Adoption, International Adoption, Russia, Sasha's Story, speaking engagements

Abortion Survivor Speaks: Sasha Presents on Sanctity of Life Sunday

On Sunday, January 22, 2023, I was blessed to share my story as an abortion survivor and Russian adoptee at Freedom in Christ Fellowship, in Lebanon, PA. The Lord has granted me an incredible testimony of redemption. In this service (full video above) I share:

  • My story of adoption at 17 months old to being reunified with birth family in 2018. A message of redemption, forgiveness and grace, for all those impacted by abortion: birth mothers, birth fathers, children, adoptive families.
  • What the Bible tells us about the Sanctity of Human Life (Deuteronomy 30:19, Proverbs 31:8-9, Ephesians 1-2; Romans 8:1)
  • Practical steps we all can take to be a Voice for the Voiceless in our society, including recent statistics on the reasons women face the choice of abortion and what can be done to support family strengthening
  • Bonus Video Below: I closed the service in the Aaronic Benediction in English and Hebrew (music by Marty and Misha Goetz.) I’ve been blessed to share this performance on other occasions, notably at the Jericho March in Washington, D.C.

May the Lord bless you and keep you. 

Adoption, Avi's Story, Ellianna's Story, International Adoption, speaking engagements, Team Ting

Ting: What Does It Mean?

TING: To Truly Listen

What does it mean?
It is a skill that not too many have actually acquired. It means to not be focused on yourself and your own thoughts, attitudes and opinions when hearing someone.
Listen with TING!
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
Turn your focus away from yourself and listen with your eyes, your ears, your mind and your heart.
So how did the ministry end up with the name TING MINISTRIES?
In 2007 we adopted a tiny little girl from an orphanage in Taiwan. Her name given at birth by her own birthmother was Ya-Ting. We renamed her Ellianna Ya-Ting.
It was on that adoption trip that we sensed God was leading us as a couple into ministry to orphans as a means to share the Gospel and to live out the Gospel (James 1:27) It was during that week in Taipei, Taiwan that the name TING MINISTRIES was birthed for a ministry yet to begin.
We held onto the name and finally in August of 2009 Ting Ministries began its first mission outreach to an orphan and orphanage in the Southern Philippines (that orphan would later become our beloved daughter Avigayil – Avi – “Tin Tin.”)
Do you LISTEN with your heart?
The really amazing thing about Ellianna’s name being Ting is that her birthmother did not know that she was deaf. Ellianna was born with many special needs but her birthmother did not know she was also deaf. So Ellianna Ya-Ting truly must “listen with her heart” and has been teaching us how to LISTEN!
Today listen with TING!
Annie's Story, China, International Adoption

Happy 20th Birthday, Annie!

6 years ago today Sasha and I were in China completing the miracle adoption of Annie!
The Race to China started 6 and 1/ 2 weeks before Annie turned 14! At that time, 6 years ago, Chinese orphans aged out on their 14th birthday. If you arrived late- even a day after the child’s 14th birthday even because of flight issues it would have been to late for an aging out child. There was no wiggle room for any mistakes or unforeseen circumstances! That child would be forever an orphan and no longer eligible to be adopted.
We only learned of Annie about 8 weeks before her 14th birthday and sensed the Lord say “GO”!
WE HAD NO ADOPTION FUNDS, NO CLEARANCES, NO CURRENT HOME STUDY AND ANNIE DID NOT EVEN HAVE A FILE IN CHINA. At that time an average China adoption would take approximately 8 months to a year or more. Our next adoption of Brittan and Hope a year later took almost 2 years to put the miracle into perspective!
The Lord brought in every penny needed for her adoption and every necessary document and had us on a plane from D.C. to L.A. and then onto Guangzhou and finally to Changsha in less than 7 weeks time. I am not sure there was a single soul who believed we would make it to Annie on time. But God knew and urged us onward. Sasha and I arrived in her City on the 26th and adopted her officially by 5 pm June 27th and she turned 14 at midnight in the 28th.
God did it! There is no other explanation except Him.
Fast forward 6 years- what a gift He has given us in our Hannah “Annie”! The first moment Annie was placed in the van beside Ellianna, upon our arrival home 2 weeks after our finalized adoption in her city – they became best friends and sisters. Ellianna and Annie have remained best friends. God made them for one another. Annie is 4 years older and from China and Ellianna is from Taiwan but we often get asked if they are twins. In personality they are polar opposites. Ellianna is a fireball with never ending energy. Annie is calm and patient and prefers to read to being active all day. Ellianna prefers black and navy colored clothes and Annie prefers pink and sparkly! Annie cognitively is very bright but her body doesn’t want to do what her brain would like( moderate to severe cp) where as Ellianna may not walk or hear ( also cp and brain injury) but her upper body is a powerhouse with very good dexterity. Her brain injury however has affected her ability to read and learn academics. Annie helps Ellinna to sit and do schoolwork and will tell her what to cut and paste and Ellianna can do the fine motor skills. Annie has difficulty feeding herself and Ellianna steps in and lovingly feeds Annie when Annie needs help. They have developed their own type of language and can communicate very well even though Annie’s hands keep her from doing sign language for Ellianna to understand.
Annie was considered an older child for adoption and often times there is fear in adopting an older child. We can not imagine our lives without this beautiful, kind and passionate daughter of ours. She has spunk if needed and patience when needed. She accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior and was baptized last July. She loves to read and listen to sermons on her IPad. She has a card ministry and loves to encourage others by the cards she writes. She asked for a pink study Bible for her birthday.
Annie we celebrate you today!! We celebrate the miracles God has done in your life and in ours by giving you to us in such an extraordinary way. We celebrate your 20th birthday today, tomorrow and all week.
You can help Annie celebrate by giving to those in need. The adoption of children has slowed down terribly since 2020 but there are many that are working to make a difference in the lives of children and needy souls in other ways. I do have some friends also needing prayer for adoptions that are happening but are terribly slow right now.
Annie helps in Ting Ministries by praying and writing!
She asks that in honor of her miracle adoption and her 20th birthday that you would consider a gift to Ting Ministries in her name. She will send every penny to the country that you would choose.
Here are her ministry focuses for prayer this week to which you can donate in her honor:
1. Pakistan – to complete the first ever of the Ting Homes so the Gospel will be preached to the Hindu colony where the homes are being built. $1,000
2. 120 days of feeding the Muslim children living on the streets in the Philippines $2,500
3. To build a shelter in Romania for the rescued animals who were beaten and starved before the Ting Director saved them and to fix the roof of the House of Salvation $2,000
4. To feed the orphanage children in Bagladesh $500
5. To continue Lera’s Dance for the poor village children in Russia for the month of July $400
6. To allow a group of Indonesian Ting missionaries to travel through the mountains to reach unreached people with food and the Gospel $500
7. To help a Ukrainian family to pay 4 months of rent that a landlord said did not need to be paid monthly but now wants all 4 months at one time and due to the war they have not been able.to work and have no money and grandma is not well and was diagnosed with cancer$800
Happy Birthday Annie! Thank you Annie for being a bright light in this dark world!
Ting Ministries
29 East Poplar Street Lebanon Pa 17042
James 1:27 seems like a fitting verse for today
Ask us about ministry opportunities
We would love to come to your church or small group or business to share.
Ask us about adoption.
Adoption, Caring for the Fatherless, International Adoption, Orphan Care, Team Ting

Happy Father’s Day! (2022)

Happy Father’s Day from Ting Ministries to our Team Ting dads all around the world!

Ting Ministries co-director and founder, Brian Carpenter, is the father to 11 adopted children! A graduate of Evangelical Seminary, his passion for serving orphans and vulnerable children are rooted in God’s Word. (James 1:27). He seeks to share the Truth of Scripture. We are so thankful for the humble leadership, loving sacrifice and grace-filled wisdom that he lives out each day.

 

Psalm 68:5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.

 

Ting Ministries’ heart is to serve The Least of These, recognizing that we have all been adopted by our Heavenly Father into God’s family (Ephesians 1:5). We are thankful for all the fathers who are part of Team Ting in the Philippines, South Asia, Russia, Pakistan and more! Happy Father’s Day!

 

Adoption, Eastern Europe, International Adoption, Russia, Sasha's Story, special needs

Spirit of Adoption Radio Interview with Sasha Carpenter: Abortion Survivor, Disabled, International Adoptee & Reunified with Birth Family!

From Stephanie Carpenter, co-founder and co-director of Ting Ministries:
“In our current culture where identity is such a hot topic I encourage you to take a listen to my oldest daughter’s testimony/story. Click HERE  to listen to her interview with Spirit of Adoption Radio.
This is her story and that of her birthmother. I have had the privilege and honor to meet and hug Sasha’s birthmother and I love her with all my heart. She is my family. This is also her story. Out of her trauma, heartache and grief I was given one of the greatest joys of my life. Every life is precious. Be careful of judgement particularly when answering your adopted children’s questions regarding their birth family because often we do not know the WHOLE STORY!
Our God – because of Jesus Christ – has allowed Sasha to bring 2 mothers together from opposite ends of the world. This is their story!
Sasha ‘s name is Natalya Aleksandra ( we each gave her a portion of her name)
and the verses that go with the name Natalya are from Psalms 9:1-2:
‘I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
I will be filled with joy because of you.
I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.'”
From Sasha Carpenter;
“I had the honor and blessing of speaking with Spirit of Adoption Radio about an important topic in the adoption community: My identity as an abortion survivor and disabled, international adoptee who found my birth family, but most importantly, who knows that all the questions of “Why?” and “Who Am I?” adoptees often struggle with can only be answered by the Great I AM – my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Pictured Left: Sasha in the arms of her adoptive mother as a baby in Russia
Pictured Right: Sasha in the arms of her birth mother, 21 years later