We just got our waitlist numbers, and I'm too excited to write anything before I share them with you, so here they are:
Girl:
July - 33
August - 30
September - 29
October - 28
November - 26
December - 26
Boy:
July - 24
August - 22
September - 22
October - 22
November - 19
December - 16
Siblings:
July - 8
August - 8
September - 8
October - 8
November - 7
December - 4
We're getting so close! Please keep us in your prayers. I pray for God's perfect timing, but as I'm sure you all know by now, I sure do hope His timing is soon!! Though I know I must, I just cannot wait to hold our new little one(s) in my arms for the first time and to FINALLY bring them home!
Still, we continue to wait with patience (as much as we still have on reserve) and trust that the providence of God will prevail.
...
A little story.
Last week, our girls watched an old Christmas cartoon. In it, orphan children opened Christmas gifts, but the quality of the gifts were poor, and after a short time of play, all were broken. The children cried as their hopes dashed just as quickly as they rose.
After watching the show, I noticed a dramatic change in our five year old daughter's countenance. She was close to tears as I asked her why she was so sad.
"Mommy, why did God make orphans?" she asked.
"Honey, God didn't make orphans," I said, as I began to explain why bad things are in the world, "There are orphans because sin is in the world," I concluded.
"Well, then, why doesn't God tell everyone to help the orphans?" She asked.
"He does. He tells each of us to care for both the widow and the orphan. Not everyone is called to adopt, but all are called to participate in one way or another to help orphans," I said.
"What can we do to help?"
"Well, we're adopting. When we bring our babies home, they won't be orphans anymore. They'll be ours. They'll have a mommy and a daddy. They'll have two amazing sisters. And there will be two less orphans in the world!"
"But what else can we do?" she asked with a tear streaming down her cheek.
Watching my five year old wrestle with the question we're all intended to ask ourselves has been a beautiful experience. The question tough to face, but we all must.
What can we do?
How do we solve the worldwide orphan tragedy? How can we share the love of Christ with these beautiful children? How can we show them (not just tell them) that they matter, that their life was not a mistake, that they are loved by not only the one and only true God, but by us?
UNICEF estimates there are 143-210 MILLION orphans worldwide. This number doesn't include trafficked or enslaved children or those in countries who don't report to UNICEF, so in my mind, this is a low number.
Still, there are an estimated 7 billion people living in the world today, 4.2 billion of which claim to be Christians.
So, if each Christian played their part and answered God's call to care for the orphan, the problem would, theoretically, be solved. As we've mentioned before, not all people are called to adopt, but I know several people who would adopt if it weren't for the high cost. They simply cannot afford to adopt. So, perhaps, if you're not called to adopt, you are called to supply financial assistance to a family who has the desire to supply the love and care to an orphaned child by becoming their "forever family."
Honestly, I cannot tell you what role you're intended to play, but I do know each of us are called to act in one way or another. Alone, we do make a difference. Together, we can achieve the unimaginable. If each of us do something, no matter how small, there will be change. Change we can see!
All I ask is that you begin to pray about what role God would have you play in orphan care.
Here's what we've been up to since our last update:
Avery's Christmas Program
Christmas!
Pearler Beads
Skiing!
Happy 2013!
