November is Orphan Awareness Month.
This Sunday is Orphan Sunday.
A year ago today we were anxiously awaiting our Travel Approval that would give us permission to travel to China and make Wei Li' An an orphan no more.
Today our world hosts 147 MILLION orphans.
To give you an idea of the enormity of this need, keep in mind that the approximate population of the US is 300,000,000; and the population of Russia is 141,800,000.
EVERY DAY, 5,760 more children in the world become orphans.
EVERY 2.2 SECONDS another orphan ages out, with no family and no home.
(Statistics from Harvest Ministry)
There are so many ways we, as a body of believers can step up and stand in the gap on behalf of these children who are created in His image and likeness.
God calls us to this:
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27, NIV)
God most certainly calls a family to adoption. This post in no way is meant to suggest that you are "less of a Christian" if you are not lead to this very special call.
I do pray that we as believers examine our hearts and be willing to step out in faith and obedience if this is HIS will for our lives. Believe me... He will make it ABUNDANTLY clear!
So how can we fulfill this charge God has commanded in Scripture?
First and most importantly, we can Pray.
The power of prayer is nothing short of amazing. I have seen first hand, lives changed when His people storm the gates of heaven with their petitions. Never underestimate what prayer can do in any situation!
We can support families who He has called in prayer and perhaps even monetarily.
We prayed through the entire adoption journey for the funds to complete our adoption. We stood in awe in how He chose to supply exactly what we needed and when we needed it. Whenever a payment came due, somehow, it was there. We made a lot of sacrifices, sure, but God moved in the hearts of His people to supply what we needed at just the right moment! To Him be the GLORY!!!
There are many Foster Homes both domestically and overseas that we can directly support with monthly giving.
So many of these ministries will allow you to sponsor a specific child in need. Your monthly giving helps provide food, clothing and medical care for these precious waiting children.
A few examples of ministries you can support:
New Day
Shepherd's Field
Butterfly House
The Sparrow Fund
Half the Sky
An Orphan's Wish
Pearl River Outreach
I simply ask you to examine your heart and see where God is calling you to serve the "least of these".
Our family has seen first hand what love can do in the heart of one who is grafted in to a forever family!
Oh, it does amazing things, both for the child and for the family!
For in You the orphan finds mercy. (Hosea 14:3c, NASB)
11 Months Home and Kate...
*Is picking up so much more language! Recently, at one of Kevin and Sam's games, the announcer played the opening stanzas of Ozzy Osborn's "Running off the Rails on a Crazy Train". Kate has the "ay, ay, ay" part down. Only problem is she assumes Ozzy means her eye and quickly adds ear, ear, ear and nose, nose, nose. Frankly, we think it makes for a better song.
*can peddle her tricycle and loves peddling all over the driveway!
*is able to tell me at least one thing that happened at preschool during the day.
*LOVES going to BSF Children's ministry, Puggles, and the Church Nursery:)
* can bust a move to Gangum Style! It is a RIOT! She has the ride the pony part down!!!
*loves, loves LOVES to dress up and be told she is beautiful:)
*has discovered TV commercials advertising toys. During one such ad for a Dora Horse Farm she responded by saying: "I wike dat. I wan dat." hmmmmm
*is insanely addicted to Ni Hoa Ki-Lan but it is driving the rest of the family NUTS!!!
*loves to help. with E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G.
*still is rocked to sleep every night and is terrified of being alone.
*remains a source of pure joy for our family!!!
God most certainly calls a family to adoption. This post in no way is meant to suggest that you are "less of a Christian" if you are not lead to this very special call.
I do pray that we as believers examine our hearts and be willing to step out in faith and obedience if this is HIS will for our lives. Believe me... He will make it ABUNDANTLY clear!
So how can we fulfill this charge God has commanded in Scripture?
First and most importantly, we can Pray.
The power of prayer is nothing short of amazing. I have seen first hand, lives changed when His people storm the gates of heaven with their petitions. Never underestimate what prayer can do in any situation!
We can support families who He has called in prayer and perhaps even monetarily.
We prayed through the entire adoption journey for the funds to complete our adoption. We stood in awe in how He chose to supply exactly what we needed and when we needed it. Whenever a payment came due, somehow, it was there. We made a lot of sacrifices, sure, but God moved in the hearts of His people to supply what we needed at just the right moment! To Him be the GLORY!!!
There are many Foster Homes both domestically and overseas that we can directly support with monthly giving.
So many of these ministries will allow you to sponsor a specific child in need. Your monthly giving helps provide food, clothing and medical care for these precious waiting children.
A few examples of ministries you can support:
New Day
Shepherd's Field
Butterfly House
The Sparrow Fund
Half the Sky
An Orphan's Wish
Pearl River Outreach
I simply ask you to examine your heart and see where God is calling you to serve the "least of these".
Our family has seen first hand what love can do in the heart of one who is grafted in to a forever family!
11 Months Home and Kate...
*Is picking up so much more language! Recently, at one of Kevin and Sam's games, the announcer played the opening stanzas of Ozzy Osborn's "Running off the Rails on a Crazy Train". Kate has the "ay, ay, ay" part down. Only problem is she assumes Ozzy means her eye and quickly adds ear, ear, ear and nose, nose, nose. Frankly, we think it makes for a better song.
*can peddle her tricycle and loves peddling all over the driveway!
*is able to tell me at least one thing that happened at preschool during the day.
*LOVES going to BSF Children's ministry, Puggles, and the Church Nursery:)
* can bust a move to Gangum Style! It is a RIOT! She has the ride the pony part down!!!
*loves, loves LOVES to dress up and be told she is beautiful:)
*has discovered TV commercials advertising toys. During one such ad for a Dora Horse Farm she responded by saying: "I wike dat. I wan dat." hmmmmm
*is insanely addicted to Ni Hoa Ki-Lan but it is driving the rest of the family NUTS!!!
*loves to help. with E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G.
*still is rocked to sleep every night and is terrified of being alone.
*remains a source of pure joy for our family!!!
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. (John 14:18, NIV)
6 comments:
Beautifully written and an even more beautiful little girl!! She is just stunning!!
Such a wonderful post and Kate is precious precious!!! I am going back to read your gotcha story and trip to China. Obsessing of when we will travel. XOXO
Beautiful. Thank you for sharing Truth. And as I wait to bring our little girl home from China, I love watching yours blossom. Beautiful.
Amen!!!!! Praying many more hearts open to the plight of the orphan this month, how can we ignore their cries? I love the photos of your beautiful Kate! Her and my Tahlia are on a similar timeline. They are such miracles!!!!
She is beautiful! Congratulations~!
Oh how we love our Kate! Such a blessing! Love, Kate's Grandma BoBo
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