Update on Kirill!!

In April, I asked you to pray for Kirill.  In March, when his adoptive family went to court for the final ruling, the judge denied their adoption request on the basis that Kirill has Down Syndrome and would be better off in an institution instead of a family.  We knocked on Heaven's doors for this little guy, and God was faithful to His Word to indeed be the One Who places the lonely in families!  Just a few days ago, the court overturned the judge's decision, and Kirill will soon be going home with his forever family.  Please check their blog to keep updated.  This is going to be a sweet story to follow.

God is good!

5/5/5 Warrior Project

Reece's Rainbow is celebrating their 5th anniversary this year.  This is the organization that featured our youngest daughter on their list of waiting children 2 years ago.  They seek to find forever families for children with Down Syndrome (as well as other special needs) before the children are sent to mental institutions.  They have found forever families for 500+ children!

You can get involved in their current project.  GO TO THIS LINK to learn more about their 5/5/5 Warrior Project, which is seeking to raise awareness and funds for their 5-year-old waiting children (the ones most in danger of being transferred to mental institutions).  YOU can be a warrior for a specific child and make an eternal difference.

UPDATE on Vladislav!

A sweet wonderful family stepped forward to host Vladislav!  :)  Now, they have only a few short days to get all paperwork and such done.  Please pray for them as they handle all details.  And pray for all the necessary funds for them to host him.

Prayer is the big work!

Vladislav Needs a Host Family for the summer!

Meet Vladislav.  He lives in a rough orphanage and is awaiting a family in the US to host him this summer through New Horizons.  He is the only one left who does not yet have a host family.  READ HIS STORY HERE and please pass it along to your circle of friends.

When they took the photo above, he didn't know how to smile....he's never had a reason to smile.  :(

Pray for Vladislav to be chosen by a host family.  He has a grant of $500, and someone just doubled it, so he already has $1000 towards the fee of $2500 for hosting him.  Many times families are able to raise the funds very quickly for this, so if you feel God leading you, STEP OUT in faith.   Please pass this information along to others.  He has just a handful of days until he will miss his chance to come to the US for the summer.

You can host an orphaned child

Have you heard of New Horizons for Children, Inc.?  We've had friends who have hosted orphaned children through their agency, and I've only heard GOOD things about New Horizons.

They are in need of host families.  You can visit this link to learn more.

If you've never heard of New Horizons, here's a brief description from their site:

New Horizons for Children is a non-profit, 501(c)3, Christian ministry. Our goal is to identify children in orphanages in other countries who would benefit from and most likely be able to adapt to a Christian family environment in the USA. We aim to teach English, prayer time, cultural differences and how a loving family life can and should be. This one example, may well be, the only example of a functional family in these children's lives. Because of the mission of our program, all our hosting families must be of the Christian faith and attending a Christian church. We are a non-denominational organization, but we are all Christians, serving one God and following Jesus Christ as His son, and as our personal Savior. Teaching and modeling these Christian principles is a primary goal for our hosting families.

Carrington's Amazing Progress

I want to introduce you to another angel.  This time, the story is an adoption success story that will touch your heart.

Meet Carrington.  When her mom and dad left the orphanage with Carrington in arms, she looked like this:


But when they took off the layers of clothes to change her diaper, this is what they saw:


Little Carrington was 3 years old and weighed 11 pounds.  You can imagine the horror they felt as they saw how malnourished their daughter was.  When they landed in the U.S., they headed straight for the hospital.  You can read the story here.

It has been a long road, but sweet Carrington is finally now HOME from the hospital and is filling out beautifully.  You can see the latest photos and keep up with Carrington's progress at her mom's blog.


Carrington was so blessed to have a forever family who adopted her before she died.  Many children die in institutions because they don't have a Mama or Daddy to care for them, feed them, get them medical care when they most need it.

My daughter just did a presentation about a missionary today.  The missionary was living in China many years ago and was unable to leave her post because she was caring for 200 orphans.  She asked God to send her a husband.  But, no husband came.  Later in her life, she said something like, "I believe God answers prayers.  I believe God DID call a man to come to China to marry me.  But that man didn't listen!"  We all laughed at her sense of humor, but it got me thinking...

How many children are waiting in orphanages and institutions right now because the people who are being called to adopt them simply haven't obeyed?  How many people have had their hearts tugged and burdened to adopt...and then walked away for any number of reasons?  This is not a guilt trip.  In fact, please don't make any decision out of guilt.  But, what if instead of listing our reasons why we cannot do something...what if we simply prayed, "God, do you want me to do this?  I'm available.  I'm open.  I have no plans but your plans."

Do I believe that everyone is called to adopt?  NO.  I've heard stories of children who wished they had never been adopted because their adoptive parents adopted them out of guilt or other wrong reasons.  So, NO, I don't believe every family is called to adopt.  We all play different roles...some adopt, some foster, some give financially to make it possible for other families to adopt, some pray for children awaiting adoption.  EVERY ROLE IS IMPORTANT.

But my challenge is: go beyond easy.  What would happen if you just opened it up, laying all reservations, excuses, fears aside and said sincerely, "God, I'm here.  WHATEVER you want me to do, I'll do."

Imagine...