Pray for these children

When we traveled last year we learned of some children with special needs at the orphanage. I wanted to share their pictures in hope that others will join us in praying for a family to find them and make room for them in their hearts and their home. The hardest part about adopting is seeing so many others who you can't bring home...all so longing for and needing a Mommy or Daddy to call their own...someone to love them. Often at the orphanage, the children would run to John and I and say "Papa" and "Mama"! It was heartbreaking!
Even more heartbreaking was to see how the less able-bodied orphans, those with significant disabilities, often were not taken outside like the rest of the children and often confined in cribs or a stroller. Where we were, we did get the sense that the children were taken good care in general. We thank God for how some of the caregivers seemed to care alot about Sean. But even if they were well meaning, with so many children, not your own, the "least of these" who may be more challenging to care for, or who can't fight for attention like the others, are at a great disadvantage. Of course, their greatest disadvantage is that often these disabled kids are transferred to an institution around age 4. A friend just posted an enlightening story about the institution that their son came from. It makes me so sad and so want to do more. Here is the links (you'd need to copy paste it):

http://www.worldnextdoor.org/2009/04/romaniv-boys-orphanage/



This is Yulia. I only saw her taken outside one time in the 2 week time we were there. She was often in the crib or stroller and would benefit so much from therapy and a wheelchair. She would smile when we gave her attention. She can pull up to stand in her crib I think.




This is Lera. She is on Reeces Rainbow (www.reecesrainbow.com) She has a chromosomal disorder (you can read about it on the RR site)




This is Dima. He was very adorable and it sounded like he had made improvements despite his many challenges, and would benefit so much from therapy and love of a family!






This is Sasha. He has many challenges but seemed to have a happy personality.



There are so many children in these orphanages, discarded because they have a disability. We are so blessed in this country to have access to therapy and medical care. Over there, there is little hope, unless they are adopted.
WE've thought often since starting this adoption journey, how all of us are "disabled" in some way or another, and we are all sinners, at the mercy of God and in need of His love and grace through Jesus Christ. How wonderful that He loves us and provides the way for us to be adopted into His family through faith in His Son, and we can all call Him our heavenly Father. I pray that He will keep these little ones in His care and give them grace.

Heres an update of that institution from above, after a group of christians started to visit there...

http://www.worldnextdoor.org/2010/06/return-to-romaniv/
So amazing!