- May 5, 2024
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Carla and Even Shows wait anxiously each month to see how much their son has grown, via an update and picture by mail. They have been in the process of an international adoption since summer 2011 and look forward to the day they can bring him home.
The Shows family was matched with a 3-month-old boy from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in October 2011 and have been doing whatever they can to raise the funds to complete the process.
“There’s something about Africa that captures our hearts,” said Carla, who fell in love with the country while doing mission work in Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya.
The couple has raised funds through yard sales, raffles and donations from friends and family, but international adoption is expensive, and the Shows need to raise $8,000 more to be united with their child.
For the last stages of the process, Carla and Evan have partnered with Both Hands Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Nashville. The foundation has a twofold mission of serving widows in a practical way in local communities nationwide, while raising funds to help willing families adopt through a partnership with Lifesong for Orphans.
The idea, Evan said, is based on the Bible, James 1:27.
“You’re supposed to take care of the orphans and the widows because they really don’t have anybody else,” he added.
For their project, Carla and Evan will assist a Palm Coast widow, Joyce Blizzard.
Blizzard lost her husband of 52 years about a year-and-a-half ago and is in need of help with home maintenance and improvements, especially landscaping.
“To see her light up and get excited that people are going to do something for her is really neat to see,” Evan said. “It was really neat to see her accept the help. I imagine it’s not the easiest thing to do.”
The couple and a group of their friends and family will spend the day, April 28, working in Blizzard’s yard and doing odd jobs around the house.
Volunteers will be sponsored for the day. Friends and family have pledged money, much in the same way that a 5k/marathon runner or golfer earns funds for a charity.
Supplies for the project have been donated from Ace Hardware and The Home Depot, but Carla said she is hopeful for more before the volunteer date.
“The Both Hands project is such a meaningful way to get our son home,” Carla said. “To be honest, without it, we would have had to take out a loan, which we can’t do. We didn’t really have many financial options. (This project) really is helping us become a forever family. And we get to make a difference to somebody in the community.”
She added: “Were just waiting for him to come home. I can’t wait to hug and kiss him and tell him that we’re his parents.”
TO DONATE
Items needed for the project are yard supplies, plants and mulch. To donate, visit www.both handsfoundation.org/evan-and-carla-shows.aspx or Carla Shows’ blog, beyond inspired.word press.com.
