Orphan Sunday~

So it's 11.7.10. I've been excited about and prayerful for and anticipating this day for a while now. I can't tell you how grateful I am. That's my word for the day, grateful. You all remember that my sister in law, Mattie, is beginning an organization called One Less Orphan, right? If you missed what this is all about, click here.

Well, our pastor, Doug, mentioned to Jase several weeks ago that he'd like to have Mattie come speak in our Orphan Sunday services at church today. I called her to ask and she jumped at the opportunity! Her only worry?...how to deliver a 6 minute talk about One Less Orphan! My brother, teases her that he's never heard her speak to anyone for less than a half hour on the subject! lol.

Let me just say, Mattie did an outstanding job. She was nervous and I know that as a staff wife, {my hubs is a youth/education minister and my brother (her hubs) is a children's minister}, we are used to our husbands taking the lead in public...being the front men and speaking to many people at a time. I'm always nervous when I speak to a crowd. I spoke two years ago at our Orphan Sunday services. So I had complete empathy for Mattie this morning. But we've prayed for weeks, we've fasted for this day and several of us woke early this morning {thank you daylight savings time!} and found ourselves burdened to pray for this day and for Mattie. And to pray for God's people to be awakened to the plight of the fatherless. And you know something? God was honored by what took place in our church today. Mattie spoke passionately and you would have never known she was nervous. Her voice was clear and strong..."God loves the orphan! And His people must do the same!"

She also brought this video...which I've watched too many times to count. And it gets me every time. Because it represents real children...children who wait. If you haven't seen it, grab some tissue, open your heart, and click play.

Hope is Fading – Orphan Sunday from Allan Rosenow on Vimeo.

You could say I'm proud today. But that's just a kinda yucky word. It sounds all self centered and not at all God centered. I am proud of Mattie and all that she is doing. I'm proud to be a small part of what God is leading her to do. But proud? It doesn't tell the whole story. I just keep coming back to grateful.

Grateful for a God who loved us first. Who came to where we were and adopted us as His children.

Grateful for a husband who took the lead in seeking the heart of God about adoption...and who, when understanding God's heart and what it meant for our family, he counted the cost and determined that it was infinitely worth it to make Joel One Less Orphan.

Grateful for daughters who love their brother to infinity and beyond.

Grateful for my sister in law and brother {and entire family} who have caught the vision and have been moved to action to advocate for the fatherless around the world.

Grateful for two organizations like One Less Orphan, who awarded financial grants to our family so that Joel could come home.

Grateful for a church staff and body who have supported us and have answered the call to live out "True religion" as spoken and mandated in the book of James {as well as throughout Scripture}.

Grateful for a dear friend and her family for walking the road with us and allowing us to in turn, walk it all the way back to Thailand with them until their son comes home.

So now what? What can YOU do?

YOU can adopt! Or...

YOU can support those who do! And...

YOU can buy a t-shirt and raise awareness for One Less Orphan and by doing so, can help bring children home! And...

YOU can pray!

YOU can love God by serving the least of these in Jesus' Name.

If you are interested in One Less Orphan, I'm attaching one of Mattie's brochure's here that she is giving to people where she speaks. There is a website listed {it's just now operational but not quite functional...these things take a bit of time! But soon!} as well as an address where you can give if you feel led.

Maybe you want to buy a t-shirt {$16}...here they are! Leave me a comment or email me and we will tell you how to get one!

None of us can save 140+ million children.

But we can all do something.

We are all called to do something.

What's your part going to be?