Remember my Mother Theresa phase? I'm going to throw a few more your way today, but they're a little tougher, so it might hurt a little. But you'll feel better in the end.
Tomorrow is a big day for us. We have teamed up with Children's HopeChest and have been assigned a community of children that need us. And here's the kicker. They made sure that our community, Greenlight, is somewhere where we can go and visit 'our kids', in Addis. Anybody going to Addis anytime soon? Thought so. So how cool is that?!
Let me tell you a little about Greenlight. It's a drop-in center, which means they take in about 80 kids and provide everything they need because their parents can't. They are not available for adoption, but that's the beauty. These kids are not yet orphans, but they are what orphans are made out of. Their parents are still with them and love them very much, but poverty makes people very vulnerable. We know all too well that it often splits up families over there. Today and tomorrow is about prevention.
These sponsorships are a most tangible way to provide for these kids most basic needs. The drop in provides food, clothing, discipleship, education, everything. You can provide that for $32 a month. And that might seem like more than you can spare right now (it did to me), but sometimes we just could use a perspective change to see that that is most likely not the case. I don't know your financial situation right now, so this is something I'd love for you to pray about today and tomorrow. Because tomorrow, one by one, I'm going to show you the names and faces of some little girls that need help in Greenlight. It's a one to one, personal sponsorship. You will mean alot to these kids. And the sponsorships are life saving and life changing. So, are you ready for those hard Mother Theresa quotes I mentioned?
“Live simply so others may simply live.”
“If you can't feed a hundred people, feed just one.”
“It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish.”
“When a poor person dies of hunger it has not happened because God did not take care of him or her. It has happened because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed.”
Told ya it might sting. I seriously was considering not sponsoring right now because we are in the crunch time bit of fundraising for our adoption and we're living tight. When I say living tight I mean I cringe when we get invited to a birthday party and I'll 'have to' stop and get a $20 gift for a kid I don't know so we don't look lame. Or that I feel whiney because I can't quite justify buying that new long dress from Target (apparently I need them all). Or we can't go out to Chuy's for dinner for a while. I'm such a brat! Anyhoo, I've been learning (painfully) lately that my stuff is dragging me down and the only solution is to get rid of my money! Will you join me? Today I'm planting a seed. And tomorrow I'm praying for you and for those kids. You'll see the first one in the morning. Then we'll get her sponsored and I'll post another one. Think about it. Talk to your hubby. Pray. Fast. Let's see how many we can place tomorrow. One of them might be yours. Think of her today. This is who I think is more important than the pretty Target dress.
Her name is Tenaye. I painted her last week and didn't even know it. Now her painting hangs in my home as a reminder to pray for her.
Also, as an added little bonus, I'll be glad to paint your sponsored child for you so you can have the same type of reminder. More on that tomorrow. Today, just pray. I'll meet you here in the morning.
This is a lovely idea. We too, are in the middle of preparing for our adoption. Cutting way back, fundraising. But your photo and painting speak a thousand words.... I look forward to your posts. :)
ReplyDeleteI can't wait! :)
ReplyDeleteWe sponsor a little girl named Beza, in Ethiopia, through Lifesong for Orphans. The sponsorship provides her with schooling and meals. She has 8 siblings and a mother who makes a living making injera bread out of teff flour. She's beautiful! I love Lifesong for Orphans because they have no administrative costs; an anonymous third party covers those costs, so 100% of the donations go straight to where it's needed.
ReplyDeleteI completely understand the connection to these children, even when they're not orphans. Having a photo to look at, and praying for them means so much.
I know that hubby and I are making the lowest income we will probably ever make right now, and it can only go up from here - especially since I'm still working on getting my Accounting degree. I love seeing little pay increases here and there so we can give more in other areas. Mother Theresa is such an inspiration! I'm so glad she chose to let herself be used as an instrument for God . . . His love shone through her like a beacon of light. We all have that potential - to let the Lord use us, even when it means He's asking us to give up our lives and follow him; give up the 'extras' that we mistakenly think of as a 'need', when it's only a 'want'.
Done with my rant - great post!!
i loved your rant! :)
ReplyDelete