An Amazing Week and So Proud of ILDC

Time has flown so quickly, and we wanted to get pictures up of David's time in Kyrgyzstan, but that has slipped by us.

This week we had the opportunity to do some training in northern California before heading to the Christian Alliance for Orphans conference in southern California.  During the conference the DVD series entitled Adoptive/Foster RX: Solutions For Wounded Families was released by CBN's Orphan Promise. David and I had the opportunity to share on this teaching series, which will be available to the public in June. During the conference, we both had the privilege of sharing in two workshops - Telling the Truth to Your Adopted or Foster Child and Four Things Your Church Needs to Know about Being a Safety Net for Foster/Adoptive Families.  Our friend and adoptive/bio mom of four, Heather Bench joined us in this workshop.

Of all the exciting things, a highlight to us was seeing and hearing our friends from Ukraine represent the work there.   Oleg, who is the Director of the International Leadership and Development Center (a branch work of LAMb International) spoke in a workshop talking about ILDC's training work in that country.  I was so proud of him as he spoke with such authority and clarity.  Ruslan, the president of Alliance: Ukraine without Orphans project, and also a dear friend spoke both in a workshop and in the closing general session.  What is not known to that crowd is the major work done by LAMb International in terms of training and bringing best practice to this country.  It just was awesome to see them and hear them and know what LAMb/ILDC has been able to accomplish.

Here are just a few pictures of our time there-

 While walking through the exhibits, I had the chance to meet and talk with these children, part of a children's choir touring the US.

 Ruslan, Oleg and Ivan from Russia, address the workshop on orphan care in the former soviet union.

 Oleg share the mission and vision of ILDC!

 Our friends from Ukraine address the general closing session.

Ruslan shares with the large crowd that 6,000 churches in Ukraine celebrated Orphan Sunday last November.

What did we gain from the conference?  We now understand at a greater depth the explosive work of God throughout the world as He is calling His Body - the Church - into action to do something about the massive orphan crisis around the world.  Again, we come away with a deeper level of being "divinely ruined" and a desire for God to continue to use us in His kingdom work.