Our lives have been blessed with a ministry I want to share with each of you. I firmly believe that God has placed it on our hearts to not only work in this field, but also to shout from the rooftops so others too will know and be moved towards action. Of course, I am speaking of International Adoption. Don't stop reading yet, because you cannot knowingly turn your back on hundreds and thousands of needy children who need the love of a family- love each of us take for granted?

On most days in our work, it would be much easier for me to NOT know about the other side of the world where hundreds of thousands of children are living a life without the love of parents. It would be easier for me to not know about the nights children lie in their beds crying with no one to comfort them or the children who weep when their friends get adopted and know it will not be them this time. Life would be more simple if we did not know about children who have lived in an orphanage their entire life and are about to be released into the "real" world with no one to turn to and given the equivalency of one month's rent in their pocket when they hit the streets. I could sleep better at night if I had not learned the number of children who die in orphanages every day because of lack of proper medical care; or see the "imperfect" children who may never find a family. The burden on my heart is far too heavy on most days and some days I selfishly wish I had never learned about them and I could live comfortably in my world of ignorant bliss. But that is not God's plan for me and I don't believe that is God's plan for you--I firmly believe God puts us in each other's path for the purpose of doing His work.

We just attended our annual reunion where over 170 adopted children were present. I was moved to tears watching the children recognize each other--some who had only been adopted 2 months ago instantly remembered and embraced their friends who were adopted over a year ago! You see, these children do not forget one another because they were partners in survival-- sharing love with each other in a world that didn't offer them anything. They were "brothers and sisters" in the orphanage. One little girl told her mother she used to wake up at night and hear a little boy crying and she would go to him and tell him it would be okay. Both of those children now have loving families. But what about their friends left behind? One little 7 year old boy asked me this weekend, "Cindy, do you know my friend Dima. Can you find him a Mama and Papa like you did me?" I could only promise this precious boy that I would try. I ask myself how could there possibly be children who no one wants or loves? I sometimes find myself wondering how can God allow this to happen, and then I realize His "fix" to this calamity is the miracle of adoption. He reveals to us the knowledge of these children and the plight of their situation.

The Bible tells us in James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." I am here to tell you there are orphans in distress and they need your help! Now that you know, what CAN you do?? You could adopt a child, sponsor a child, tell others about the plight of international children, donate your time to a project, or give financial support to an orphanage. The most important thing you can do is PRAY for these children and tell others about them. I do not believe God allows us to know about such things and expects us to do nothing. Will you be the Priest or the Levite that walks by, or will you be the Samaritan who lends a helping compassionate hand? Please share this burden of the world's children with us. Now that you know, what WILL you do!