Inc.

Katrina Watts

Danna Gladen

Dennis Scott

Susan Triem

Melinda Thies

Allison Borden

June Jurow

Forsyth Grade School

Lincoln Elementary School

Margie Gertsen

Judith Geilenfeld

Sandra Hoftiezer

Cynthia Stein

Amber Sutton

Mick Rehder

Sharolyn Beutow

Susan Dahl

Gwen Kahre

Peggy Bratland

Ray Kerstetter

Cecilia Soucy

Dr. Pennie Schwartz

Brenda White

Maria Obiol

Terry Davis

Maria Obiol

Sandra Hildebrandt

Roberta Hafker

Lisa Garry

Laura Potter

Mary Mayo

Joanne Kastalek

Patricia Baron

Colette Gross

Florence Balay

Virginia Hoernicke

Karen Kargel

Aurleen Nelson

Rosanne Knight

Leighton Millar

Joan Loomis

Amanda Hoernicke

Kathleen Williams

George Hass

Lindy Jones

Dorothy Lockwood

Mardi Hanna

M. Williamson

Margaret Nelson

LaVina Matzdorff

Edward Colburn

Joyce Metcalf

Janet Werst

Sheila Young

Cory Tipton

Mary Fecht

Colleen Shepperd

Monna Weldon

Clifford Bergren

Marlene Quattrocchi

Janice Kennedy

Helen Marshall

Brigette Olinger

Kathleen Zimmerman

Tiffany Ayraud

JoAnn  Powell

Pauline Morris

Louise Gregory

Jean  Moore

Diane Marie Graepler

Kathleen Smile

Lela Bonser

JoAnn Powell

Donna Pabst

Patricia Lipinski

Anna Belle Thiemann

David Dornan

Jennifer Gonzales

Jacqueline Thompson

Jeanette Savoy

Rhonda Lund

Nancy Solomon

Judy Daum

Charlotta Young

Bonnie Risk

Barbara Denton

Virginia Banks

Suzanne Wilkins

Harold Farrar

Brad Kuch

Mary Alice Showalter

Pattie Ragland

Linda Love

Lameza Abdelnour

Norma Bulera

Donna Showalter

Amy Jay

Veralyn Johansen

Rebecca Parish

Chris Van Anne

Sondra Iverson

Connie Scheve

Britanny Williams

Cheryl Leflar

Patricia Nielsen

Lana Burman

Cynthia Terpstra

Neona Merritt

Lynette Pazdernik

Paulette Haley

E. Joann Brown

Donna Lee

Wendy Niccoli

Sandra Nielsen

Cynthia Givens

Camelia Tolar

Pamela Morris

McLean County ABA

Mary Lou Madigan

Mary Rodriguez

William Jones

Diane Williams

JoAnn Welch

Kara Leeta Ray

Margie Brown

Sue Reynolds

Thomas Jones

Sue Tucker

Texas Gas Transmission LLC

Shawn Esser

Charlie Flynt

Maroa-Forsyth Middle School

Anonymous

Mary Peters

Suzanne Morrison

Microsoft Matching Gifts Program

The Shoot Out 24 Hour Filmmaking Festival

Lanette Lepper in honor of Jenna and Farica

Jody Ann Jongeling

Alfred Schmidt

Eric Holmlund

Sarah Laskin

Thomas Hanson

Kelly Wingard

Martin Schleifer

Ashley Roark

Jose Solorzano

Juli Parrish

Modern Venus Ltd.

Intrepid Films LLC

Steven Amburgey

Jana Bleakley

Brenna Francy

Janet Taffet

Larry Markham

Christine Futia

Eric Siemers

Kymberlei  Locke

Courtney Markham-Abedi

Priya Huffman

Sharon Sheets

Janio Kallas

Tamara Levenson

James Smith

Kelly Buente

James Lipsey

Paul Morris

Todd Pires

Scott Cappiello

Michael Cardwell

Leslie Yelland

Kristie Stauch-White

Cynthia Carosella

Heather Swanson

Stacey Mendez

Shawn Pauling

Vicki Hunter

Creative Management Solutions Inc.

Ricky Busch in honor of Kurt Terrio

Elana Natker in honor of Dieuna Tassy

Marty Smith

Rose Doherty

Doulas Washburn

Paul Shippey

Kylie Crandall

Katherine Mularski

Carolyn Simon

Susan Crowe

Max McCamley

Thomas Dandy

Brianne Smith

David Fitch

Anna Pougas

Beverly Moranetz

Deborah Vincent

Robert Grier

Scott Saltzman

Dan Richardson

Mary Ryder

Robert Trout

David Harrison

Yechiel Newman

Clyde Spicer

Gerald Espinoza

Kandace Robinson

Suellen Holland

Deborah Eberts

Amy Wildgrube

Linda Rourk

Tony Wright

Anonymous

Nancy Fishbein

Jules Defelices

Halyn Hughes

Judith Publow

Bill Bishop

Patricia Hodgins

Kathleen Dove and James Scanio

Michael Schloth

Shannon Corley

Maria Iams

Albert May

David Saunders

Craig Neumeier

Jaun Marrero

Margaret Morgan

Marilyn Ollila

Rebecca Ward

Dale Papovitch

Shelley Sheets

Thomas Briggs

Paige Doughty

Barry Schleifer

Jodi Gorman

Valarie Murphy

KiGi Photo

James Matsuzaki

Robert Collins

Jason Swartz

Samuel Cox

John Minnich

Charles King

 Joshua Krause

Leora Amdur

Mathew Hennessy

Lynn Allen

Christine Dacoros-King

Dianne Zielinski

Danielle Norton

Simina Farcasiu

William McConnell

Rebecca White

Matt Hudak

Paul Hilt

Little Blessings

Erik Albrektson

Steve  chubart

Nigel Caine

John Tammes

Scott Ochs

Wendy Burnett

Jaron Janson

Sonja Dalton

Ann  Lezberg

Andrew Sincic

Lindsey Taylor

Regina Roberts

Jeffrey Bohrer

Lisa Schuck

Jeffrey Butler

William Manley

Miles Smith

John Clifford

Dealmaster

George Petts

Jeffrey Bohrer

Robert Lamarche

Jeffrey Zimskind

Lori Platte

Trains on Wheels

Sarah Nelson

Libby Johnson

Tammy Manea

Becky Allsup

Oyvind Haehre

Sara  May

Kari Cassell

Roger Cauthon

Ada  Loving

Lisa Phillipson

Surprise Photography

William Brenner

Nancy Doty

Suzanne Paolillo

Jeanine Hathaway

Erika Primozich

Patricia Maddox

Virginia Yee

Meghan Geurin

Patty Quain

Elizabeth Dowling

Laura Brenner

Rachel Aupperle

Amanda Sokolowski

Cevia Yellin

Laurie Grassman

Kari Potthoff

Rebecca Hardesty

Richard Hall

Christina Conroy

Keith Burman

Joan Richard

Brooke Guilfoyle

Robert Banker

Dawn Desai

Barbara Nolan

Ashley DeWees

Linda Robbins

Randall Figi

Blair Hiskey

Susan Hubbard

Donald Wineke

Sarah Burgin

Robert Howald

Emily Stamey

Maureen McCabe-Hamel

Barbara Pietrowski

Elizabeth Stuart

Patricia Martin

Emily Emiley

Leslie Stafford

Lynn Selzer

Daisy Grooms

Anne Orourke

Julianne Decker

Annamaria Laverty

Richard Krones

Patricia Babcock

Henry Sprague

Joelene Lester

Edward Chang

Gail Bernstein

In This Issue
KAS becomes ABI
Haiti Update
Orphan Walk 2010
Welcome Home
Orphans helping Orphans
Mission Trips
Thank you!
Quick Links
 
Our Mission
 
Cornhole Tourney at Johnny B's in Owensboro
 

Come out and  play some cornhole to help raise money for orphans around the world .
 
When:
June 26, 2010
Time:
6:00 pm
Where:
 
Entry fee is $25 per team. There will be prizes for 1st and 2nd place teams.
 
If you don't want to come out and play come by and bid on the silent auction items .
Finding Families for God's Children