If you’ve spent any amount of time around here, you know me. And my heart. I mean, I’m quite transparent here and share what’s on my heart regularly, like it or not.
And well, it is National Adoption Month. So you kinda-sorta had to know this was coming…
A big part of my heart belongs to orphans. There is no denying that God has rocked our once-ordinary-little-family right into full-blown-craziness through adoption… and we couldn’t feel more blessed. And I believe that caring for the orphan is something we all can do, whether we adopt or not. As mom to 7 kiddos who were once considered orphans, I don’t consider my calling complete – as long as there are orphans in this world, there is still much I can do and hope to do that doesn’t involved a social worker and changing dirty diapers.
There is something we all can do.
Pray. There are so many little ones that need prayer. If you want to pray specifically for a little one, there are many listed on Rainbow Kids and even more listed here. I encourage you to print out a picture of a little one who waits and put it on your mirror or refrigerator. Use it as a bookmark in your Bible or tuck it into your purse or wallet, and pray for one child that doesn’t have a mom or a dad. It will not only be a blessing for that child, it will be a blessing for you.
Support. Consider sponsoring a child in foster care. Four of our kiddos were in foster care or a Half the Sky program all because someone else chose to love on a child halfway around the world through a monthly donation. And I can’t tell you the difference it made for them. Truly. Over the years we have sponsored kids at New Day, Half the Sky, Grace and Hope and An Orphan’s Wish… there is nothing like knowing you are sowing into the life of a child. There are many charities that do wonderful work in China and would be so blessed by your partnership.
Agape House
An Orphan’s Wish
Bethel China
Bring Me Hope
Butterfly Children’s Hospices
China Little Flower
China Nest of Hope
Dianjiang Kids International
Eagle’s Wings
ELIM kids
Good Rock Foundation
Grace and Hope
Half the Sky
Love Without Boundaries
Morning Star Foundation
New Day Foster Home
Pearl River Outreach
Shepherd’s Field
Show Hope
Starfish Foster Home
Swallow’s Nest
If you can’t sponsor a child, you can still consider how you might be able to make a one-time donation or join in helping raise funds for a special project or medical care. Hold a bake sale. A garage sale. Even if you don’t have much $ to give, you can still give of your time and energy. And sometimes that’s the best gift of all.
You can also support other adoptive families through prayer, financial support and simply loving and caring for them once they have their new child home. Adoption is a significant undertaking – like having a baby, but significantly more challenging – and newly adoptive parents can use all the help they can get. F’realz.
Adopt. Of course, you can consider adoption. Consider giving a little one the gift of a forever family of their very own. As much as I believe our family was called to adoption, I do not believe that all Christians are. But if you have thought about it, prayed about it and believe that God might be calling you to pursue an adoption, I encourage you to prayerfully take that first step of faith. If you have a question about adoption through China’s special needs program, I’d be happy to field any questions you think I might be able to help you with…. just email me (in the right sidebar) or leave a comment below.
I hope that you will consider what you can do. And then simply do it. Get those hands dirty…. it’s what God wants His people to do. He doesn’t want His people to stand around, waiting for someone else to do what needs to be done. He wants us to get in there and get to work, even when it’s not easy and even when it’s not comfortable. Sometimes it’s in the doing that you find the joy and the desire, so don’t wait until it feels like the ‘right time’ – you might well be waiting forever.
I promise that if you step out, even in just a small way, to care for just one of the “least of these”, you’ll be blessed in the process.
P.S. If you have an organization or an idea to add, please do.
P.P.S. And YES, one more way to bless orphans is to consider donating to Fill Their Stockings.
‘For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me.’
“Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me.’
— Matthew 25:37-40
Carla says
You don’t have a link to Grace and Hope! 😉 For those who want to go on Mission trips, New Day allows visitors to come for mission trips, and even families. That’s one of my current dreams. 🙂
NiHaoYall says
Thanks, Carla! Got it added 🙂
And I completely agree… I’d love to go serve at New Day someday! I know several families that have gone and LOVED it!
stephanie says
Stefanie, would you be willing to let us feature this post on We Are Grafted In? I’d just need a brief bio and a pic to use when it is featured so we can direct people back to your blog. Just let me know!
Stephanie
co-administrator of WAGI
The Gang's Momma says
LOVE IT. And sharing it now. LOVE your heart – love your eloquence. Love your passion.
I would add the Dave Thomas Foundation as a link and “your local state and foster agencies” to the list, since you asked 🙂
Diana R. says
🙂
A beautiful post about the blessings when we say, “YES!” I love your great big heart!!!!!! And, I am so thankful that I get to be a part of Fill Their Stockings again with you!!!!!!
Hugs from your pal with three that are “Orphaned No More!!!!”
Love,
Diana
The Gang's Momma says
Oooops, sorry! DIdn’t see the “bold” font separating “Pray” from “Support.” Was in “Pray” mode. 🙁 I really needed to have hit “Control +” before I read this. Or put on my glasses. My apologies……
MG Atwood says
My sweet sweet “pretend” daughter just got her girl yesterday! It’s been long and hard, but it finally happened! We are so so happy that this girl is coming home!
Diane says
Hi Stefanie!!
I don’t have the $ to sponsor a child, but when I can and the need is requested I try to give to a specific project that is close to my heart. I absolutely loved buying a pair of shoes for the ‘Sole’ drive that AOW did. I am going right now to find a picture of an orphan to pray for and putting it in my Bible-what a great idea!!
Robert says
YES! Prayer is so important. If anyone would like kids to pray for, these 4 boys could certainly do with it. http://eyesopen-heartchanged.blogspot.com/2012/09/great-news.html
Julie says
Beautifully said. I may link this post I am doing to highlight adoption. Thank you for all the wonderful suggestions for people to act for the orphan!
Julie says
Oops that should have read that I will link your post in an upcoming post on my blog! Typing on the phone often messes me up! Lol. God bless!
Leslie says
Stefanie, this means to much more to me now that I have two children who benefited directly from foster care (both of them) and surgery funding (our baby girl’s heart surgery through LWB).
It TRULY is life-changing. I know people probably think “Oh, this $35 a month foster care sponsorship won’t make a difference…” BUT LET ME TELL YOU IT DOES!!!
If anyone reading doubts, please know that I see EVERY SINGLE DAY the difference that unconditional love made for our children … and the harm the lack of unconditional love made for two of our children as well.
Two of our four blessings from China were in amazing foster families (we have been blessed to know our son’s foster parents and spend time with them on two different trips). And two of our blessings were not. 🙁 It absolutely makes a HUGE difference to be in a foster family from where I sit.
And then the surgery sponsorship … our baby girl had open-heart surgery in Shanghai when she was 15 months old. Her surgery was more than $10,000 US, and it was paid for by the love and support of many people from around the world. The most touching donation came from a group of Girl Scouts, who donated all of their earnings from their cookie sales to OUR BABY GIRL’S heart surgery. What can I say to that? Makes me cry all over again as I type it out.
If they can do that, any of us can give up something and do something. I don’t mean just adopt, but to sponsor these children for foster care or heart surgery or other medical care … it is WORTH the sacrifice or doing without a meal out once a month or coffee each morning or whatever you could give up to add up to $35/month or $50 or whatever you feel led to give.
One last thought: I have a little store in cyberspace now, and it occurred to me recently that I could give back a portion of my profits … I am so excited about this opportunity to give back. And I’m trusting God to multiply and put it with the generosity of others to help a child (or children) in China. I’ll be giving to LWB’s Heart Surgery Fund in honor of our four children from China, who were all born with special hearts!
http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/programs/medical/medical-special-funds/
Thank you Stefanie for sharing this! AMAZING POST!!! Thanks for those links too — some orgs I didn’t even know about! Can’t wait to learn more about them. 🙂
emily says
my organization is Henan Kids International (www.henankids.blogspot.com) we raise money for the orphanages in Henan, China, where 3 of my boys are from.. a huge chunk of my heart lives there… right now– we’re doing a 31 gifts fundraiser with all commissions going to HKI
SherylH says
I would like to put a plug in for COAT/Eagles’ Wings. The have 8 foster homes in Jiaozuo, Henan. They are an Australian organization, but the in-China director is an American and donations can be made through LWB for tax purposes (forwarded to them by LWB).
http://eagleswingschina.org/
Our son (adopted at age 10 in 2010) lived with them for over 3 years before we adopted him. I know it is a huge reason for him doing so well with his new life. They do amazing work! Thanks so much 🙂
pam williams says
Appreciate the visits to our website from your blog. Everyone working together makes it possible for more and more kids to have a chance. Pam from Swallow’s Nest
Carol says
Hidden Treasures – http://www.loavesandfishesintl.com/
Our adult son is currently working there. It’s a foster home with 56 special needs kids. The stories he tells us and pictures he shares are amazing. Also they welcome volunteers (we are going in January).
Thanks for doing this. Beautiful Post!!!!
Carol
Amy C. says
Thanks for linking to Grace and Hope! I am the volunteer coordinator for Guilin, and though we love and are thankful for every sponsorship and monetary donation, we also need a few more volunteer coordinators, particularly for newer programs in Henan. This is a great opportunity especially for parents out there of children from Henan to give back.
Thanks again for the link!