Please take a look at all of these little faces:
http://www.life2orphans.org/photofeed/main.php?g2_itemId=42206
These are the faces that need your help. These are the faces that lie in a bed day in and day out with only the very basic necessities.
What if you could do something to help one of these little faces this Christmas?
You can.
Life2Orphans has a new program this Christmas called Help an Angel Fly. Through this program you can pick one of these little faces to provide nutritional food, much needed medical supplies, physical therapy equipment, education for their caregivers, etc etc. For a one time $30 donation you will receive an ornament with your child's picture on it, and the child you select will receive much needed care.
Also, keep in mind that the majority of these children are available for an IOC sponsorship. In an IOC sponsorship you pay just shy of $40 per month for your chosen child, and in return this child is given a one-on-one caregiver who ensures that all of their special needs are being met. I find it incredible that for only $40 a month you can give a child the closest thing possible to a parent--someone who cares for them one on one and makes sure all their needs are being met. Please consider this program! The rewards it brings to both you and the child you sponsor are enormous. For a few before and after shots click on my tab "Sponsor these Orphans" and scroll down to the bottom of the post. It is amazing what this program does for kids who have little other hope.
Please look at all of these faces and pray and allow your heart to be moved. These children need us desperately.
When you have chosen a face (or many faces) email Life2Orphans or click on this link to donate through paypal with a note in the subject line as to who you wish to sponsor.
What more could you want for Christmas than a smile on one of these little ones faces, food in their belly, and warm arms wrapped around them?
Friday, December 2, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Update on Maxim--and a video!!
I hope all of my blog readers remember dear Maxim:
A while back Life2Orphans did some fundraising for Maxim to
get medical testing done for his condition of Spina Bifida.
Megan just sent me this update:
Maxim's testing was done and with the complications of his
Spina Bifida he will not be able to be operated on in Ukraine.
Unfortunately they do not have the medical
expertise/professionals to access that we have here. After contacting many professionals we found that OHSU
(Oregon Health and Science University Hospital) specialty
clinic for Spina Bifida would be willing to operate
on Maxim. Then Life2 found a family that would be willing to take
care of Maxim while he is in Portland, Oregon getting this
operation. Unfortunately Maxim will not be allowed to
travel to the US to get this operation due to his fragile
condition. We have a few options that we have been working on.
One is to have a specialist travel to Ukraine and
operate on Maxim.
We just heard back from "Doctors Without Border"s with
some suggestions of doctors that may be able to travel
to Ukraine and operate on a child with Spina Bifida.
We will be checking into all options. Another option is to get Maxim adopted and into this country
to have this operation. Several organizations, blogs,
volunteers and other loving individuals are working on
spreading the word about Maxim in order to get him adopted.
Please spread the word about Maxim and his need for an
operation and/or a family. Two Non-Profits are collecting funds to save Maxim's life
and give a family an Adoption Grant: Life2Orphans, Inc. - Please note "Please save Maxim" -
http://www.life2orphans.org/cms/node/83 Reece's Rainbow - http://reecesrainbow.org/20203/maximo116 Maxim's situation is still considered URGENT! He is now
14 years old and confined to a bed in the institution.
In spite of this he is said to be witty, charming
and very smart. There is no limit to what Maxim
could do in this world when a family steps forward for him.
Please spread the word on Maxim!
Here is a very brief video that has Maxim on it
(There is another child at the beginning of the video as well).
Please place on your blogs
and let as many people know about Maxim as possible!
Monday, October 24, 2011
This little girl needs someone who cares
Look at this beautiful little girl! This wonderful girl is living behind the walls of an institution, but that hasn't dampened her spirits. Not only does she have a wonderful smile, but she sings like an angel!
This girl longs for a sponsor who will care about her from a distance. All that you have to do is send her a package several times a year. You will have her joy in return! What a small price to pay!
I am hoping to add a video of her singing very soon. Please contact Life2Orphans about being this girls sponsor and sending her packages of encouragement from afar. Contact: questions@life2orphans.org
This girl longs for a sponsor who will care about her from a distance. All that you have to do is send her a package several times a year. You will have her joy in return! What a small price to pay!
I am hoping to add a video of her singing very soon. Please contact Life2Orphans about being this girls sponsor and sending her packages of encouragement from afar. Contact: questions@life2orphans.org
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Another reason to celebrate!
Look what I got in my inbox!! Isn't she looking grown up? It is hard to believe that only a few years ago she looked like this:
Underweight, malnourished, confined to a bed all day.
Now she looks like a normal child should, with a glowing smile!
Please consider sponsoring a child. It is the best thing I have ever done.
Check out the new kids I put underneath the "sponsor these kids" tab on this blog.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Look at M!
I just got a new photo of M today.
Look how well he is doing with his sponsor!
This little boy needs a home *so badly* While he is doing well having an individual sponsor provided for him, it is not any where near the same thing as if he were in a family.
Life2Orphans also has significant concerns about his medical needs, which are simply not able to be
cared for properly in his country. M has hydrocephalus and spina bifida. You can see that his legs are constantly fixed in an uncomfortable condition. In our country these things would be cared for relatively easily.
In his country, there is extreme concern for his health and well being.
I know there are many homes out there who would be blessed by Maxim. What joy he would bring
to a family, experiencing things outside of the institution for the first time!
Life2Orphans is currently accepting donations for an adoption fund for Maxim. There is a chip-in on the side of my blog.
What he needs most is a family to step forward for him.
Is that family you?
Look how well he is doing with his sponsor!
This little boy needs a home *so badly* While he is doing well having an individual sponsor provided for him, it is not any where near the same thing as if he were in a family.
Life2Orphans also has significant concerns about his medical needs, which are simply not able to be
cared for properly in his country. M has hydrocephalus and spina bifida. You can see that his legs are constantly fixed in an uncomfortable condition. In our country these things would be cared for relatively easily.
In his country, there is extreme concern for his health and well being.
I know there are many homes out there who would be blessed by Maxim. What joy he would bring
to a family, experiencing things outside of the institution for the first time!
Life2Orphans is currently accepting donations for an adoption fund for Maxim. There is a chip-in on the side of my blog.
What he needs most is a family to step forward for him.
Is that family you?
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Look at what you sponsors are doing!
Yes, I am blogging again, after a long hiatus!
And it is all because of these pictures I got in my inbox.
Look at this little girl:
Can you believe that less than a year ago, this beautiful little girl looked like this?:
This, my friends is what a mere $40 a month will do through the Life2Orphans IOC program.
If you want to make a truly life changing difference to an orphan, please contact Life2Orphans at
questions@life2orphans.org
There are many orphans listed under the "Sponsor these orphans" tab on this blog page, and there are many more not listed as well. You will truly be changing a life.
Also, the director at Torez has sent out a desperate plea for medications that will help prevent reflux in the children. Reflux is a common problem with many children with disabilities, especially the bedridden, and can lead to severe malnourishment and death. Pictures have been circulating recently of children in a Bulgarian orphanage who are suffering from malnourishment, and many of these children likely also have problems with reflux. The absolute *best* way to help a child with this problem is to be an IOC sponsor. This will ensure not only that the child receives the medication they need, but also that they are carefully fed, and kept upright after eating. If you do not feel you can afford a monthly payment, please consider sending a one time donation to Life2Orphans marked for refulx medication. You can donate at this link:
http://www.life2orphans.org/cms/node/82
Look at the before and after picture above, and you know that whatever you do will make an impact.
And it is all because of these pictures I got in my inbox.
Look at this little girl:
Can you believe that less than a year ago, this beautiful little girl looked like this?:
This, my friends is what a mere $40 a month will do through the Life2Orphans IOC program.
If you want to make a truly life changing difference to an orphan, please contact Life2Orphans at
questions@life2orphans.org
There are many orphans listed under the "Sponsor these orphans" tab on this blog page, and there are many more not listed as well. You will truly be changing a life.
Also, the director at Torez has sent out a desperate plea for medications that will help prevent reflux in the children. Reflux is a common problem with many children with disabilities, especially the bedridden, and can lead to severe malnourishment and death. Pictures have been circulating recently of children in a Bulgarian orphanage who are suffering from malnourishment, and many of these children likely also have problems with reflux. The absolute *best* way to help a child with this problem is to be an IOC sponsor. This will ensure not only that the child receives the medication they need, but also that they are carefully fed, and kept upright after eating. If you do not feel you can afford a monthly payment, please consider sending a one time donation to Life2Orphans marked for refulx medication. You can donate at this link:
http://www.life2orphans.org/cms/node/82
Look at the before and after picture above, and you know that whatever you do will make an impact.
Monday, June 13, 2011
This little girl needs a family!!
Look at this amazing little girl.
This is Ira.
I just cannot get over her impish grin. Does she not look like she is full of life and vim and vigor?
Can't you just imagine the light she would bring into a home and a family?
Can you believe that that expression is on the face of a little girl that is currently in an adult mental health institution? Can you believe that in her country she is considered bedridden, with no hope of having a normal life or a family?
I have to think, looking at her face, that she knows something that her caretakers don't. That face says, she *knows* that there is a family just waiting to find her.
Ira is fortunate enough to have an individual sponsor, but what she *needs* is a family.
Are you it?
Please contact Life2Orphans
This is Ira.
I just cannot get over her impish grin. Does she not look like she is full of life and vim and vigor?
Can't you just imagine the light she would bring into a home and a family?
Can you believe that that expression is on the face of a little girl that is currently in an adult mental health institution? Can you believe that in her country she is considered bedridden, with no hope of having a normal life or a family?
I have to think, looking at her face, that she knows something that her caretakers don't. That face says, she *knows* that there is a family just waiting to find her.
Ira is fortunate enough to have an individual sponsor, but what she *needs* is a family.
Are you it?
Please contact Life2Orphans
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Please Sponsor an Orphan
I wanted to point out my "sponsor these orphans" tab.
If you click on it you will see many orphans in need of sponsorship.
Sponsoring one of these orphans to have an individual care taker costs less than $40 a month.
$40 a month is:
-Less than one full tank of gas
-Dinner eating out for two
-One family trip to the movie theater
-About ten trips to starbucks
etc
Please pray about it and find out where your priorities are!
If you click on it you will see many orphans in need of sponsorship.
Sponsoring one of these orphans to have an individual care taker costs less than $40 a month.
$40 a month is:
-Less than one full tank of gas
-Dinner eating out for two
-One family trip to the movie theater
-About ten trips to starbucks
etc
Please pray about it and find out where your priorities are!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Urgent!
This post is regarding "M" who we recently raised the funds to get a medical evaluation. I have been waiting to do an update on him until I had a little bit more information about what was happening with the money that was raised.
From my understanding, Life2Orphans has just recently wired the money to arrange this evaluation for "M."
In the meantime, we have received word that "M"s physical condition seems to be deteriorating. The last photo I was sent of him, while it contained his signature smile, he also looked quite pale in a way that raised concern for me.
Life2Orphans is doing everything they can to check into this situation and get "M" whatever medical attention he needs. They have been talking with Spina Bifida specialists at OSU who have theorized that "M"s bedridden condition and lack of movement have lead to a quicker deterioration of the muscles than would otherwise occur.
(Ok, that sounds obvious, but apparently some physical deterioration can be normal even for teens with SB receiving the best of care).
They are looking into the option of transporting "M" to the United States for medical procedures, but at this time this sort of thing has never occurred in the country where "M" is residing.
So let me get to the point.
"M" needs a family.
NOW.
His situation is considered URGENT
For 13 years he has sat in the same bed, laughing, smiling, and bringing light to all around him while his body has slowly deteriorated. It is time for us to be the light givers for "M."
It is (past) time for him to get a family.
Life2Orphans is seeking a paper ready family (or a family who can easily become paper ready) for "M" ASAP.
PLEASE spread the word.
In the meantime, we have received word that "M"s physical condition seems to be deteriorating. The last photo I was sent of him, while it contained his signature smile, he also looked quite pale in a way that raised concern for me.
Life2Orphans is doing everything they can to check into this situation and get "M" whatever medical attention he needs. They have been talking with Spina Bifida specialists at OSU who have theorized that "M"s bedridden condition and lack of movement have lead to a quicker deterioration of the muscles than would otherwise occur.
(Ok, that sounds obvious, but apparently some physical deterioration can be normal even for teens with SB receiving the best of care).
They are looking into the option of transporting "M" to the United States for medical procedures, but at this time this sort of thing has never occurred in the country where "M" is residing.
So let me get to the point.
"M" needs a family.
NOW.
His situation is considered URGENT
For 13 years he has sat in the same bed, laughing, smiling, and bringing light to all around him while his body has slowly deteriorated. It is time for us to be the light givers for "M."
It is (past) time for him to get a family.
Life2Orphans is seeking a paper ready family (or a family who can easily become paper ready) for "M" ASAP.
PLEASE spread the word.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Made my day!
Ok, right after my sadly self-centered and self-depricating post yesterday, I got this beautiful picture in my inbox:
Isn't this just the most beautiful little girl ever?
This is a picture of the little girl I sponsor through Life2Orphans with all of her Christmas presents that I had the privilege of sending her.
What a blessing to see her not only with a smile on her face, but also out of her bed in a wheelchair! That is complete and total thanks to Life2Orphans individual caretaker program that this beautiful little girl (who has arthrogyposis) is able to enjoy her life outside of the confines of a bed now!
I am not posting this to sing my own praises for sponsoring this little girl, but to post encouragement to anyone and everyone else who would like to make a difference in a child's life. This program has changed my life and my heart in more ways than I can mention, not to mention changing the life of this little girl.
If your heart is bleeding for the orphans like mine is, yet you are not in a situation to adopt, please please please put aside self-pity (as I so blatantly displayed in my last post) and put your extra change to use blessing a child.
Stay tuned, I will be posting more pictures of children in desperate need of sponsors very shortly. We are striving to get every single child in the bedridden program an individual sponsor this year.
Please contact L2O to sponsor a child!
Isn't this just the most beautiful little girl ever?
This is a picture of the little girl I sponsor through Life2Orphans with all of her Christmas presents that I had the privilege of sending her.
What a blessing to see her not only with a smile on her face, but also out of her bed in a wheelchair! That is complete and total thanks to Life2Orphans individual caretaker program that this beautiful little girl (who has arthrogyposis) is able to enjoy her life outside of the confines of a bed now!
I am not posting this to sing my own praises for sponsoring this little girl, but to post encouragement to anyone and everyone else who would like to make a difference in a child's life. This program has changed my life and my heart in more ways than I can mention, not to mention changing the life of this little girl.
If your heart is bleeding for the orphans like mine is, yet you are not in a situation to adopt, please please please put aside self-pity (as I so blatantly displayed in my last post) and put your extra change to use blessing a child.
Stay tuned, I will be posting more pictures of children in desperate need of sponsors very shortly. We are striving to get every single child in the bedridden program an individual sponsor this year.
Please contact L2O to sponsor a child!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Just too hard sometimes
It's been a while since I've updated this blog.
Quite honestly, it's just too hard sometimes.
Why does that beautiful little girl have to lie all alone in a crib with her hands tied in stockings, when I would be willing to come and get her?
Why does that amazing little boy have to sit alone in his bed all day when I would so love to take him out to experience the world?
Why do I have to be single at this time in my life when I want so badly to have a family and children? Why do I have to hear their cries when there is nothing I can do to rescue them?
Quite honestly, I am jealous of every one I see adopting, and jealousy isn't exactly a trait one is supposed to possess. So I have hidden from this blog, trying to ignore my own feelings of wistfulness at what I am not ready for at this point in my life.
Bu recently I have noticed people actually viewing my blog. People actually noticing Emmitt and Elena. Is it possible that I could actually have some impact on finding these two a family?
Whether or not I have any part in it, I can only hope and pray that God will lead their family to them long before I am in a situation to adopt.
And in the meantime maintain my faith that I can be useful in whatever small way.
Quite honestly, it's just too hard sometimes.
Why does that beautiful little girl have to lie all alone in a crib with her hands tied in stockings, when I would be willing to come and get her?
Why does that amazing little boy have to sit alone in his bed all day when I would so love to take him out to experience the world?
Why do I have to be single at this time in my life when I want so badly to have a family and children? Why do I have to hear their cries when there is nothing I can do to rescue them?
Quite honestly, I am jealous of every one I see adopting, and jealousy isn't exactly a trait one is supposed to possess. So I have hidden from this blog, trying to ignore my own feelings of wistfulness at what I am not ready for at this point in my life.
Bu recently I have noticed people actually viewing my blog. People actually noticing Emmitt and Elena. Is it possible that I could actually have some impact on finding these two a family?
Whether or not I have any part in it, I can only hope and pray that God will lead their family to them long before I am in a situation to adopt.
And in the meantime maintain my faith that I can be useful in whatever small way.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
The Unseen
Today my loan was denied.
And honestly, it didn't matter even in the least.
Because God is giving me a much bigger message today about the unseen, and the importance of holding on to his promises regardless of what is presenting in front of my earthly eyes.
He chose to teach me this lesson through my cat.
Two days ago, my farrier (horse-shoer) was out to trim my horses. While he was trimming my horse I noticed both of my cats examining his equipment trailer. I didn't think anything of it.
Less than two minutes after he left, I *knew* that one of my cats had gotten locked in his trailer when he closed it. It wasn't just a random concern or worry, I really knew that she was in there.
I waited a couple hours to call him, to make sure I wasn't just being worried or ridiculous; and when she hadn't appeared back at the house, I called him and said "hey, I think my cat may have gotten trapped in your trailer. Can you check."
He checked.
"No," he said, "no cat."
I was really surprised.
I mean, I was really certain she was in there.
But what could I do but take his word for it? He was the one looking in the trailer with his two eyes; I was just speculating from a distance.
That night I still knew my cat was in the trailer, but doubt was creeping in from my earlier conversation with him. I started thinking positively, maybe she would just appear at the door to come in for the night like she usually did.
But she didn't.
I spent time praying about her that night and was assured she was safe.
And I still knew she was in the trailer.
The next morning, when she still wasn't at the door, I called my farrier again.
"Hey," I said, "I know you checked the trailer, but I really think she is in there. Can you check again? Isn't there some place she might hide?"
"No" I was told. "No cat in the trailer."
At this point I felt frustrated. I wanted to go check the trailer for myself.
I still knew she was in there.
But my farrier knows this trailer better than I do. He uses it every day. He knows if there are places cats could hide, and he's looking at it with his two eyes!
So if he says there isn't a cat in his trailer, there can't be a cat in his trailer.
That day I kept praying about my cat. I kept being told she was fine. I kept thinking she must be in the trailer.
But doubt also crept in.
I started thinking about all of the other things that could have happened to her. I imagined her being run over by the trailer's tire instead of being trapped in it, and then running off to hide some where to die.
I thought about all of the vehicles that had been down my road and pulled in and out of my drive that could have also hit her.
I imagined her trapped somewhere on my property with me unable to find her.
I started thinking I would probably never see her again, and imagining my life without her.
And I still knew she was in the trailer.
Today I got a call from my farrier.
He said, rather sheepishly, "I found your cat."
Yes, as I knew, she was in his trailer!
Besides the amazing blessing and relief of finding my cat, I am feeling such a powerful message sent to me about the unseen.
I knew all along my cat was in the trailer, but other people couldn't see her, even when looking into the trailer with their own two eyes.
Our eyes are not the detectors of the truth.
So many times we must see God's truth and God's promises from the inside long before they are revealed to us where we can see them and touch them on the outside.
I am now holding my cat in my arms and on my lap. She is real, and returned, exactly as she was promised to me.
But one day ago I was doubting because my knowledge of the unseen could not be confirmed by a set of actual eyes.
I am told today that what has been promised to me will come to pass. What I know in my heart is true, regardless of what is seen.
And a loan rejection letter doesn't matter even in the least.
And honestly, it didn't matter even in the least.
Because God is giving me a much bigger message today about the unseen, and the importance of holding on to his promises regardless of what is presenting in front of my earthly eyes.
He chose to teach me this lesson through my cat.
Two days ago, my farrier (horse-shoer) was out to trim my horses. While he was trimming my horse I noticed both of my cats examining his equipment trailer. I didn't think anything of it.
Less than two minutes after he left, I *knew* that one of my cats had gotten locked in his trailer when he closed it. It wasn't just a random concern or worry, I really knew that she was in there.
I waited a couple hours to call him, to make sure I wasn't just being worried or ridiculous; and when she hadn't appeared back at the house, I called him and said "hey, I think my cat may have gotten trapped in your trailer. Can you check."
He checked.
"No," he said, "no cat."
I was really surprised.
I mean, I was really certain she was in there.
But what could I do but take his word for it? He was the one looking in the trailer with his two eyes; I was just speculating from a distance.
That night I still knew my cat was in the trailer, but doubt was creeping in from my earlier conversation with him. I started thinking positively, maybe she would just appear at the door to come in for the night like she usually did.
But she didn't.
I spent time praying about her that night and was assured she was safe.
And I still knew she was in the trailer.
The next morning, when she still wasn't at the door, I called my farrier again.
"Hey," I said, "I know you checked the trailer, but I really think she is in there. Can you check again? Isn't there some place she might hide?"
"No" I was told. "No cat in the trailer."
At this point I felt frustrated. I wanted to go check the trailer for myself.
I still knew she was in there.
But my farrier knows this trailer better than I do. He uses it every day. He knows if there are places cats could hide, and he's looking at it with his two eyes!
So if he says there isn't a cat in his trailer, there can't be a cat in his trailer.
That day I kept praying about my cat. I kept being told she was fine. I kept thinking she must be in the trailer.
But doubt also crept in.
I started thinking about all of the other things that could have happened to her. I imagined her being run over by the trailer's tire instead of being trapped in it, and then running off to hide some where to die.
I thought about all of the vehicles that had been down my road and pulled in and out of my drive that could have also hit her.
I imagined her trapped somewhere on my property with me unable to find her.
I started thinking I would probably never see her again, and imagining my life without her.
And I still knew she was in the trailer.
Today I got a call from my farrier.
He said, rather sheepishly, "I found your cat."
Yes, as I knew, she was in his trailer!
Besides the amazing blessing and relief of finding my cat, I am feeling such a powerful message sent to me about the unseen.
I knew all along my cat was in the trailer, but other people couldn't see her, even when looking into the trailer with their own two eyes.
Our eyes are not the detectors of the truth.
So many times we must see God's truth and God's promises from the inside long before they are revealed to us where we can see them and touch them on the outside.
I am now holding my cat in my arms and on my lap. She is real, and returned, exactly as she was promised to me.
But one day ago I was doubting because my knowledge of the unseen could not be confirmed by a set of actual eyes.
I am told today that what has been promised to me will come to pass. What I know in my heart is true, regardless of what is seen.
And a loan rejection letter doesn't matter even in the least.
Monday, March 14, 2011
And the winner is. . .
Sorry to keep everyone waiting (ironically, ha ha!)
I have been out of town at a conference and my computer crashed, so just did the drawing tonight.
Oh my goodness, though, it has done my heart such good to see these little boys posted about on other people's pages.
Thank you so much to everyone! I am praying so fervently that it will end the waiting of these little boys.
The winner of the $100 is. . . .
Amy Peterson!
Not really a surprise considering how many people Amy got to post about this!
Amy you can email me (my email is on the sidebar) and tell me how you would like this money delivered to you.
Oh, and for those of you who asked, I am still waiting about the loan. . .
It seems so purposeful that I know God must be working very hard on me to make me perfect in Him.
Blessings to everyone,
Christy
I have been out of town at a conference and my computer crashed, so just did the drawing tonight.
Oh my goodness, though, it has done my heart such good to see these little boys posted about on other people's pages.
Thank you so much to everyone! I am praying so fervently that it will end the waiting of these little boys.
The winner of the $100 is. . . .
Amy Peterson!
Not really a surprise considering how many people Amy got to post about this!
Amy you can email me (my email is on the sidebar) and tell me how you would like this money delivered to you.
Oh, and for those of you who asked, I am still waiting about the loan. . .
It seems so purposeful that I know God must be working very hard on me to make me perfect in Him.
Blessings to everyone,
Christy
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Waiting
Waiting is something most people struggle with when going through an adoption process, and it is something I am recognizing lately that I am absolutely miserable at!
I am not adopting (I wish!) but have been waiting for two weeks now to find out the status of a loan application. This loan is important to me because it determines if I will have the funds needed to move at some point in the near future.
When I originally filled out the loan application I was told my wait would be 24-48 hours. Now, two weeks later, I am still in waiting.
Now I will say, I have done everything to get out of the waiting process. I have called the bank daily, prayed, cried, begged, pleaded, and last night I even had a temper tantrum at God (not proud to admit it but true).
Then this morning I was truly humbled as I thought of Emmitt, and M.
I have been waiting for two weeks for something that may improve my life for the better.
In the meantime, I have been able to go to work, go for walks, play with my animals, go horseback riding, play with friends, enjoy the (almost) spring weather, go out to eat, cook nice meals, etc etc.
Regardless of the outcome of what I have been waiting on I will continue to be able to do those things.
M and Emmitt have both been waiting for 13 years.
They have been waiting, most of the time in the same bed, in the same room, in the same place, with little hope that things will change for them.
While I am horseback riding, they are lying alone in bed.
While I am eating out, they are hoping for one piece of fresh fruit in place of the staple porridge they get each day.
While I am hiking in the sun, they are sitting in the darkness.
They have been waiting in conditions I could barely conceive of for myself, and yet unlike me, they do not throw temper tantrums, or stomp their feet at God, or demand something better from the people around them.
Unlike me, they *smile* while they wait, and bring light and grace to everyone around them, glowing an inner confidence that God will reveal himself to them in time.
I am humbled beyond words.
So while I am waiting, I am going to do something to try to shorten their wait.
I have $100 dollars I am going to give one person who is willing to advocate for Maxim and Emmitt's with others. This $100 dollars could come in a gift card of your choosing, or if you are adopting I will donate it to your adoption fund.
All you have to do to enter is this:
1) Post about Emmitt and Maxim on your blog, facebook account, or other social networking site (there is more information about them on the tabs above and throughout this blog)
2) Be sure to include in your post contact information for the organizations supporting each child: Maxim is being supported by Life2Orphans, while Emmitt is listed through Reece's Rainbow. (Please do not list the country they are from if you know it as this is against certain laws in their country.)
3) The purpose of sharing their information is to encourage others to consider adopting them. They are both available for adoption! Neither of them have an account to donate to specifically for their adoption expenses, so encourage others to "donate" through prayer and advocating for them. (People are welcome to donate to both life2orphans and reecesrainbow, but it will not go directly into an adoption grant for either boy).
4) I will enter you once in a drawing for each site you post a plea for adoption of these two boys; if any of your facebook friends or blogger friends post a plea for these boys based on your post, I will give you 5 more entries.
5) please leave a comment or email me with the link to your posting or others' posting
6) Please keep your posts tasteful and positive.
I will be doing a drawing to pick the winner sometime next week.
Happy advocating in the meantime!
-Christy
I am not adopting (I wish!) but have been waiting for two weeks now to find out the status of a loan application. This loan is important to me because it determines if I will have the funds needed to move at some point in the near future.
When I originally filled out the loan application I was told my wait would be 24-48 hours. Now, two weeks later, I am still in waiting.
Now I will say, I have done everything to get out of the waiting process. I have called the bank daily, prayed, cried, begged, pleaded, and last night I even had a temper tantrum at God (not proud to admit it but true).
Then this morning I was truly humbled as I thought of Emmitt, and M.
I have been waiting for two weeks for something that may improve my life for the better.
In the meantime, I have been able to go to work, go for walks, play with my animals, go horseback riding, play with friends, enjoy the (almost) spring weather, go out to eat, cook nice meals, etc etc.
Regardless of the outcome of what I have been waiting on I will continue to be able to do those things.
M and Emmitt have both been waiting for 13 years.
|
| M |
They have been waiting, most of the time in the same bed, in the same room, in the same place, with little hope that things will change for them.
While I am horseback riding, they are lying alone in bed.
While I am eating out, they are hoping for one piece of fresh fruit in place of the staple porridge they get each day.
While I am hiking in the sun, they are sitting in the darkness.
They have been waiting in conditions I could barely conceive of for myself, and yet unlike me, they do not throw temper tantrums, or stomp their feet at God, or demand something better from the people around them.
Unlike me, they *smile* while they wait, and bring light and grace to everyone around them, glowing an inner confidence that God will reveal himself to them in time.
 |
| Emmitt |
I am humbled beyond words.
So while I am waiting, I am going to do something to try to shorten their wait.
I have $100 dollars I am going to give one person who is willing to advocate for Maxim and Emmitt's with others. This $100 dollars could come in a gift card of your choosing, or if you are adopting I will donate it to your adoption fund.
All you have to do to enter is this:
1) Post about Emmitt and Maxim on your blog, facebook account, or other social networking site (there is more information about them on the tabs above and throughout this blog)
2) Be sure to include in your post contact information for the organizations supporting each child: Maxim is being supported by Life2Orphans, while Emmitt is listed through Reece's Rainbow. (Please do not list the country they are from if you know it as this is against certain laws in their country.)
3) The purpose of sharing their information is to encourage others to consider adopting them. They are both available for adoption! Neither of them have an account to donate to specifically for their adoption expenses, so encourage others to "donate" through prayer and advocating for them. (People are welcome to donate to both life2orphans and reecesrainbow, but it will not go directly into an adoption grant for either boy).
4) I will enter you once in a drawing for each site you post a plea for adoption of these two boys; if any of your facebook friends or blogger friends post a plea for these boys based on your post, I will give you 5 more entries.
5) please leave a comment or email me with the link to your posting or others' posting
6) Please keep your posts tasteful and positive.
I will be doing a drawing to pick the winner sometime next week.
Happy advocating in the meantime!
-Christy
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Little Girl Lost
Heartbroken.
That's what I am tonight.
Aching for one beautiful little girl.
You see, for months now I have been praying for beautiful Elena.
Elena has cerebral palsy and is available for adoption on Reece's Rainbow. On her listing it says she is an orphanage favorite.
Looking at her picture, it is easy to imagine doting workers rocking her and holding her, cuddling her and singing to her. It feels urgent to find her family so that she doesn't get transferred to an institution, but
not as urgent as it could.
This is Elena as she could be at home with her family. This is the beautiful little girl who one adoptive parent wrote to me describing as "STUNNINGLY beautiful," and said that "when she smiled you felt like the whole world would be okay."
This is the picture of Elena I have had in my head when I pray about her, or dream about her sitting on her mommy's lap with long wavy hair.
But this picture below is also Elena (please click to enlarge full size):
Oh my lord.
Oh my sweet child.
Does your heart stop when you look at this picture like mine does?
Does the whole world stop?
Somebody please go get this little baby.
What else on earth could possibly be important other than getting her out from behind those bars and into her parents arms where she belongs?
I do not have a facebook account, but many of you do.
Please post these pictures on facebook.
Please put them on your blogs.
Please show them to everyone you know.
I know that Elena's mommy will never be able to leave her there once she sees her little girl waiting for her like this.
The world will stop for her like it has for me, and she will do everything she can to go get her little girl out from behind bars.
Praying until then.
-Christy
(Oh, P.S. you can donate to Elena's adoption fund in the chip in on my blog, or at
http://reecesrainbow.org/elena-4 )
That's what I am tonight.
Aching for one beautiful little girl.
You see, for months now I have been praying for beautiful Elena.
Elena has cerebral palsy and is available for adoption on Reece's Rainbow. On her listing it says she is an orphanage favorite.
Looking at her picture, it is easy to imagine doting workers rocking her and holding her, cuddling her and singing to her. It feels urgent to find her family so that she doesn't get transferred to an institution, but
not as urgent as it could.
This is Elena as she could be at home with her family. This is the beautiful little girl who one adoptive parent wrote to me describing as "STUNNINGLY beautiful," and said that "when she smiled you felt like the whole world would be okay."
This is the picture of Elena I have had in my head when I pray about her, or dream about her sitting on her mommy's lap with long wavy hair.
But this picture below is also Elena (please click to enlarge full size):
Oh my lord.
Oh my sweet child.
Does your heart stop when you look at this picture like mine does?
Does the whole world stop?
Somebody please go get this little baby.
What else on earth could possibly be important other than getting her out from behind those bars and into her parents arms where she belongs?
I do not have a facebook account, but many of you do.
Please post these pictures on facebook.
Please put them on your blogs.
Please show them to everyone you know.
I know that Elena's mommy will never be able to leave her there once she sees her little girl waiting for her like this.
The world will stop for her like it has for me, and she will do everything she can to go get her little girl out from behind bars.
Praying until then.
-Christy
(Oh, P.S. you can donate to Elena's adoption fund in the chip in on my blog, or at
http://reecesrainbow.org/elena-4 )
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Sponsoring an Orphan
I just wrote this for Life2Orphans, and since I'm so far behind on blogging thought I would post it here:
To all Interested in the Life2Orphans IOC sponsorship program:
Because I couldn’t adopt one of the children, I chose the next best thing: To “adopt” a little girl to receive extra special care through having her own caregiver at the institution. This little girl was bedridden due to having deformed limbs, but through providing an IOC sponsor for her I could ensure that she would be taken out of her bed to play on therapy equipment, receive extra attention and care, and go outside in the sunshine! I also chose to be a HAO sponsor for this little girl as well, which means that I have sent her several packages and letters.
Going shopping for this little girl was one of the most significant things I have ever done. I can’t describe how connected I felt to her as I was picking out outfits that she would be wearing. She transferred from a two-dimensional picture to a living, breathing child as I held her clothing in my hands. She was 8 years old at the time and wore a size 3T. I began crying in the store when I selected the first outfit for her. How could she possibly be a 3T? It was unreal to physically recognize how tiny this was and moved my heart even stronger in her direction.
Through sponsoring this one little girl my life and my heart has been moved in unbelievable ways. I have become more privy to God’s heart, and now am filled with desires from it instead of from the desires of the world. The amount of money (less than $40 a month) it took to make such a drastic change in a child’s life took on huge proportions for me. $40 is the amount of money it takes to eat at a sit-down restaurant for two. It is enough money to take a family of 4 for a night out at the movie theater. It pays for a week’s worth of Starbucks. It cannot even fill my entire gas tank. It can pay for each of these things, or it can pay to give a child life and hope. Really, how is there any choice there? As I recognized this I completely revised my budget and simplified my life. I emailed Life2Orphans and let them know I would be able to sponsor two more orphans each month to have an individual caretaker
Many people might claim that they would be unable to afford this. But the amount I spend to sponsor these three children is about the same that most people pay for a cable/internet/phone package each month. It is less (a lot less!) than a car payment for a nice car. It is about the same as one shopping trip to the mall. I don’t watch TV, rarely buy new clothes, and I drive a beat up pickup truck, so these things mean very little to me. Knowing that three children are getting to go outside in the sunshine, play on toys, do physical activities, and have extra arms to hug them is more than worth these things for me. And quite frankly, since re-arranging my life in this way I feel my life is much more full in many ways than it used to be, and more rich. If anything, where I used to feel I was always lacking in money, now I feel I have a surplus. When moving with the heart of God, I don’t believe money is ever an issue
The little girl I began sponsoring less than a year ago who wore a 3T, has now grown two clothing sizes! She looks much closer to an 8 year old now and has a *huge* glow about her. I have no doubt that this is due to the extra attention and care she is receiving; it is no surprise that one-on-one love and care would cause her to blossom. The other little girl I just began sponsoring is very young and new to the institution. She has an impish grin on her face and I am so happy to know that impishness will be able to continue through the extra adult attention she will receive! She will retain that child-like “knowing” that she is special due to the special one-on-one care she is receiving
And then there is Maxim. He is a 13 year old boy with Spina Bifida who is confined to a bed. Everyone who meets him is moved to action by him. He is smart, witty, and full of life and laughter, even though he is confined to an institution. I believe God is moving on his behalf, because when I felt prompted to sponsor more children, I was asked if I wanted to sponsor Maxim. I felt strongly compelled to say yes. Not long after that, a person adopting from Maxim’s institution began advocating for him to get medical treatment, and Life2Orphans took up that cause. In less than one month $1000 dollars was raised for him to be taken to a medical assessment. I watched much of this money roll in through a Life2Orphans chip-in I placed on my blog. I am not in any way suggesting I am responsible for all of this, but what a thrilling feeling to be part of God’s movement for this one child!
In short, I would encourage everybody to participate in this program. I cannot even describe all of the good things that have come into my life since allowing myself to be lead this way. You will never notice the monthly fee that you pay, but your heart will notice the many rewards of being God’s hands and feet for a little one and you may find your life changing in ways that you wouldn’t have expected.
To all Interested in the Life2Orphans IOC sponsorship program:
I became an IOC sponsor less than a year ago. I had been following people who were going through the process of adopting special needs children from EE orphanages. My heart was extremely moved towards the plight of special needs orphans, but I am single and not in a situation to be able to adopt.
Because I couldn’t adopt one of the children, I chose the next best thing: To “adopt” a little girl to receive extra special care through having her own caregiver at the institution. This little girl was bedridden due to having deformed limbs, but through providing an IOC sponsor for her I could ensure that she would be taken out of her bed to play on therapy equipment, receive extra attention and care, and go outside in the sunshine! I also chose to be a HAO sponsor for this little girl as well, which means that I have sent her several packages and letters.
Going shopping for this little girl was one of the most significant things I have ever done. I can’t describe how connected I felt to her as I was picking out outfits that she would be wearing. She transferred from a two-dimensional picture to a living, breathing child as I held her clothing in my hands. She was 8 years old at the time and wore a size 3T. I began crying in the store when I selected the first outfit for her. How could she possibly be a 3T? It was unreal to physically recognize how tiny this was and moved my heart even stronger in her direction.
Through sponsoring this one little girl my life and my heart has been moved in unbelievable ways. I have become more privy to God’s heart, and now am filled with desires from it instead of from the desires of the world. The amount of money (less than $40 a month) it took to make such a drastic change in a child’s life took on huge proportions for me. $40 is the amount of money it takes to eat at a sit-down restaurant for two. It is enough money to take a family of 4 for a night out at the movie theater. It pays for a week’s worth of Starbucks. It cannot even fill my entire gas tank. It can pay for each of these things, or it can pay to give a child life and hope. Really, how is there any choice there? As I recognized this I completely revised my budget and simplified my life. I emailed Life2Orphans and let them know I would be able to sponsor two more orphans each month to have an individual caretaker
Many people might claim that they would be unable to afford this. But the amount I spend to sponsor these three children is about the same that most people pay for a cable/internet/phone package each month. It is less (a lot less!) than a car payment for a nice car. It is about the same as one shopping trip to the mall. I don’t watch TV, rarely buy new clothes, and I drive a beat up pickup truck, so these things mean very little to me. Knowing that three children are getting to go outside in the sunshine, play on toys, do physical activities, and have extra arms to hug them is more than worth these things for me. And quite frankly, since re-arranging my life in this way I feel my life is much more full in many ways than it used to be, and more rich. If anything, where I used to feel I was always lacking in money, now I feel I have a surplus. When moving with the heart of God, I don’t believe money is ever an issue
The little girl I began sponsoring less than a year ago who wore a 3T, has now grown two clothing sizes! She looks much closer to an 8 year old now and has a *huge* glow about her. I have no doubt that this is due to the extra attention and care she is receiving; it is no surprise that one-on-one love and care would cause her to blossom. The other little girl I just began sponsoring is very young and new to the institution. She has an impish grin on her face and I am so happy to know that impishness will be able to continue through the extra adult attention she will receive! She will retain that child-like “knowing” that she is special due to the special one-on-one care she is receiving
And then there is Maxim. He is a 13 year old boy with Spina Bifida who is confined to a bed. Everyone who meets him is moved to action by him. He is smart, witty, and full of life and laughter, even though he is confined to an institution. I believe God is moving on his behalf, because when I felt prompted to sponsor more children, I was asked if I wanted to sponsor Maxim. I felt strongly compelled to say yes. Not long after that, a person adopting from Maxim’s institution began advocating for him to get medical treatment, and Life2Orphans took up that cause. In less than one month $1000 dollars was raised for him to be taken to a medical assessment. I watched much of this money roll in through a Life2Orphans chip-in I placed on my blog. I am not in any way suggesting I am responsible for all of this, but what a thrilling feeling to be part of God’s movement for this one child!
In short, I would encourage everybody to participate in this program. I cannot even describe all of the good things that have come into my life since allowing myself to be lead this way. You will never notice the monthly fee that you pay, but your heart will notice the many rewards of being God’s hands and feet for a little one and you may find your life changing in ways that you wouldn’t have expected.
God Bless,
Christy
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Happy Birthday Emmitt!
13 years now Emmitt has waited patiently for his family to find him. I am not feeling so patient today.
Please say a prayer for Emmitt today.
What would be the best gift for him?
A family.
How can you give him this gift?
Tell people about him!
Please give Emmitt the gift of prayer and spreading the word about him today. The more gifts we give the greater the chance that his family will see him.
What if everyone posted about Emmitt on their blogs today?
That would be a birthday miracle for Emmitt.
For more information about Emmitt, visit:
http://reecesrainbow.org/emmitt
Friday, January 21, 2011
Elena
Elena is a beautiful little girl who has been on my heart for quite some time now.
Unlike M and Emmitt she is not in an institution.
She will be shortly.
You see, Elena just turned 4, which means at any time she could be transferred.
When she is transferred she will likely go to the same institution that M lives in.
She will be bed-ridden, with no mommy to hold her or care for her special needs.
Elena needs us.
I have added a page for her on my blog, and a chip-in to donate to her adoption.
Please help!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Sponsor these Orphans
I am working on re-designing my blog (hard, because I am not a computer wizard).
Please notice that I added some tabs at the top including one that says: Sponsor these Orphans.
Click on this to view bedridden children in the same institution as M who are in desperate need of sponsorship.
Sponsoring one of these children will give them crucial one-on-one care and attention.
They will be taken out of their beds and into the sunshine, given love and affection, and a chance to play, stretch their limbs, and learn.
Please consider sponsoring. It has enriched my life in more ways than I can tell you.
If you think you can't afford it, think again.
Sponsoring one of these children costs about the same as:
Dinner for two
A tank of gas
Ten trips to star bucks
7 packs of cigarettes
Three tickets to the movie theater
So the question is: what is your priority?
And is it in line with God's priority?
When I saw these children and realized how much such a small amount of money could matter to them, I completely rearrange my budget and my priority. How could I justify doing anything different?
Please notice that I added some tabs at the top including one that says: Sponsor these Orphans.
Click on this to view bedridden children in the same institution as M who are in desperate need of sponsorship.
Sponsoring one of these children will give them crucial one-on-one care and attention.
They will be taken out of their beds and into the sunshine, given love and affection, and a chance to play, stretch their limbs, and learn.
Please consider sponsoring. It has enriched my life in more ways than I can tell you.
If you think you can't afford it, think again.
Sponsoring one of these children costs about the same as:
Dinner for two
A tank of gas
Ten trips to star bucks
7 packs of cigarettes
Three tickets to the movie theater
So the question is: what is your priority?
And is it in line with God's priority?
When I saw these children and realized how much such a small amount of money could matter to them, I completely rearrange my budget and my priority. How could I justify doing anything different?
Mission Accomplished!
I just got word from life2orphans that *all* of the $1000 dollars needed for M's medical assesment has been raised. And this coincided with the date that my chip-in ended. Wow!!!!
Thank you to everyone who donated, whether through money or prayer!
Thank you to everyone who donated, whether through money or prayer!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Only $86 left
Only $86 left to fund a medical assessment for M.
How many prayers left to find families for these beautiful boys??
Thank you so much to whoever just donated $100. I had to look at the chip-in three times! That is amazing!
P.S. Congrats to school mother for winning "The Boy from Baby House 10." Thank you to all who prayed!
How many prayers left to find families for these beautiful boys??
Thank you so much to whoever just donated $100. I had to look at the chip-in three times! That is amazing!
P.S. Congrats to school mother for winning "The Boy from Baby House 10." Thank you to all who prayed!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Help! I have been transferred!
I see this phrase appear next to children on the Reece's Rainbow site as they turn 4, 5, or (for the very lucky ones) 6. It is usually followed by a flurry of advocating for these little ones who have been moved from their baby house to the mental institution.
What does it mean to be transferred in Eastern Europe?
For children with a disability, whether physical or mental, it means being moved from their baby house to a mental institution where they will live the rest of their lives. For children who are bedridden (cannot walk) like Emmitt and M, it means they will live the rest of their lives confined to beds or cribs. Only their most basic needs will be met--food, water, clothing. And sometimes barely even that. They will most likely not go outside of the walls of their institution and will be extremely lucky if they can even see what sunshine and grass is through a window. They will not have education or schooling, because they are considered "uneducadable" and a burden to society. They will be cared for by overworked staff, who will likely not have the time to give them any individualized attention, care, or even the most basic of needs--affection. Some of the weaker of them will die within one year of being transferred. Those who don't will live a slow death of unmet purpose and unfulfilled needs and desires, as their bodies and spirits slowly waste away in the bed they lay in day after day.
Those who maintain a light in their eye--like Emmitt and M--are rare gems that rally even the hardened workers around them to pray for their rescue, their only hope--adoption.
Even in the best of institutions, it is traumatic for a child to be plucked from their baby home and thrust into walls that house older children and adults.
Rallying around the children who have been transferred just makes sense, and many have been rescued this way.
Rallying around those who are about to be transferred also makes sense, and many have been rescued that way.
Rallying around the babies and youngsters who will be transferred at an older age also makes sense, and many are also rescued that way.
But what about those children who have endured in this environment for years--shouldn't we be rallying even harder to get them out?
When I see Emmitt and M, I think it should say next to them: "Help!!! I have been transferred!"
They have both been transferred and we need to rally around them to get them out!
Their amazing ability to endure and maintain their spirit in the most difficult of situations should not make us lackadaisacal about rallying beside them, but should lead a call to action that ultimately brings them to their family.
Their only hope at fully developing and sharing their gifts is to be adopted
Can you even imagine what these two boys could offer to the family that adopts them? What magic and gifts they could bring?
I am truly jealous of the family who finally steps forward to bring them into their circle.
Help! These two boys have been transferred!
The time to move is now. The time to pray is now. The time to act is now.
Let's get them out.
(P.S. If you would like a description of what a mental institution can be like, leave a comment to be eligible to win The Boy from Baby House 10. I am giving away a free copy on Friday.)
What does it mean to be transferred in Eastern Europe?
For children with a disability, whether physical or mental, it means being moved from their baby house to a mental institution where they will live the rest of their lives. For children who are bedridden (cannot walk) like Emmitt and M, it means they will live the rest of their lives confined to beds or cribs. Only their most basic needs will be met--food, water, clothing. And sometimes barely even that. They will most likely not go outside of the walls of their institution and will be extremely lucky if they can even see what sunshine and grass is through a window. They will not have education or schooling, because they are considered "uneducadable" and a burden to society. They will be cared for by overworked staff, who will likely not have the time to give them any individualized attention, care, or even the most basic of needs--affection. Some of the weaker of them will die within one year of being transferred. Those who don't will live a slow death of unmet purpose and unfulfilled needs and desires, as their bodies and spirits slowly waste away in the bed they lay in day after day.
Those who maintain a light in their eye--like Emmitt and M--are rare gems that rally even the hardened workers around them to pray for their rescue, their only hope--adoption.
Even in the best of institutions, it is traumatic for a child to be plucked from their baby home and thrust into walls that house older children and adults.
Rallying around the children who have been transferred just makes sense, and many have been rescued this way.
Rallying around those who are about to be transferred also makes sense, and many have been rescued that way.
Rallying around the babies and youngsters who will be transferred at an older age also makes sense, and many are also rescued that way.
But what about those children who have endured in this environment for years--shouldn't we be rallying even harder to get them out?
When I see Emmitt and M, I think it should say next to them: "Help!!! I have been transferred!"
They have both been transferred and we need to rally around them to get them out!
Their amazing ability to endure and maintain their spirit in the most difficult of situations should not make us lackadaisacal about rallying beside them, but should lead a call to action that ultimately brings them to their family.
Their only hope at fully developing and sharing their gifts is to be adopted
Can you even imagine what these two boys could offer to the family that adopts them? What magic and gifts they could bring?
I am truly jealous of the family who finally steps forward to bring them into their circle.
Help! These two boys have been transferred!
The time to move is now. The time to pray is now. The time to act is now.
Let's get them out.
(P.S. If you would like a description of what a mental institution can be like, leave a comment to be eligible to win The Boy from Baby House 10. I am giving away a free copy on Friday.)
Monday, January 10, 2011
Two Boys, One Fate
I have made a mistake.
I was told that Emmitt and "M" were the same boy.
But they are not one boy.
They are two boys.
It is easy to see how someone could have made the mistake.
Two boys.
Both, approximately 13 years old.
Both strikingly intelligent in spite of being given no education
Both engaging and witty, reaching out to everyone who meets them
Both with an inner light that shines through them regardless of their circumstances
Both with spina bifida and unable to walk
Both confined to beds in mental institutions.
Both in need of medical care and a family
Both able to be adopted
Two boys, One fate
One boy, Emmitt, sits in a mental institution in Eastern Europe. He has been listed on Reece's Rainbow for three years now, and has waited for much longer than that to find a family. Vistors who meet him say he still has hope in his eyes, in spite of sitting in the same crib every day.
One boy, M, sits in a separate institution in Eastern Europe. His surroundings are very similar to Emmitt's, but he has a charity group who is working to sponsor an extra caregiver for him and medical care. They are close to their goal of funding a medical evaluation for him. Who knows how close to the goal they are of finding him an adoptive family? Only God.
Two boys, one fate.
Tied together by both their strikingly similar disabilities, and abilities. Now tied together by one blogger's mistake, and the generous prayers and donations of many others.
What will that fate be?
I was told that Emmitt and "M" were the same boy.
But they are not one boy.
They are two boys.
It is easy to see how someone could have made the mistake.
Two boys.
Both, approximately 13 years old.
Both strikingly intelligent in spite of being given no education
Both engaging and witty, reaching out to everyone who meets them
Both with an inner light that shines through them regardless of their circumstances
Both with spina bifida and unable to walk
Both confined to beds in mental institutions.
Both in need of medical care and a family
Both able to be adopted
Two boys, One fate
One boy, Emmitt, sits in a mental institution in Eastern Europe. He has been listed on Reece's Rainbow for three years now, and has waited for much longer than that to find a family. Vistors who meet him say he still has hope in his eyes, in spite of sitting in the same crib every day.
One boy, M, sits in a separate institution in Eastern Europe. His surroundings are very similar to Emmitt's, but he has a charity group who is working to sponsor an extra caregiver for him and medical care. They are close to their goal of funding a medical evaluation for him. Who knows how close to the goal they are of finding him an adoptive family? Only God.
Two boys, one fate.
Tied together by both their strikingly similar disabilities, and abilities. Now tied together by one blogger's mistake, and the generous prayers and donations of many others.
What will that fate be?
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Prayer Challenge, Boy from Baby House 10 giveaway
Have you read The Boy from Baby House 10?
Do you want to?
I am going to be giving away a free hardback copy this week on this blog.
Here is what you need to do to be entered in the drawing:
1) Chose one of the pictures of Emmitt or M on this blog. (p.s. This one is my favorite)
2) Look at it with an open heart for at least one minute
3) Leave a prayer (comment) on my blog. (Make sure your comment is linked to some form of contacting you)
4) Act however you felt inspired during that one minute
Easy, huh?
At the end of the week (Friday) I will randomly select one person who had left a prayer (comment) on the blog during the week to send the book to.
I am also still doing the $1 drive, and would love to have everybody who leaves a comment donate $1. But it is not necessary to be eligible to win the book.
If you have not read this book, you need to. If you have, give it to someone else, and make sure they know that the system spoken of in this book is still in place in Eastern Europe. Let them know about two little boys (Emmitt and M) who is so similar to Vanya in the book, with unlimited, untapped potential, and an ability to reach out and connect with every single person he meets. Reading this book has made it even more unimaginable to me that this little boy is spending his childhood sitting in a bed in a mental institution, when he has so much potential and so much to give.
What if he could be like Vanya, saved from the institution and entered into a family? What if someday he could tell his own story in a book?
Just to be clear, I do not believe any child (or adult) no matter what their mental functioning should be kept in the situations described in this book. However, it is striking to me the similarities of Vanya (the boy in the book) and the two boys on this blog. Both with incredible intelligence and the ability to develop language and knowledge in the absence of teaching. Both with strong inner hope and light that has absolutely no earthly explanation. Both with the ability to reach out to everyone around them, and lift the day and mood of adults who should be lifting them.
After reading this book, I know I need to do more; but for now I will do this.
Will you join me?
Do you want to?
I am going to be giving away a free hardback copy this week on this blog.
Here is what you need to do to be entered in the drawing:
1) Chose one of the pictures of Emmitt or M on this blog. (p.s. This one is my favorite)
2) Look at it with an open heart for at least one minute
3) Leave a prayer (comment) on my blog. (Make sure your comment is linked to some form of contacting you)
4) Act however you felt inspired during that one minute
Easy, huh?
At the end of the week (Friday) I will randomly select one person who had left a prayer (comment) on the blog during the week to send the book to.
I am also still doing the $1 drive, and would love to have everybody who leaves a comment donate $1. But it is not necessary to be eligible to win the book.
If you have not read this book, you need to. If you have, give it to someone else, and make sure they know that the system spoken of in this book is still in place in Eastern Europe. Let them know about two little boys (Emmitt and M) who is so similar to Vanya in the book, with unlimited, untapped potential, and an ability to reach out and connect with every single person he meets. Reading this book has made it even more unimaginable to me that this little boy is spending his childhood sitting in a bed in a mental institution, when he has so much potential and so much to give.
What if he could be like Vanya, saved from the institution and entered into a family? What if someday he could tell his own story in a book?
Just to be clear, I do not believe any child (or adult) no matter what their mental functioning should be kept in the situations described in this book. However, it is striking to me the similarities of Vanya (the boy in the book) and the two boys on this blog. Both with incredible intelligence and the ability to develop language and knowledge in the absence of teaching. Both with strong inner hope and light that has absolutely no earthly explanation. Both with the ability to reach out to everyone around them, and lift the day and mood of adults who should be lifting them.
After reading this book, I know I need to do more; but for now I will do this.
Will you join me?
Friday, January 7, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Hopeless
I have been remiss at posting lately. . .and I have to admit it is because for a brief moment I had a spirit of hopelessness fall over me. I mean, these children's future is just so bleak. . .so hopeless. It is impossible to remove M from the institution to get medical care. . .there are so many blocks in the way. It has never happened for a child to leave his country to get a medical procedure, so why would it happen now? Only two children have been adopted from his institution. Two! Out of hundreds that live there. So why would he be adopted?
It just seems there are too many barriers in the way. Too many hurdles. Too many challenges.
But then I am reminded of the title of my blog.
Hope.
And I am reminded of the glint shining out of one child's eyes.
Hope.
How is God moving in him?
Is God moving to provide him medical care?
Is God moving to find him a family?
Is God moving to pull more people to this institution to adopt?
Is God moving to change the conditions of his institution through prayer, donation, and support?
Is God moving to slowly change the entire system for these children in His country?
Once, we had institutions like this in America.
Once, not very long ago we institutionalized less than perfect children! One of my co-workers worked in one of these institutions as a teenager! In barely over a generation we in the United States have changed enough to now be horrified at the idea of institutions and orphanages! Look at how much has changed.
Isn't that Hope?
I do not know how God is moving for this little boy, but I know he is moving. I feel it in myself and His call to action for me. I see it in the movement of people who have met this little boy. I recognize it in his smile and the light that still shines in his eyes.
He has a purpose, and the only way to find it is for me to start yelling again!
So here I am yelling, begging, pleading for others to spread the word.
Let's get 100 people to donate $1 and find out the reason for God's hope.
Let's be God's movement for M and God's Hope.
Do you have $1?
I am hopeful again.
It just seems there are too many barriers in the way. Too many hurdles. Too many challenges.
But then I am reminded of the title of my blog.
Hope.
And I am reminded of the glint shining out of one child's eyes.
Hope.
How is God moving in him?
Is God moving to provide him medical care?
Is God moving to find him a family?
Is God moving to pull more people to this institution to adopt?
Is God moving to change the conditions of his institution through prayer, donation, and support?
Is God moving to slowly change the entire system for these children in His country?
Once, we had institutions like this in America.
Once, not very long ago we institutionalized less than perfect children! One of my co-workers worked in one of these institutions as a teenager! In barely over a generation we in the United States have changed enough to now be horrified at the idea of institutions and orphanages! Look at how much has changed.
Isn't that Hope?
I do not know how God is moving for this little boy, but I know he is moving. I feel it in myself and His call to action for me. I see it in the movement of people who have met this little boy. I recognize it in his smile and the light that still shines in his eyes.
He has a purpose, and the only way to find it is for me to start yelling again!
So here I am yelling, begging, pleading for others to spread the word.
Let's get 100 people to donate $1 and find out the reason for God's hope.
Let's be God's movement for M and God's Hope.
Do you have $1?
I am hopeful again.
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