Hosting Reflection #22–Two Faces of Bravery–video

The idea of hosting an orphan can fill your mind with many questions.  Why host an orphan? What is it like? How do these orphans get along in host families?

I must say, that is one of the biggest questions and concerns from people, wondering how a school-aged orphan can temporarily fit into a family.  And honestly, it is a risk. 

It takes a brave family to welcome an unknown orphan child into their home for a month or more.  Usually, the information that a family is given to choose the child that fits them best consists of the child’s age, favorite activities, food preferences, small idea of their personality or demeanor the interview team feels after spending about 10 minutes with the child, and occasionally some background info on the child’s history.  That’s all. 

From that information it can be hard to tell how they will really fit into your family.  You do not know what they are sensitive to or what triggers their anger.  You do not know how they handle confusion and a variety of emotions.  You do not know about their weaknesses.  You do not know what abuses they have endured or injustices they have been a victim to. 

And still, hundreds of brave families each year choose to host an orphaned child or sibling set with NHFC.  They commit to loving a child unconditionally, show them what it means to have people who care about you, be gracious to them when behaviors are challenging, pray for them fervently, and show them who Christ is.

The risk is still there.  There’s still a possibility that the child will act out, lie to your face, steal behind your back, make threats, or even act on them.  And that’s what makes these families brave, to take in an orphan, even with these possibilities, and love them anyways.   

And yet, when it comes to hosting, there’s another face of bravery.  That face is found in the reflection of the orphaned child.

Only these children know what they have endured, seen, or been a victim of.   They have been deceived, hurt, neglected, and abandoned… often times by those who are meant to care for them.  Many have survived unspeakable things and have been miraculously resilient. 

…along comes the opportunity to visit with a real family in America.  Some people think that any orphan would do anything for a chance at that.  But it’s not really that simple.  Visiting a family in the US means many things to an orphan.  An opportunity for fun and a family, but they have their own risks as well.  They have to leave behind their friends (which are the only family many of them have), their orphanage (their home), their familiar foods, routines, culture, and language.  They may ask themselves – Will this family like me?  What will they do if I make a mistake?  Do they mean what they tell me?  Will they hurt me like the other adults in my life did? 

These kids who agree to this opportunity are brave.  They take the huge risk of agreeing to live with strangers in another country.  They could stay in the lives where they are comfortable with their friends and caregivers in the orphanage or foster home.  It is a risk to open yourself and allow others to love you.  It takes bravery, and that’s exactly what these kids have.

The moments when 2 brave faces, filled with questions and wonder, meet.

And all this reminds me of the way this is reflected in our lives, as followers of Christ. 

First, it takes bravery to commit your life to an invisible, unknown God.  You may  not know much about Him or what His love means, but you feel led to commit your life to him anyways.  It’s a risk to surrender to Him.  But once you do, it turns out to be the best decision you ever make.

And then there’s God.  He’s one big, brave, loving Father.  I can’t help but wonder sometimes what a sense of humor he has.  To give us fickle, selfish, undeserving people more than we could ever dream by giving us a second chance.  He chooses to take the risk on us and entrusts us with uncountable blessings, riches, and responsibilities.  What an awesome God we serve!

Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable. – C. S. Lewis

The Americans are here!–Orphanage Visits–video

Life in an orphanage can be very lonely.  You are surrounded by dozens, possibly hundreds of other kids, but that doesn’t always take the loneliness away.   Orphans need interaction, attention, love from positive role models… and those can be hard to come by.  There may be a caretaker who is responsible for many children, possibly part-time; or older orphans who may be a positive presence but have their own struggles to worry about; or there may be mentors in the community who visit on occasion.  Regardless, most of them are starving for attention.

When visitors come, it’s an exciting day.  Who are they?  Where are they from? What did they bring? Why are they here? There’s so many thoughts that could be going around in their heads.  Some will swarm the visitors, not afraid to go in for a hug or ask for some candy.  Others will cautiously stand by, wondering and watching.

Visitors who come with a smile and a hug, and maybe even a snack, game, gift or a special word to share are a ray of sunshine in an orphan’s dark days.   The memories that can be made and the love that can be shared in that short time can last long beyond the time of departure.

Throughout this week and for the next couple of weeks, the New Horizons for Children interview team will be visiting orphans in Latvia and Ukraine.  These 5 lovely ladies will be visiting orphanages and foster homes to give gifts (many from host families) and to interview children for the upcoming summer 2012 host program.

Please pray for these needs as the team travels:

1. Please pray that God goes before them and opens doors.  That he may grant favor and bless all of our efforts for the hosting program, and most importantly, for the children.
2. Please pray that everyone makes it to their destinations safely.
3. Please pray for each of the foster parents and orphanage directors that the team meets.  They are given the great duty to care for many precious orphans.  Pray that NHFC will be able to be encouragers and partners with them, to work together for the good of the most children in their care possible.
4. Please pray that the team has positive interactions with and are Jesus to each of the orphans they meet.  May they bring a special time of joy and fun to their homes.  May they share love with them, even if just for a short time.
5. Please pray for each of the previous host children, to whom the team will deliver gifts from their host families.  May they remember that they are not forgotten and are very loved.  And for those who are going to be offered adoption, may each of those children have clarity of thought and wisdom to be able to answer to that offer.
6. Please pray for all of the children, previous and new, who will be interviewed and selected to possibly be hosted for the summer program.  May God give the team wisdom and discernment to decide which of the children are prepared for the program.  It can mean unmatchable life-change for each of the ones who are chosen.

 

Below is a video clip that reminds me so much of when the interview team visits an orphanage.  So blessed, are the ones who are chosen!

 

 

 

Clip from the Russian movie “The Italian”

 

 

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
James 1:27 (ESV)

 

Wordless Week–Depraved Indifference–Video

A Video Message from My Favorite Ukrainian!!!

I came home to a very special surprise today! 

We know two families who are on their adoption trips at Sasha’s school this month.  It’s been so great to read their stories and see the pictures of him they are able to share with us everyday. 

Today, one of the families recorded a video of Sasha talking to our family.

Mon Dec 19, 2011

What an awesome early Christmas gift!
It’s so great to see that smile! 
Thank you so much RM!

Dear Sasha–Video

I saw this commercial a while back… and it just stole my heart.

“Dear Sophie” commercial by Google Chrome

A few months ago, I was thinking about all the things I wished I could tell Sasha.  I had just gotten to speak with him on the phone, but the conversations could never get very deep because of the language barrier.  Even to this day, I hang up the phone always knowing I have so much more on my mind that I wish I could communicate with him.

The thought of a journal came to me.  I considered starting a journal for him and writing to him all the things I want to tell him, the things I am praying for, the things I am wondering about… Until I was reminded of the “Dear Sophie” commercial by Google Chrome.

Yes. It just seemed so perfect! 

I set up an email account so my family and I could send emails to Sasha at any time.  This way I can attach videos, pictures, and other special things with the click of a mouse. 

Sasha does not know that we have this account set up, and they are not for him to read right now.  Someday we will share these with him and show him how much we have been thinking of him and praying for him. 

He probably never had a baby book that his mom made while she was pregnant with him… or a special collection of prayers that were prayed for him before he was born… but he will have this.  It’s a part of his story and I’m so blessed to be contributing!

If you would like to send a little note to him, a picture, a prayer, or a little word of encouragement feel free to write! 

dear.sasha2011(at)gmail(dot)com 

 

For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
   How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
   they would outnumber the grains of sand—
   when I awake, I am still with you.
Psalm 139:13-18 (NIV)

Hosting Reflection #18–The Spiritual Battle for Orphans

Caring for orphans is a battle. Fighting their fight is not for the weak. It may break the plans you had for your life, your spirit, your heart.  I’ve seen many people go through very difficult situations lately, all for the sake of a special orphan in their life.  They struggle with facilitators, agencies, government, and caregivers.  They would give anything for their special children, and get worn thin from the struggle. 

This week I was reminded of a passage from Scripture:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

This verse reminds me of a very powerful truth.  It may feel like we are struggling with governments, authorities, and regulations… but there is a larger spiritual reality in operation.  There is a spiritual battle waging.  There is a war in the heavenly realms for the lives and souls of the millions of orphans around the world. 

The enemy is trying “…to steal and kill and destroy” but God has so much more in store for them “…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 (NIV)  And that is the reason we are fighting.  We believe that God has a full and blessed life for orphans.  We may not be able to reach them all, but we can make a difference one at a time.  And Satan is not happy.

He will try to put every obstacle in our paths.  Using anyone and anything that he can.  But take heart, God is on our side.  “no weapon forged against you will prevail,and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,and this is their vindication from me,”declares the LORD.” Isaiah 54:17 (NIV)   God supplies us with the resources, energy, passion, perseverance, and faith to keep fighting.   The things that we fight with are greater than the threats, limitations, and barriers that any man can put against us.

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4 (NIV)

God has given us authority over the threats of the enemy through our faith in Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. 

But what happens when it just seems like God is not there?  How does satan keep winning in the battle for orphans?  Why can’t God just make it all better?  That is not for me to say or us to even know.  We need to believe that no matter what happens… if an adoption gets disrupted, children don’t get chosen for hosting, teens say ‘no’ to adoption, and authorities interrupt a family’s dream to give an orphaned child a forever home… that God is still in control.  Indefinitely.

He is all-knowing and all-powerful.  It’s very humbling when we accept that God can take care of all orphans.   

You, LORD, hear the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.
Psalm 10:17-18 (NIV)

I know, believing this does not take away the heartache and pain.  And I have not been through this personally, although I got a slight taste of it this summer.  I felt led to post about this today in hopes of being some encouragement to those of you who are in the throes of the spiritual battle.  God is for you.  Don’t give up the fight for these kids who have no one else to fight for them!

 

Children of God

Orphan Sunday–Nov 6th–Be a Voice for the Fatherless

There are 147 million orphans in this world.  How can anyone begin to make a dent in this heartbreaking statistic?  Especially when not all can host an orphan, and not all can adopt…

But everyone has a voice.

You could use your voice to speak up for the fatherless. 

Orphan Sunday is one way that voices unite around the world for the cause of the fatherless.  Each and every one of those 147 million has a face, a name, a story… And on this day, a difference can be made for these children in our churches.

Orphan Sunday – November 6th 2011

On Orphan Sunday, Christians stand for the orphan. We are a people called to defend the fatherless…to care for the child that has no family…to visit orphans in their distress.
Each event is locally-led. Sermons and small groups, concerts and prayer gatherings, shared meals and youth activities—each rousing believers with God’s call to care for the orphan, and what we can do in response.
From many sources, one voice. On November 6th, thousands of events echo across America and around the globe, all sharing a single goal: that God’s great love for the orphan will find echo in our lives as well.
Orphan Sunday is your opportunity to rouse church, community and friends to God’s call to care for the orphan.

Please prayerfully consider what God may have you do on this day to defend the cause of the fatherless. 

IDEAS: 

• Show an Orphan Sunday video and then lead a prayer for orphans.
• Host “The Orphan’s Table” at home or church. (I would be glad to send you New Horizons for Children information to share as well!!! )
• See 25 diverse event examples from 2010!
• See New Ideas for 2011 posted by advocates nationwide.
• See Orphan Sunday Ideas for Ministry-Specific Event Ideas for Orphan Sunday.

Defend the cause of the fatherless.
Isaiah 1:17

About Orphan Hosting–Video

Updated by me! 😉

Please feel free to share!

Hosting Reflection #15–No Longer Orphans, We are “Children of God”–video

Each of the 202 orphans who were welcomed into a New Horizons host family this summer each came to America with their own stories, backgrounds, and burdens.  They have been neglected, abused, and deprived of the love of a family.  Many of them have lost their sense of worth and joy. 

And that’s exactly what the host families were able to give to them.  They were loved and cherished.  They were given the chance to receive words of life, rather than the words of death that have been spoken to them throughout their childhood.  They were able to take with them the knowledge that they were no longer forgotten and abandoned.  There is a family in the US that loves them and a Heavenly Father who loves them even more.

Host families were given the opportunity to choose a special promise from God for their child.  They then made a cardboard sign with that promise, and take a picture of the child holding it, as they hold on to the promise God has for their lives.  Each of the pictures has been compiled to make a beautiful video:

“Children of God” by Third Day

 

These promises are not only for the host children.  These promises are for you. They are for me.  We began far away, orphaned because of sin, but now all of us who are in Christ are children of God.  He has spoken each of these promises to every one of us.  And even speaks those still now to those who have yet to become children in His eternal family.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us,
that we should be called children of God!
1 John 3:1 (NIV)

“Where Would You Go If You Couldn’t Go Home?”–Orphan Care & Joplin Tornado Relief

What a busy week.  Not only have I been working on getting ready for summer orphan hosting, but also have been hosting a small short term missions team from my home church.  They have come to serve with my church – James River Assembly – Love417 – and their relief work in Joplin, our nearby town that was recently devastated by an F5 tornado. 

I have seen the destruction firsthand, it’s unlike anything I ever could have imagined.   Trees stripped of their every leaf, branch, and bark.  Winds so strong that it stripped upholstery from inside vehicles, ripped muscle tissue from arms grasping on for life, and stole children from their mothers’ embrace.  8,000+ families lost their homes.

These houses, apartments, and mobile homes did not just have a few broken windows, they were flattened.  These people have no where to call home.   Our team couldn’t constantly help but wonder where all these people have gone in the wake of this shocking natural disaster. 

Now, you ask, what could this have to do with orphan care?  It says a lot to me.  The song “Where Would You Go” by The Mark Chapman Band emotionally paints that picture of these victims’ utter homelessness & desperation.  It occurred to me, this is exactly what millions of orphans around the world face.  None of these children have a place to call a forever home.    Where could they go?  Who can they count on when they don’t have a family that makes a house a home? 

 

“Where Would You Go (If You Couldn’t Go Home)? ” by The Mark Chapman Band

Where would you go if you couldn’t go home?
What would you do if everything you ever knew was gone?
I can’t imagine what that’s like
I pray I’ll never have to know
Where would you go if you couldn’t go home?