A Powerful Video on the Orphan Crisis in El Salvador

I am often asked why there are so many orphans in El Salvador. Why do our teams focus on El Salvador? Why is adoption so difficult? This video says it well. El Salvador is suffering from an orphan crisis. Sadly, many of the children in government "centers" do have family members, but they have been removed from their homes because of domestic violence, poverty or gang related issues. The Salvadorian government does not have the proper infrastructure to care for these children or provide "family plans." This is why our teams go and serve these beautiful children.

We are honored to serve alongside missionaries who work in the government centers day after day, year after year. The families that we partner with have been given the privilege to care for these precious kids in various capacities. Our teams are honored to serve alongside these families in bringing hope, joy, laughter and the gift of touch to the children in the centers. Is adoption possible in El Salvador? Sadly, for the children who are truly "orphaned" and have the potential for adoption, paperwork is usually not adequate. There are certain guidelines which are required (ie. terminate of parental rights) for adoptions.

This powerful video shows how one agency is working to change these statistics. For more information, contact Jenni Ramsey at jenni.ramsey@cox.net.

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Donations being accepted for 500 orphanage uniforms...

The following article is being reposted from the "West Brentwood Living" community magazine. If you would like to contribute towards the costs of the uniforms, please see the information at the bottom of the article.



Mike and Lisa Bussard of McGavock Farms have two children, Morgan (12) and Andrew (9). Morgan and Lisa recently went on a mission trip to Guatemala and participated in three different ministries while there, including helping families that were part of Art and Lisa Camarena's missionary ministry in San Lucas, caring for children at the Casa Bernabe` Orphanage, and assisting the Hands for Hope Medical clinic located in a remote mountain village where they also built wooden beds for families in the area that slept on dirt floors.

Lisa says, “We went to Guatemala to be a blessing but really received more of a blessing ourselves. Having returned from a third world country, we truly appreciate and are thankful for the little things that we so often take for granted like running water that isn't contaminated, a roof that isn’t tin, and floors in our house that aren’t dirt not to mention food and clothing. The need is great in Guatemala. Our mission team experienced first hand though the strong faith that many of the Guatemalan families possessed due to their total reliance on God. Even though we had a translator with us most of the time, our team found that a smile translates easily in all languages. The Guatemalan children were absolutely adorable and their smiles and hugs will be in our hearts forever.”

As a result of that transformative experience, 12 year old Morgan, a 6th grade student at Oak Hill School, and the rest of the Bussard family are trying to raise funds to buy approximately 500 school uniform shirts for the children at the Casa Bernabe orphanage which has a school onsite. The need for uniform shirts was listed on the website of the orphanage and discussed with the administrators during Lisa and Morgan’s stay at the orphanage. Morgan has done a couple of presentations to her school to raise awareness of the need at the orphanage.

Lisa says, “Morgan and I know the names and faces of these precious children at the orphanage and they need our help. Casa Bernabe is a place of hope in the midst of a lot of despair.“

Educational Outfitters in Brentwood has been a great partner in the effort to clothe these children in need, and is only charging $12 per uniform shirt (which is navy with the name of the school monogrammed on it).

YOU CAN HELP

If you are interested in helping with the project, you can write a tax deductible check to “All Blessings International”. This organization will then write one check to Educational Outfitters. Checks can be sent to the Bussard home address at 5256 Lysander Lane, Brentwood, TN 37027. The Bussard family will then send the checks to All Blessings International and you will receive a tax donation letter. Donations are so appreciated.

2012 Trips

(photo taken at ruins in Antigua, Guatemala - November, 2011)

Our 2012 orphan outreach trip schedule is being confirmed! Please let us know if you are interested in applying for one of our trips.

May 26- June 2, 2012 - El Salvador

This spring team will be caring for children and serving with small projects at CIPI, the government center in San Salvador. We will also serve at the special needs center in San Martin.

July 7-14, 2012 - El Salvador

Our summer team will be planning a "quinciniera/day of beauty" for the teenage girls at the CIPI government center. We will also be serving at "The Potter's Field Ranch" - Calvary Chapel home for boys.

October or November, 2012 (dates TBD) - Guatemala

We will be serving three different ministries:

Casa Bernabe Orphanage - caring for the babies and toddlers
Art & Lisa Camarena, missionaries to Guatemala for 15 years - helping with community outreach and delivering food/gifts to homes
Hands of Hope medical clinic - building/delivering beds and helping to remove lice

Email jenni.ramsey@cox.net for a trip application!

Guatemala Trip Video

We want to extend our gratitude to Amy May for putting together such a detailed, moving and beautiful video of our November, 2011 trip to Guatemala. It is our hope that each person who watches these images will be challenged and inspired by the incredible stories of the precious Guatemalan people!



http://www.youtube.com/user/ThePhilDMay

Captivated in Guatemala (with reflections on our adoption journey)...

Blog written by Jenni Ramsey

Last week I had the privilege of leading a team of nine volunteers to serve in the beautiful country of Guatemala. As our team ascended into the air towards Guatemala City on American Airlines, I opened my journal and reflected on the faithfulness of God. My adoption journal has captured the incredible journey that began in June, 2007. At that time, we believed that God had called us to adopt our next child. We were excited about our adoption journey and were completely unaware of the adventure and calling that lay ahead.


Mailing our adoption documents for El Salvador (January, 2008). Our adoption in El Salvador eventually failed and we lost over $15,000.

As I look back over the past four and a half years, I am simply amazed at all that God has done. We believed that our adoption adventure would consist of opening our home to a child, but this journey has radically opened our hearts to orphans all over the world. The Lord has birthed an indescribable passion and calling in our lives for adoption and orphan advocacy. He has opened doors and created opportunities that have been life changing! Our adoption story has been filled with heartache, deception, shock, tears and confusion. However, it has also been filled with miracles, divine appointments, new friendships and opportunities to speak, write and lead teams to journey directly into God's heart for orphans.

As I flipped through the journal pages and was reminded of the emotions, miracles and adventures of the past four and a half years, I was in awe. I realized (to my surprise) that this trip to Guatemala had been scheduled exactly two years after my first orphan outreach trip to El Salvador. During that trip I fell in love with the El Salvadorian children, but became aware of heart wrenching issues related to orphans as well as unethical practices in adoptions. It was also on that trip that I was introduced to my dear friend Lucy Armistead, who later invited me to join the staff of All Blessings Intl. Adoptions as their International Outreach Coordinator.


My first trip to El Salvador... falling in love with the children! Little Carolina completely captured my heart!

I have now had the privilege of leading six orphan outreach teams (in two years) - four to El Salvador and two to Guatemala. These teams have had the opportunity to bring gifts, touch, love and hope to hundreds of orphans. It has truly been an honor to serve in six orphanages and to touch the indelible faces of abandoned and abused children. I have fallen in love over and over again and my heart has been broken for the things that break the heart of God.

While our family continues to wait for the referral of a baby girl from Asia, the Lord is quickening our hearts for His orphans. It has been so exciting to birth "Sprouts," an orphan care ministry in our home church. We currently have seven families in our church who are either in the process or are considering adoption or foster care. Wow! Mike and I have been humbled to speak on adoption/orphan care in our church and helped to organize a blood drive to raise funds for our church adoption fund last year.


Speaking in a panel on adoption/orphan care at The Village Church of Irvine and volunteering with Show Hope.

It has been a thrill to form The So Cal Orphan Care Network in the past year. Our network currently has over fifty leaders connected to our group. I have been blessed to represent All Blessings Intl. Adoptions at various venues and attended The Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit in KY this spring. It has been an unbelievable journey and our hearts are overflowing with gratitude. We are especially grateful that both of our boys been able to serve in El Salvador and have gained hearts for orphans as well. As I journaled, prayed and prepared to lead this team to serve "the least of these" in Guatemala, I was reminded of the faithful hand of God. He promises to lead and guide His children if we trust Him with all of our hearts. He has been faithful to our family and has kept His promises in our lives.


The boys loved serving in El Salvador (Aidan in July, 2011 and Jordan in March, 2010).

The trip to Guatemala this past week was so impactful that it is difficult to describe in words. The Guatemalan people captivated us with their joyful spirits and grateful hearts, despite their poverty levels and heart wrenching experiences of extreme tragedies. It has been said over and over again by our team members, but it must be repeated. We traveled to Guatemala to "bless the people," but they blessed us beyond belief. Their faces will remain in our hearts forever. Their words of gratitude, expressed through tears, are like hidden treasures in our minds. The precious children in the orphanage touched us deeply. Their stories broke our hearts and caused many team members to weep, but their joy, laughter and hugs healed us.

As I reflect on the past six orphan outreach teams, it is clear that each team has left an imprint on my heart. However, this team was especially unique. This trip was extremely emotional due to many personal losses in the lives of our team members. While we spent many team meetings laughing and joking together, there were also many tears. At times, our team members were able to relate to some of the painful losses of the Guatemalan people, and that was priceless. I watched this team come together in a deep and powerful way to support one another, pray for one another and even carry me through some very emotional moments.

As we ascended back into the air and headed towards home, I realized that I had been captivated. Captivated by the passionate expressions of love and gratitude that our team experienced through the Guatemalan people. But I had also been captivated by God's love and faithfulness in my life, clearly seen through my journal reflections as well as His sovereignly hand-picked team, who selflessly served the Guatemalan people and will remain forever in my heart.

Link to Mike & Jenni's Adoption Messages

Post written by Jenni Ramsey

On November 6th, 2011, our church was honored to partner with hundreds of churches around the world in celebrating "Orphan Sunday." Mike and I were humbled to speak on "Caring for Orphans" with a panel (which included three members from our missions board). Please click on the link below to hear the forty minute message. Note: Mike gives a brief introduction, Glynn Smith (founder of Beacon of Hope Ministries, South Africa) speaks on the issue of AIDS/HIV and orphans, and Jenni addresses practical ways to serve orphans at the end of the message.

http://www.villagechurchirvine.com/sermons/sermon/missions-sunday---orphan-sunday


Mike also preached a sermon on "God's Heart for Adoption" in February, 2011. It was a powerful message, which included some personal thoughts on our adoption journey. To listen to his message, click here:

http://www.villagechurchirvine.com/sermons/sermon/adopted-in-christ

An Expression of Gratitude from the Mays

Each of our team members is extremely grateful for the support, donations and prayers that carried our team through a life-changing week in Guatemala! Thank you co much from the bottom of our hearts!

Phil and Amy May have created a thank you card for their supporters. To view, please click here:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Cbsmblm0ZsWFi&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET