When I was in high school I worked at an after school program at an elementary school. Many of the kids grew up in homes at or below the poverty level, didn't have appropriate amounts of supervision, & were generally just trouble. I just loved them. I loved being able to love on them while they were at the program & I wanted to be a person they could trust when so many people around them were just not that trustworthy. That job was probably my favorite job I've ever had & I've had some pretty decent jobs!
So back to orphans...why are they so important to me? Here's the deal: Most of these orphans have no one to love them...not even a high school junior who could do very little for their situation. Many of the orphans have special needs - spina bifida, HIV positive, cerebral palsy, limb differences, down syndrome - & they were abandoned by their parents because they either couldn't, or didn't want to, raise a child that needed extra care. Many of these kids are abandoned because it is shameful to have a child who isn't perfect. It's just a sad, sad situation.
So the kids grow up in an orphanage, with no Mama & Daddy to love them. If they aren't adopted, they either die in an orphanage or institution, or they age out of the orphanage & are released out into the world with no guidance, and just waiting to be victims of slave traders or sex traffickers. I look at the sweet little faces of children who are available for adoption & wonder how we can let that happen to them. I've decided that I can't. I can't sit by & take care of my boys & live my comfortable life & then turn my back on these little ones who have no one. As a Christian & a human being, I can't continue to pretend this kind of thing isn't happening.
I can't adopt right now, but I can make a difference for these kids. Here are some families I'd love to be able to make a difference for! They are each adopting at least one child internationally & are rescuing those kids from a lifetime of heartache!
Ladybug & her family: I shared about them on Friday. Awesome family. I can't wait to see them bring their sweet little girl home. http://learningfromthefruitofthespirit.blogspot.com/2014/11/ladybug.html?showComment=1416843973789#c3942118155656667187
Lenny & the Nap family: The Naps are adopting a deaf, preteen boy from China. They have several children, but they SAW Lenny and are so excited to bring him home! http://reecesrainbow.org/76385/sponsornap http://www.napclan.com/The next 2 are a little bittersweet for me. They both include sweet little girls that we were very interested in, but were just unable to make a commitment to. I am so excited that they both have families & I can't wait to see them growing as I follow their families blogs.
Alda & the Bowling family: Sweet Alda has cerebral palsy...and she's adorable! The Bowling family is a large family, so I know these little ones are going to have tons of love! Her parents are traveling TODAY to meet their new family members! http://reecesrainbow.org/?s=bowling http://thebowlingfamilyadopts.blogspot.com/
Kitt & the Davis family: Adorable little Kitt! How could you not just want to scoop her up?! Her family travels in December to meet her. They have a ton of adoption experience, but are really struggling right now. I would love to be able to encourage them & help them get their sweet little ones home soon! http://reecesrainbow.org/76036/sponsordavis-7 http://bringinghomealittleangel.blogspot.com/If you can, show these families some love by making a donation to their adoption fund. Even if you can't donate, I'd love to have you share this post & pray for these families. They are doing a fantastic thing & I want them to feel loved and encouraged throughout this process. I can't wait to see pictures of them all home with their families!
