I know many of you are adoptive moms, or moms who have adoption on your hearts. I know a few of you are longing to bring a child home–you’re just waiting (for what probably feels like way too long). I know exactly how that feels. Many of us share a common interest here–the fatherless! We are passionate about the plight of orphans and would go to the ends of the earth to rescue every single one of them.
Being involved in the adoption community has been such a huge blessing for me. I have met the most amazing families. But, as most of you know and understand all too well, I see those who wait. Children who are desperate. Children who long for the embrace of a mommy and daddy. Children who have never experienced the love of a family. I tell you, it just about breaks my heart in two. I know you understand.
Every now and then I come across a child (or children) who are in a desperate situation. Those who are either living on borrowed time due to health issues, or those who have suffered unspeakable pain and suffering. These children bring me to my knees–begging God to rescue them.
Two weeks ago I heard of two such children. Two little girls. One is 4 years old, the other just 20 months. Both are virtual babies. They lie in cribs all day long–they hardly ever leave them. They never feel the warmth of the sun on the skin, or the cool breeze that blows through their hair. The four year old weighs only 15 pounds–how can that possibly be? She cannot even sit up alone. The effects of being confined to a crib all day long means that her growth and development are severely stunted. I’m sure she stopped growing a long time ago.
Here’s the thing, friends. They need to be rescued–soon. The region in the Ukraine that they live in has put a policy in place where the locals are strongly encouraged to foster children. Their incentive to foster? $600 a month. That is a huge amount of money for these people. On paper it sounds like a great idea–get them out of the orphanages and into families. But for these children it is a disaster. The locals are rushing in and taking a child (much the same as we would go looking for a dog at the local shelter), only because of the money. Instead of spending the money on the children in their care, it unfortunately goes toward the next bottle of whiskey. Alcoholism is HUGE in this nation. There is no Home Study, no background checks–it is just a case of ‘come and get a child’. How awful.
So, why the urgency? These two little ones are two of the Father’s special children. They both have Down Syndrome. They are both fearfully and wonderfully made–the apple of His eye. They are both frail and extremely weak. If they leave the orphanage they will surely die. Isn’t it sad that they are actually way better off in an orphanage than with a local family? My heart cannot comprehend it.
V and S are absolutely adorable. I wish I could post their pictures, but due to confidentiality I am unable to. They need to be rescued. So, I am appealing to my dear bloggy friends–if you (or someone you know) may be willing to open your hearts to one of these sweet little treasures, please let me know and I can put you in touch with the right person. This is a matter of urgency. Once a local comes and takes them away they can never be adopted again.
I am praying with everything that is within me. I am praying that a family will step forward really soon. I am trusting the Lord that He will keep them in that orphanage, that no-one will come and take them away until their parents get to them.
I know that V and S are just two out of millions and millions of orphans. I know that they all need homes so desperately. But, they are two that God chose to cross my path. They are two that have broken my heart in two. The least I can do is write about them here in the hopes that one of you may just be their family.
If you know of anyone who may be interested, please e-mail me at [email protected]
I would be so grateful if you would stand with me in trusting that God would bring a family soon. Trust with me that someone will hear the call of God and GO.
