A Voice for the Voiceless
When we returned home five years ago from China with our daughter, I honestly never thought I would return. The heartache I felt as I saw so many orphans, almost all special needs, was nearly too much to take in. We had never considered adoption before. Especially because we had three biological sons already. We didn’t think adoption was God’s plan for our lives. But as scripture tells us, His ways are not our ways. He did impress on our hearts that we were to adopt. And to adopt from China. To say that we have seen & experienced God’s hand all over our daughter’s life would be an understatement. I still honestly don’t know why He has allowed us to play a small part in her story. She is only nine years old and we are in awe of His perfect provision for her.
After being home with her for only months, my heart began to ache for the precious ones left behind. I could see their faces, knew some of their names. I felt compelled to do something more. Adopt again, foster, advocate. I didn’t know what, but I knew I could not do nothing. God had done a miracle in my life as well. The scriptures James 1:27, Psalm 68:5, Deuteronomy 10:18 & so many others became REAL to me. I realized they were commands to ALL believers, not just those that dealt with infertility. I shared our story via blog often. I advocated as much as possible through social media for many organizations that promote adoption. We began sponsoring children from China and Uganda. I felt better. Like I was doing something. But I knew I could do more. I prayed for God to open doors as He saw fit.
When my pastor’s wife, Leanne Lewis, was contacted by New Beginnings about an advocacy trip to China to assess the needs of orphans who needed forever families, she said she immediately thought of me. She told me to pray about it and if I felt led to go that I was to contact Cori Taylor. I knew immediately that I did not have to pray about it for one second. And I knew that my family would support me 100% because they knew that this was exactly where my heart was. I was right.
Almost exactly 5 years after returning home from China with my daughter, I was on a plane headed back to the country I honestly never thought I would return to. This time I was with a group of people with one common goal – advocate for special needs orphans. Be a voice for the voiceless. It wasn’t easy on this mama’s heart to spend time with these precious children for days, and then have to leave them behind. I still see their sweet faces and think about them often. This time however, I know that I can have a part in helping their forever families find them. It is such a humbling feeling to know that I may play a small part in changing an orphan into a son or daughter. This advocacy trip was hopefully one of many I will get to go on. The saying is true…”Orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names.”
Did you know Christians outnumber orphans 15 to 1?
To act upon God’s call to care for orphans is not merely a matter of duty or guilt. It is a response to the good news, the Gospel: that God, our Father, sought us, adopted us, and invites us to live as His sons and daughters. We love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19).
No one can do everything. But everyone can do something.
What role does God want you to play in orphan care today?
