MATTIE NEEDS A MIRACLE

http://tracieloux.wordpress.com/

Friends~

Mattie is in the hospital, very very sick.  You can read more about his situation at his family's blog.  Please storm the gates of heaven for this little lovie.

Resting In Jesus,
S

URGENT! THIS IS CARING FOR THE ORPHAN!

 

from nogreaterjoymom.blogspot.com

 

 

URGENT: this IS caring for the orphan!

Update 4 pm CST: When I posted this morning, Morning Star Foundation needed $17,000 in order to remain in China and care for the precious little children in their care. The glorious Church rose up in a mighty way today and right now only $4,000 needs to be raised! Over $13,000 has been raised so far in just a few hours! Seriously! God's people...you astound me with your generosity and extravagant love poured out. THANK YOU for sowing such precious seed which has been multiplied by our Father! How He ADORES the orphan!

Please keep sharing...we are so, so close to seeing Morning Star ministry continue on with the vision God gave them to care for the most weak and the abandoned in China! No weapon formed against them shall prosper, in the name of Jesus!

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

This morning I opened my e-mail and read a plea which ripped my heart out!

For the last few years we have followed the journey of the most amazing American missionary couple (and their two children) as they have loved and passionately served the children of China. Their faithfulness in the face of so many obstacles has inspired us beyond words. Bill and Lynsay know what it means to follow God with reckless abandon...and never, ever give up.

It was such a joy to finally meet Bill at Summit last week. He touched our hearts so deeply with his love for orphans, his willingness to go where God sends them, and the sacrificial life they live. These precious people live on the absolute bare essentials (we were shocked to find out just how little they survive on!).

The MORNING STAR FOUNDATION has cared for the least of the least of these in China for many years. And now they are serving the people of Uganda too! It's sacrificial love poured out for the sake of saving one child at a time!

Today, this incredible ministry and the children who have profound medical needs whom they serve in China desperately need a helping hand from the body of Christ! In order to continue providing life-saving medical treatment, food, shelter and a place to belong for these children, the Chinese government is requiring a large sum of money to keep their operation running. And they need the money today!

Would you prayerfully consider sowing seed into this ministry, please? Bill and Lynsay take in the neediest orphans--the ones who will surely die if left in state-run orphanages. They are so committed to these precious ones and love every child who enters their home as one of their very own. Knowing them and their humble hearts, I know that having to ask for help is very, very difficult. But that's what the army of God does, isn't it? We give and we help out when there is a need. This is just one way we care for the orphan in their distress! In this case, it's a lot of children!

I am so grateful for your help with this.

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

From Lynsay:

Rarely do we share our financial needs but we have run into an extremely urgent need. You probably know about Grace being in the hospital, this need is not about her! We are so thankful that her bill has been paid in full so far, more than $20,000 worth!

As you also probably know prices in China have skyrocketed recently making running MSFH extremely expensive these days, specifically with rent and salaries. This cannot be helped but does put a significant burden on us every month. This month has been tough but Praise God we have been able to pay salaries and bills.

The issue comes in that we had been told that we needed about $4,000 USD in capital for the business we are registering. In order for us to stay here and work we must register this business. Unfortunately today we were told they have rejected our application, even though we have already spent $4,000 in the registration process. They are now requiring nearly $17,000 to open the business.

We need this money TODAY.

I wish I was joking, but I am not.

The good news is this money will go into the capital fund of this business and will be able to be used for MSFH's expenses, specifically expenses related to the "LOVE PROJECT" as this is within the scope of the business registration. In many ways it will be a blessing to be able to have funds available when needed for the LOVE PROJECT once the business is approved.

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

WOULD YOU PLEASE SHARE THIS URGENT NEED WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND ON YOUR SOCIAL NETWORKS?

Tax deductible donations can be made RIGHT HERE.

Every single dollar you donate will go directly to the MORNING STAR FOUNDATION!

Let's rally, friends! Calling upon the ONE who is exceedingly, abundantly able to do so much more than we could ever ask or imagine.

Show us your glory, Lord Jesus!

Tenth Avenue North - Worn (with lyrics)

Oh how this song is ministering to my soul as I walk this journey....

Thank you Jesus for speaking to me thru this song.

Resting in Jesus,
~s

ORPHAN ADDICIT

Check out these cool bracelets a young woman, Emma, is selling to help send her to Uganda to work with the orphans.  Em is heading out into the mission field.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Are you an Orphan addict?

Are you Addicted to Adoption or the Orphan?

Or know someone who is?

Then this Bracelet is perfect!

I prayed for a long time about something that would help to send me
and support me as I move...
and one day

"Orphan Addict"

bracelets were born.

You can purchase one of these sweet bracelets on my donate page for $7.00

{includes shipping}

Not only will you receive a super cool bracelet, but you will also help send me to Uganda

and an added bonus - when you look at your wrist,
it will serve to remind you to pray for me!

It's a win/win for both of us!

Feel free to grab my photo listed below and spread the word.

To purchase a bracelet click on the link below:

Purchase an Orphan Addict Bracelet

THIS ONE TOO IS OUR PROBLEM!

this one too IS our problem!

(written by No Greater Joy Mom)

She's the face of desperation.

"I was hungry and you fed me."

Of injustice.

"I was thirsty and you gave me a drink."

Of horrendous, unfathomable neglect.

"I was homeless and you gave me a room."

And incomprehensible suffering.

"I was shivering and you gave me clothes."

She's another precious child of God so urgently needing to be rescued from her life of hell on earth.

This is Zoey.

A daughter of the Most High King! A darling little angel created in the image of a Father in heaven who never makes mistakes.

A priceless and most valuable TREASURE just waiting to be found.

Zoey is almost SIX years old!

And weighs a mere 10 POUNDS!

She is merely existing in the confines of her crib. She is fed by tube--which clearly is just not enough. Zoey NEEDS a family to rescue her. She needs medical attention and someone to love her passionately and help her to become all that she can be in this life. She needs parents who will become her biggest cheerleaders and advocates.

Zoey needs to be loved. Unconditionally. For who she is--fearfully and wonderfully made!

There are just a few weeks to find a family for this beautiful little girl. The thought of her not being chosen--and being left there to die--is honestly more than my heart can bear. Just like my sweet Hasya (and every other child on the planet!), this one too deserves to be given a chance at LIFE.

Proverbs 24:12 tells us that "Once our eyes are opened we cannot pretend we do not know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls knows we know and holds us responsible to act."

God holds us all responsible to act!

In his incredible book (that totally turned my life upside down), The Hole in Our Gospel, Richard Sterns so accurately said of many of us in the church when faced with dire situations, "Sorry, not my problem!" Of course this little girl IS our problem! "Our," as in all Christians. We're the ones who the Father has commanded to "care for the widow and the orphan" (as it says in the book of James).

The world is not called to care for the fatherless...we are!

We cannot turn a blind eye, walk away, and forget about the atrocious catastrophe that happens to the most innocent of human beings. We simply cannot.

There are times when we are called to rally for the sake of another human being--one who will never be able to pay us back or give us a single thing in return. As John Wooden once said, "You cannot live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."

Zoey IS our problem, Church! As the body of Christ, we are required to care for, to reach out to, to go to, to feed, to clothe, to give to...and to open our hearts to the 'least of these,' as the Bible calls them.

"Then the King will say to those on his right,
‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father!
Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom.
It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation.
And here’s why:

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,

I was shivering and you gave me clothes."

~~ Matt 25:35-38 (The Message)

Please, I'm begging you all, if nothing else, would you please be a voice for Zoey today? Would you help us to spread the word on her desperate need for someone to CHOOSE her as their daughter? Time is short! Not even one single day can be wasted.

Zoey's health is critical and she needs OUT of there as soon as is humanly possible.

We are waiting for updated medical information and photos of Zoey. She lives in the same country as our Hasya and Kael. I will share any updates as soon as I get them. For additional information, please contact shele337@gmail.com.

Pray, Church! Pray that this one too WILL BE SAVED!

ZACK

(Written by my friend Adeye @ nogreaterjoymom

this one too, Lord!

It was the last day of visits with our sweet daughters in the orphanage. My new friend and fellow adoptive mom, Susan, and I choked back tears as we headed out the door one final time. We had spent seven glorious days with our daughters.

And then it was time to leave.

Having adopted children from different countries, I can tell you one thing with absolute certainty…

There is nothing like leaving your child behind in an orphanage!

There is nothing like knowing where you are leaving them—and walking OUT!

Because knowing changes everything!

As we drove out of the orphanage gates that Friday just a few weeks ago, we headed to a different orphanage on our way back to the capital city, Sofia. Our driver needed to get updated pictures and video of a little boy who had recently been listed for adoption.

We arrived at the institution, and both Susan and I knew that we just had to meet this little boy. Our driver agreed that we could come in with him.

We were greeted by many children as we entered the building that day.

Beautiful, precious, and amazing children all created by the Master Craftsman Himself.

Each one with many needs.

But mostly, the need for someone to come for them. The need to be loved. The need to be accepted for who they are—His beautiful creations--fearfully and wonderfully made just the way they are.

My heart was breaking before we even entered the front door.

We were ushered into a smaller room.

And within minutes...he came in.

The most darling little boy. I thought him to be maybe around eight years old. Later I found out that he is eleven.

His name is Zack.

Susan and I sat watching as our driver tried to interview Zack for a video for prospective parents. Neither of us understanding Bulgarian, we had no idea what he and the orphanage director were saying to the boy. He seemed to do okay for a few minutes and answered their questions politely.

Then, all of a sudden, tears started streaming down his little cheeks. He sobbed quietly—unable to get out a single word.

He was clearly heartbroken.

We both choked back tears—not wanting the little guy to see us all weepy. We did not know why in the world this sweet and tender little boy was so upset. It was very obvious though that he had such deep pain and that his heart was aching.

Sitting there and observing this dear little boy crying heart-wrenching sobs just about ripped my heart out! Everything in me wanted to rush over and hold him tightly—calming his anxious heart and assuring him that God had not forsaken him—that his Daddy in heaven knew what was tearing him apart.

Later that day, we heard Zack’s story….

And I knew instantly that I would go to the ends of the earth to help this little boy get the one thing in this life that he has never had, never known.

The one thing that made him cry until he literally could not stop!

I listened as my attorney shared Zack’s story with me.

It began with his best friend, Maria. They grew up in a very decent orphanage (as far as orphanages go) and spent the first eleven years bonding—being together. I am told that they are more than just best friends—but more like family. Until recently, the only family either of them had ever known. Zack and Maria shared a room (very normal for Eastern European orphanages) and spent every waking moment together—inseparable!

But everything was soon to change. Maria was blessed! Unbeknownst to her, she had been found, chosen by an amazing single mom who just knew that Maria was the daughter of her heart.

Maria was soon to know what it meant to be FAMILY.

I am so thankful that Katherine shared Maria and Zack’s story with me. She met Maria for the first time last December. The social worker at the orphanage informed Katherine that she would be meeting Maria’s best friend, telling her that they were extremely close. She got to know Zack pretty well during that first trip to his country.

Months passed and finally Katherine was able to return to Eastern Europe to complete the adoption process for Maria.

Here’s her account of that day—“Gotcha Day,” as it is known for adoptive parents.

“My Gotcha Day was horrible, to say the least. We were asked to be at the orphanage by 11 am so that one staff member could say goodbye to Maria. I got there and did ask about Zack's availability to be adopted. I wanted to help him find his mom. I was told that Zack was being moved that very same day to a new orphanage. These days I understand why he had to be moved and I understand why it was easier to do it all at once....sort of rip the band aid off.

My heart still weeps for the memory of that day.

You see, the orphanage that Maria and Zack were at was for children birth through seven years. The orphanage had kept both Maria and Zack until they were 11 1/2, because they knew that the kids were special that they needed the additional care. So, on my pick up date I was looking through the photo album I was given of Maria by the orphanage. The director came in and told me I needed to be strong because the kids (Maria and Zack) were not handling the separation well. I quickly gathered my things and went to the lobby.

I saw Zack first. He was in his chair wailing (it wasn't just crying). I walked over to him and gave him the gift I had bought specially for him and tried to tell him that it would all be okay, that Maria would be taken care of. The whole time Maria was wailing over by the stairs while another adult spoke with her. Zack quickly rolled himself back to Maria. These two were hugging and kissing each other....truly like siblings.....weeping and crying the whole time.

Finally a staff member rolled Zack outside in his wheelchair. Maria quickly followed. She no sooner got one step outside and was quickly scooped up by the director and taken to our car. It was only made more difficult by the fact that the two cars for the kids were facing each other. So, they could see each other the whole time we were getting everything into the cars and they never stopped crying. Sasha and the orphanage's social worker were with Zack and took him to his new orphanage. Maria cried so much as we left and throughout the day for her friend."

Oh my goodness! I cannot even imagine being eleven years old and having to lose the one person in the world you love…and who loves you back!

AND be moved that very same day to an unfamiliar new home.

Excruciating!

And so, on the same day that Maria was adopted, Zack was transferred from his place of safety to an institutional-type facility for children and adults with special needs.

And there he has struggled to adjust to his new normal.

Loss.

Grief.

Katherine returned to the U.S with her new daughter and has done everything she possibly could to keep a promise she made Maria.

To find a family to adopt Zack!

Thankfully, with the help of the attorney we are using to adopt our children, God has moved mountains and Zack is finally listed for adoption.

He has HOPE!

I have thought back to that day a few weeks ago when Susan and I fought back tears as we watched Zack weeping while sitting in his wheelchair.

And I thank God that I didn’t know at that very moment…

That he was crying inconsolably simply because the absolute desire of his heart is to have a family of his own too. And to come to America where he can, once again, have contact with the girl who is like a sister to him.

I just don’t think I would have been strong enough to hold it together.

And so today I come to you all, the amazing readers of my blog, pleading for your help. I KNOW there is a family out there for Zack. What a sweet blessing he would be to a family—he truly is just the most gentle, loving little boy. Zack has CP (which only seems to affect his lower limbs) and scoliosis. He is going GREAT mentally and I’m told that he is on target developmentally. His only “issue” is that he cannot walk. I have, however, seen a picture of him standing up while holding onto a chair. With good medical treatment, there is no telling how far Zack will go.

Would you share his story wherever you possibly can? I would appreciate that so much. Zack has about six weeks left to find a family! That’s it!

Thank you for sharing Zack's story! Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus to this little lovie who wants nothing more in this life than to belong—to love and be loved.

"Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us."
~Ephesians 3:20

Anyone wanting more information about adopting Zack can contact Shelley at shele337@gmail.com.

Donations to Zack's adoption fund can be made here.

Our Newest Blessing

Isn't he just absolutely beautiful?

Carter Cole we love you to the moon and back!

Big sister getting to know her little brother.

Absolutely precious.

Mor~Mor loves you both for always.

So thankful and so blessed. Thank you Jesus for grandchildren.

~s