Human Trafficking - Saddens me so much 06/21/2010
http://blog.beliefnet.com/redletters/2010/06/world-cup-sex-trafficking-focus-4-year-old-girl-kidnapped.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+TomDavisBlog+(Tom+Davis'+Blog) The above link is from one of Tom Davis's blogs. He is a wonderful author and adovc Add Comment An Audio Everyone Should Hear 06/21/2010
I was emailing an old friend today and came across this link to send him and his wife. This is from an amazing woman, Kerry Hasenbalg, that I had the opportunity to hear speak at a Christian Alliance for Oprhans conference that I attended a few years ago. I could not find the video for the web - but I did find the audio. My Husband thinks it is so good that he wants to make copies and send it to everyone he knows and even put it on the windshields of cars for those he does not know. http://http1.christianvideochannel.com/cvc/shaohannahshope/kerrysummit.mp3     I have to say that I am beside myself with the out pouring generosity toward these children. You are all angels!! Here is the donation list so far: 264 cans of formula - more than 175 pounds 36 cans of tuna pediasure baby bottles binki's wipes books clothes towels baby blankets baby cereal jump ropes rainbow parachute baby food MANY cans of protein drink mix Tylenol vitamins hundreds of special premie formula bottles - ready to eat Plus six more boxes coming from my Mom's elementary school in Tillamook. So proud of Jack and Maddy who spent days helping me get the shipments ready. This is one of the many reasons I love homeschool - this project teaches them so much about the world, God, and what is really important in life. Here are the pictures - enjoy. This is a post I wrote just two weeks before leaving to get Carter and Maraya. Our family decided that we had to do whatever we could to help as many children as possible by bringing as much aid my mom and I could physically take (and that the airline would allow). Currently the situation in Ethiopia is making it very difficult to obtain formula for infants. Not just because the cost is insanely high - but is it difficult to even acquire. In our adoption group alone - there have been two deaths of baby girls before their parents could come and get them. This should never happen. Additionally, older children do not get the much needed protein in their diet. Earlier in October, some dear friends hosted an auction called Project Impact to help with the future costs of formula, food, electricity, etc, of the orphanages and transition house that our adoption agency supports. However, because the cost is not so much the issue in getting formula, families are taking as much formula as they can over with them as donations, when they travel to pick up their children. Currently I have been sent more than $800 to buy formula to take with me. I am so honored to do this. I am hoping to get some funds donated to help pay for the cost of excess baggage. The excess baggage will cost somewhere between $130 and $180 per bag - depending on whether I need to pay the domestic airline fee or the international airline fee. I am hoping to have 6-8 extra bags between my Mom and I. I will take as many as the airline allows and as many as it takes to get the formula and other donations over there. Additionally, God was able to orchestrate a donation from Gymboree for new clothes for 350 children! This is wonderful - so many people take clothes for babies - but not for the older children - the clothes will be for children ages 2 and up. I will need to find a way to get this to Ethiopia as well. All donations need to be taken with someone as baggage, as shipping it there will have an expense in tax about 4 times the value of the goods being shipped. We are trying to be as financially efficient as possible. I want to thank all of you who are donating! You are touching little lives across the world! I will continue to post as I have more info on this. What the Lord spoke to me about adoption 06/02/2010
One night I was woke up around 2ish - completely unable to sleep, but I had all of this information repeating through my mind. You see I had been struggling with the lack of participation in various adoption and orphan care seminars that I had recently hosted. I believe God gave me these words to keep the fire in me going - because, to be honest, I was burning out. I will warn you - it is preachy - but this is what God said to me and I know it is meant for someone to read and/or hear. So here it is: James 1:27 NLT Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans. To care for orphans: What is the definition of care? to watch over; be responsible for protection; charge nurture to make provision or look out To be concerned or interested To provide needed assistance or watchful supervision Watchful oversight; charge or supervision Close attention An object or source of worry, attention feel concern or interest http://www.thefreedictionary.com/care You see, God is not here in the flesh to hold, feed, burp these babies, help the children with their math and grammar. If we are the hands and feet of God, then we must do these things for these children. These are God's children - the fatherless - if he were here in the flesh to hold and nurture these kids, he would - but he isn't and that is why he has asked us to care for them. Here is an example. If you and your spouse needed to go away and couldn't bring your children - wouldn't you ask someone to care for them - not just anyone - but someone you trust? If I asked my friends and relatives to care for my children until I send for them - that does not mean to write a check and pay for a nanny or babysitter - No - it means to care for them personally - to take care of them. Likewise, God has asked us, someone he trusts - Yes, God trusts us and he has told us to care for his children until he sends for them. That means until they go to be with him. - what an honor! To care for them when they are sick or scared, to celebrate their victories with them, guide them through their trials, give them support as they become adult children of God. This is so much more than writing a check to support an orphanage somewhere - that is essentially a nanny or a babysitter. Now don't get me wrong - I am not saying not to give financially. There are millions of children who will never be adopted for many reasons - country policy, illness, mother still alive, etc. Indeed, we need to support them and support the ones that will someday be adopted, but need food and shelter until their family can come and get them. We need to financially support them, pray for them, go to them and minister to and hold them - be the hands and feet of God. But those that the world says are eligible for adoption - we must care for them in the way in which we would expect a friend to care for our current children - in the way in which God would care for them. Here is another example: If you have adult children and under age children and you and your spouse were to pass away - wouldn't your adult children care for those younger children - bring them into their own home, raising and guiding them in the same way you would have done? God is not here in the flesh to do all of those things mentioned before - but not only are we the hands and feet of God, we are his adult children and we must take care of our younger brothers and sisters - What a disappointment to our Father if we don't. Ephesians 6:1-3 NIV Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2"Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3"that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." - I believe these verses apply to not only young children and earthly parents, but to us as adult children to our heavenly Father. Do I do everything the Bible says? I am sure that I don't - but I want to know what I need to do so I can obey - just as any child wants to please their parents. Luke 10:2 NIV The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. A dear friend of mine presented this verse to me in a way that really struck me, and then God added to it - here it is. If you look into your neighborhood, church and the world you will see pockets of harvest ready - but if you look at an orphanage, at street children - you will see fields ready and waiting to be harvested. Corn that is not harvested will rot, whither and die as the bugs, worms and birds destroy it. In the same way children who are not cared for and taught about the Lord - will also be destroyed. Their spirit will whither and die, their bodies will follow suit as the enemy attacks through illness, starvation, abuse, drugs, prostitution, worthlessness and death. Why are the workers so few if the Lord instructs us to take care of these children? It is not meant for just a few of His adult children to obey his words. The few cannot do the work of the many. Something to consider. I was on my way to get groceries this morning - without the kids - a rare occurance - when I heard this song - Give me your eyes. I am sure that I have heard it before - but I hadn't listened to the words. You see I know that God gives everyone a passion - we each just need to figure out what that passion is. I am sure if you are reading this blog you have caught on to what my passion is. However, don't misunderstand me. Not everyone has the same passion - if we all had the same one then not all of God's work would be done. It takes all of us with many different passions, skills and talents. It does however, mean that we should not be limited to just our passion - we are after all brother and sisters and need to help and support each other and each other's passions. So this song made me ask myself the question - what am I missing - not seeing. I don't want to miss a single opportunity that God has for me - whether it has to do with orphans or something else. So my prayer is this - Lord, give me your eyes so that I can see all that you want me to see and your heart and to love the way you love. Here is the chorus to the song that spoke to me today. Chorus: Give me your eyes for just one second Give me your eyes so I can see Everything that I keep missing Give me your love for humanity Give me your arms for the broken-hearted The ones that are far beyond my reach Give me your heart for the ones forgotten Give me your eyes so I can see |
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