Okay, so it was another bad week for blogging. I am not sure why I haven't been keeping up with my posts, but I will try hard this week. I am going to the beach on Thursday, so, hopefully, I can get a few in before I leave. I want to add Part 2 to the "David and Rebekkah Story," and I want to write Carver's six month post (6 months has gone by at the speed of light). Before I write those, I want to share the heartbreaking story that we heard at church about orphans in Odessa, Ukraine.
At our evening service, Michelle Maly, a missionary to Ukraine spoke to us about her work in Odessa. In Odessa, she spends the school year working with the children of Internot Orphanage and showing them the love of Christ. She is not allowed to share the Gospel explicitly, but she forms relationships with them so that they may see Christ through her. During the summers, she travels around the U.S. telling these children's stories and promoting adoption. She began by telling us the story of Andrei, a 15 year-old-boy whose mother emotionally and physically abused him for 14 years of his life and then decided to give him to the orphanage. She ended by showing a video that left me burdened for these children.
All of the children where Michelle works are between the ages of 11-18. They are not given a good education, and they are not equipped for the work force. Essentially, they are fed and housed. The statistics are daunting: upon leaving, 10% of the orphans will commit suicide, 60% of females will be lured into prostitution (orphans are specifically targeted), 70% of males will lead a life of crime, and only 27% will find employment. How much difference a home full of love (specifically a love for Christ) could make for these children! She said that these children's dream is to be adopted one day.
My heart has been heavy for these orphans, and I hope that it stays that way so that I will continue to pray diligently for these children. David and I picked up two of their pictures and have committed to pray for them. Our "boys" are Vitya (13) and Shasha (9). Michelle has emailed us with specific information about how we can pray for these boys. The stories are so sad! After church on Sunday, I cried and cried thinking about how these children do not have a mother to hug them, sing to them, read a Bible story to them, or even to fix them supper at night. Every day of my life is spent thinking of ways that I can love my son, and these poor children do not have anything close to that. I cannot imagine a life without the love of a mother and father.
My initial reaction was to hop a plane to the Ukraine and bring home about 10 of these children, but that is obviously not possible. Upon further research, I have learned that couples wanting to adopt have to spend at least a month in the Ukraine and that the process is often up to the whims of government officials. Adoption is definitely a calling, and with a 6 month old, I don't think that we are called to adopt a child from the Ukraine right now; however, I do hope that if God would have us to adopt one day that we would be ready and willing to answer his call. I cannot imagine the joys that welcoming a child from this orphanage (or anywhere) would bring.
All we can do at this point is pray for these children, and I ask that if they come to your mind that you would say a prayer for them too. As much as the love of a mother and father would mean to these children, it is most important that they come to know the love of their Heavenly Father. If you are interested in praying for a specific child or in adopting, you can email Michelle at michellevonjoy@juno.com.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
A Moving Read
Sorry that I have not updated the blog lately. Our schedule was a little different, and I haven't seemed to be able to find time to blog. I have quite a few posts that I want to write, but I thought that I would start with this one because I haven't been able to stop thinking about this book since I finished it.
A few weeks ago, I checked out Same Kind of Different as Me from our church library. I saw a friend reading it, and I heard that it was good; however, it is not the type of book that I would necessarily pick up to read. It is non-fiction, and, typically, I am a fiction type of gal. During our church's Arts and Sports Camp (sort of like VBS), I noticed it in the library, so I decided to give it a try.
I hesitate to even give a brief synopsis of the book because it is so good that I cannot do it justice, but I will give it a shot. The book tells the story of Denver Moore, a homeless black man who lived the early part of his life as a sharecropper in the Deep South, and Ron Hall, a wealthy art dealer from Fort Worth. The two are brought together through Ron's wife Debbie who has an amazing heart and a love for the brokenhearted. Through Debbie's vision, both Ron and Denver are changed as well as the city around them.
Though it may sound like a typical story, it is anything but that. Each man has a unique voice and perspective that fills each chapter and keeps the pages turning. It is a story of hope, and it is extremely convicting. As I read this book, I sobbed through the heartaches and devastation that each man faces, but I was encouraged and amazed to see the work of Christ in their lives. Ron's wife is a woman of amazing character, and her example has challenged me to care for those who no one else seems to even notice.
The Bible clearly says that we are to minister to the poor, and I have been convicted for a while that I am not fulfilling this command. This book gives a beautiful picture of how Christ calls us to minister to those around us and how he desires for us to live. I am sincerely praying that he will show me how to reach out to the needy around me. God's providence throughout the lives of these people is clearly evident and is an awesome testimony of how He uses all things for His glory.
This description is completely inadequate, but suffice it to say that the book is truly encouraging. Go buy it/ check it out now, and when you read it, let me know what you think!
A few weeks ago, I checked out Same Kind of Different as Me from our church library. I saw a friend reading it, and I heard that it was good; however, it is not the type of book that I would necessarily pick up to read. It is non-fiction, and, typically, I am a fiction type of gal. During our church's Arts and Sports Camp (sort of like VBS), I noticed it in the library, so I decided to give it a try.
I hesitate to even give a brief synopsis of the book because it is so good that I cannot do it justice, but I will give it a shot. The book tells the story of Denver Moore, a homeless black man who lived the early part of his life as a sharecropper in the Deep South, and Ron Hall, a wealthy art dealer from Fort Worth. The two are brought together through Ron's wife Debbie who has an amazing heart and a love for the brokenhearted. Through Debbie's vision, both Ron and Denver are changed as well as the city around them.
Though it may sound like a typical story, it is anything but that. Each man has a unique voice and perspective that fills each chapter and keeps the pages turning. It is a story of hope, and it is extremely convicting. As I read this book, I sobbed through the heartaches and devastation that each man faces, but I was encouraged and amazed to see the work of Christ in their lives. Ron's wife is a woman of amazing character, and her example has challenged me to care for those who no one else seems to even notice.
The Bible clearly says that we are to minister to the poor, and I have been convicted for a while that I am not fulfilling this command. This book gives a beautiful picture of how Christ calls us to minister to those around us and how he desires for us to live. I am sincerely praying that he will show me how to reach out to the needy around me. God's providence throughout the lives of these people is clearly evident and is an awesome testimony of how He uses all things for His glory.
This description is completely inadequate, but suffice it to say that the book is truly encouraging. Go buy it/ check it out now, and when you read it, let me know what you think!
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