Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Hobo Story

We had a little Hobo in our midst... 


He came in out of the rain begging for a few morsels of food..


I wasn't sure I wanted him in our house... I mean he was rather scruffy looking...


And his face looked like it hadn't been washed in weeks...


But then I looked into his eyes... 


Seriously... how can you turn that face away???


So I gave the little hobo some breakfast and sent him on his way...

Hope he comes back.... I kind of liked having him around!!

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At the beginning of January there were around 10 children on Reece's Rainbow who all had one thing in common.  They all had arthrogryposis.  Since that is Aaron's condition - all of those children had a piece of my heart.  Not just my heart but the hearts of five other women too.  We grieved for those 10 who had no families and in our grief we decided to do something about it.  We banded together into a tiny, yet powerful little group and we set out to bring hope to the kids with arthrogryposis this year.  We prayed.  We raised matching grant money.  We advocated.  We yelled.  We prayed some more.  We screamed.  We raised more money.  We prayed even harder.  We yelled even louder.  And God has blessed our tiny little efforts.

Yesterday we stopped and took inventory in  our tiny little group.  We named the children with arthrogryposis who are either already home or heading for home since January 1st.

Roland (home). Laurel (home).  Alexis (parents are currently in country). Igor (parents are close to traveling). Rita. Sandra.  Anastasia.  Victoria.

EIGHT REECE'S RAINBOW CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN FOUND IN THE LAST YEAR WHO ALL HAVE ARTHROGRYPOSIS!

Thousands and thousands of dollars raised for these kids.  Hundreds of hours spent yelling and praying and advocating.  

I cried as I wrote out those names.  Each one precious to me.  I am beyond grateful for the families who have stepped up.  I am forever thankful to every single one of you who came alongside us and prayed over and donated to and advocated for those kids.  We rejoice together.  Though you had no idea there was a small group working together - you guys were as much a part of that tiny group as anyone.  You gave.  You gave abundantly.  You yelled.  You prayed.  There just are no words.

There are four kids left on Reece's Rainbow who have arthrogryposis.  

I know that is not ALL the children in Eastern Europe with that condition but these are four that we know about.  There is one more that we want to share as soon as we have permission.  A precious little girl from Africa.  Oh we desperately want to see her in a family!!

Three of the RR kids currently have matching grants THAT END TODAY. 

Those matching grants are ALL OR NOTHING.  

The match is met - the child gets the match.  The match is not met then the donor has made it clear they will donate the money to another cause.  Another place.  Because obviously we don't care!  OUCH!   I don't know this donor.  One of the members in our group was able to convince them to offer the matching.  They know little about what we do.  They are not convinced that anyone would care about disabled kids across the ocean.

NOT CARE??

Not care about Aubree??  The family that just adopted Laurel met this sweet girl and she is a gem!!  She is in a NICE institute that has missionaries who have helped to change it from one of the worst places in that country to one of the best.  Aubree has flourished!!  YES WE CARE!!  Please - Aubree's grant account needs to say $615.00 in order for a $500.00 matching grant to be added to her account.  PLEASE SHOW YOU CARE!!  She needs $180.00 by midnight tonight!
 
AUBREE HAS MET HER MATCH!!! THANK YOU FOR CARING!!
 

NOT CARE??

Not care about Elizaveta?  Not care that in all of her pictures she can't manage a smile because she has little to smile about??  Oh please someone go make that child smile.  Give her hope!  Please care!!  Her grant account must read $600 in order for her to receive a $500.00 matching grant.  

ELIZAVETA HAS MET HER MATCH!!!  THANK YOU FOR CARING!!

NOT CARE??

Not care about Raymond??  Oh please please please look beyond the horrific picture and bad hair cut and SEE this boy.  I bet this kid is going to shock us all at how precious he is!  Not care that if Raymond is left alone he will spend his entire days laying in a crib??  How can I not care about that??  Raymond's grant account needs to reach $1700.00 in order for him to receive a $500 matching grant.  He needs $333.00 by midnight tonight.
 
RAYMOND HAS MET HIS MATCH!!! THANK YOU FOR CARING!!

I know... it is a tall order.  All total we need $712.00 for the three children.  I can't write that check or I would.  I can donate a little and ask that others donate a little and maybe, maybe we can chip away at that amount.  

I know we care.  I know you care.  Let's show this donor what caring looks like!  These kids matter.  They matter to God and they matter to us.  

PLEASE CARE.

And don't forget to vote.  ONE MORE TIME.  Vote today.  Then I won't bug you any more!!






CARE!!









1 comment:

  1. Thanks for letting us know about the matching grants!
    It's a blessing to be able to help.
    And that is sure one cute little hobo. :-)

    ReplyDelete

Loving words from kind people make our hearts glad!