Enemy Territory

Weary worn families were given some relief yesterday.  You gave.  Thank you.   You dug deep and helped some families out.  Thank you.  It makes a difference.  Every single five dollar donation makes a difference.  It lets them know they are NOT alone.  It allows them to keep moving forward. 

Adoption is hard because the enemy does not want to give up territory.  The world of the orphanage is his world.  The despair and sorrow and hopelessness are his work.  The children caged inside their cribs are his design.   Those who wade into that world are assaulted from every side.  The spiritual battle is intense.  Without the church standing with the families, they are left vulnerable and open.  We need to stand.  People we need to stand with those who are choosing to adopt.  We need to come alongside and encourage them, remind them that they are not alone.  We need to whisper Scripture into their battle weary ears.  They are in enemy territory.  We need to give to ease their burdens.  We need to encourage them again and again.  The families need us. They desperately need us.

Yesterday you gave.  Thank you.  You let some families know that they are not alone in enemy territory.  You reminded them that God is going to provide.  Thank you.   Thank you.


I want to share the words of one of the families here (somewhat edited):

"Wow. $280 in my paypal account. Renee Tam and Julia Arnold Nalle, thank you so much for posting Mateo on your blogs. Thank you friends. I've felt such despair for the last few weeks. Despair that, no matter what, my son would be transferred without a family. Because of money. $280. closer to bringing him home. And Tony sold some electrical something or other on Ebay today! I don't know anything about what it is.. but it's $130. closer as well! The despair I've been feeling. I think there are some glimmers of hope pushing through! I'm almost afraid to hope. But now I think I just might be able to send my dossier....! Oh please let this be real. I hate to feel such hope just to sink again. Friends, this is so hard. I never knew. Until now. Just how hard this journey is. My utmost respect goes out to each of you who have been through or are going through this process. My goodness it takes the wind right out of you! Thank you all. To everyone who has donated.. you take my breath away. Thank you. A million thank yous!!! "


And this from another family on their blog (again slightly edited):

Just this morning as I cried and felt the waves of fear rush over me...

Our fundraiser received 9 donations.

9 donations in less than 1 hour.

From $588 to $850.

And most of those donations were from people we do not even know.

I am not going to take a moment to worry.

Nope.

That is of THIS world - and you can HAVE it!

I'll take my Jesus.

And His promises to me.

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? Psalm 56:3-4

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.1 Samuel 1:27

THANK YOU FOR GIVING YESTERDAY.  THANK YOU!!

If you missed out on making a difference... if you weren't able to give yesterday.... Just click here to see the families again... And look below to see their precious children.  These are the babes for whom we are fighting.  These are the littles ones for whom we yell.  These children.  These are the ones you helped support yesterday.

THANK YOU.  THANK YOU.

   

   

And of course I  can't ever forget my sweet Artem and Spencer..... 

The motherless babes who need families....

Friday Families = Simple Satisfaction

Here's the deal.  I struggle on a daily basis with knowing how in the world I can help the families who are scraping their pennies together to go get their kids.  I know that you guys get tired tired tired of my constant pleas!!  I know I sound like a broken record all the time.  Pleading for this family and this child. 

I can't help it.

I SAW where many of these babies will end up and it is THE driving force that calls me to stand with the families and fight for the kids.  Every single one of them deserves a home.  A family.  Love.  Every single one of them. 

I ache when I receive the never-ending flow of e-mails and read the blogs of families who are working overtime, selling everything they own and taking out loans to raise the ransom needed to bring their little ones home. 

I don't have enough money of my own to make a dent in all the pots of all the families.  Oh how I wish I did.  We drop in what we can and pray that others will join us in the giving. 

Honestly, I wish I had a huge Giveaway to encourage giving.  I wish I could fill this blog up with gifts to help raise money for the families.  I wish.  I don't have anything to give.   No big prizes.  No big incentives.  Just the simple satisfaction that every single drop in a bucket means the world to the families.  It tells them they are not alone.  It gives them the strength to go another day.  It offers them hope that God IS going to provide.  That is ALL I can give.  Simple satisfaction.

Want some?? Simple satisfaction??  The joy of giving without getting anything in return?  Giving to bless?  These families could give you some simple satisfaction.  Not an iPad.  Not a Kindle.  Not a gift card.  Just the simple satisfaction that on THIS Friday you blessed them with a gift.  No strings attached except to let them know they NEED to bring their babe home.  Simple satisfaction.  The knowledge that you made someone smile.  The joy of helping to fill up a bucket.  One donation at a time.

Mateo for the Moore Family

Adelyn for the Annessa Family

(They are having an awesome Giveaway on their blog!)

.

Bradley, Bryant and Brooks for the Deml family

 

Tommy and Steven for the Burman family

Charlotte for the Dirkes family.

Andrey for the Carmichael Family!

Lillian for the Brunswick Family

Eddie for the Evensen Family

Dillon for the Bittermann Family

Simple Satisfaction..... There are many other families besides these.... GO HERE TO MEET THEM...

P.S..... Did you see Artem's account?????

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS HIS MAMA???

AND DON'T FORGET MY SWEET SPENCER....

HE DESPERATELY NEEDS A MAMA TOO!!

I Will Come To You

I don't usually put You Tube links on my blog. 

But this song made me cry.

So many layers.  

Earthly adoption is but a tiny reflection of the adoption we receive from the Lord of the Heavens.

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

All of us lost.  Caught in a world that is not really our home.  Unable on our own to break free of the many chains that bind us.  Sin, wretchedness, hopelessness.  

BUT GOD.

Crashing through the heavens.

SACRIFICING ALL TO RANSOM US.  

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

We are not abandoned.  Not lost.  We have been found.  The ransom paid.  Freed.  Forgiven.  Cleansed.  Adopted.  Adopted into HIS family.  Dressed in Royal Clothes.  Sons and Daughters of the King of Kings.  

Earthly adoption is but a tiny reflection of the adoption we receive from the Creator of the Universe.

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God."

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

I will not leave you as orphans.....

One of the Reece's Rainbow families is selling shirts THIS WEEK only.

They may look like adoption t-shirts but think again.

They are much more. 

They are reminders of what we have in Christ.

I'm getting one.

I'm going to wear it proudly.

I've been adopted.

Adopted by the King of Kings.

Are you??

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

Go here to help support an earthly adoption.  Go to John 14 to remember that we have a Savior who has gone through the heavens.  Thanks be to God!!

One Voice

Your blog has more followers than my blog, thus, you must be better than me. 

If only I had that many followers than think of how many kids I could save.

What difference will my little blog entries make with few to listen?

I would be better off getting those with lots of followers to take up my cause. 

Maybe those who are famous.  Or rich.  Because if I had a HUGE following and vast amounts of money - Goodness - I could change the world. 

Just think.

Lots of orphans would find families.

Bigger is better.  Right?

More is best.  Correct?

Being small and insignificant means I should just quit now before I completely embarrass myself.

Who in the world do I think I am to think I can make the least bit of difference to anyone?

I am just a total failure.

Me and my insignificant little voice.

I quit.

I not only quit - I'm not even going to try.

I'm not even going to start.

I don't matter.

--------------------------------------

If Molly, a college student from New York, with little money and few followers had said that...

If Molly had thrown up her hands and decided that she was too small and insignificant to matter....

If Molly had seen the need but turned away in despair at the enormity of what she was doing...

If Molly had said no...

Then we may have missed our precious treasure.

We may have walked away.

But in her tiny corner of the universe, with no power or riches, no fame or glory, just a passion and a love, she saw the need, she saw the desperate need of our little son and she yelled.

With everything in her she yelled.  She cried.  She begged.  She blogged.  She facebooked.  She fundraised.  One lonely college student with little money and few followers. 

While he sat in a shed across the ocean.  Lost. 

She yelled.

One voice.

And the Holy Spirit did the rest.

One voice.

And God.

We heard.

We wept.

We answered.

You don't need riches.

You don't need fame.

You don't need glory.

You just need a voice. 

You just need a voice.

The Holy Spirit will do the rest.

God will take care of the rest.

Please - Be a Voice.

These girls need a voice.

 BE A VOICE.

All these precious girls are listed on Reece's Rainbow.

Sunday Praises!

SEE THIS SWEET BOY OF MINE????

Yesterday, despite feeling quite lousy with a sore throat, earache and a headache.... Elijah sat for his Board of Review and passed.  He is now a LIFE SCOUT.

One step away from EAGLE.

I am beyond proud of him. 

----------------------------------------

ARTEM!!!

He now has almost 14,000.00 in his grant account.

COME ON!!  Where's His Mama???

--------------------------

And here's a much needed praise for us personally....

We are constantly feeling like we are climbing uphill with all things related to BIBLIOPLAN.  We are in a mad dash to get all four years finished by next summer.  We have schools and homeschooling families who want what we have not finished writing yet.  Considering this is our livelihood... we feel desperate much of the time.  It is exhausting and overwhelming on an almost daily basis.

But... This week... we CAN rejoice because by the end of the week, the Modern Textbook will be FINISHED.

Finished!

Woo Hoo!!!

Of course the To-Do list is still a MILE long but TWO TEXTBOOKS DOWN, only TWO to go!!

-------------------------

And finally......

When Aaron fell on Friday, we were a bit freaked out because he fell on the stairs and nobody saw it happen.  Since he has been home, he has never fallen up or down the stairs.  He is extremely careful with stairs so this fall was a bit of shock to all of us.   While we were in the ER and Aaron was finally talking again (he went into shut-down mode for several hours), Ben and I asked him what happened. 

You have to understand that though Aaron talks from the time he wakes up, until he is sound asleep at night, his vocabulary is still quite a bit limited.  He tried to tell us why he fell.  It involved something BIG and something YELLOW and going up one step and then Aaron fell. 

HMMM...

Big, yellow something. 

Our dog Summer???

Nope.

Aaron knows her name and would have told us if she had knocked him down. 

The cats are shades of black and are small so they were out of the running.

The dump truck he was playing with was yellow but it was in the driveway.

The brick steps are red.

HMMM....

Ben and I looked at each other and scratched our heads.  We had absolutely no idea what caused him to fall.  Despite pantomining and Aaron repeating his story several times we were totally clueless...

Until yesterday.  Aaron, the MIGHTY, was back outside happily playing.  I went to check on him and he pointed to the BIG YELLOW HULA HOOP at his feet and said "Big, Yellow, Mama."

AHHHHH... Aaron was trying to get the BIG YELLOW HULA HOOP up the stairs in case it rained.  Not that there was a cloud in the sky but our little paranoid weatherman is never too careful about the possibility of the stinky rain getting his things wet.  So he decided the BIG YELLOW HULA HOOP needed to be on the porch!! 

And that Big Yellow Hula Hoop got the best of our MIGHTY Aaron!!

It beat the tar out of him!!

And that my friends is what happened....

Honestly - we were relieved. 

To know that it wasn't just because he had been unsteady but had instead gotten tangled up in the Hula Hoop made us feel somewhat better about the accident.

And between you and me.....I think from now on Aaron will just let the Hula Hoop get wet!!

No More

No more falls.  No more hospitals.  No more cuts.  No more bruises. 

I'm grieving for my little son.

He's endured so much in his seven years. 

Yesterday he tripped going up our outside steps and fell face first onto our brick steps. 

Blood everywhere. 

I can't take it anymore.

I can't take watching my little son suffer one more injury.  I can't stand having to hold him down while doctors work on him.  It is beyond words hard to look him in the eyes knowing that it will happen again and again in his life. 

Sad.

Meet The Lost Boys

Finding the words to tell this story eludes me.

My emotions spill over as I try to write down all that is happening and all that needs to happen.

Our Lost Boys.  The ones we left behind.  The ones who sit day after day on benches and in empty rooms with nothing to do.

The boys Aaron lived with for a year of his life.  Boys who are tall in body but young in mind.  Boys who can't walk or talk.  Boys who know nothing of the world outside the walls of the institute.  Boys who have given up.  Boys who lie day after day in their cribs staring at the ceiling.  Boys lost and hidden in a village in the middle of nowhere. 

Through some major opening of doors by God alone, after we came home last year, we were put in touch with a Christian ministry team (Slavik and Alyona) who were willing to add the Lost Boys to their already long list of children they minister to in the orphanages, mental institutes and prisons in their area. 

In December they walked through those green gates for the first time.  Though they were only allowed to bring in some supplies and do little more than make initial contact, we rejoiced.  We raised support money.  We praised God.  The door had opened.  But only for a moment.  The Director dragged her feet to let them back in.  Time and again they would call and request a visit but each time they were denied. 

Finally, at the beginning of July, seven agonizing months later, they were allowed back in.  In an effort to let the Director know how much they cared, they took with them a whole host of gifts and much-needed supplies for the boys.  Three air conditioners for the boys in the laying down rooms, diapers, fruit, and medical supplies were part of what they brought.  All this paid for by those who have been quietly donating to the Lost Boys. 

On that visit they were able to visit the 'highest functioning' boys.  Those who were in the 'best condition'.  Though they were met with suspicion and nervous acceptance, they were able to do a puppet show with the boys.  They had someone dressed as a Tiger and he was definitely a big hit.  Finally, they gave each boy a small gift.  We were given pictures of that visit but told we could not share them.  It broke our hearts to not be able to let the world see the precious boys who stole our hearts.  But we were hopeful.  They had ministered directly to 20 of the boys. It was a huge step and we brimmed with hope. 

Unfortunately more months passed and honestly, we despaired.  It is so hard to watch other families who are entering other institutes just as we did and who are receiving warm and open welcomes.  It is hard to sit back and bite nails, wondering if our boys will ever see the light of day outside their sheds.  It is hard to wait over here with no news and no way to move things faster.  It is hard to sit and pray and long and give, hoping and believing that God has more in store for our Lost Boys across the ocean.

Then two weeks ago we received an e-mail.  Alyona and Slavik had been allowed back in.  Again they showered the institute with gifts.  Again they were able to minister to 20 of the highest functioning boys.  Again they had the opportunity to share with the boys and the caretakers about Jesus.  And this time the reception they received was open and warm.  The atmosphere was different and the invitation to return has already been extended.  They have already been invited back.

They were invited back.

The director wants them to come back.

The caretakers talked to them, shared their hopes, dreams, their desires for the boys. 

God is moving the mountain.

Slowly.  Oh so very slowly.  Bit  by tiny bit.  The mountain is moving.

They sent us video of the visit.  I am allowed to share it here.  On the video are some of our Lost Boys.  The highest functioning boys at the institute.  Though you can't tell in the video, several of the boys can't walk and very few of them can actually talk but they are precious, precious boys.  A few of the younger boys are new.  They have arrived since we left.  It breaks our hearts when we study the pictures and look at the new faces.  We wonder where they came from and whether they are available for adoption.  At this point we have no way of finding out.

I cry each time I see the video.

I bawl when I see the pile of gifts.  There are toys in that pile.  Toys for our Lost Boys.  Toys that the caretakers promised they would give to the boys.  Building blocks.  Coloring books.  Playdough.  Meager by the world's standards but for the boys across the ocean, unbelievable treasures. 

For 2 hours this year.... TWO HOURS.... 20 of our Lost Boys have had a chance to listen to stories, to receive small gifts, to color, to laugh, to hear about Jesus.  Two hours in ONE YEAR.

It is meager.  It is pitiful.  Thousands of dollars have been donated for those TWO SIMPLE hours.  But look on their faces.  See their joy.  It is a start.  A huge start.  The need is desperate.  The despair behind those gates is overwhelming but for TWO HOURS this year 20 Lost Boys were held, cherished, loved.




Please pray.  Pray that the gates will stand open.  We have so many hopes and dreams for these boys.  Our hearts long for ALL the boys - all 110 of them.  We grieve that only the 'best' were allowed to attend but for now we rejoice.  God IS moving.  The forgotten boys across the ocean are NOT forgotten.

If you desire to share in this ministry - all donations, large and small are welcome.  Again, what has happened so far may seem meager but in reality - the money donated has helped bring in MUCH-NEEDED supplies as well as communicated to the people inside those gates how much we truly care about the boys.  Just the fact that the boys in the laying down rooms now have air conditioners is a HUGE blessing.  With a budget that allows for no extras, the fruit, drinks, diapers - they are priceless treasures. 

The caretakers WANT to have things for the boys to do.  They requested that Alyona and Slavik bring crafts and hands-on activities for the boys to make.  They want them to come back.  They invited them to come back.  We want to do everything in our power to assist the ministry team each time they do go back.  Every time the ministry team makes the trip it costs them $125.00 US in gas alone.  Please consider donating.   For those who are donating monthly - THANK YOU SO MUCH.  Your gifts are NOT wasted.  You are making inroads into a facility that has been closed since it was built.  Thank You.  Thank You!!  The information for donating to the ministry team is on the right sidebar of this blog.  Please.

As far as the video goes - Please do not remove it from this blog.  You are welcome to link to the blog from your blog or from Facebook and Twitter but please don't take it off the blog.  I assured the ministry team that we would treat it with utmost care.  If you don't understand why - just read this blog post from a few months ago.  It may help enlighten you to why we share the video we have been gifted with extreme care.

Thank you for watching.  Thank you for caring.  Thank you for praying for the forgotten boys across the ocean.  These are a few of the boys Aaron lived with for a year of his life.  These are the boys who sat in the shed and empty room with him.  These are the boys who called me Mama when they saw me.  These are the boys who looked with longing each time we walked into their world.  These are the boys in our Sad Reality posts.  These are a few of our Lost Boys.  They hold a special place in our hearts. 

Coming soon.... glimpses of the Lost Boys....

This is what the LORD says—

he who made a way through the sea,

a path through the mighty waters,

who drew out the chariots and horses,

the army and reinforcements together,

and they lay there, never to rise again,

extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

“Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness

and streams in the wasteland.

The wild animals honor me,

the jackals and the owls,

because I provide water in the wilderness

and streams in the wasteland,

to give drink to my people, my chosen,

 the people I formed for myself

that they may proclaim my praise.

Isaiah 43

Three Motherless Boys

I've got three boys on my heart right now.

Three motherless boys.

Three boys who desperately need families.

Sweet sweet Jack who spends his days wondering what in the world he needs to do to have a family cross the ocean for him.

I don't have an answer for him.  I wish I could whisper in his ear that a Mama was on her way.  Oh sweet Jack.   He's losing his childhood and there is nothing I can do except pray and yell for someone to PLEASE cliff jump for Jack.

And my Precious Artem who is facing transfer soon. PLEASE SOMEONE GET ARTEM!! 



And because I am a glutton for punishment...... We are now advocating for our new little ANGEL TREE boy.

I picked him because he is standing on the brink of transfer. 

His best buddy has already been removed from the building.

He is seriously next in line.

SPENCER.

Oh My Goodness He is Precious!!

I just can't stand the thought of Spencer at a mental institute. 

So there you have it. 

My Three Motherless Boys.

I need three families.

I am praying for three families.

Three brave families..... Please Lord....

Candy for Mom

When Ben and Elijah were little we happily dressed them up each year, took them out to the neighbors on our road and to the local church for the annual Trunk or Treat party for one reason and for one reason only..... The Candy!! 

NOT for the boys.

They did NOT eat candy!!

They spit it out.

We took them out for the annual candy fest so we could eat the candy.

Yep.

A bucketful of candy for each boy provided us enough candy to last until Christmas.

Then we could fill up their stockings with all the candy that they DID NOT eat.  That would last us until Easter if we were careful enough.  Easter baskets provided us with our spring/summer supply.....

I'm serious.

It has only been in the recent years that Ben and Elijah would eat candy.  They just plain didn't like it.  Ben now eats candy like a pro but Elijah is still quite picky about what he will eat.....

But he's too old to take to the Trunk and Treat....

Oh My!!!

How will we ever make it until Christmas????

NEVER FEAR... AARON TO THE RESCUE...

Little Man is JUST RIGHT for the candy quest!

BUT...

There is only ONE rather MAJOR problem for Rob and I this year....

Aaron not only likes to put the candy in his bucket just like Ben and Elijah did....

HE ALSO LIKES TO EAT IT!!!!

Sigh!!