It's a gross understatement to say there are more children than adoptive families. Statistics from the US State Department show that in 2009 there were a total of less than 13,000 international adoptions completed in the US.
The numbers are crushing:
* 15 million children have lost both mother and father.
* Tens of millions more are fatherless.
In the U.S. alone 514,000 children live in our foster care system, and approximately 115,000 of them are waiting to be adopted right now.
*There are 18 million street children in India alone.
But a single statistic matters more than any other:
---It only takes one caring individual to make a life-long difference for an orphan.
Today Gods presence was so real to me, He was walking with me every step of the way. It was so amazing and peaceful. He truly is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother...
I spent the morning with the babies...Since its good Friday, there were no other volunteers. So it was a quiet peaceful day. I rather enjoyed it!
I forgot my camera card in my computer last night...(I'm sure that will surprise Natasha!)
But my little guy was wearing "the shirt" and he had on little shoes, he was so handsome!
I decided it should be a crime to put "mommy loves me", "daddy's princess", "50% mommy & 50% daddy", "I melt daddy's heart", "mommy's angel" and other such saying on orphans clothing. Every time I see them wearing something like that, I just want to break down and start crying!
I took one little guy swimming, and when he was done all the older children got in, so I stayed and helped with them. It was a lot of fun, they definitely wore me out, they have so much energy! They are like fish! I had three little girls climbing all over me and I was expected to swim....but it was so worth it! I was rewarded with hugs and kisses!
This afternoon when I was walking back to the orphanage, I thought about the street that I was walking on... I have been walking this street almost every day for the past two months, I have so many memories just on this street! I got pushed down it in a wheelbarrow, more than one espuma war started here, I have laughed down this street, cried down this street, ate down this street, sang down this street, ran down, walked down, and dragged myself down this street at times.....but it had all been so worth it and I wouldn't take any of it back! One lesson God had taught me is to be thankful for everything...I'm not always successful, but He was showing me ways to be thankful that it was time for Natasha to go home...I will always be thankful for the time I had here with her, and I'm thankful for all the memories.
I stopped in to give the tias a note, which of course need to be translated...so between my notes, my brain and my dictionary I got it pretty good I think! The tia was laughing at me, but said, she was thankful that I knew more Spanish then she knew English, which is funny because that's what I always think when people are speaking to me in broken English, sounds good to me! It's better than my Spanish! Of course I couldn't leave when babies were crying for their bottles so after a couple bottles I went to help with the egg dying...
We did the children in groups, but it still got a little messy...but they had fun! They each died an egg, multiple colors!
Then this evening I was able to meet a few girls that were staying a few days with the people that live about us, it was pretty neat. I was able to get better acquainted with a few volunteers from Boise, Idaho. One couple is in the process of adoption and the other couple has two daughters that are in the process of adoption. I was able to share my whole story with them! It was just amazing to hear what God is doing in these lives! It's such a blessing and encouragement!! Then we went to a good Friday service at a little church. It was all in Spanish, but I enjoyed listing to the singing and music...It felt so nice to be in a little church too!
All in all, I couldn't have asked for a better day. God is so gracious!
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Galatians 6:14
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