Living in an institution

What would it be like to live in an institution?
What would it be like to lie in this bed when you were this old:

And when you were this old:

And when you were this old:

Would you still smile like this little boy does?
Or would you want to get out and see a little bit more than what your window reveals.
Life2Orphans is working very hard to get this little boy out, at least for a little while.
Once 1000 dollars is raised for him, they will take him out of the walls of the institution for the first time!
They will take him out of the city and to a hospital where he can be evaluated.
What then?
We do not know.
Maybe he can come to the US to get surgery.
That would be big!
That would be huge!
Maybe, somebody will recognize him as their son, and adopt him.
That would be ginormous!
But it all starts with us spreading the word.
Can you spare one dollar to get this little boy out of this bed?

How can anything else be important

Christmas is always a time for me when I evaluate what is important in my life, and, in spite of the sweeping materialism it has come to represent in our society, I always reach the conclusion at this time of year that material things are not what is important to me. This year has been no different.
This year what is important to me are the children left behind, the little souls waiting patiently for us to move on God's behalf. This year, what is important to me is one little boy who has been waiting too long.
How could anything else be important?

Here is something I wrote, thinking of this the other day:

Today, somewhere across the world a little boy sits in a bed with no medical care and no way to leave the walls of the institution, no family's arms to hug him or hold him, no mother to tuck him warmly into bed at night. He hurts phsycially, with no one to hold him.

How can anything else be important?

Today, somewhere in another country, a baby lies in its own urine and feces, with no one to pick her up and change her, or hold her and give her love. She doesn’t cry, because she has given up on crying. No one has ever heard her. Will you?

How can anything else be important?

Today, in our own country, a child lies in a bed in his fourth foster home in three months with bruises hidden underneath his clothing. He does not tell anyone, because he is tired of packing his things and moving. No one can see the scars that are being left on his soul. Can you?

How can anything else be important?

Yesterday my truck broke down and I had to pay $100 to get it fixed. I was late for an appointment and I didn’t have time to buy Christmas presents for my family like I had planned. A friend called and canceled a date that we had.

How can that even be important?

Once God has shown you what is important, it is amazing the things that don’t seem important any more. Try it. Ask God to show you what he thinks is important. Ask Him to burden your heart with the things that burden His. See how your world is changed. See what He sees.

How could anything else be important?

Merry Christmas! And a million thank you's to the people who have contributed 25% of the money needed for Emmitt's medical evaluation!
My Christmas wish is for at least 100 people to donate at least $1. God has never let me down. And so the $1 drive continues.

The $1 Drive

I am launching a $1 drive for M's cause.
Why $1?
One thing I have been learning lately is that every thing we say and do is a form of prayer. Prayers do not just begin "Dear God. . ." and end in "Amen." If you think about it, that would actually be a very limited way to communicate with God.
Of course, God had a greater plan than that.
We are in communion with God constantly whether or not we are kneeling down in prayer. When we say to someone: "You look like you are having a rough day, let me help you with that," that is a prayer spreading love and kindness and moving us in the direction of our loving creator. On the other hand, when we are in a bad mood and say to our spouse "I can't believe you did that! What were you thinking?" that is a prayer too and also moves us in a certain direction. Recognizing all of our words and actions as prayers is a big responsibility, but also a crucial step in our communion with our heavenly creator.
By the same token, one thing I have come to realize lately is that the money we spend also acts as a powerful prayer and moving force in our lives. Money is essentially a form of energy, and where we put our energy speaks very loudly to our creator. Every time we put money towards a cause that God is moving with, it is essentially a prayer, or a statement, saying "Look Universe, I recognize this movement of God and want to be a part of it."
On the other hand, if we put our money into fancy clothes, a fast sports car, and Star Bucks, we are essentially saying "Ok Universe, I see this movement of materialism, and I actually kind of like it. In fact, I'd like to join in. Move me in that direction."
Think about it, money is energy and action combined--that is a very powerful prayer!
Realizing this has made me much more conscious of where I put my money.
The good thing about this recognition, is realizing how much of a change you can make with even small amounts of money.
I often recognize that my small donation to a cause is not going to provide enough cash to make the difference in whether a project succeeds or fails. However, in my putting money into a cause, I am essentially saying a prayer that not only moves me in the direction of God, but also adds my energy and prayer to the cause, and pulls other people closer to the cause as well. So in donating small amounts of money, I can still be a key part of God's movement.
The whole point of all of this:
This is why I am launching a $1 drive.
Because it is something everyone can afford, but is also a strong message and prayer to God on M's behalf.
If I can get multple people to donate $1 towards M, we have created a prayer in both word and in action. We have put strength in God's movement. We have lended our prayer to God's powerful force.
How many people can we get to move with God for M?
How many people can we get to donate $1?
I don't know, but I am excited to find out.
Please spread the word!
You can donate at the chip in to the right, or at www.life2orphans.org. Make sure you write in the message box that it is for M's medical care!

Look at this little boy!

Look at this amazing little boy!
http://www.life2orphans.org/photofeed/main.php?g2_itemId=5856
This picture was taken in 2007 when M was 9 or 10.
Look at that smile.
Can you believe he has been lying in the bed for so long?

Spreading the word

God is saying that it is time to take action for this little boy!

Life2Orphans has launched a project to help spread the word about M and fund medical care for his untreated spina bifida.
This is the first time L2O has attempted to fund the medical care of a child!
How special this little boy must be to move an organization into new areas of action. Can you see that God is backing this little boy?
It is time for all of us to move!
Not everyone can adopt, but everyone can donate at least one dollar.
One dollar is a way of letting the universe know that you, like God, are on M's side.
One dollar says: I support this movement of God I am seeing and want to be part of it.
Please be part of this movement! Please post about it on your own blogs! No matter how few readers you have (like me! ha!) it is another way of saying: I move with God in this matter.
This little boy may have God on his side, but he still needs us!
Sometimes our prayers move God to action; and sometimes our prayers cause God to move us to action.
For me, this is one of the latter times.
Look at the little boy's face at the top of this blog. Look at the picture at the bottom of this post.
Don't turn away. That is all I ask of you. Truly look and don't turn away.
Then, as you feel moved please donate in my chip in at the right or on the life2orphans website.

And please pass on the word!!!!!!
Here is more information about their project


PROJECT: OPERATION- M

We are very lucky here in the USA. Not only do we have most of the world’s best Doctors and can get tested for a diagnosis and treatment, but we can get the medication or maybe an operation we need to help us get better. Not everyone has that luxury.

There is child named M

M has Spina Bifida. He needs an operation to help him walk.

What we know: He cannot have this operation done in his region and probably nowhere in his country.

1. There are no doctors and no money to perform procedures on children with spina bifida in his country.

2. There are no CT scanner in their hospitals they have only an outdated x-ray machine.

3. All tests need to be done by private companies as the government will not pay for children like M.

So, the questions is: What can YOU do to help M get his operation?


Give a monetary donation. This will help:

1. Pay for a place to stay outside of the country for M and a Nurse.
2. Driver/Gas to Locations and back and forth for tests and back to his Institution
3. Nurse to travel with him
4. Place to Stay/Food…
5. Any X-rays, CT scan, MRI…
6. All other Tests Needed


M really needs our help. He could be the first of many children that could receive a test or procedure because of your love and generosity.


It’s all up to you!
You can make the difference in this child’s life forever. You can help him walk across the floor to play with his friends. You can change this little guy’s world so that he is smiling and not in pain.
If you are interested, please contact mfordenbacher@life2orphans.org or donate online at life2orphans.org and help M today!

*****As a note…the other great and wonderful choice is….Are you ready?
He is available for Adoption and it would be incredible, if we could get him to the United States to have this operation and have his forever mommy and daddy to be there with him all the way!!!!

No money you donate will go to waste, because this is an amazing organization that literally brings life to the orphans of this institution. However, I really believe deep in my heart, that the best option for M is for him to be adopted!!

Please spread the word. Here is why M needs our help:

Nuff said

Through his eyes

I wanted to share a little bit more about Emmitt. Here is what his Reece's Rainbow description says about him:

Emmitt is a sweet boy.  He is living in one of the mental institutions, and has been for many years, yet he remains sweet, intelligent, and kind.  Two of our adopting families met him while they were there, and are pleading for a family to save him.     From his medical records:  myelomeningocele  (spina bifida)   From one of our adoptive families:  "Emmitt has a severe deformity of his legs.  He cannot walk at all.  He is very friendly, funny, and talkative. He desperately seeks out attention.  He was talking to my husband, and holding Zack’s hand, which he then put on top of his head for Zack to rub his hair.  He is extremely intelligent, and just precious!  I brought him paper and crayons, and he drew me a flower ” We are seeking more official medical information about his condition, but hope someone out there will see this sweet young man and know his kind and loving spirit.

The part of this that really strikes me tonight is this line: "He desperately seeks out attention. He was talking to my husband, and holding Zack's hand, which he then put on top of his head for Zack to rub his hair."

Every time I read this line, it breaks my heart. This is a little boy who has never known the love that a family can give. He has never had anyone to give him hugs, or rock him back and forth. He has never had anyone rub his back when he is sick or give him a kiss before he goes to sleep at night.  He does not know the physical comfort of an embrace, the warm loving arms of a parent, the comfort of being held in someone else's arms.
But somewhere in him he knows what these expressions of love are and seeks them out, both to give and to receive. In him, he still has hope and has not given up on knowing these things.

That is both heart breaking and amazing to me.

I can only imagine the gift that someone who adopted this little boy could have. What a joy it would be to fill up all of the empty spots in him that are just waiting to receive love! What a gift it would be to be able to be the giver of love in this situation! What an amazing feeling to feel your love being soaked in to every crack and ever crevice. And more. . . What an incredible experience it would be to experience the world through his eyes, as if for the first time! Can you imagine, a child so grateful for just one human touch. . .what would he experience from leaving the institution for the first time? Just imagine, the things you could see through him. A flower. The blades of grass in your finger tips. The sun on your face. A hug, held tightly for as long as needed. All the simple things, we take for granted. . .that this little boy would experience with ectasy and amazement.

Every time I look at this little boys face, I wonder, how is it that no one has noticed these gifts that he has to offer? How is it that someone could pass these gifts by? Is there any amount of money you could pay to be given these things? Is there any thing in life that is more valuable?

If you are reading this, and married and qualify for adoption, what is stopping you?

I leave you with this video a friend sent me today about love. It brought tears, but then perhaps I am just emotional!

Enjoy!

http://www.ThePowerofLoveMovie.com/movie/2702

Prayer for a Child

Dear God,

I wanted to share with you a burden on my heart for a little boy right now.

You see, there is this little boy that you have shown me who lives in a mental institution in Eastern Europe. He is almost thirteen years old and has sat in a bed behind cement walls for almost every day of his life. His legs are deformed and stick out in the splits, so he can’t walk. He doesn’t have a mommy or a daddy to tuck him into bed at night, or hug him in the morning. He doesn’t even have anyone to help him get out of bed in the morning and get dressed, or go outside to see the sunshine. 

No, he just sits in his bed all day, waiting for a moment of interaction with a nurse when she brings him a bowl of mush, or on very very special days, a few minutes with a visitor.

But vistors to the institution are very rare, indeed.

The few visitors who have come have not understood for a moment why this little boy sits all alone without a mother or father. They have seen an intelligent, kind, funny and special child who would be a blessing to any family. They have seen a little boy who has moved everyone who has met him to tears with his charming ways and his big heart. 

God, I suppose it is pointless for me to tell you about this little boy, because you know him better than I do. I know you must know him and know him well; for in spite of human conditions that should breed hopelessness, this little boy has a spirit of hope in his eyes. In spite of the bitterness that should come from being left abandoned in a cold and isolated place, little boy has a loving heart and a kind spirit, that he freely shares with others. In spite of a mind stimulated only by surrounding beds of orphans and cement walls, this little boy has a sharp mind and wit, and has known learning. In some unexplainable way, he knows laughter and spreads it, where our human eyes can see only sadness and pain. He knows joy and brings it to others, who cannot even comprehend where his joy originates from.

So God, I know from all of this that you know this little boy and are moving in him. How else can this be explained? I know too that you know him, because when I stop in my busy day and listen to you, I hear you crying for him. In the middle of the night, in the middle of my day, in the wee morning hours, I am jerked awake by your love for him. I feel it in my heart, like a burning that cannot be fulfilled.

This is your child, and I know, like me, you do not understand why this little boy sits alone in an institution when you created us humans to be mother and father. Like me, you do not understand why others have not heard your voice and have been moved to action.  Unlike me, I know you see further ahead for this little boy, and have good things planned for him. You must, because you are a kind and caring father and want all of your children to have good things.  You must, because you have made him so like you in nature. You must have amazing things in store for him, because I hear it in the urgency of your call to action.

God, I am only one, but I recognize when you move me, and I am faithful. Perhaps someone else will see this little boy and know him like you do. Perhaps someone will see him and know something to do that is greater than what I know. Perhaps someone will see him and will be moved in their heart to know, just like you do, that this is their son.

Thank you God, 

Amen