yonas

about Yonas....it's been a while since i updated this blog with news of Yonas.  for those few that have been reading ever since i first introduced Yonas to the original blog, bless your hearts for staying the course here at my family's own cyber journal...you must be saints. 
as some are aware, a group of families around us have all joined hearts and resources to share with this child on the continent of Africa.  he was in need of hope~ and i do believe he now possesses it.  that makes me smile.  a lot.  Yonas has a team of sponsors that desire to cloth him, feed him, provide for his ARV medications to be purchased, send him to school, etc.  they also pray for him, have sent letters and pictures to him, and continue to care for him even though he's a world away.  this is a beautiful thing....
yet, back when Yonas was first reached by the organization that cared for our AJ, his first desire was clearly communicated to the director doing the interviewing.  Yonas wishes for a family.  a forever family.  he hasn't known that in a very long time, if ever at all. 
so began the arduous phase of stone turning~ trying to find somehow, someway, someone who would give this kid a shot.  the latest development is the first real bit of progress seen in almost two full years.  introducing....Project Hopeful.  a friend of mine (thank-you D!!) mentioned this organization early on, and i contacted them about Yonas.  after much back and forth, just last week they posted Yonas under their "Waiting Kids" section, including this bio...

DOB: 1999
HIV+
Yonas lost both of his natural parents at an early age, to what is believed to be AIDS. He was recently (last November) diagnosed as HIV+ himself, and seems to be stabilizing very nicely on ARV meds since diagnosis. He is currently living with caregivers who provide shelter, but little more than that. They do not have the intentions or capability to care for him long term and they desire to find a permanent solution for Yonas. Yonas has expressed his heart's desire to be adopted
into a forever family. Yonas wishes to grow up and become a doctor, and when we met him we noticed his written English was excellent. He is a warm and smiley boy, yet his eyes reveal a short lifetime full of loss and weariness. When allowed to play with a soccer ball on the street, or perform
a dance routine with friends (he's got moves!) for our video camera, he was animated and fun and so delightful. He stole our hearts, and I'm certain if given the chance a family would be most blessed to call him their son!

as i've mentioned to his sponsors, this is a stretch from a purely human perspective.  there are many children under the Africa section, all with a personal story, all deserving a family.  this is a sad and difficult web site to visit.  these children are the most desperate ones.  the hopeless, the vulnerable, the forgotten.  yet, there is Hope.  hope with a capital H.  Hope for Yonas and others because now their stories are out there on the world wide web.  prospective adoptive parents can go there and register and read and see these kids.  and besides, God doesn't need a web site anyway.  this is a useful tool, yes.  but ultimately, i really don't know what the future holds for Yonas.  only his Maker does.  He has a plan, and it may just be to stay in country, to grow up in Ethiopia with sponsorship families stepping in for him until his future is more clear.  i don't know.  i do know that His plan is always best, and we will simply advocate for Yonas until the need is no longer there.  i will pray for a family for Yonas~ as this is his desire.  i will wait and trust and hope you will do the same.

thanks for reading, thanks for caring.  i will keep you posted...