yonas update

remember Yonas?  i first mentioned him here and in several follow-up posts as well.  since January we've been inquiring about sponsorship of this boy.  he was 13 at the time.  he wants to grow up to be a doctor.  Yonas is fully aware that to dream big for one's future in his circumstances is wishful thinking at best. more pressing issues, like sur-viv-ing, cloud his dreams anyway.  at a most basic level he also wishes for breakfast, or maybe even transportation to school so he doesn't have to walk several hours one way for his education.  he probably also hopes that maybe his friend will share a bit of his family's food at lunch time.  he wishes he didn't have headaches so often.  he wishes he had a forever family to call his own. he'd also admit that deep in his heart he also wishes for love and affection.  to belong and be cherished.  to feel overflowing joy and hope simply because he is alive and just at the brink of discovering his potential in life.  we've prayed for Yonas for many months, and so have many of you.  the progress has been painfully slow, and the updates sporadic.  but he is not forgotten.
yesterday we received some more news.  the government has granted permission for Yonas to be sponsored where he is at currently.  the paperwork has been issued.  however, they have not yet given permission to KVI to take custody and seek a permanent placement for Yonas.  the Ethiopian government continues to have very tight regulations and limitations on who is deemed "adoptable".  in my opinion, some of this is in the best interest of the children, and some of it is not.  the large movement opposing international adoption has taken a toll.  children are being affected.  but that's getting off topic. 
for Yonas, we are going to be sending funds to help assist his guardians while Yonas lives with them.  this will help with school supplies, transportation costs, food, medical care, clothes, etc...we are told we'll receive regular updates.  and i've now learned that "regular" in Ethiopia is very different than "regular" here! :) i hope to be able to send letters to him and perhaps even pictures.  this leads me to my point...
some of you have asked about helping Yonas.  if you would love to be his sponsor as well, we will pool the funds and wire it directly to KVI, designating a monthly allowance for sponsorship that we'll send in lump sums, once or twice a year, i'm thinking.  hopefully we can also write letters and send photos~ all of us!  KVI's sponsorship programme is brand new, and we aren't exactly sure how it will "look" yet.  However, Eyob agrees that sponsorship of Yonas is necessary right now because of his many needs, and that the he will continue to actively pursue admission to KVI for Yonas' safety and stability. 
my prayer is that Yonas will "feel the love" from across the world.  that even though his situation is bleak and he's sort of "going it alone" in that far off place, that he'll feel held in the protective arms of his Creator, loved by strangers and maybe even hopeful for the first time in a long while.   if this interests you, please message me or comment and i'll be in touch.