Fostering, Adopting, Loving, Caring

A young boy waiting on Hope to show up...

I came across two different personal accounts today dealing specifically with the subject of children without parents. The first story comes from a friend of ours who has her own orphanage and ministry in Ecuador and the second story comes from our Youth Pastor's wife (they've done foster care for some time now and recently adopted a sweet little girl).

I'm sharing these stories for a couple of reasons; 1 - they touched my heart, deep in my heart, you'll know when you read and 2 - they perfectly illustrate the Word of God, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." - James 1:27.

If you personally don't have the calling or ability to be active in helping children, you can contribute to either one of the outreaches listed in this post, I give links to their web sites.

Please take the time to read their personal stories...
Click HERE to read more...

Karissa w/ two of the children at her Orphanage

(Karissa's Story)
Here's a story to help put your worries and woes in to perspective.
We rescued a little girl whose father raped her nearly every day of her life from the time she was old enough to remember. She was 8 years old when we took her in. Her father would also sell her to other people. Fear and pain is all she knew. On top of being sold for sex and raped by the man who was to protect her, she was starving. She was often denied food or food was rarely available. I will never forget when she looked me straight in the eyes and said, "I forgive them because Jesus forgives me." She went on to tell me that her greatest desire was to never live in fear again and that since taking her in she could finally smile.

Her smile and her story I will NEVER forget. She has forever touched my life. There have been times in our lives when people have hurt and betrayed us deeply. God will often bring to my remembrance this precious child and how she found the strength to forgive the people who brutally raped and tortured her for many, many years. How can I not find even an ounce of that kind of strength to forgive those who have betrayed me? Christ was her strength. Christ is my strength. It is only through Him that we can find the strength to forgive.

I hope you too will not forget her story. When you are faced with challenges, hurt, or betrayal, that you too will look to the Son and draw your strength from Him. Please, don't forget to pray for girls like this. Their numbers are countless. We will continue at all costs to find them and bring them home.
-Karissa Washburn

Please visit their website HERE 
Visit their Facebook page and Like it HERE
(Again I challenge you, please visit their site, if you want to volunteer, they are always looking for help, and above all else, it costs money to take care of children. Please prayerfully consider giving to their ministry,)

(Bridgette's Story)
Last night I heard about a 5 day old baby boy who had to be taken to a shelter because there were no foster homes who had room for him. 5 DAYS OLD! That is heartbreaking!! So many of you love my sweet Alli...just think, that could have been her. 

The children in foster care are so innocent and they need us to take care of them. I would like to ask all my friends to prayerfully consider becoming foster parents. Is it hard? Yes...Is it worth it? 1000x yes! Will you get to attached? Will your heart break when they leave your house? YES--but isn't it better for you, as a secure adult, to have your heart broken, than for innocent little children to never know what real love from an adult is? To have to live in a shelter where one on one attention is limited? To have to be moved to a new foster home every week because there are not enough open homes to house all the kids and stay within the licensing standards?

 A little heartbreak is a small thing in comparison to the safety and well being of innocence children. Please just pray about it and ask God if He might want your family to be a foster family. There are 100's of reasons why you feel like you can't do it and I'm sure they are valid...but there are literally 100's of kids in Arkansas alone who need a home. Everyone isn't called to be a foster patent...but you might be!
-Bridgette Wilburn

To learn more about Foster care in the River Valley visit HERE  - A Google search is all you need to learn more in your area. If you are interested in supporting a local ministry check out New Start for Children and Families HERE

I'm hoping that these brief personal stories have touched your heart as they did mine, if anything they've given you some insight into the world of children who are without parents and what they go through. We are a blessed people, don't forget it.

-Be Blessed,
Ryan