If you are like me, no doubt you have seen one of those "warm and fuzzy" human interest stories on your local news sometime around the Christmas holidays or perhaps during the summer months. You know the ones. There is the reporter and cameraman crowded around a group of people anxiously awaiting someone at the airport in your area. There are posters, balloons, flowers, and perhaps a gift or two. Oh yeah, there will most assuredly be some tears and many open hearts-hearts moved to action. These are the families who have chosen to love with abandon, step out of their comfort zone, and welcome an orphan into their hearts and homes.
As I watch those heart-rending stories my heart is always moved. I find myself thinking a number of thoughts; "How neat!!!", "How exciting!!!", "I wonder what it costs...", "Who can do this?", "I could NEVER do that...", "What if ???" The story soon changes to something else and those thoughts quickly fade.
It was a seemingly normal day just a few weeks ago, while sitting at my table, that the words "orphan hosting" flew through my mind. Out. Of. Nowhere. Just sitting there - minding my own business. "Where did that come from?", I wondered. I continued on with what I was working on and it happened again. "Orphan Hosting"... This time, it was a little louder, so to speak. I looked at the calendar - April 12. "Oh well, I am sure it is too late to do something about it this year..." "ORPHAN HOSTING!!!" "Okay, I will look into it."
And the rest is history. I stopped what I was doing, and spent time doing some searching on-line on some orphan hosting ministries - just to prove that I was too late-again. I even contacted a couple of bloggers that had experience with hosting, just to verify that I had missed the deadlines for Summer, 2012. You guessed it. There was still time and there were MANY children who still needed to be hosted for the summer. God directed me to New Horizons for Children, based in Acworth, Georgia. I was impressed with their ministry statement and their purpose and goals they have for their orphan hosting program. I prayed about it, spoke to Gary about it, and completed the application process. We were accepted into the program and will now be one of those anxious families at the airport with posters, balloons, flowers, and a gift or two. And those of you who know me well KNOW that there will be tears as well as open hearts as we welcome our kiddos into our hearts and home.
We are in the throes of the fundraising process just now. Since we came into this a bit late in the game, we have less time than some to raise the needed funds. Please pray with us for our funding to be completed in an expedient manner. (There are only 35 days until G & E will arrive.)
We are looking into various options to raise the needed funds. Please check back here for updates for different fundraising events in the next several weeks. Donations may be made through the Chip In widget at the top right of my blog. For those interested in making a tax-deductible donation toward our fundraising, it may be done at:
http://www.active.com/donate/summer2012/Myers-Partyof4
All donations at http://www.active.com/ are tax-deductible.
Continued thanks for your prayers and help as we take each new step in this process. It is exciting as we plan and prepare to bless the lives of these two kiddos. Please keep Gundars and Elina in your prayers as well, that God will prepare their hearts and minds for their time in our home this summer.
Be Blessed,
Carol
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
Moved To Action
Almost three years have passed since God first stirred my heart regarding the cause of the orphan (and widow) in our world today. I have found myself reading books, watching movies, and stalking the blogs of others all in an attempt to educate myself on this matter. As time marched on, God continued to work on my heart and I became further moved to take a more active role in orphan and widow awareness. In the fall of 2009, Gary and I took on the sponsorship of a four year old girl from Sierra Leone in Africa through World Vision.
Head knowledge and putting that knowledge into action are two different things. Action is the difficult part. Realizing that all that I have belongs to God and only what is used by and for Him will matter 100 years from now, has motivated me to "let go" more freely of what is "mine", be it my possessions, my money, or my time.
It has become almost second nature now to assist those directly involved in ministering to orphans and widows across the world or others involved in adopting a child into their forever family. Why should the burden belong to someone else? Why not me? What can I do that can make a difference? What will I do??? What can you do???
Check back for more about Our Unexpected Adventure.....
Be Blessed,
Carol
Head knowledge and putting that knowledge into action are two different things. Action is the difficult part. Realizing that all that I have belongs to God and only what is used by and for Him will matter 100 years from now, has motivated me to "let go" more freely of what is "mine", be it my possessions, my money, or my time.
It has become almost second nature now to assist those directly involved in ministering to orphans and widows across the world or others involved in adopting a child into their forever family. Why should the burden belong to someone else? Why not me? What can I do that can make a difference? What will I do??? What can you do???
Check back for more about Our Unexpected Adventure.....
Be Blessed,
Carol
Sunday, May 13, 2012
From Then to Now-How did I get to this place?
Truth be known, I guess you might call me a "late bloomer." It started out early in my life as I didn't join my family until I was fourteen weeks old-through the wonder of adoption. I am told my teeth wouldn't come in and it seemed like forever before I would start to walk. I guess I got comfortable with taking my time to do things as I seemed to keep up the pattern through the years. Even though I was raised in a Christian home and in church every time the doors were open, I didn't become a Christian until I was an adult. Somehow I managed to cram my four years of college into more than ten, and even married much later in life than any of my friends.
Fast forward to June, 2009. Gary and I had been married for five years and life was progressing along just fine. During a road trip from Texas to Nashville, the subject of adoption made its way into our lives. My husband was sharing with me that a fellow firefighter and his wife had made the decision to adopt. Having married later in life, we had no plans to have children of our own however, the desire and dream to be a mother had never gone away from my heart or life. As we continued to drive, we began to discuss the option of adoption in our lives. As someone who was adopted, I am all about all things adoption and never miss an opportunity to proclaim its merits in the life and heart of a child. Little did I know about the orphan crisis in the world today and how it would affect my life in the days to come.
As I began to educate myself on the adoption process I was overwhelmed by the need of the orphan. It is estimated that there are somewhere between 147 million and 163 million children living in the world today who are orphans. No doubt, that is an ever increasing number with each new day that passes. Never did I realize the sheer number of children who were living their lives without the love of a family to provide for their needs; physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. I wondered where would I be had I not been chosen to be a part of a family. What would my life look like today???
I had never given any thought to the realization that an orphan has nothing to call their own. Imagine waking up in the morning and having no one there to call your name or hug you tightly in their arms. Imagine having no clothes of your own to wear. Imagine life in a third world orphanage, or worse yet, left to live life on the streets.
As time passed, interest in adoption became a burden for the orphans of the world, both abroad and in the good 'ole U.S.A. Over 250,000 children enter the foster care system in this country each year. Many are returned to their families. However, there are over 107,000 children in the United States just waiting for their forever families TODAY. These are children who are cleared for adoption and JUST WAITING, HOPING for THEIR family.
While continuing to study the orphan crisis, I came face to face with what scripture says about the orphan and the responsibility of the Christian with regard to this. James 1:27 makes it plain. We are to care for the orphans and widows of the world. Then I am reminded of James 4:17 that tells me if I don't do what I know to be good and right, I have sinned. I must admit that throughout this process, my awareness of the needy ones of this world has catapulted to new heights. I have been challenged to live outside of my comfort zone, to give when it might hurt a little, to love those that might not be so easy to love.
I have been challenged. I have been changed. That brings me to the title of my blog. LOVE WITH ABANDON. Love with abandon.....I guess we all have some contrived definition of "love" that we are comfortable with living out in our daily lives. I know that was true for me. How "deep" are we willing to love? How "dirty" are we willing to get? How vulnerable are we willing to be in order to be used for those who need us most? How willing are we to love when there is no promise of anything in return? I am reminded of the little poem my youth pastor recounted to our youth group over and over.
"Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last." C.T. Studd
I am not sure I totally grasped its meaning as a teenager. However, being the "late bloomer" that I am, as time goes on, its words are ever before me. What will I do that counts for Christ? What will you do?
Be Blessed,
Carol
Fast forward to June, 2009. Gary and I had been married for five years and life was progressing along just fine. During a road trip from Texas to Nashville, the subject of adoption made its way into our lives. My husband was sharing with me that a fellow firefighter and his wife had made the decision to adopt. Having married later in life, we had no plans to have children of our own however, the desire and dream to be a mother had never gone away from my heart or life. As we continued to drive, we began to discuss the option of adoption in our lives. As someone who was adopted, I am all about all things adoption and never miss an opportunity to proclaim its merits in the life and heart of a child. Little did I know about the orphan crisis in the world today and how it would affect my life in the days to come.
As I began to educate myself on the adoption process I was overwhelmed by the need of the orphan. It is estimated that there are somewhere between 147 million and 163 million children living in the world today who are orphans. No doubt, that is an ever increasing number with each new day that passes. Never did I realize the sheer number of children who were living their lives without the love of a family to provide for their needs; physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. I wondered where would I be had I not been chosen to be a part of a family. What would my life look like today???
I had never given any thought to the realization that an orphan has nothing to call their own. Imagine waking up in the morning and having no one there to call your name or hug you tightly in their arms. Imagine having no clothes of your own to wear. Imagine life in a third world orphanage, or worse yet, left to live life on the streets.
As time passed, interest in adoption became a burden for the orphans of the world, both abroad and in the good 'ole U.S.A. Over 250,000 children enter the foster care system in this country each year. Many are returned to their families. However, there are over 107,000 children in the United States just waiting for their forever families TODAY. These are children who are cleared for adoption and JUST WAITING, HOPING for THEIR family.
While continuing to study the orphan crisis, I came face to face with what scripture says about the orphan and the responsibility of the Christian with regard to this. James 1:27 makes it plain. We are to care for the orphans and widows of the world. Then I am reminded of James 4:17 that tells me if I don't do what I know to be good and right, I have sinned. I must admit that throughout this process, my awareness of the needy ones of this world has catapulted to new heights. I have been challenged to live outside of my comfort zone, to give when it might hurt a little, to love those that might not be so easy to love.
I have been challenged. I have been changed. That brings me to the title of my blog. LOVE WITH ABANDON. Love with abandon.....I guess we all have some contrived definition of "love" that we are comfortable with living out in our daily lives. I know that was true for me. How "deep" are we willing to love? How "dirty" are we willing to get? How vulnerable are we willing to be in order to be used for those who need us most? How willing are we to love when there is no promise of anything in return? I am reminded of the little poem my youth pastor recounted to our youth group over and over.
"Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last." C.T. Studd
I am not sure I totally grasped its meaning as a teenager. However, being the "late bloomer" that I am, as time goes on, its words are ever before me. What will I do that counts for Christ? What will you do?
Be Blessed,
Carol
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