I just read my Facebook feed and felt the need to post a story here. Hopefully someone other than my "India" momma friends are reading. Hopefully this will find its ways to someone to help.
For a couple of years I've heard about Sarah's Covenant Homes in India. Its something known by most of us Indian adoptive families. It became very real to me recently. See, there is a long list of people who have always wanted to adopt Varsha. The young lady running SCH is no exception. The difference is that when India said "no", God moved. No really,
GOD MOVED!!!!
In huge ways. They house 82 children now. Almost all have some sort of neurological problems. Seizure disorders, cerebral palsy, spina bifida and such. These kids are like my kids. Anyone remember when Ananya came home from India? Anyone remember a 2 year old that couldn't eat because her tongue just did not know how to move liquid? Anyone remember the 16 pound 2 year old who couldn't crawl? These are the kids that she houses. They have lost a few from seizures and other medical problems.
What bothers me is that some of the deaths could be prevented. They desperately need medical equipment. They need training to learn how to use it. Just a portable suction machine could save lives for kids with seizures. Just having mickey buttons for kiddos getting tube feeds could nourish a child. Just having the money could provide a life changing surgery.
My kids get their medical needs met because of health insurance. That isn't the case in India (well you may be able to get insurance, but these kids are orphans. They truly belong to no one :0( except the One that created them" fearfully and wonderfully made"). The medical procedures and medications needed are paid for with cash. That seems crazy by our standards. It isn't though. The cost is so much less than our procedures. A couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars. A couple hundred dollars to let a child hear, walk, or to protect them from a life-threatening infection. In the course of a year, I'll bet most people spend that on McD's or Starbucks. I'm not saying you shouldn't have those things. I'm saying that could you please find a way to help. Just a little bit. Even $20 a month by 5 people will add up to $1200. If each person brought 1 more person to help, well then it would add up further.
If you don't think you can give or don't trust the need (BTW she lists a link to her monthly budget on website), then you could go. She needs medical personnel to help train the staff. Infection prevention, basic CPR, how to use new medical equipment, and how to treat life threatening conditions. It would be an awesome trip. India is like nothing else you have ever seen. It is gorgeous and yet poverty is everywhere. The people are hospitable. I have enjoyed both trips greatly and can't wait until we have guardianship and can head back.
If you want to read more about the kids, there is a category for each of the kids on the side bar. I'll warn you though, its addictive. These kids are precious. I just want to bring all of them home. (I'm sure that doesn't surprise anyone.) I'll link to one child in particular. Her name is Aloe. She is a tiny, tiny sweety who has multiple medical problems. She is such a fighter. I hope she conquers it all to accomplish great things.
All about Aloe.
The story that sparked my interest completely. My Varsha. Yes that is my baby. She is changing lives all over the globe.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Christianity, Adoption and Birth Family Loss
I've encountered a situation in my life that I've had a unique perspective because of our adoptions and that has made me rethink some things in the life of our family.
First let me start with a short explanation. I'm a new Christian. I've always believed in God. I knew about Jesus. I did believe. I didn't however "get it". I wasn't really raised in a church. I knew sunday school bible stories, but didn't know that people, other than scholars, read and studied their bible. I just had never seen it.
Then, while waiting for Ananya, I found a website called "Biblical Womanhood" (unfortunately the author has now deleted the blog). I started reading about a push back against feminism, biblical marriage, and of course Biblical Womanhood. This was definitely not how I was raised. Most of this was new to me. Then much later, I found a challenge to read the bible in 90 days. I dove right in and was hooked. That 90 days changed my life. I did the challenge one more time. I brought a friend down the journey that time and we both were changed. I'm completely changed from the inside out.
Now onto the topic at hand.
I've discovered that by adopting children from a country with little christian influence, our children will experience another loss. One that isn't discussed much. I've never read about it in adoption literature. What about if our children's parents don't believe? What if no one reaches them? Logically, as believers, we know. If no one reaches our children's reaches our children's birth parents, then they are lost. FOREVER. I hate that thought. There are 3 women who I pray will be reached.
This realization has changed my perspective. I know orphan care is important. Supporting the poor is vital. Of new importance to me is the fact that my family needs to support local missionaries. Men and women in the areas my children are from who are working hard and risking their lives to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I just have to pray every day that someone can reach them. I just have to pray that my children will not be without their birth family for eternity.
All of this is going on in my mind right now. One day my kids will understand all of this. One day my kids will get that they may be separated from their birth family for eternity. There probably won't be a chance for them to tell their birth parents about Jesus.
Its hard. For right now, my kids don't understand any of this. Birth parents have been lost in a sea of doctors appointments and therapy sessions. They know about India and being adopted. But birth families is just beyond their comprehension.
Right now, I'm worrying and thinking of all this for them. Right now, a friend of mine has brought this to my attention through personal circumstances. Right now, I'm praying for my friend's salvation. Right now, I'm praying my friend will come home safely from a very dangerous place they are traveling with the military. Right now, I am on my face daily begging for my friend, as well as the birth parents of all my children.
I have no idea how many beloved people I have lost to Satan. I am afraid that my friend won't be reached in time because they have lost someone close. My friend was too young to know Jesus. Therefore there was no way to witness to the person they lost. Now, they are facing another loss. A loss that rivals the first one. Too young to have to have dealt with this let alone to face it again. I pray for someone to reach my friend. A 20 year friendship. Great talent and great passion. This one I don't want to lose.
I'm sure other people have thought about this. I'm not the first to travel this road.
All I can ask is for prayers. For my friend. Salvation and safety. If salvation comes, then the loss won't be eternal.
Secondly, prayers and help. Help to support the missionaries facing death and abuse to spread the Gospel.
Today, I'm begging God to become so real that its impossible to deny his existence. There are some very important people I would like to spend eternity with. Salvation is a beautiful thing. I'm so happy that I know it is spreading. Just please save a few important people for me.
First let me start with a short explanation. I'm a new Christian. I've always believed in God. I knew about Jesus. I did believe. I didn't however "get it". I wasn't really raised in a church. I knew sunday school bible stories, but didn't know that people, other than scholars, read and studied their bible. I just had never seen it.
Then, while waiting for Ananya, I found a website called "Biblical Womanhood" (unfortunately the author has now deleted the blog). I started reading about a push back against feminism, biblical marriage, and of course Biblical Womanhood. This was definitely not how I was raised. Most of this was new to me. Then much later, I found a challenge to read the bible in 90 days. I dove right in and was hooked. That 90 days changed my life. I did the challenge one more time. I brought a friend down the journey that time and we both were changed. I'm completely changed from the inside out.
Now onto the topic at hand.
I've discovered that by adopting children from a country with little christian influence, our children will experience another loss. One that isn't discussed much. I've never read about it in adoption literature. What about if our children's parents don't believe? What if no one reaches them? Logically, as believers, we know. If no one reaches our children's reaches our children's birth parents, then they are lost. FOREVER. I hate that thought. There are 3 women who I pray will be reached.
This realization has changed my perspective. I know orphan care is important. Supporting the poor is vital. Of new importance to me is the fact that my family needs to support local missionaries. Men and women in the areas my children are from who are working hard and risking their lives to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I just have to pray every day that someone can reach them. I just have to pray that my children will not be without their birth family for eternity.
All of this is going on in my mind right now. One day my kids will understand all of this. One day my kids will get that they may be separated from their birth family for eternity. There probably won't be a chance for them to tell their birth parents about Jesus.
Its hard. For right now, my kids don't understand any of this. Birth parents have been lost in a sea of doctors appointments and therapy sessions. They know about India and being adopted. But birth families is just beyond their comprehension.
Right now, I'm worrying and thinking of all this for them. Right now, a friend of mine has brought this to my attention through personal circumstances. Right now, I'm praying for my friend's salvation. Right now, I'm praying my friend will come home safely from a very dangerous place they are traveling with the military. Right now, I am on my face daily begging for my friend, as well as the birth parents of all my children.
I have no idea how many beloved people I have lost to Satan. I am afraid that my friend won't be reached in time because they have lost someone close. My friend was too young to know Jesus. Therefore there was no way to witness to the person they lost. Now, they are facing another loss. A loss that rivals the first one. Too young to have to have dealt with this let alone to face it again. I pray for someone to reach my friend. A 20 year friendship. Great talent and great passion. This one I don't want to lose.
I'm sure other people have thought about this. I'm not the first to travel this road.
All I can ask is for prayers. For my friend. Salvation and safety. If salvation comes, then the loss won't be eternal.
Secondly, prayers and help. Help to support the missionaries facing death and abuse to spread the Gospel.
Today, I'm begging God to become so real that its impossible to deny his existence. There are some very important people I would like to spend eternity with. Salvation is a beautiful thing. I'm so happy that I know it is spreading. Just please save a few important people for me.
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