Good Friday Hope

If you have followed you know Good Friday service has been very influentual in our lives over the past several years.  Before that, I would sit and absorb the incredible music from the full strings orchestra crowded upon the stage of our little church as the chancel choir performed Requim.  I would leave in sadness.
But I never really GOT IT.

Two years ago I understood the darkness,
the lack of Christ which resulted in our moving forward with Cav

Last year it confirmed our decision to move forward with Tao.

THis year was different.
As the pastor spoke of Christmas Eve and the one night of waiting until hope arrived.
And Good Friday and the darkness
and waking up Saturday ~ to DARKNESS
and going to bed on Saturday
not knowing what Sunday would bring ~ MORE darkness
or the light of redemption.

AS the Christ candle moved further and further from the alter
and the darkness descended

ALL I could think about are the orphans.
Not about the babies laying swaddled in blankets
hoping someone would find them in time.

NO, all I could think of are the older orphans
who go to bed each night wondering if tomorrow will bring them hope.

Hope of a future,
of consistent meals,
hope for education,
hope of belonging,
of eternal salvation.

And my heart aches.
Whether these children's "Good Friday death"
was as a newborn,
a month old,
even several years old.

WHEN will be their resurrection?

WHEN will they find the hope?

Redeeming orphans

You know when you are in the trenches 

and you are jsut trying to put one foot in front of the other - 

your vision is clouded.

I have to say I was shocked when I saw this picture again the other day.

WHY

WHY

WHY!

Oh my heart breaks when I see this picture, and our boy that was so emaciated.  I hesitated sharing it, but I also want you to see what our boy looked like 

NINE months home.

Remember we had to shave his head because he cut the front OFF!

He was so heartbreakingly thin when we got him, 

and we worked 

and worked

and worked to put meat on his bones.

His gut was ravaged by 

chronic giardia,

diarrhea

malnutrition

and indifference.

Now that I can look back I can say that it took us 11 months of 

strong antibiotics,

good nutrition

probiotics,

and love

before his body could finally absorb the food we were feeding him.

How many more before we can erase the damage to his soul?

What would have become of this boy of ours?

No, four year old should have to endure the life this child has, 

the abandonment, 

the heartache, 

the neglect.

HE is why God places the lonely in families, 

HE is why God asks us to care for the Widows and Orphans.

not to jsut adopt

but to care, 

to see this picture and know that this child is the child of not just one but TWO mothers.

HE is not an anonymous face 

but the boy who inspires people everyday.

HE is proof of God's LOVE & Redemption.