Orphan Awareness Month

This week, the United States stops and focus on giving thanks. What happens when you have no one to celebrate this holiday with? Is your heart still grateful if your table isn't full of people and contains no turkey but only a bowl of cereal? These are hard questions, but children who are in the foster care system or who are orphaned don't find a family when they turn 18 years old. They still find themselves alone and jealous of those who do have families.

Here are some things to do to help support families in the adoption process or who are serving through foster care.

1) Bring a meal or gift card to a family serving in the foster care system
2) Write a letter to a child in the foster care system. This letter can be dropped off at the local foster care service in your town and then delivered to the children.
3) Make a donation to an orphanage or child care center.
4) Lend a hand to a family in the adoption process or faster care system. Shovel their driveway, clean their house, do their dishes, etc.
5) Pray. Pray for a family. Pray for belonging.
6) Educate yourself. Watch these videos and then pray and process what you learned.
      http://vimeo.com/111774825
      http://vimeo.com/112428627

Have a great thanksgiving.

     

Orphan Awareness Month

Hi all. Sorry for not blogging the last few days, I left Michigan Friday morning and spending the weekend with dear friends in Mississippi. In light of that fact, here are multiple ideas of how to support orphan and foster care ministries.

1. Make a donation to a family who is in the process of adopting. The costs are overwhelming and sometimes are the one reason people do not adopt. That is so hard to hear. Let's help people who want to grow their family.

2. Offer a date night to a family with is in the adoption process (or post adoption) or foster care.

3. Send a note to a child whose family is adopting. Being a child watching your family walk through the adoption is hard and at times hurtful. Make sure they know they have an important part to play in their family.

4. Educate yourself. Watch these videos and talk about them to people. http://vimeo.com/channels/833231
http://vimeo.com/channels/833231/110928979

Have fun being Jesus to the families you reach out to.

Orphan Awareness Month - "Mother"

There are thousands of people around the world that work long hard days in Child Care Centers (orphanages) and care for children that are only temporarily theirs. To them, the children are theirs. They help them grow, give them love and say goodbye when the forever families come, sometimes never to hear an update from them again.

Today write a letter to an Child Care Center care giver. If you would like to send them to the care centers at Beautiful Gate, you can email them to me and I will pass them on. Let them know that there are people who see their endless love and appreciate what they do.

Orphan Awareness Month - Normalcy

To live on God's journey means to live in community. There are mounts when pursuing His call means the "normalcy" of the day gets put on hold. Today find a way to bring normalcy to a family who is in the adoption process.

Bring a meal or gift card to a restaurant to someone who is or has adopted a child.

We all have a part to play.

November Orphan Awareness - Foster Care

The fact that there are children around the world today without a warm place to go to, should not come as a surprise to you. But why are we always so shocked when we hear the number of children in our own communities that have no where to lay their head? The fact that you could wake up tomorrow and see a child sleeping in your swing set, because they found a shelter from the elements. Wherever you live there are children who need homes.

Being in foster care is a selfless way to serve. You give up your space, your time and your heart to and child, and you give them warmth, food and belonging. Foster care just like adoption is giving a child hope, but you never know how long that child will be with you. The emotions of children coming and go have to weigh heavy on the hearts of the families, but the joy they experience when they see a child succeed is priceless.

Today send a note to a family who serves through the foster care system. Let them know that you see how they are changing the world and that you appreciate it.

Orphan Awareness Month

School can be a very hard time for some students. Children in foster care and children who have been adopted may feel as though they stand out. Let's face it friends, kids can be mean.

Here is a great blog to read. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rachael-quinn-egan/teach-your-children-about-adoption-before-releasing-them-on-the-playground_b_6061714.html

Spend some time today praying for kids in who school is hard because of their journeys. Then spend some time tonight talking with your kids about it. Let them know how hurtful their words can be. Encourage them to reach out and make a friend with kids who are different from them.

Orphan Awareness Month post 6

Today plan a playdate for children whose family is serving thorough foster care. Giving "mom and dad" time to get projects down without "extra" help will be very appreciated. Your few hours of service will mean the world to these families.