Christian Alliance For Orphans has launched a new website called Orphans Deserve Better in response to Warner Bros. new movie, Orphan. On this website, you can sign a pettition to ask Warner Bros. to contribute a portion of the proceeds to orphaned children, read facts about orphans in the world, watch a video message, find out how you can serve, and share your story of adoption. The petition states, "The film delivers a distorted picture of the difficulty and pain these children often carry. It also sells short the great love the so often return to those who reach out to them with care and compassion. We assume that you did not intend this, and we recognize that the film could be described as a far-fetched thriller. But the power of such a film to subtly shape attitudes and perspectives remains. In that regard, the movie Orphan, does no favors to the many children who share its name. For the sake of the world's more than 140 million orphans, people deserve to know better. They should have an honest understanding of the deep needs orphans face- as well as the satisfaction and beauty that can be found in embracing orphans as a mentor or adopted family, foster parent or nonprofit volunteer."
Please visit the website to share your story and sign the petition. www.orphansdeservebetter.org
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
That's What I'm Talking About
For over a year now, I have been following the Fumia family on their jouney to adopt their son from Ukraine. His picture is over on my side bar. They have the visa they need to get Grisha into the country and will be coming home Monday! Praise the Lord! It has been a long, emotional journey, but God has provided for them, making a way where there seemed to be no way.
Recently, I read a post on Ashley's blog and I wanted people who read my blog to read it also. Here is a portion of that post.
" There are so many things I want to tell you about the children. There are more pictures I want to share. I need to get my feelings straightened out and I just feel I can't do that right now. I have seen so much since I have been here. I won't publicly share it all, but I do thank God for opening my eyes more to the reality of these childrens' fate. Sometimes it is too hard for me to even see so I avoid it. I shouldn't do that, but the pain hurts. I do not like camp and I do not like going there. Usually I wouldn't go because the bus ride makes me sick going all the way out there. Plus, there are so many days I have had to rest and not go. But, I also just don't like it at all. The spirits at this camp are so heavy that sometimes it is hard for me to breathe. I have never felt anything like it. Just being in the presence of this camp, makes me feel horrible and depressed. Even though the internat is not a great place, the camp is worse. I know there are things that go on in the orphanage, but I have seen so much more bad things going on at this camp. I will sit and just observe everything around me and I want to be sick. What these children need are families. It is wonderful that mission teams come and teach them about Jesus, because they are planting those seeds. Children get saved and this is important because what matters most is their souls and where they will spend eternity. I thank God for the missionaries that have been there for my son through the years. I thank God for the example they have set and the time they have given him. They didn't have to do this, but they did. They love the children and care about them. As I watch these children, they love having this attention. They eat it up and hang all over the people that are loving on them. They need this and they crave it. Children with bad behaviors instantly turn good and are well behaved. But, then the people leave and I see the behavior that they had before come back. They are doing drugs, beating each other up, being mean to little kids, drinking, smoking, and much more that you probably don't even want to know. Why is this? They have just been taught about Jesus and may have even accepted him as their Savior. They have hope now in Christ that they didn't have before. Why do they turn back to this lifestyle? I want to say that I am not against mission teams AT ALL!!! Please do not misunderstand or twist my words here. I love missions and I have a heart for missions. I want mission teams to keep coming here. The time that they are here, the children are happy. They are not doing as many bad things and I love seeing the smiles on their faces. Some of the kids I had not seen a smile from them in weeks and then a mission team will come and they can't stop smiling. It makes me happy. There is a mission team that are my friends and I love them very, very much. They do wonders with these kids and even the hardest of hearts soften when they are here. They look forward every single summer for these people to come. If you mention one of their names when they are not here, the children's faces lighten up. They adore these people that come. The kids truly love them. What I am talking about is getting the children out of the situation they are in and bringing them into Christian homes. They need a family. The reality is not good for them if they don't get adopted. When I say "not good" their outcome is even worse than not good. Please watch the video that my friend Leslie made. I will post it in this post.I can even see it in the behaviors in my son. When he is with us, he is much different and a better person. But, when he goes back to the environment or spends time with certain kids from there, he changes. It's like he needs to be this tough guy that has to survive. He has had to be that way his whole life and when he goes back there, he is in that mindset of orphanage life. When he is with us, he doesn't need to be that way and he sees that. When these children are removed, that is when they can grow and become the person they are meant to be. That is when their families can lead them to understand how to walk with Christ. They learn how to behave and function in society. They no longer have to try and survive in a place where there is no mom and dad to hold them. They need moms and dads. They can't change overnight. They have had to live a certain way for years. But when they are placed in a home, you see changes every day and it is so rewarding. You see little by little, who they were meant to be all along. They don't even know who they are and how they are supposed to be. And as you watch your child change, you change even more. I am sure I have more to say, but I have two boys in my bedroom begging for my attention. I need to go. I can't wait to see how these 2 boys will be 10 years from now....10 months from now...10 weeks from now...and even 10 days from now... Grisha and Alex will be great men of God. Two families obeyed and came for these boys. Now they can have the life they were meant to have. They have the chance. God is telling all of us to take care of orphans. Every day I see God's heart more and more when I look at these children. Will you allow Him to use you in the life of a child? "Pure and undefiled religion before God our Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." James 1:27I apologize that youtube has taken the song off of Leslie's video. It is the song called, "Remember Me" by Mark Shultz. "
If you want to see the video click on this link to Ashley's blog. I encourage you to click the link and read all about their adoption journey.
Recently, I read a post on Ashley's blog and I wanted people who read my blog to read it also. Here is a portion of that post.
" There are so many things I want to tell you about the children. There are more pictures I want to share. I need to get my feelings straightened out and I just feel I can't do that right now. I have seen so much since I have been here. I won't publicly share it all, but I do thank God for opening my eyes more to the reality of these childrens' fate. Sometimes it is too hard for me to even see so I avoid it. I shouldn't do that, but the pain hurts. I do not like camp and I do not like going there. Usually I wouldn't go because the bus ride makes me sick going all the way out there. Plus, there are so many days I have had to rest and not go. But, I also just don't like it at all. The spirits at this camp are so heavy that sometimes it is hard for me to breathe. I have never felt anything like it. Just being in the presence of this camp, makes me feel horrible and depressed. Even though the internat is not a great place, the camp is worse. I know there are things that go on in the orphanage, but I have seen so much more bad things going on at this camp. I will sit and just observe everything around me and I want to be sick. What these children need are families. It is wonderful that mission teams come and teach them about Jesus, because they are planting those seeds. Children get saved and this is important because what matters most is their souls and where they will spend eternity. I thank God for the missionaries that have been there for my son through the years. I thank God for the example they have set and the time they have given him. They didn't have to do this, but they did. They love the children and care about them. As I watch these children, they love having this attention. They eat it up and hang all over the people that are loving on them. They need this and they crave it. Children with bad behaviors instantly turn good and are well behaved. But, then the people leave and I see the behavior that they had before come back. They are doing drugs, beating each other up, being mean to little kids, drinking, smoking, and much more that you probably don't even want to know. Why is this? They have just been taught about Jesus and may have even accepted him as their Savior. They have hope now in Christ that they didn't have before. Why do they turn back to this lifestyle? I want to say that I am not against mission teams AT ALL!!! Please do not misunderstand or twist my words here. I love missions and I have a heart for missions. I want mission teams to keep coming here. The time that they are here, the children are happy. They are not doing as many bad things and I love seeing the smiles on their faces. Some of the kids I had not seen a smile from them in weeks and then a mission team will come and they can't stop smiling. It makes me happy. There is a mission team that are my friends and I love them very, very much. They do wonders with these kids and even the hardest of hearts soften when they are here. They look forward every single summer for these people to come. If you mention one of their names when they are not here, the children's faces lighten up. They adore these people that come. The kids truly love them. What I am talking about is getting the children out of the situation they are in and bringing them into Christian homes. They need a family. The reality is not good for them if they don't get adopted. When I say "not good" their outcome is even worse than not good. Please watch the video that my friend Leslie made. I will post it in this post.I can even see it in the behaviors in my son. When he is with us, he is much different and a better person. But, when he goes back to the environment or spends time with certain kids from there, he changes. It's like he needs to be this tough guy that has to survive. He has had to be that way his whole life and when he goes back there, he is in that mindset of orphanage life. When he is with us, he doesn't need to be that way and he sees that. When these children are removed, that is when they can grow and become the person they are meant to be. That is when their families can lead them to understand how to walk with Christ. They learn how to behave and function in society. They no longer have to try and survive in a place where there is no mom and dad to hold them. They need moms and dads. They can't change overnight. They have had to live a certain way for years. But when they are placed in a home, you see changes every day and it is so rewarding. You see little by little, who they were meant to be all along. They don't even know who they are and how they are supposed to be. And as you watch your child change, you change even more. I am sure I have more to say, but I have two boys in my bedroom begging for my attention. I need to go. I can't wait to see how these 2 boys will be 10 years from now....10 months from now...10 weeks from now...and even 10 days from now... Grisha and Alex will be great men of God. Two families obeyed and came for these boys. Now they can have the life they were meant to have. They have the chance. God is telling all of us to take care of orphans. Every day I see God's heart more and more when I look at these children. Will you allow Him to use you in the life of a child? "Pure and undefiled religion before God our Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." James 1:27I apologize that youtube has taken the song off of Leslie's video. It is the song called, "Remember Me" by Mark Shultz. "
If you want to see the video click on this link to Ashley's blog. I encourage you to click the link and read all about their adoption journey.
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