Tag Archives: Adopting

Little Ones Lost

Posted on December 1, 2013 by Andrea

Heavy on the heart is a common thread with me, which I feel I should apologize about. But truly, there is no way to sugar coat the orphan crisis, child abuse, trafficking and just plain brokeness. There is too much reality in what I blog about to be sweetly packaged with a pretty bow.

Over the months I have been so blessed to see so many beautiful children come home to their forever families, many of whom I have had the pleasure of meeting. Many I am still waiting to meet. But then there are so very many I will never meet, never see them as they grow and never, never, never. Why?

There is a side of this world that should never be. The side that doesn’t get talked about aside from those in our closed little community of passionate advocating orphan lovers and adoptive parents. Although we stand with torches blazing and lungs bellowing, screaming at the very tip tops of our voices for all to hear, begging for others to hear us out, to see what they have been blinded to. Please, SEE THEM! LOVE THEM! HELP THEM! SPREAD THE WORD! Although we stand, this is what is not heard… They will be lost forever, aging out and put on the streets to fend for themselves. They will be placed in mental institutions, be forgotten, caged like animals. They will die. If you dont listen, help, share, or see. Really open your eyes and look at their faces.

Walden

Dayna

Declan

Kevin

Kyle

Myra

Rosie

Stacy

Hanson

Jacob

Connor James

Leif

Will

All of these precious, sweet babes have lost their battle waiting for a family. They all passed away before they could know the love of a mother, before they knew what snuggles were. They did not get the chance to live loved by the people they were with, but rather they were all so very loved by all those fighting to help them. We loved them, I loved them. I believe we will always love them, think of them, pray for their powerful legacy to live on. My hope is their legacy will bring forth change and give hope to those still waiting.

These are just a handful of the children who died waiting. In loving memory.

It doesn’t have to be this way. These babies did not have to die.

Please share. Advocate. Educate yourself despite the heartbreak. Donate. Help change the world.

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Posted in Calling All Prayer Warriors!, Orphans On My Heart and tagged Adopting, Adoption, Advocating, Awareness, heartbreak, Loss, Orphanages, Orphans, Sad News. Bookmark the permalink.

New Endeavors!

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Andrea

What a blessing it has been to be so embraced by fellow like minded people in this new world I have entered. This was such a blind path that I embarked on over seven months ago, I had no clue how things would turn out. I just knew that I needed to tell people what I had discovered about these precious kids in orphanages all over the world that have been tossed away like trash. I needed to try to spread awareness about child abuse and how rampant it really is in our society. To really make people think about how they can help make a difference and stop it. I haven’t even had a chance to write about some of the other things that are on my heart, because to be honest, they are so heavy and quite hard to absorb. This said, I have set a goal that I must just force myself to get it out there within the next few posts, so more to come on that later.

Back to the first thought here…

I have been graciously invited into an incredible group of folks who all have a passion for the children. Some have adopted, some are in the process now, some are advocating and fundraising for families in need, and some are just there to be supportive to said families in any way they can be. I am telling you, these people are amazing!

A few weeks ago my husband and I had the pleasure of attending an intimate group gathering at a church in Salem, OR. This would be my first time ever really meeting any of these people and even though I had had many chats via Facebook or email with some of them, I just felt as if I were meeting pen pals or celebrities even. I was so nervous! Yet I knew that God had placed this path and these people in my life for a reason.

On our way there my husband jokingly says we should have a “safe word” in case I end up feeling really uncomfortable. We had just watched New Girl on TV the night before and they had a safe word, “apricots”. So we laughingly agree on apricots.

We arrive and there isn’t really anyone there besides a few cars. We walk in and right away we are welcomed by Kim (who invited us). From there on it was a whirlwind of constant good conversation with people. I was so excited to finally meet Becki who I instantly hit it off with as well. I knew I belonged the moment Becki and I were chatting and I confessed Grant and I had established a safe word and before I got the chance to go any farther she busts out laughing and says “Oh my gosh, do you guys watch New Girl?” and in unison we both said, “Apricots!” The laughter was uncontrollable! Especially when I told her it really was apricots!

Everyone only got blurry cell phone pictures. That is all we got too! Most of the kids are missing from this pic too, they were too busy playing.

What a wonderful time we had. Good food, good people and the biggest treat was getting to see the kids playing together so carefree. Many of these children came from adoption, and some from the very orphanages we all so desperately want to get children out of halfway across the world. One sweet little angel was 4 year old Sophia. At 4 years old, she weighed only 10 pounds. This is not a rare occurrence, sadly in Eastern Europe this child’s physical condition is one that is seen far too often. Severely malnourished and neglected for years in a crib with little human contact. Sophia has been home for two months and has already gained 5 pounds!!! She is still super tiny and is the size of an infant, but that is major progress! That goes to show that it isn’t her “condition” that makes her so tiny. Which is what so much of the staff at these orphanages claims to believe. If a child has down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy or anything else the starvation/undernourishment of these babies is claimed not to be the issue, but the child’s condition. They don’t see an issue with what or how much they feed the kids. I know that not all orphanages are like this, but too many are. My prayers continue to go out to Sophia and her family and all others in similar situations out there. More on Sophia in my next post so stay tuned!!

We also had the privilege to meet a sweet couple and their darling baby girl. Darrell and Haley are newly in the process of adopting a sweet little love named Copeland. He is cute as can be, but is waiting for a family to call his own. Darrell and Haley have a long road ahead of them and they need all the support they can get. Please consider going to their blog page to follow them on their journey http://thebuhmanbunch.blogspot.com.

Meet little Copeland!

I guess that is all for now! Take care all!

Guest Post and Changes On The Horizon

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Andrea

Today is actually a “guest post” of sorts, courtesy of Susanna Musser. This post was recently featured on Susana’s blog: The Blessing Of Verity. Susanna has an amazing story of her own, and if you get a chance, go by her blog, and check it out!

The children featured here are orphans in an orphanage that is really the worst of the worst. It isn’t one of the many terrible mental institutions I have mentioned on my blog before. No, friends, but I tell you, it might as well be! These children are living in a place which has been referred to as “Auschwitz for Children”. The children here are so tiny and malnourished from years of neglect and a diet of nutrient-poor food in small amounts. I will elaborate more after the guest post below.

So, here’s Susanna…

………

Your light has come, little child

Small dear one,

When you were born, it was a dark time for the mother who gave birth to you.

The people around her used their words to paint a sad and dark picture of her life with you in it.

She put you into a dark place, in charge of a woman who did not love the truth.

For seven long years, you were hidden in that place of no love, of darkness and lies.

The place where four year old Marsha…

…eight year old Payton……

…and twelve year old Penny…

…are still waiting for their families to claim them!

Please email without delay about adopting Marsha, Payton, or Penny! shele337@yahoo.com, orstephanie.carpenter@lifelineadoption.org

You live in a place that made a five year old boy look like a tiny, skinny baby.

Meet Adam, who has endured severe physical, emotional, and medical neglect. He lies in bed all the time with no baba and is suffering from the lack of shunt and cataract surgery. I can’t look at him without tears, and cannot read his file without feeling angry. Please, someone, allow God to move your heart, and email Nina Thompson about adopting this precious boy from Pleven. nina.t@chiadopt.com

Little girl, you know all about being hungry, just like Adam does.

Look again, and see just how thin, pale, small, and sad you are in this picture.

Then your Father in Heaven opened the Pleven doors and shone the light in.

The darkness has been slinking away, and now beautiful truth is finding it’s rightful place.

A wonderfully kind doctor visited you.

There is a new lady in charge of you now. She’s glad the light is shining into Pleven!

“She shared lots of changes…that are going to be great for the children and best of all, she is EXCITED about the [donated, specialized] formula!!! She has completely revamped the “kitchen program”, so the kids are getting better quality food (and learning to eat from spoons, etc), the children with special needs will NOT be isolated anymore and will instead be integrated in with the other children and there is much more accountability in regards to the staff. It sounded like she’s restructuring everything, including mindsets. :)”

I cannot read this without laughter bubbling up inside me! Because it means more than simply policies or words, or simply a fundraiser button on a blog and kind people who give.

It means your life is changing, tiny girl. You are getting better food. You have put on a little weight, and have a healthier color now! You are gaining energy. And smiling. And laughing.

Not long ago, a loving daddy and mommy saw your face. They aren’t scared by your needs. They love you just the way you are! They sent a paper to your country to say,

“We commit to do all it takes to make this special girl our girl.”

Beautiful small one,

“Arise, shine, for your light has come.”

………

Thank you again, Susanna, for allowing me to share your wonderful post!

So now you know that long-overdue changes are being made in this hellish place. The children and their well-being will hopefully now be the number one concern for those in charge . With that in mind, do you remember when I said I would elaborate on something?

Meet 11 year old Liliana…

That isn’t a typo. She was 11 years old in these photos and weighed only 11 pounds!! Okay, think about this; my 19-month daughter is tiny for her age, not even on the growth chart and even she is 19lbs.! Sweet Liliana was 11 pounds at 11 years old! It is completely inexcusable for this child to have been so malnourished over so many years. The amazing thing is that she has just been adopted and should be arriving home with her new family right about now! Her new name is Amelia, and she waited for 12 long years in Pleven orphanage, this terrible place that has been called Auschwitz for children. 12 years slowly dying, bedridden, and starving.

Here she is all dressed up and looking so much better! Pretty girl. However, she is still very sick in this photo.

This is right before her family took her out of the orphanage. She weighed 12 pounds. She has gained weight only because she spent time in the hospital over the winter, which is a miracle in itself. I shudder to think of how many children have simply been permitted to die without intervention of this sort. Poor thing was still so sick and weak, her new mama had to take her straight from the orphanage to the hospital. They plan to take her right back to the hospital as soon as they land on U.S. soil.

This is just one small group of kids from one orphanage. How many more kids are out there who are in equally hellish circumstances? How many are dying? How many desperately need that giant “spotlight of hope” to be shone onto them like the children in Pleven have had? Please everyone, pray, pray, pray for all of them! Let’s shout it out at the top of our lungs to our Heavenly Father!

I will leave you all with one last thing. Little Marsha from the beginning of this post, has a family coming for her!!! Yay!!! But I know that her family needs prayers that all will go quickly and smoothly so that they can go get their little angel as soon as possible. Also, the other children in this post still wait for families, so it goes without saying, share it and pray!

Thank you all!

Andrea-

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Posted in Calling All Prayer Warriors!, Good News!, Guest Post and tagged Adopting, Adoption, Advocating, Awareness, Eastern Europe, Good News!, Guest Post, Orphanages, Orphans, Yay! I'm Being Adopted!. Bookmark the permalink.

Meet Owen

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Andrea

Today is all about one. One precious boy who has never known the love of a family. A lonely boy who sits waiting each and every day for someone to come for him, but nobody ever does. One boy who has been defined by the rare genetic condition he was born with. A condition which has left him different than all the other boys and girls waiting for families. Aren’t we all “different”? Don’t we all have imperfections? Yes! But does that mean we don’t deserve love? Does that mean this precious boy doesn’t deserve love or a family? I think not!

Meet Owen, when his journey began…

Owen as a newborn.

He was seen as unworthy of love from the time of his birth.

Months go by, and Owen is still waiting for a family.

Sweet baby Owen

He is just a baby. A sweet, snuggly little baby. Why has nobody chosen him?

Owen became a toddler.

Toddler Owen

He plays and smiles like any other child his age. He has so much potential if only he is given the chance. His tiny little body aches for the hugs and kisses of a mommy and daddy who loves him, just like any other child. Yet he still waits.

Why hasn’t he been chosen yet? Are people too scared to adopt a boy who is so different? Are people afraid of him? This precious boy is surely deserving of the love and affection of a mom and dad, isn’t he? So what if he is different! Aren’t you different from me? So why is it that Owen doesn’t have love and doesn’t have a family because of how “different” he is?

This little boy wriggled his way into my heart while I was searching an adoption site (which I often do). When I stumbled onto a photo of Owen, and it had me in tears. I mean hysterical tears. Why? Because the adoption site had only one very sub par photo of him. I understand that for many of the children, the agency only gets one photo and that’s all, so they have no choice but to use it.

That photo portrayed him in a way that I just knew in my heart was not truly him. I was so heartbroken that this boy was not even being offered the tiniest of chances to have a family. I was outraged that this was the photo that the adoption agency was using. But again, maybe they had more photos to choose from? I don’t know. I only know that with this photo could potentially be the cause for the old “scroll past” for this precious child. I almost don’t want to show you all. But I feel I have to for full understanding to be attained. Here it is.

I am so upset when I see this, I cannot even convey it properly! This was the very first photo I ever saw of Owen.

Through tears as I write this I think to myself, “How is this giving him a chance?” I have prayed and prayed for Owen. Owen has been on my heart for so long folks. This sweetheart is just a baby, not quite 5 years old. What if this were my child?

Then, yesterday as I scrolled through the many waiting children, I see the sweet a precious face I always knew existed! I saw this…

A happy, somewhat smiling boy waving to the camera! Oh praise God!!! The adoption site gave him a real chance! Now maybe his mom and dad will see what I see. Do you see? Do you? Can you see the promise in those eyes? Can you imagine how much bigger that smile could be? The giggles that could be heard if he were tickled? Oh my, I cannot express how much I pray this guy’s family will find him and bring him home!

While typing this, my 19 month old came to the computer. I wasn’t sure what she would think seeing Owen’s face. But you know what she did, she stared for a moment and then said “baby”. I replied, “Yes, that is a sweet baby.” She giggled for a moment while still staring. In my mind I am thinking to myself, “What does someone like my daughter, untainted by the world and it’s unrealistic standards, think when she sees someone like Owen?” Many kids would be afraid perhaps since they have been conditioned to think that imperfection is something to fear. As my daughter stares at this picture I tell her, “This baby’s name is Owen. Owen is a sweet boy.” What came out of her mouth I didn’t expect, she said, “Kiss!” So I helped her reach the monitor and she kissed Owen’s picture. She then said, “More Owen!” I scrolled through all the photos of him as she asked to kiss each one of them. She thought he was beautiful. The last thing she said really chokes me up. Very distinctly and clearly she said, “Owen, ocean, Owen, ocean.” Now maybe it was purely the rhyme she figured out? But maybe not. Maybe she she was saying Owen is beautiful like the ocean. Ari loves the ocean. I have not been able to get that out of my mind. Because it’s true – Owen is beautiful and strong just like the ocean. Leave it to my toddler to teach me something so deep and meaningful.

So… now I ask the inevitable question. What will you do to help get Owen’s story out there? Will you help this little boy to no longer be defined by his imperfections. Help his new mom and dad to see this face which God created, as their perfectly and wonderfully made SON.

You can go to the link below to see more about Owen. http://reecesrainbow.org/1585/owen-egxb-3

I will be re-posting this one now and then so that Owen really might have a chance! Will you do the same?

In Owen’s region, there are so many kids that have either already been transferred to a mental institution or will be shortly. Remember children who have Down Syndrome have an over 90% chance of dying in their first year in a mental institution. If they do not have Down Syndrome, they have an over 80% chance of death in the first year. Survival in these terrible places is not easy and essentially these kids are sentenced to death. Please keep that in mind as you read about each child.

Cora Lynne

Can you believe this tiny peanut is 5 1/2 years old? She has Down Syndrome which, in her region, makes her worthy of nothing more than to be thrown away into a mental institution for the rest of her life. Please click the link to learn more about Cora Lynne. http://reecesrainbow.org/?s=cora+lynne

Archie

Archie is facing transfer to he mental institution soon. He is such a sweet boy, but he has Down Syndrome. Please read more about Archie and what a little love bug this guy is. http://reecesrainbow.org/32102/archie-3f

Anastasia

This little bug is 6 years old! Like the other children, she looks like a baby. Sadly this is a product of the nutrient poor diet and neglect these children suffer. She has downs syndrome and is facing transfer soon. http://reecesrainbow.org/8068/anastasia-3g

Abbott

Folks, sweet Abbott is 5 years old and has already been transferred. Nobody knows how he is doing, so his situation is dire! Please get his photo circulating! He has Down Syndrome so I fear the worst. Please click the link to read about what an amazing boy he is. http://reecesrainbow.org/8104/abbott-3g

Tomas

Tomas was born in 2005 and has Down Syndrome. He is at risk of being transferred very soon. Look at his face. Does he deserve to die? http://reecesrainbow.org/8126/tomas-3g

Orielle

Born in 2005 this sweet little round faced pumpkin is at risk for transfer soon! Poor sweetie could blossom in a family. She does not deserve an institution. http://reecesrainbow.org/?s=orielle

Please remember that none of these kids will have a chance to find a home if there photos aren’t circulated. So please, share this post on Facebook or Twitter or wherever. And don’t underestimate the power of prayer!

Andrea-

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Posted in Calling All Prayer Warriors!, Orphans On My Heart and tagged Adopting, Adoption, Advocating, brokenness, Eastern Europe, Orphans. Bookmark the permalink.

Is it Enough?

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Andrea

I have spent my life oblivious. I had had no idea that there was so much need in the world outside my little bubble. I certainly had no clue that there were so many orphans in such dire circumstances. Not that I am a selfish person (at least I hope not!), I just wasn’t aware of the orphans plight. I was never shown, and I never really stumbled onto it until recently, as you all know. I have spent many years thinking to myself that I would be happy with one or two kids, and someday when they were all grown up and had moved out, I would get to enjoy MY life, MY way. I never thought about adoption. Not that it wasn’t something I thought of as wonderful, I just honestly never thought about it. I know, I know, I was really oblivious.

Now, I must say that when it comes to my family, it pains me that these precious years with my children to go by so quickly. I make sure to savor every moment. In fact, sometimes I wish I could press the pause or rewind button on life with my kids (and husband). It goes by way too quickly, and that scares me when I really stop to think about it. Parenthood is the most beautiful, priceless adventure I could imagine in life.

But you know, in the grand scheme of things, I was like everyone else, running the race and waiting for the “finish line” when my days of child rearing were done, and I could cash in my tickets of mass sacrifice for a more fun and relaxing lifestyle.

Well, a funny thing happened when all this new knowledge came into view. How do I say this? Uh, hmm…well you know that feeling when God taps you on the shoulder and then whispers something in your ear that you weren’t expecting to hear? (I realize for many people that God tapping you on the shoulder might sound a bit weird. I know it’s something not all of us have noticed or experienced.) You know I have to say, every time this happens to me it’s always something I wasn’t expecting to hear so I can’t pretend to be shocked by this!

I started to feel like I had more to live for. I am not talking about the family I’ve been blessed with not being enough. I am referring to my own selfish desires for the future. I began to feel like God was putting a magnifying glass on my life. And I was beginning to see that I may no longer be a two-kid-maximum mother. The fact that I was feeling like more children are a significant possibility for our future quite frankly freaked me out. After realizing this, I had a much needed discussion with my husband. Obviously it matters where he stands in all this too. What if I was alone in this? What if God had not worked in him yet? What if?

It turns out that my husband also feels the pang in his heart, which makes this way easier for me. When this all started, I was terribly afraid he wouldn’t understand what I felt in my heart God was asking of me/us. But thankfully that hurdle was removed for me, thank God!

I must admit though that it is still a very sobering and intimidating thought that God may someday tell us it’s time to expand our family. Maybe we will have another baby? Maybe we will adopt? Maybe we will be asked to adopt from a foreign country? Maybe we will be asked to adopt a child who has special needs? Maybe we will be asked to adopt more than one child? What about the expense? Surely we do not have the ability to fund an adoption. God knows, I do not. What I do know is we just need to be willing to accept His will, and we are.

Being willing has its flaws though. I find myself always asking “the question”. Just about every time I read a blog where someone is advocating for a child, I ask. When I do my regular check ups on the adoption sites to see who has been transferred/adopted, etc., I ask. Each photo I see of every sweet baby (yes, all of them are babies, no matter the age) in desperate need of loving home, I can’t help but ask the question, “Is this our child?” Every face I see staring back at me has me wondering if any of these children are meant for us. They are all deserving. They are all suffering in some way. They all NEED a family to love them. Who am I to decide who deserves it more than the next?

To be honest, I couldn’t choose. So I pray. I pray that we will know: when it’s time, which one is ours, how to provide the means necessary to do what we are supposed to do.

I never in my life knew about these kids or their plight, neither in the U.S. or abroad.

I never thought about adoption. I was just dandy with the idea of having one or two kids of my own and the relaxing life I had always envisioned. Now all I have to say is… here we are!

So for those of you wondering why this lady who runs and adoption advocacy (etc.) blog, has not yet adopted a child herself, there’s your answer! I could be completely wrong on what God was trying to tell me, but I doubt it. I suppose He could change His mind if God does that sort of thing. Whatever may come, my husband and I are along for the ride!

A side note:

Do I think that adoption is all we are going to be asked to do? No, I do not. Despite the amazing gift adoption can be, I do not believe that is enough for us. Please, do not take offense to this statement, adoptive parents! That was not meant to say that you haven’t done an incredible thing. All adoptive parents have made a choice to “do something” to help a child/children. Whatever the reason behind your decision to adopt, I commend all those who have chosen to give an orphaned child a real chance at life. I know that for everything that comes along with that choice – the hard work, the sacrifice, the tears – there are also incredible and immensely beautiful rewards. Here is a very sweet glimpse of what one of those rewards looks like:

Thank you to my friend Melanie for allowing me to share this video of her sweet son (above). To learn more about this precious boy and his story, go here: http://happyhartmanfarm.blogspot.com/search?q=judd

So with that said, for us, in this family there has to be more. How do I know this? I know this based on how God called me into this extremely foreign field of serving. He placed so heavily on my heart orphans and children who have suffered extreme neglect, violence, and abuse. Now I know that in many cases, these are one in the same. However the way it was shown to me was very clearly separated. The main goal is to help ALL of these kids. Their circumstances ALL must change. Their lives MUST NOT be in vain.

God Bless!

Andrea

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Posted in Baby Steps and tagged Adopting, Family, Orphans. Bookmark the permalink.

The Awful Truth

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Andrea

Today, I was really planning on writing about something new and compelling. Something that might “grab” a reader’s attention. But I realized that what I truly wanted to write about should be complelling on it’s own. I shouldn’t even need to include words in this post. Why?

Well because…

Shouldn’t this sweet face tell it all? This is Ivey, She cannot tell you how she feels. She cannot describe to us the pain she feels, how lonely she is, how scared she might be or how very long ago she lost hope of having a family of her own. She only sits in a dark and scary mental institution slowly fading away, utterly forgotten. She is only 5 years old and has already suffered so much. Shouldn’t her face be enough so that words aren’t needed? (click on her name to learn more about her)

If you have not read about The Life Of An Orphan, please, I beg you to go and read it now! We have no idea in the world as to how greatly these children suffer until we try to step into their torturous reality for a moment. I realize that we cannot teleport ourselves to where they are at this very moment in order to do that, so the best I can offer is this story which I have written. Please read it before you decide to just scroll past this post.

Do it for them…

(click on a name to learn more about them)

Jacqueline

Grant

Ruslan

And please do not forget about the kids I have already listed who still wait. All but two of these children have been transferred to an institution! Please pray, please share, please do not be afraid to help these little ones…

Heath

Heath has a grant of over $9,000 towards his adoption! Please continue to pass it on!

Heath has already been TRANSFERRED to an institution! The facility in which he lives houses many boys, and he is one of the lucky few (like 3) who are available for adoption at all. Heath is now called a “lost boy” for the very reason that his file will most likely be returned to his country at any time, and he will no longer be adoptable. Heath was born in 2001, so you can see how long he has been waiting and hoping for a family. We know he is a tiny guy for his age, which is most likely due to the lack of nutrition. He lives in the same institution as Porter (above). Please take some time to read about Heath’s institute. This sweet boy could thrive in a family who loves him, all he needs is a chance.

To learn more about Heath, click the link below:

http://reecesrainbow.org/1518/heath-47

Below is the testimony of those who met Heath at his institute.

http://covenantbuilders.blogspot.com/2010/10/recalled-to-life.html

Gemma

This picture speaks for itself! What a precious girl this is. Look at those eyes!
Sweet Gemma has down syndrome and she has already been TRANSFERRED to a mental institution! If you have read my site, you know that over 90% of down syndrome kids die within the first year of transfer! Oh my goodness, she is in desperate need of rescue! You can read more about Gemma here: http://reecesrainbow.org/35143/gemma-15h

Sergey

Sweet Sergey is such a darling little guy! What a sweet face! His orphanage is one of the poorer ones with very little outside aid, which means these kids have little chance for a decent life while there. All of the children are tiny and malnourished. Children in Sergey’s orphanage are transferred to the mental institution at 4 years old. For him there is a desperate need. Let’s help him find his family before he ends up spending the rest of his life in the confines of a crib, slowly dying. Sergey has a grant of over $5,000 towards his adoption! Please continue to pass it on! http://reecesrainbow.org/1543/sergey905

Katie

Little Katie is such a doll! What a smile! She was born in 2005 and like the others, she has been waiting way too long for a family of her own. She is very smart and has so much to offer. Katie was born with down syndrome, but please know that children with this challenge are known to be incredible blessings to their family. They are amazing kids! Check out her listing and help get her story out there! http://reecesrainbow.org/40536/katie-8w

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Posted in Calling All Prayer Warriors!, Orphans On My Heart and tagged Adopting, Advocating, Awareness, Eastern Europe, Mental Institution, Orphanages, Orphans, spirituality. Bookmark the permalink.

Pondering Our Freedom On This 4th Of July

Posted on July 4, 2012 by Andrea

Happy 4th everyone!

All of America is celebrating today. Celebrating freedom. Celebrating independence. But while so many are out grilling burgers and setting off fireworks, I can’t help but think of those who have no freedom. Those precious children have no voice and aren’t heard. These sweet little forgotten lives are stuck in the confines of a crib or tied to a bed rail.

24 hours a day, 7 days a week they lay in the same crib, in the same room, in the same prison. They have never eaten a juicy burger or seen an awe inspiring fireworks display. They, the children who have been tossed aside for their so called “imperfections”, are just waiting for their lives to begin, waiting for a chance, and waiting for a Mom andDad. This is where my heart is today: the orphans who are stuck in institutions all across the globe. Their lives are withering away as each day passes.

So today, friends, I invite you to help me help these kids! Please read each of their stories below and spread the word. We need to help their future moms and dads to see their precious faces before it’s too late for them. It’s a sad day when a child’s file is returned to their country listed as unadoptable for the rest of their lives.

Porter

Precious Porter is a boy (despite the pink) who has been waiting a very long time for his family to find him. He has been TRANSFERRED to an institution that has a very bad reputation. He is suffering in a sea of “lost boys”. The link below takes you to Porter’s listing. http://reecesrainbow.org/12304/porter1603

The article below is written by a wonderful adoptive Mom who has been to the institution Porter has been sent to. Click below to read her account of what a terrible place Porter’s new home is.

http://happyhartmanfarm.blogspot.com/2012/07/it-finally-hit-me.html

Heath

Heath has already been TRANSFERRED to an institution! The facility in which he lives houses many boys and he is one of the lucky few (like 3) who are available for adoption at all. Heath is now called a “lost boy”, for the very reason that his file will most likely be returned to his country at any time and he will become un-adoptable. Heath was born in 2001, so you can see how long he has been waiting and hoping for a family. We know he is a tiny guy for his age, which is most likely due to the lack of nutrition. He lives in the same institution that Porter (above) is at. Please take some time to read about Heath’s institute. This sweet boy could thrive in a family who loves him, all he needs is a chance.

To learn more about Heath, click the link below:

http://reecesrainbow.org/1518/heath-47

Below is the testimony of those who met Heath at his institute.

http://covenantbuilders.blogspot.com/2010/10/recalled-to-life.html

Gemma

This picture speaks for itself! What a precious girl this is. Look at those eyes!
Sweet Gemma has down syndrome and she has already been TRANSFERRED to a mental institution! If you have read my site, you know that over 90% of down syndrome kids die within the first year of transfer! Oh my goodness, she is in desperate need of rescue! You can read more about Gemma here: http://reecesrainbow.org/35143/gemma-15h

Sergey

Sweet Sergey is such a darling little guy! What a sweet face! His orphanage is one of the poorer ones, with very little outside aid which means these kids have little chance for a decent life while there. All of the children are tiny and malnourished. Children in Sergey’s orphanage are transferred to the mental institution at 4 years old. So for him, there is a desperate need. Let’s help him find his family before he ends up spending the rest of his life in the confines of a crib, slowly dying. Sergey has over $5,000 in grant money towards his adoption! http://reecesrainbow.org/1543/sergey905

Katie

Thanks everyone! Now lets circulate! Oh, and PRAY PRAY PRAY for these little ones families to find them, soon!

Heart Of The Young

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