Adopt More

I went to an orphanage for the first time last Saturday.
I plan to go back every Saturday.

It's one of the best orphanages in China, if not the world.

That's a scary statement.
(Though I have never seen any others in the world -- I have only heard other people's stories. I know it's better than the ones in Romania.)

And yet, that's not good enough, my friends.

On our tour, the bright paint on the walls, the fun looking cartoon characters, smiling children's faces, toys, nannies -- they all looked nice. On the tour I didn't notice the smell, or the lack of mobility of the children who should have no physical disabilities.

Then, I went for my first "duty".

As we said goodbye to the children we had been holding and loving, I wanted to weep.

Even now, seeing one boy's face as I gently "massage-tickled" under his chin, I just want to cry.
They just want to be touched. They just want to be loved.

Some of the babies' bodies are stiff because they haven't been touched and moved enough. Their joints are not right and don't move properly. I picked up one boy whose body was so thin... He would cry out every few minutes. He may have been hungry.

On the tour I went into a room where many older children (7-10) with cerebral palsy are kept. To prevent themselves from getting hurt, their arms and legs are tied to the beds.
One girl had such beautiful eyes. I made faces, sounds, and tickled her. She laughed and soon a little boy was watching as we played. I started interacting with him and he soon began giggling up a storm.
When I turned, I noticed another little girl watching, but silently. Her fingers are so long and delicate. So beautiful! So precious.
Such an existence.

I think the Lrd has been revealing to me that I have always loved orphans.
I have always loved the unloved. (Through Him.)

Don't forget them.

At this orphanage most of the children have disabilities because their parents dropped them off once they realized they were not perfect.
(If you can only have one kid, what are you going to do? Your kid is the one who has to take care of you when you're old. How can they if they have a disability?)

One girl is an albino with some other mental disabilities.
The nannies are harsher with her.

They are harsher with the cleft-pallet babies.

They shove food down the babies' throats to feed them quickly.
Some babies need more to eat and drink, but there's no time to attend to such needs.

The smell of the children reminded me of my hamster's cage when I would neglect to clean it for days.
They all get changed at particular times; no exceptions.

OH Lrd!
Won't You look down and hear their cries?
Will You bring the families?
Will You protect their hearts and minds from bitterness and hatred?
Will You be the Father of the fatherless?
Will You defend their cause?

But...will You wait until after they are dead?
Does judgment only come at the end?

Hear the call to defend the poor and needy!

We know, but what will we DO?

Don't limit your faithfulness to what you feel YOU can do, what will He empower you to do? What has He given you the ability to dream of doing in His strength?

He has reminded me, yet again, that I cannot save the world.
Even if I could help all the babies in China, what about the ones in Uganda? What about the ones in India? What about the ones longing to be lovingly touched in Romania?

What about the ladies forced into the sex trade?
What about those who are starving?
What about those who have been chased off their land and out of their families?

Pry...and ACT.

Indeed, James 1:27 comes to mind and it is backed up by the rest of the Word. (Habakkuk, Amos, Isaiah, etc.)

If ever I am married, (and maybe the Lrd will work out a different way to make this possible?) a seed has been planted in my mind: India, Uganda, China, Romania, US -- all coming to my house. (As the Lrd would will and provide.)

We'll see what the future actually holds.

Pry fervently...What will He have you do???