Prayer

It's been hard to blog lately because there have been no BIG updates or fundraisers. I have mentioned several times in past blogs and on Facebook that I have been praying for my babies. I know that the Lord provides and I know that He is good. I also know that my parents told me throughout my childhood that they prayed for me; they prayed for who I would be, my personality and even what I would look like! I have always HEARD this, but had a hard time actually praying specific things. I kind of figured that God in His infinite wisdom would bless me with what he deemed best for David and I. It sounded a little selfish to ask for more anything more specific than that! But it occurred to me the other day, I'm not treating God like a vending machine if I am just sharing my heart and requesting good circumstances for my children.

Everyone has heard the horror stories of adoption; mostly people getting children with needs that were unexpected at the time. In my heart I just feel I need to ask; did they pray about it? Not in the after it occurred, but in the year or more leading up to the bringing their child home. Now I think sometimes God gives us unexpected issues for our own growth and well-being, but I honestly can see nothing wrong with praying love and protection over children that are already growing in a land far from me. I don't see anything wrong with praying for someone to comfort them, encourage them, mold them, introduce Jesus and love them to pieces.

So this is my prayer for my children:

Dear Heavenly Father,

You know the ache in my heart, and I thank you for putting it there. Thank-you for the beautiful children you created to love you and be loved by you. Thank-you for loving them infinitely more than I ever could. I thank-you for the opportunities you place in our lives to care for the widows, orphans and homeless during our time here on earth.

God, I pray for my little ones, wherever they are right now in this moment. I pray you bless them with someone in their lives who they can attach emotionally to, and will love them (teacher, caretaker, friend, or whomever). Please provide them with a resilient spirit that they might recover a little easier from whatever tragedy has happened that led to them being orphaned.

I pray that you fill their spirits with strength for the hardships and hope for the future. Let them know there are parents out there coming for them soon. Give them a happiness that is unexplainable that they might enjoy their childhood and look back with a sense of fondness; untainted by fear, stress, and sadness. Turn their tears into dancing, as only you know how.

Lord, most of all, show your glory. You know there is literally nothing we can do to help the children you have set aside for David and I. Show your power in this circumstance, let people see your glory throughout this entire process. Let this affect people who would never know you otherwise. May you be glorified and lifted high.

I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Caring for the Orphans in Our Lives

 Orphans in this world are a numerous. They have so many needs. What in the world can we do to help? I began reading the book Orphanology by Tony Merida at the behest of a good friend learning about our desire to adopt. This was right after Orphan Sunday at our church here in China. David and I already had a deep longing to help orphans in whatever way we could, but we especially wanted to adopt a toddler. Did you know in America alone there are over a half-million children who are in foster care and 130 thousand of those children could be adopted right now? That is an incredible need right where you live in the USA. According to Orphans Worldwide Website the most recent estimate of orphans worldwide is 153 million. That is 153,000,000 kids without parents to love them, without diligent care. Some of them are true orphans and some are social orphans (kids whose parents cannot take care of them or don't want them). This book, Orphanology, points out that there are 225 professed Christians in America. If there are so many Christians, why are there so many uncared for orphans?

Now, I want you to know that I believe that each of you has a different calling from God, but I believe Orphan care is pointed out far too often in the Bible to claim you are exempt from any sort of help for the orphans. When I say you're not exempt I don't mean that I think each of you should adopt a child, though I do think that would be the perfect solution. What I mean is that each of you should be doing SOMETHING for the orphans in the world. That can be foster care in America, if you feel unequipped for some reason, you could always offer to help someone else who is adopting or fostering. You can also find an organization that cares for orphans and support them. Another thing you could do, if you are bold and caring enough, you could get your church to support an orphanage in a region that the children can not be adopted. That way these children can be loved on and given gifts, maybe even exchange letters with people from your church! I don't know about you, but that idea makes me excited! Being able to care for kids who might otherwise be excluded from almost everything life should hold for them!

There are also programs for types of orphans you can choose to support, with money, gifts and letters. They have orphanages just for the disabled children who need extra care, some are even specific to the kind of disability. There is one right here where I live called Haven of Hope for disabled Chinese babies who don't receive the medical attention they should at government facilities. You can check them out at www.havenofhope.com to see about sponsoring one of the children there. We support a little girl named Helen. There's also a local program in our area called Sunshine Academy that offers school for kids in the orphanage that wouldn't normally be able to go to school. They have a summer program we are trying to volunteer at, which is something that most people are not permitted to do. We're trying to get involved with that for the part of July we will be in Dongguan. If there are TWO English programs here in China, I'm sure there is something you can get involved with in your very own backyard. Look for it! If there is not anything there yet, be the change you want to see!

Most of the ways I have listed so far involve some sort of money, but many people feel that they don't have enough money to make it through a month, let alone support someone else financially. What can those people do? There's a whole list! The number one is prayer, but don't just pray, let the person know you're praying for them! If you can include it in a letter of encouragement! Tell the person/people know you stand beside them and offer to help in any physical way. If you have a talent, offer to use that talent as a fundraiser; i.e. if you are a photographer, offer to hold a photo-shoot fundraiser. If you own a business have a proceed day where people who buy things from you and you donate 10% (good advertising for you too!) Overall, the easiest, free thing you can do is be supportive and pray. Be there, be encouraging, offer time and volunteer your time.

I hope this moved you to go out there and care for orphans in whatever capacity you can! Follow God's call to care for the widows and orphans out there however you can! Love them, support others who are actively loving! God bless!