Practical Help for Precious Ones…

If you have been following my blog for a couple of weeks, you would be familiar with Reece’s Rainbow, an advocate ministry for the adoption of Down Syndrome orphans and orphans with special needs.

Today i would like to highlight a practical way we can help these orphans – fundraising/donations, specifically for families who have committed to bring home a child/children.

Adoptions are terribly expensive within one’s own country but the costs of an international adoption simply skyrockets! Anywhere from US$25,000 to US$40,000. That is a lot of money. Many of the families who commit to adopting a child do not have such cash lying around. They commit because they love the child/children. They fell in love and God led them to adopt. Some have a bit of money to start with but not enough to complete the process. Others are families who have adopted before and have depleted their resources. Still others are brand-new to adoption and have simply jumped in, just because they know with all their hearts these kids need them. Whether or not they have some money to start with or not, the adoption process is long and more will always be needed. So today i’m listing but a few of the many families who are fundraising to meet their goal of bringing home their beloved child/children.

The first fundraising effort i would like to highlight is the Mulligan Stew Giveaway. Julia and her family have recently adopted a lovely little boy (from the same orphanage as my little Heath, who is still waiting for his forever family – is that you?) but their efforts to help these little ones continue. They are now running a HUGE Giveaway, which would benefit several families as well as waiting children. It may sound complicated as they are trying to help as many as possible. But don’t get bogged down with the details – simply know this; when you donate, you earn a certain number of entries (there is a list on the blog). You will need to donate to the Heim Family, who have already adopted 6 children and are in the process of adopting another 4. They really need our support. Then donate to any other family or child/children listed on Mulligan Stew Giveaway. Leave a comment to say to whom and how much you have given. That’s it. You are entered into the Giveaway. Remember to check back for results and share with your friends.

The next fundraising effort i would like you to consider is for Samuel’s and Duncan’s family – the Mortons. (i posted about both Samuel and Duncan here.) Theirs is a wonderful story of simple desire and faith. They had wanted to adopt both Samuel and Duncan (both are aging out of the system). They were confirmed for Samuel but felt that Duncan was someone else’s. However Duncan’s family could not adopt him in the end (they are extremely sad about this). So the Mortons stepped up and committed to Duncan as well. So they are bringing home 2 boys to add to their family of 6. So now they require twice as much as they initially thought. So do support them. Go on to their blog to follow their story and take part in their Giveaways. Once again, do share with all your friends.

The third fundraising effort is with the Prayer Warriors at Reece’s Rainbow. And i’m sure they don’t mind if you give, even if you are not yet a Prayer Warrior. This one is called Puzzle Piece Fundraiser, run by Tonya over at Praying Them Home. i ask that you consider becoming a Prayer Warrior and take part in this fundraiser. If you don’t feel led to be a Prayer Warrior, then i ask that you consider donating just US$5 for a piece of puzzle. Again it will benefit a family in the adoption process. This family is yet to be identified – when we finish the puzzle then the most urgent need at that time will be met. We have lots of puzzle pieces so spread the word amongst your friends.

There are soooooo many many more fundraising efforts going on, it is just not possible to list them all. Here are a few more highlighted on the Reece’s Rainbow blog. You may also want to look at the Family Sponsorship Program.

No amount is too small. We appreciate every little bit which contributes to a whole and helps greatly.

Find out other ways to help the precious ones listed on Reece’s Rainbow.

Please do continue to love and pray for my beloved Heath and Heather as we ask God to bring them their forever families and also help their grant to grow so that their forever families can get to them sooner.

syc

A Bell is No Bell Till You Ring It…

i have been in a mood for musicals (again). i love the songs in musicals because they express the feelings and emotions of the characters so well. Well, i’m currently listening to The Sound Of Music, the story of the VanTrapp family, made famous by Hollywood in 1965.

Today i was thinking about the two little special needs orphans, Heath and Heather, i pray for. And found the first verse of the song, Sixteen Going On Seventeen (reprise with Liesl and Maria), speaking the words i was trying to find to express my thoughts.

A bell is no bell till you ring it
A song is no song till you sing it
And love in your heart wasn’t put there to stay
Love isn’t love till you give it away 

And since joining this group of people who daily pray for these orphans and reading about parents who share their journey as they work to adopt these precious kids, i have seen love in action and i have seen how God moves in response to that love people are showing these wonderful children.

i spoke about how God provided Samuel with a family within a few short days of a call for special prayer. Now his family is working hard to raise the money to go and get him home. A family who had never thought of adopting at all is now excited and anxious to have him complete their lives and home. You can follow their love journey here.

i want the same thing to happen for Heath and Heather. Today i specifically want to ask you to ask yourself, the love in your heart (i know you have it in you), can you use it to love Heath and Heather? Don’t let that love stay there. Give it away, love Heath and Heather. Maybe you are the family they are waiting for?

If like me, you are not in a position to adopt, then i ask you to give that love to Heath and Heather in other ways. In praying for them, in helping their grant (money which helps towards their adoption) grow. Heath has seen his grant grow through prayers and still needs more (estimated costs of an international adoption are US$25,000 to US$40,000). But little Heather has not seen her grant grow at all. Getting a bigger grant (US$2500) would get her listed on the sizeable grant available list, which hopefully would help her forever family find her sooner. The lack of information on Heather’s profile isn’t a sign that she is less needy, it simply indicates that no one really knows anymore (which i find a little distressing).

So click on their pictures below and let the love within your heart take action.

syc

PS: Please do leave a comment below if you have contribute towards Heath’s and/or Heather’s grant, so i can send you a personal thank you.

Almost 11 years old Heath, who really needs his family to find him asap.
10 year old, Heather, who is a healthy little cutie and needs a family.

Prayers Working Wonders…

As you all know, i have recently become a Reece’s Rainbow Prayer Warrior, which simply means i am committed to praying daily for specific orphans listed on RR (Reece’s Rainbow).

Today i would like to share how wonderful God has been in the last week, where 14 children of various ages and various special needs have families who will give them a loving home, where they can grow and be cared for as every child deserves to be.

Reece’s Rainbow Prayer Warrior Ministry: My Family Found Me Monday.

i want to highlight one particular boy – his name is Samuel. He is the oldest boy in this list of 14 you see in the link above.

A special call went out on the RR Prayer Warrior Facebook Page on 25th February to pray for Samuel and Duncan. Both boys would be aging out of the system (turning 16) in a few months and would be turned out into the streets or at least no longer be available for adoption. This means that they will most likely fall into despair and/or a life of crime would become a reality for them. Both boys have only minor special needs. They really needed a family soon and they needed a family who is paper-ready; meaning the family is 1) approved to adopt an older child with special needs, 2) able to travel quickly and 3) is financially prepared, which is rare to find.

But God moved mountains and within a week Samuel had a family! Amen, Praise God!

Now we continue to pray that God will move more obstacles and Duncan will have a family real soon, as will many other special needs orphans on RR.

Join me in praying for these precious ones, especially for little Heath and Heather who are the little ones i specifically pray for. If you are moved by the situation these little ones are in, please consider donating towards their adoption. (Donation buttons are on their respective pages)

syc

UPDATE: 08/03/2012

i just found out that Duncan has a family who will adopt him! Praise God! He works in wonderful ways. Amen! Now let’s pray my little Heath and lovely Heather home!