Anthony Shares His Heart

http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/2011/04/mindful-of-orphan.html

April 18, 2011



“mindful” of the orphan


Anthony shares his heart.....

What is it in the heart of God that cares so much for the orphan? I don’t mean to question the obvious. My plea is more of an exclamation out of sheer amazement and pure awe.


“What is man that you are mindful of him?” Psalm 8:4


And much less, what is a forgotten child that you are mindful of him? I have come to realize recently that an orphan child is not just abandoned by his family or even by her country. She is abandoned by the world. And at the risk of turning away any reader of this post, you and I are in the world.






Before I entered the world of adoption, for most of my life, I never once was “mindful” of the orphan. Any orphan. That’s what orphanages are for, right? Those kids are taken care of! They get three square meals a day, surely. They sleep on beds and not on the street. They get love and attention from the caregivers of these institutions. Surely!






But most orphans do NOT get three square meals a day. They may NOT have beds to sleep on, just mats on the floor. And if they do have beds, where are the mattresses? We’re talking wooden or metal slabs. And all too frequently, they get attention from caregivers alright. How’s this for attention—fondling, rape, beating, being thrown in cribs, neglect, being left to wade in their feces and urine all day long, being tied to wooden “toilet” chairs, being rented out for the day to beggars who need to invoke more sympathy, and even murder?






These are very real occurrences. I know. I have first-hand or second-hand experience on each of these happenings mentioned.






How many orphans worldwide experience this on a daily basis? Well, think about this: today there are 147,000 million orphans in the world. That’s five million more than the entire population of Russia! Now consider that most of these orphans live in countries that are not “mindful” of them. You can imagine.






But now imagine this, even if an orphan lived in a five-star orphanage (we are imagining, right?), is his or her life better off without a family? If you are a five-year-old child, would you rather live a lonely existence at the Ritz Carlton or in a loving, Christian family that lives just above their means?






Shame on me. I have not been mindful.

If only.


If only the world heard the stories.


If only I had time and money to travel the world to shoot video footage what we hear on a frequent basis but the world doesn’t. I WISH that me and my video camera were invisible so I could stand behind the caregiver at her desk when eight-year-old Vanya from Eastern Europe runs up every day to see if a family is coming for him yet.


Or when a friend of ours, who just arrived in a country for their second trip, gets ready to go back to her lodging after her first day back seeing their five-year-old. I want to shoot how he melts down in hysteria and tears, crying out, “Don’t let my mommy leave me! Don’t go, Mommy!”


Maybe then the world will realize why God’s heart breaks for the orphan.


Maybe then God’s people will get a fire under them to do something about it.


Maybe then the Christian who is in awe of other families who adopt many times over will kneel down at their bedside tonight and do one simple thing: ask God what HE wants THEM to do about it.


Maybe then we will finally see these millions of helpless, hopeless children find their forever families.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
I am blessed to be able to call Anthony and Adeye friends.  They have such a heart for the orphans of this world.
 
Seeking a heart like HIS,
~s

URGENT - MOUNTAIN BE MOVED!!

http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/2011/04/so-so-urgent.html

April 15, 2011




SO URGENT!!!!!!


Dearest friends,





Oh my goodness....my heart is aching.






I come to you today begging for your help. Yes, I'm begging.






We desperately need a family for Vanya as soon as possible. Many people have inquired about adopting him. But things have changed and we URGENTLY need a family who is paperwork ready--one who has already done their home study and has USCIS approval. We need a family who can get to him quickly.



While I am not at liberty to give any details, I can tell you that Vanya's situation has turned into a critical need for prayer. He needs a paperwork-ready family to commit to him in the next few days...before it is too late.






Time is running out.

Do you know of a family who is already adopting a child from Ukr*ine? Do you know of someone who is traveling to adopt a child from there soon and may consider adding this precious boy to their adoption? Either a family who is already adopting, or a family who has all their paperwork ready and has been waiting on the Lord to show them the right child.


Friends, we urgently need your help....PLEASE spread Vanya's story on blogs, social networks, and adoption discussion groups. We absolutely have to find his family soon. The finances are not an issue--God has provided them. Now all we need is the right family--one who will say, "Here am I, Lord, send me!"



With all my heart I believe that Vanya's family is out there. Why? Because I believe that God has provided in a miraculous way for this boy to come home. I believe in miracles in 2011! I do.






Please stand with us in prayer over the next few days...trusting that Vanya's family will come forward. How desperately he needs them now.


Pray, body of Christ! Pray without ceasing. Pray until Vanya is rescued and safely in the arms of those who love him.



Thank you for helping us today. Thank you for praying and bringing this boy before the Father. Thank you for trusting with us. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it.






"If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matt 17:20.



"MOUNTAIN BE MOVED!"



Any family who thinks they may be able to get to Vanya quickly, and would like more information, please contact Chris Malone at the Eli Project as soon as possible.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vanya needs our prayers.

Join us in stroming the gates of heaven pleading with God to send Vanya's family before it is too late for this precious little guy.  Time is running out.

Join us in praying for the mighty hand of God to move and perform a miracle.

Praying for the miracle,

~s

The above post is directly from Adeye's blog.  The link is at the very top. 

Weeping - Resting in Jesus Arms Now

http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/2011/04/weeping.html

"He had whispered it to me while we were driving home from Jjina {2 hours away} yesterday.

I had heard Him at least four times.

"She's safe in my arms now."

 

I hadn't wanted to believe Him.

Each time He had whispered those words I had felt like vomiting.

***

So today, I couldn't get there fast enough.....

As I stood there hearing the news....

The uncontrollable sobs and weeping came....

"No. No. No."

If only.

If only I had been holding her,

my sweetest

 

Elianah Treasure

{No one had given her a middle name but she needs one.

Treasure seems most fitting.}

Beautiful baby girl.

Tiny little treasure.

7 months old"  [Pastor Linny]

One less orphan now, little Elianah is now home in Jesus arms.

~s

Who Will Be His Hands And Feet?

From Pastor Linny's blog, http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/2011/04/one-tiny-treasure.html

One tiny treasure.

My thumb the same size as her arm.

My thoughts suddenly remember....

When we leave....

Who will nuzzle her against their body?

Who will tenderly give her her medicine when the spiteful worker comes in with her medicine cup?

Who will whisper into her ears just how much she is loved?

Just how much she is needed?

Who will whisper of God's great love for her?

Only HIS hands and feet will do all that...

His hands and feet that are dressed up as businessmen and workin' moms and stay-at-home moms and high school students and accountants and architects and pastors and sunday school teachers and lawyers and accountants and home schooling moms and nurses and doctors and shop owners and restaurant workers...




Seeking a heart like His,
~s

DREAM COME TRUE GIVEAWAY

http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/2011/04/dream-come-true-giveaway.html

VANYA

See this beautiful little boy?  He has a dream.  A dream that his mama and papa will find him and make him theirs forever.  Can you imagine being 8 years old and having that dream?  Wondering every single day if it will be your turn today.

Anthony and Adeye from nogreaterjoymom.com are holding the DREAM COME TRUE GIVEAWAY.  It is incredible with over 100 items.  The body of Christ has once again come together for one of Jesus' least of these by donating the items for the giveaway, by praying for Vanya to find his family, by placing Vanya's story on their blogs and facebook pages...when two or more are gathered together in prayer, MOUNTAINS MOVE, MIRACLES HAPPEN, PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED!! 

And, all it takes to enter this incredible giveaway is any size donation, no minimum, no maximum. 

There are six days left.  Six days to raise the funds needed to pay for Vanya's adoption fees.

Could you be Vanay's family?

Read his story here http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/2011/04/dream-come-true-giveaway.html.

Rejoicing,

~s

GOD MOVED A MOUNTAIN!!

Evan is Coming HOME!!! - Praise HIS Name!!

http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/2011/04/evan-is-coming-home-praise-his-name.html
[From Pastor Linny}


Sweet baby girl Evan is coming home!!

Isn't she beautiful?

Shouts of praise to Almighty God echo around the world....

the exact same Judge who just two weeks ago said,

Kirill could NOT come home because he is "not socially adaptable" due to his "medical condition" {having Down Syndrome} and that he is better off in an institution than in a home with a family, granted Evan's mommy and daddy permission to bring her home!!

PRAYER AND FASTING WORK!!

They work!!

If you prayed {and fasted} then YOU are part of this miracle!!

How cool is that?

I just absolutely love to witness God moving the mountains when we come together and pray for another little peep to come home.  I've seen thousands of dollars raised in a matter of hours when a group of believers have joined together in prayer and fasting to raise the needed funds to bring one of His precious ones home to their forever family, I've seen the chains holding children captive as orphans being  broken because people have prayed and fasted for God to work a miracle.  When the family of God unite and pray together and storm the gates of heaven begging for God's mercy, GOD LISTENS, GOD HEARS THE CRIES OF HIS CHILDREN.  And now, I anticipate Kirill's homecoming in the near future.  Cause I serve an awesome God who loves and cares deeply for the orphans of this world and I know people all over the world are praying for Kirill and his family. 

I serve a mighty God.

Rejoicing,

~s

Will You Join Us In Praying Kirill Home?

"I believe God gave me this dream to let me know that no matter what happens with Kirill, I am simply called to run the race. I'm not guaranteed any kind of earthly rewards. My prize is Jesus and being with him in Heaven. My race is to run to HIM. So I will keep putting one foot in front of the other despite the pain. I will keep my eyes focused on the prize and run the path that Jesus has paved for me. Because the race is won and victory is in HIM. "   [from Kirill's mommy]

[From Pastor Linny at aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com]

On the other side of the world {in Russia} there is a little boy....

His name is Kirill.

Kirill was found by his mommy and daddy on an adoption list. They worked feverishly to get all his paperwork in so they could bring him home. And during that time of working to bring Kirill home they found that Kirill is the first child from his region in Russia EVER to be adopted with Down Syndrome.


A birth mother keeping her child with DS is unheard of in this area of the world. Adoptions of children with DS just don't happen in this region, these children are literally hidden away from society in orphananges and mental institutions. As it turns out Kirill would be a pioneer. If Kirill's adoption was approved, it would pave the way for other children with special needs to be adopted from this region as well.


And so just two weeks ago, Kirill's mom and dad were there in Russia headed to court to fulfill the necessary steps to bring Kirill home...

and they were loving on Kirill....


and after enduring five agonizing hours of difficult questioning before the judge...with strong statements on their behalf from two doctors, two social workers and the Minister of Children's Services fighting on their and Kirill's behalf...and prepared for the court's stamp of approval,


the Judge gave her ruling:

"Your application to adopt is rejected"

The Judges reasoning:


Kirill is "not socially adaptable" due to his "medical condition" and he is better off in an institution than in a home with a family. The Judge did state several times that Greg and Tesney were a good family, that they met all the criteria to adopt a child, but that she would not approve our adoption because Kirill has Down Syndrome. She told them that they could adopt another child, because legally our application had no problems according to Russian adoption law. She said she would approve their adoption for a 'typical' child, but not this child.

The ONLY reason?

Because Kirill has Down Syndrome.

{Home study approved and Immigration approved for a child with Special Needs}

BUT

and so here's where we come in...

I just can not believe for ONE second that Kirill is supposed to stay in an institution in Russia for the duration of his life.

NOT A CHANCE.

Almighty God's heart is for the orphan and it is attentive to their cry.


Almighty God's heart longs for every child to be in a forever family.

"He sets the lonely in families" Psalm 68:6

Soooooo


If God's heart is for the orphan and He longs for every child to be in a forever family...then God wants to and will move to bring Kirill home.


But some things do not happen without prayer and fasting....


So I wrote to Tesney and asked if I could call for a fast on Kirill's behalf...


Her response:


Linny,

Yes! We would LOVE this...Wednesday is better for us; and it coincides with our appeal being filed at the Supreme Court. It should be filed on Tuesday of this coming week, so the Supreme Court will hopefully begin the review shortly thereafter.............and we are humbled and honored....


THANK YOU!


Would you be willing to join with us in a day of  prayer and fasting?  {possibly a meal, two meals, all day}


When:

Wednesday, March 30, 2011


Will you do battle on your knees for Kirill?

For the other families who are in the process of adopting treasures with DS from this same region....

one even going to court on Thursday for a daughter with DS...


Will you please pray {and fast}with me?


Please spread the word to every one you know {Bible studies, small groups, bloggy friends, relatives, your children} a world wide fast this Wednesday to set Kirill free!!

"Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know, and holds us responsible to act." Prov. 24:12

Joining in prayer and fasting for Kirill,
~s