The following is an excerpt from a journal entry written on March 2:
This week I worked on a display of orphans waiting to be adopted. Gracie is hosting an event on Sunday at her to church to share the story of her journey to bring Samantha home, as well as to raise awareness as to the type of conditions many of the waiting children are living in. I made a display with the pictures of 45 children who don't have homes, many of which are living in institutions or will be in the near future. One little girl named Mabel is 7 years old, even though she looks like a baby. She's living in an institution and chews on her wrists to self soothe. There's no hope in her eyes. On the other hand, there are pictures of some children with BIG smiles on their faces because they do not yet know that they have aged out of the system and will be transferred to an adult mental institution soon. I feel such a burden; burdened with the information that thousands of children are living this way and I feel utterly helpless up against the enormity of it all. I selfishly wish I could go back in time to the day when I was naive and didn't know. BUT, I do know and am faced with a question: what am I going to do about it?
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| This is Mabel, the little girl I mentioned in my journal entry. She desperately needs a home. If you know anyone who is interested in adopting a special needs child, please pass her name on to them. All of her information is available on Reece's Rainbow. Please also remember her in your prayers. |
The following is my journal entry from today:
Yesterday started off full of promise. All of my senses were aroused by the presence of Spring. I could feel a warm breeze, hear the chirping of birds and the motor of a lone lawn mower. I could see the sun and smell the lingering scent of a flower (which could have been my overactive imagination). The day was off to a great start and I was eager to make the most of it.
Just as I was about to wrap my brain around the idea of picking the girls up from school and thus shattering my serene state of mind, I got a text from Gracie that read:
Hey family. I just got word that visiting moms at _____ have seen Samantha. She has lost weight
and isn't doing as well as I thought. I'm having a rough time right now, which is why I'm texting
not calling. I'll keep you updated as I hear more.
After I read that I felt like I had been punched in the stomach and I cried out, "Why God"?! Shortly after reading the text Gracie called me to give me more details including that Samantha has been isolated and is being kept in a room all alone. Again, my first reaction was to ask God why? Why, when we have been praying so fervently for her protection would He allow this? Why can't it be me?
After catching my breath God brought to mind all that He has done for Samantha and reminded me that she is not alone. He is in that room with her and He is working in ways that we cannot see yet. He also spoke to me through the devotion I read this morning:
Let Me help you through this day. The challenges you face are far too great for you to handle alone. You are keenly aware of your helplessness in the scheme of events you face. This awareness opens up a choice: to doggedly go it alone or to walk with Me in humble steps of dependence. Actually, this choice is continually before you, but difficulties highlight the decision-making process. So, consider it all joy whenever you are enveloped in various trials. These are gifts from Me, reminding you to rely on Me alone.
I am helpless, but Grace doesn't have to walk through this trial alone, just like Samantha is not alone. Please join me in praying for Samantha. Specifically that Grace will be able to visit her soon . . . within the month, that a team of Japanese doctors that will be visiting the orphanage will be able to see her, & that her adoption can be expedited due to her medical condition. And also, please lift up little Mabel and all of the other waiting children who don't have anyone coming for them yet.
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