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 Both Hands helps adopting families raise money - while the adopting family helps a widow in need.  The Both Hands project was created around the scripture James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..." 

So we have the orphan (our daughter in Ethiopia) and now we find a widow. 

We'll need a team of volunteers to help us send out letters asking for sponsorships.  Rather than running a 5k race or golfing, we'll be asking people to sponsor us and our team to spend an entire day making repairs to the home of a widow.

Both Hands has completed 36 projects in 13 different states, and we were just accepted into their program this afternoon!  We are so excited.  We know this could be the most rewarding experience we'll have while waiting for our referral.

There are lots of roles in this project, so everyone who wants to help out can!  Some people we'll need:
  • A core team of dedicated volunteers (we're looking for about 15 people) to address envelopes and work on the widow's house.
  • Someone with construction/carpentry experience.
  • Someone responsible for getting food and drink to the project (possibly asking local stores and restaurants for donations).
  • Someone to make sure all of the waivers are signed, collected and mailed to Both Hands.
  • A Clean-Up Crew to come in later in the afternoon during our work day.
  • A videographer
  • Possibly someone with landscaping experience (depending on the work we need to do).

    There is so much to do and we are so excited to get started!  If you are interested in being on our team or helping in any way, please let us know.  We're going to need LOTS of help!

    For more information go to: http://bothhandsfoundation.org/

 
The Fulmers, another AWAA family, recently came home from Ethiopia with their infant son Easton.  They have a fantastic blog and have recently posted a video of their entire adoption journey.  Here is the link to their blog and video:  http://www.fulmerstory.blogspot.com/
 
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Unlike Americans, who generally take their coffee in a to-go cup, Ethiopians have an unhurried and elaborate ritual. 

Every woman is practiced at roasting coffee.   During the traditional coffee ceremony, washed green coffee beans are roasted in a dry pan over hot coals.  The smoke of the roasting coffee beans is meant to entice the guests.  When ready, the roasted beans are pounded in a mortar.  Meanwhile, water is put to boil in a clay coffeepot called a jebena.  The coffee is then brewed and poured into twelve small cups representing the twelve apostles.  Sugar, and occasionally salt, are added to taste. 

Coffee is Ethiopia's national beverage and a major export.  It is believed that coffee takes its name from the province of Kafa in southwest Ethiopia, where it was discovered by an Ethiopian goatherd named Kaldi.  Coffee in Amharic (Ethiopia's main language) is buna.  90% of Ethiopians earn their living through agriculture, many by growing coffee.  Coffee is mostly channeled through the government's newly established Commodity Exchange in Addis Ababa, although organic and Fairtrade coffees bypass this system. 

COFFEE FUNDRAISER:

If you are interested in purchasing organic and Fairtrade coffee from Ethiopian farmers, we have paired with Just Love Coffee for another adoption fundraiser.  Just Love Coffee sells organic and Fairtrade coffee from around the world and donates $5 a bag to families raising money for adoption. 


www.justlovecoffee.com/OurEthiopianDaughter