I recently heard about a bunch of adoptive moms and others who will be traveling to Ethiopia in March to do volunteer work at Adoption Advocate International's Layla House and at AHOPE. One of the big projects will be an "Extreme Room Makeover" for the older children at Layla House.

They need volunteers to go and help work, and to help carry all of the supplies over. I can't think of volunteer work that would be any more fun than hanging out with and helping those wonderful children for a week.

Here is the list of projects they will be tackling (from the Hearts of Hope website)...

Paint 10 bedrooms at Layla House and provide new sheets and bedspreads. We need to take all the paint supplies (brushes, rollers, pans, etc, but can buy the paint there.) We would supply all of the bedding for 45 twin-sized bunks/beds. (Currently looking for a donor).

Build and paint some small cubbies (cubes) in the rooms for the children's personal belongings. (Need handymen, builders, carpenters)

Paint murals or decorative picture on the walls of the bedrooms. (Need artists!!)

Provide 4 PC*s (we have 2) and 6 eMachines with monitors. The PC*s are for the new doctor and the office staff. The eMachines are for the new computer lab they are building for the kids. (Need donors)

Assemble Trek bikes that will be transported over in pieces.

Set up a children's library (We will be bringing the books)

Teach an "America" class (Need teachers)

Teach a tooth care class (We will be taking dental supplies, but need dentists or dental hygenists to teach the classes.)

Deliver supplies to AHOPE and help with their library set-up

Bring pants and tennis shoes for the older kids. (Pants - sizes 8 and up, Shoes - sizes 1-6)

If you have any of the above supplies and want to help out, or if you have an interest in going, you can visit the website above and email Sharon, an adoptive mom of four from Ethiopia and quite a few others. :)

I would love to go...gosh I would LOVE to go. And they are leaving on my birthday! I would love to stay connected to our friends we have made in Addis both during Benjamin's adoption and Belane's, and to give back in some tiny way to the wonderful people who cared for and loved our Belane. I would love to tell them personally how happy and healthy and amazing she is. I would love to get more pictures of AHOPE for Belane and kiss her friends for her. I would love to spend a week doing volunteer work for children that I love, and stay involved. I would love to help, even in a small way.

But the reality is that we don't have the funds and it takes a whole lot of mountain moving for me to be gone for a day, never mind a week. But this is the sort of thing I truly look forward to doing when my kids get a little older. It is definitely my idea of a great vacation...much more fun than laying on a beach somewhere...heck, I'd be bored laying on a beach in about half an hour, not to mention that I sunburn worse than anyone you know (unless you know my brother).

If you have the time/ability/desire etc. to go on this trip (or help with the supplie), go to the website above for more info. Go for me! I can promise it will be a life changing experience.