CEO Blog
I am writing this blog from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I had an opportunity to meet with government officials and with our staff in Ethiopia the past couple days. AW’s new transition home has made great progress in the last few months and I’m proud of the improvements in care, medical attention and other important details which have been implemented. I also had an opportunity to meet with the US Consulate in Addis. I will be traveling on to Rwanda from here, to meet with our staff, the Ministry and hopefully other like-minded organizations doing work to care for orphans in Rwanda. Your prayers for these two trips are appreciated.
Back at the office things are in full gear following the Thanksgiving week. We’ve decorated for Christmas and we’re excited about new referrals in China, Rwanda and throughout the programs at our agency. As we’re approaching the winter months, I thought I’d mention that our agency follows the federal government’s policy on working during inclement weather. If the federal government is closed due to the weather, we will make sure this is reflected on our phone voice mail and our staff’s email.
Be on the lookout for the 2010 AW calendar. It’s going to be printed next week and I know our staff and many families look forward to getting this every year. You may want to consider giving this calendar to a family member for Christmas – this is a huge hit with grandparents!
This is a busy time of the year for everyone, with Christmas parties, shopping and all the hoopla associated with Christmas. It’s always a discipline for me to ensure I don’t let Advent get away! This is a wonderful time of year to reflect upon the coming of Christ. I think of Mary and Joseph expecting a child – a child Joseph was adopting. I also know that the holidays can be a difficult time for families wanting a child and experiencing a longer wait than they expected. For those of you struggling with this wait, my prayer is that this Advent you’ll experience the joy and peace of Christ to sustain you through your wait.