rice & a cardboard box.

Today was probably a normal Sunday for most...for us, we chose to do things a bit differently this evening. Since we all know...Today....November 6th, 2011...is Orphan Sunday. We gathered in our home with a another family...they too, have been to Ethiopia & have adopted their little girl...in fact, it seems like yesterday we all welcomed them home, but it's been almost 2 years!!! As you can see in the last pic, she & Tesfa got along just great!!! Their giggles were contagious!!! They were quite the pair:)

 So, tonight...we ate an orphan's meal. On a piece of cardboard. Each family drank out of a bowl. The meal consisted of RICE. Even though we have seen the poverty...it still seems so hard to believe that a child might just get rice for their dinner. And in many cases...dinner is their only meal for the day. And, let me tell you...we each ate the portion that one child gets...& it's not much. My stomach is begging for more. I find it hard to put into words how i feel. Thinking that our daughter is classified as an orphan makes me hurt. Wondering how well she was fed today...makes me cry. Knowing that she has no one to tuck her in at night, reading Bible stories, giving her kisses & hugs, telling her she is loved....makes me cry even more.

 So, I'm sure some of you might ask...why??? Why would you even think of going without your normal dinner?? Why would you want to be uncomfortable?? Why are you having a gathering focused on Orphan Sunday?? Why are you adopting again???
  It's the least we can do. And, it's not about us.

Did you know that if just 7% of Christians would adopt one child...there would be no more orphans!!

In you the orphan finds mercy.

Hosea 14:3

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."

Romans 8:14-16

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

James 1:27

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows — this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families.

Psalms 68:5-6

I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!

Matthew 25:40

                                                xo