Trolled

Where to begin.

Last night I finished a big project for BiblioPlan and then headed for the blog to start writing a post that has been in the works for several months now.

I was going to announce a $5,000.00 matching grant for a very precious little boy across the ocean.

I was going to share the story behind the matching grant so that you could see how God is moving for one little boy across the ocean.

I was going to do that last night so I could post it today.

But there was a comment on my blog that I needed to moderate, so I went there first. And when I saw that comment, I found out that I had been trolled-- trolled by an anonymous writer who accused me of COPPING OUT on Everett, Olson and Porter.

     

This troll was disappointed that I would beg for prayers and not "rally the troops" for those boys. He told me that asking for prayers and not donations was disappointing because every time I ask for money, it comes pouring in.

This troll told me that he was not alone in his feelings. That there were others who agreed with them.

Wow.

Prayer is a cop-out. A side-show.

Wow.

Let me make this clear to everyone reading this blog.

I am a Christian.  I love the Lord with all my heart, soul and mind.  What I do on this blog is a reflection of my relationship with the Lord and what He is calling me to do.  Pure and simple.  Three years ago I would never have dreamed that we would adopt a special needs child and I would have laughed myself silly if someone would have told me that Rob and I would be a voice for special needs children in Eastern Europe.  Yet here we are. We do what we do only because GOD HAS LED US TO THIS PLACE.

Not ONE fundraiser have we done without prayer.  It is a good thing because every single fundraiser has been insane, ridiculous and outrageous.  Each time I feel the tapping in my spirit I find that where that tapping is leading is into a place where I don't want to go.  Every time I step out in faith it is off a cliff and I am without a parachute.   

Prayer is not a cop-out.  It is the beginning.  It is the foundation.  Without God I am nothing.  Without the whisperings of the Holy Spirit, I am just another noisy person yelling for my cause.  If the Lord had tapped on my shoulder for me to raise money for Porter and Everett and Olson I would have obeyed.  Instead, on Wednesday morning, I wasn't planning on blogging.  I woke up and lay in bed and in the quiet of those moments before my feet hit the floor the Lord tapped on my spirit.  A blogpost.  A call to prayer for 3 little boys.  That is what that tapping spoke into my heart.  I hadn't planned on blogging.  I blogged out of obedience to the Lord of Hosts who is alive and moving and who cares about the Fatherless.

And so I blogged.

For three little boys who are living in hell.

Calling people to PRAY FOR THEM.  Begging prayers for 3 boys.

     

To some it was a cop-out.  To me it was an act of obedience.

Michelle Enskat wrote me these sweet words yesterday... only a few hours before Anonymous decided to troll my blog:

"Oh sweet friend. I'm seriously trying to comment on your blog post to thank you and your readers for the prayers....but I keep crying. I have been overwhelmed with very nice messages from your readers and it has made my heart smile. Thank you for the post...I know it was hard...but what you did has brought me peace. I feel people lifting us up. I feel the protection that is covering us...through every step of the process."

Michelle has it right.  With prayer comes peace.  Protection.  God's presence in the midst of hard times.

Prayer is the foundation for everything we do.

I have not abandoned the Enskats or the Ericksons.  Not by any stretch.

Prayer is not abandonment.  When we were in process to adopt Aaron we BEGGED FOR PRAYERS for him too.  It was the number one request we gave people.  Money was the side-show.  We were willing to sell the shirts off our back for him.  What we wanted and needed for him was for prayers to rain down on his head as he sat and waited for us to come.

And in the final analysis, when Aaron is grown up and can look back at his story with clarity and understanding, I believe with all my heart that he will be most grateful for all the whispered prayers spoken on his behalf.  Prayers that were raised in love and concern.  Prayers that were offered for his safety and protection.  Prayers that his mind and heart would not be damaged beyond repair at a place that sucks the very soul out of a child.  I believe that Aaron will come to know that it was those prayers that preserved him in his hours of greatest need.  The prayers on this side of the ocean and the prayers raised by his nannies at his babyhouse who begged God to send him a family.

Olson and Porter and Everett need those same prayers.  Prayers for protection and safety.  Prayers that their minds will be protected.  Prayers that their hearts will stay tender and soft.

I am not all-powerful and I do not have the ability to raise thousands of dollars for children apart from the Lord.  I do not.  Each time I try it fails.

The Lord didn't call me to raise funds for the Ericksons or the Enskats at this moment in time.  But He did stir in hearts on Wednesday and money WAS RAISED for Porter and Everett and Olson.  Many who read my post not only prayed but gave.  Anyone reading this blogpost is more than welcome to pour the financial blessings out for these families.  I WOULD LOVE THAT!!  Anyone reading this blogpost is absolutely welcome to fundraise for these families.  I WOULD LOVE THAT EVEN MORE!!  I will point you in the right directions if you are interested in getting involved in helping them raise funds!!

I didn't wake up on Wednesday morning stirred in my heart to raise funds for three boys.  But I have been stirred in my heart to raise funds for Heath.  My Heath.  That is whom God has chosen for me to shout for in this season of time.   God has raised up a $5,000.00 matching grant for Heath that starts today.



In light of Anonymous' post last night I am going to hold off on sharing Heath's story for another day.

Just know that this is God's work.  He is the one who is moving for Heath.  When you hear the story you will understand.

From now on, every donation to Heath's account is now doubled.  The goal is to get Heath FULLY FUNDED.  The goal is to get him out of hell.  Heath and Porter share the same world.  They sit in the same sheds.  They eat the same food.  They stare at the same walls.  They hear the same groans and moans.  They live in the same nothingness.

We saw their world. We saw Heath in his nothingness.

Our goal is to completely remove the obstacle of money.

A full grant.

So that Heath's family has NO EXCUSE for not hearing and obeying God's call on their hearts.

I am going to be doing a Giveaway for Heath.  I have a few big prizes.  Again - I am not going to start that today BUT EVERY DONATION FROM HERE ON OUT WILL BE COUNTED TOWARDS THAT GIVEAWAY.  Just drop me a note in my comments how much you donated with your FIRST and LAST name. You will be put on the list.  

Heath's fund needs to reach $15,347.44 to reach the $5,000 matching.

THAT'S INSANE!

AND SINCE PRAYER IS THE FOUNDATION - I BEG YOU TO PRAY.

Pray for Heath's Matching Grant that God will bless it.  Pray that a family will step forward.  Pray that hearts will be stirred toward the orphan, the fatherless, the oppressed.  Pray that the adoptions of Porter and Heath will break down the gates at that institute and MORE boys will be listed. More boys will have hope.  Pray for Heath.  Pray for Heath.

Please Pray.  I BEG you.


CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO HEATH'S GRANT ACCOUNT

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO EVERETT AND OLSON'S FAMILY

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO PORTER'S FAMILY