Orphan Sunday

November is Adoption Awareness Month... how fitting, right?! We couldn't be here, where we are, bringing our girl home in a more fitting month! Today is Orphan Sunday. Right now, Kellsey is still an orphan, technically. She's living in an orphanage and legally has no parents. In our hearts, she's been our daughter for over a year now. We have gotten to hold her in our arms for less than a week, but it already feels like forever. And so, those of you who have been reading my blog know that in September I plug Childhood Cancer Awareness, in October I plug Down Syndrome Awareness and now in November it will be Adoption Awareness.

For my first post...

10 Ways YOU can care for an orphan

As Christians, we have been called to care for orphans. We may not have all been called to adopt, but we have been called to care. Here are 10 ways you can do that!

1. PRAY for them. If you go to Reece's Rainbow you can find out how to become a prayer warrior for any number of the waiting children on the list. It's free, but not always easy. Your heartstrings WILL be pulled!
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. -Matthew 7:7-8

2. SPEAK up for them. Tell others about the kids waiting. Do others know that kids like Kellsey will be sent to institutions when they are only 5 years old? Are people around you aware that these children are sentenced to death at such a young age? Awareness is half the battle!
Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all the unfortunate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy. -Proverbs 31:8-9

3. PROVIDE for their needs. There are churches everywhere who send boxes at Christmas time to orphanages all over the world, but you can give RIGHT NOW to the Reece's Rainbow Christmas Angel Tree. Finances is the biggest thing holding many families back from answering God's call to adopt. Help a child get a family for Christmas!
If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food…and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? -James 2:15-16

4. SUPPORT those who support them If you go here you can see all the committed families on Reece's Rainbow. They are in various stages of bringing their children home. Go read their stories, visit their blogs, leave them messages of encouragement and love, and if you feel led, sponsor them! Every dollar counts!
…and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds... -Hebrews 10:24

5. PROTECT them from harm There are thousands of children in our foster system in the United States... maybe you have the means to be a foster parent and provide a loving home to one of these children? To give them a safe, warm bed and a comforting place to live?
The Lord protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow, but He thwarts the way of the wicked. –Psalm 146:9

6. VISIT them where they are Help your church organize mission trips... visit these children and see what is REALLY going on outside the walls of your home. See how MANY children are out there that need a home... a mom and a dad to call their own.
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of God is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. -James 1:27

7. GIVE sacrificially to them Again, SO many ways to give! SO many children out there! I will talk about one, specifically, later. We, in the United States, are SO spoiled. Just giving up one week of Starbucks would make a HUGE difference for one of these children and one of these families who longs to be their parents.
Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. -2 Corinthians 9:7

8. ENCOURAGE them to press on I'm going to take this in the aspect of the families adopting. Our process on THIS end has been smooth, but on the other side was REALLY hard, and really discouraging. We've met a family here that has had it REALLY hard. Every adoption process has its share of bumps and there comes a point, I think, when each family just gets to that point where they want to throw their hands up and say, "FORGET IT!" We don't of course, because the goal, our children, are SO worth it, but still, it's nice to hear a little encouragement along the way! :) Frank and I have appreciated SO much all of you who have prayed for and encouraged us along this journey! It's helped us immensely!!!
We urge you brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. –1 Thessalonians 5:14

9. ADOPT them into your family LOOK at these faces. Really look at them. Pray about these children. Could one of these children be YOURS? If money weren't standing in the way... could one of these children be your son or daughter? They're calling... they're waiting... they NEED a mom and dad. At age 5 they WILL go into an institution. They WILL die. They NEED a family. Is it you?!
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God is His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families… -Psalm: 68:5-6a NIV

10. MOBILIZE your church for them Does your church have an adoption ministry? Are they supporting families in the adoption process? Are they promoting the biblical stance on adoption? Why not?! God clearly calls Christians to be a fathers to the fatherless and it starts at home, in our churches. Talk to your pastor and see what you can do to help... but don't be surprised if he puts you in charge of the team! ;)
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you. -Matthew 28:18-20

What are YOU doing?? Children like Kellsey need you.