By Danielle Coots

For the News-Current

BEAVERCREEK — Beavercreek residents David and Mary Beth Faile joined efforts with Both Hands to not only make their dream of adopting possible, but also help a widow in need. The Faile family will soon be welcoming a deaf, 4-year-old girl from China.

“We’re always looking for new and creative ways to raise funds for the adoption. So, we went to an orphan conference as representatives for our adoption support group for our church and we came across a booth for Both Hands,” First Baptist Church of Kettering Pastor David Faile said. “We met the Founder and Executive, J.T. Olson and he had us at “Hello.” They’re concept is a biblical mandate, James 1:27 that says “pure and faultless religion in the sight of God is to take care of the orphan and the widow in their distress.” We were already gripped with the orphan part of it, but we missed the widow part of that mandate. So, we felt compelled to serve a widow.”

Both Hands is a non-profit fundraising option for Christian adoptive families. The mission of Both Hands is to “help Christian adoptive families fund their adoptions by coordinating a service project of fixing up a widow’s home.”

The program’s vision is to “see the day when finances are not an obstacle for Christian families who are led to adopt, while simultaneously serving every widow in need of home repairs.”

To date, Both Hands has served over 557 widows, helped raise over $5.8 Million, found over 14,500 volunteers, and helped over 564 orphans in over 40 states get closer to home.

With a team of 27 volunteers, the Faile family traveled to Burlington, North Carolina, where Pastor Faile used to preach, to help a former parishioner, Peggy Tingen. Peggy lost her husband several years ago and recently lost her only daughter, who was also her only support. The list of home repairs piled up to the point it was overwhelming. Therefore, the Faile family knew she would be a perfect candidate for their fundraising needs. The team and the Faile family painted her shed and did some landscaping project around her home. They also helped neighboring widows with their yard work as well.

“All of our supplies were donated, from the food, supplies, paint, mulch and everything else. Home Depot really helped out the most. We’re going to send them a copy of our video as a thank you,” Mary Beth Faile said. “We’ve been telling everyone who is interested in adopting about this program because it really inspired us. It’s just a blessing to be able to serve in that way. It was an incredible experience for our family.”

In 2013, the Faile family adopted a Chinese, deaf little boy named Toby who is now five years old. He came to the family with no communication skills, but soon learned sign language taught to him by Mary Beth who grew up signing. Toby is now flourishing and they want to welcome another deaf child into the family.

They Faile’s have chosen a four-year-old from China by the name of Talia. The family is not sure as to the level of communication skills their soon-to-be daughter possesses, but they will be prepared to do the same for her as they did for their son- even Toby is excited about having a younger sister to teach. They Failes also have three biological children ranging from ages 21-12.

“If more people could see the good in adoption then the world is going to be a better place. That’s what we think. Kids will have homes that otherwise would not,” Pastor Faile said.

The money raised is set up in a trust account to help with the adoption fees and funds are sent directly to the adoption agency through Both Hands. The Faile family hopes to bring Talia home in February 2016. For more information regarding Both Hands visit www.bothhands.org or to donate to the Faile family, visit www.bothhands.org/project/faile-229. To watch their family video of their time in NC helping the widow, visit YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7jloVLzqOE.

Talia the little girl David and Mary Beth Faile are trying to adopt.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/49/2015/11/web1_Talia-pictureNEW.jpgTalia the little girl David and Mary Beth Faile are trying to adopt.

Faile family.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/49/2015/11/web1_NEWreceived_10153234929621238-1-.jpgFaile family.

By Danielle Coots