Welcome to Rob and Candy's Blog

We are going PINK- we are adopting a little girl from Ethiopia. We'll be sharing our journey to adopt our daughter!

Monday, September 26, 2011

Update on the Kombolcha April 21-30, 2012 trip!

We have received several applications for the trip to Kombolcha, Ethiopia!  There are still spots available. 
All the trip details are posted here http://ethiopianadoptionspot.blogspot.com/p/kombolcha-trip-info.html:

Several people have asked about the hotel- does it have electricity and running water?  The answer is YES!!  Others have asked about the drive to Kombolcha from Addis Ababa.  The drive is breathtaking.  We will stop to see the monkeys in the highlands.  You will see the dry and arid regions as well.  If it's market day, the drive will be a bit longer but will be filled with adventure. We've posted a few videos of the hotel and the drive. 



Monday, September 12, 2011

9/11

I watched the 9/11 anniversary events with tears in my eyes.  We all remember exactly where we were when we heard the news ten years ago.
Five years ago, on 9/11 we moved from the Washington, DC suburbs to our new home.  A bittersweet move but it allowed me to stay home with Igor and Rob to work full time.  In hindsight, the move was a huge blessing for our family.

Three years ago on 9/11 we received our second referral from Ethiopia.  The picture of Henry was grainy and blurry but the smile on his sweet face was precious. 
This year we celebrated Henry's referral anniversary and Ethiopian New Year (which is on 9/11).  It was a sweet reminder of how precious Henry is and how grateful we are to call him our son.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Kombolcha 2012!

Our plans for a mission trip to our Care-point in Kombolcha, Ethiopia have been finalized! We invite you to join the team that will be going to Kombolcha from April 21-30, 2012!

When Rob and I were in Kombolcha in May of this year, the pastor and staff at Grace Baptist Church were delighted that we were bringing a team back in 2012. After we finalized the dates, the in-country staff in Ethiopia said they could talk of little else.

If you have ever considered going on a mission trip or visiting your sponsor child, this is the time. Please prayerfully consider joining us or help with preparations!

The Mission

We will spend time with the 165 children in our sponsorship program at Grace Baptist Church. Our mission is this - to build relationships with these children so they know they are cared for and loved not only by us, but by God.  We will spend 5 days with the children at our care-point. We will shower them with love, spend time with them, play games, share care packages and letters from their sponsor families. On our last day in Kombolcha we will have a feast with the children and staff. The feast will include purchasing an ox so all the children, church staff and team members may enjoy a traditional Ethiopian meal. 
Travel Details
All team members will meet in Washington, DC. From there, we will travel to Ethiopia together on a non-stop flight into Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. After a day of travel, we will arrive and spend the night in Addis Ababa. The next day we take an incredible journey to Kombolcha by van. You will be able to see the high and low lands of Ethiopia. We will be accompanied by a Children Hope Chest and One Child Campaign representative the entire time we are in-country.

The total trip will be approximately $2500, this includes air fare, hotels, transportation, translators, and meals. One Child Campaign has prepared the in-country travel package on our behalf and has fixed the cost at $1,296 per person. Entrance VISA's are $20 per person. The cost of round-trip airfare to Ethiopia will vary but is approximately $1,100-$1,300.

You do NOT have to be a child sponsor to go on this trip.  However, all sponsor families are invited and encouraged to meet their sponsor child.

Registration is now open for our April 21-30, 2012 trip to Kombolcha, Ethiopia. If you are interested in joining the team, please e-mail me at mblueberry.madamblueberry@gmail.com.  We would be delighted to have you join us!


If know someone at your work place, church or in your community that would be interested in sponsoring a child - we have several children who are available for sponsorship! According to the pastors of Grace Baptist Church, sponsorship is the number one need. Sponsorship is $34 per month; it provides resources for children to receive at least one meal a day, school supplies, a school uniform, basic medical care and an education! Sponsorship not only offers monthly support, but encouragement through prayer, letter writing, and relationship. E-mail me at mblueberry.madamblueberry@gmail.com for more details.