New Taiwan Waiting Children

We are excited to announce that we have several NEW children that have been added to our Taiwan Waiting Children list! Lifeline is currently searching for forever families for almost 50 waiting children who are available through our adoption program in Taiwan. New children have recently been added to the waiting children list! The children’s ages range from 1-13 years old and sibling groups are available.

If you have questions or would like more information about our waiting children in Taiwan, please contact Morgan Cheek at Morgan.cheek@lifelinechild.org for more information.

Counting it a joy..

I have the great joy of working with (un)adopted, a ministry of Lifeline Children’s Services. The heart of (un)adopted is to care for orphaned and vulnerable children internationally who may not be adopted because of age, disability, circumstance, disease, or a myriad of other factors. Many of these children age out of homes or government care, having never been prepared for this transition to life alone. Even more tragically, many of them have never heard the Gospel of Christ, the Good News of a Savior who loves them more than even a family could, who has the power to redeem them and wash them clean. They’ve never heard of a Father who loves them steadfastly. These children age out of care and are put on the streets with nowhere to turn. A staggering majority of them turn to prostitution, drugs, and a life of crime. The world would say they are hopeless, even sometimes a burden to society. We say they are children created by the same God who created you and me and are precious in His sight. We say they are worth loving, visiting, caring for, praying over, laughing with, hugging, and teaching.

Recently, I visited the Dominican Republic to spend time with (un)adopted’s missionary family, the Little’s, who moved to the Dominican Republic one year ago. God has opened incredible doors as the Little’s have sought to care for “the least of these” in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic is a beautiful place, full of tropical sea air, beautiful beaches, and vibrant color, but it’s also an incredibly dark place. Poverty abounds, and children live on the streets. Prostitution is blatant, even among young children. Few people find these children worthy of care, affection, and time, but we find them beautiful and in great need of the love of Christ. During our trip, we spent time with children who are living in great poverty and darkness and are forced to grow up way too quickly. We loved these little ones, taught them about Christ, laughed with them, hugged them, and prayed for them. We also spent time in a home where eleven boys are being taught what it means to follow Christ. These boys once lived on the streets, simply surviving. Now they are being loved, have a family for the first time, and are being raised up as godly men. The lives of these eleven boys are being transformed by the power of the Gospel. The heart of (un)adopted is to reach these eleven boys and the many other children like them. To teach, prepare, serve, and love them with the Gospel of Christ. We have been shown great grace by our Savior, so we show great grace. We have been shown the love of a Heavenly Father, so we show His love to little girls and boys who the world deems unworthy. We praise God for the work He is doing in the Dominican Republic in the lives of these eleven little boys and in the lives of children still living on the streets. We count it all joy to serve them. Seeing Him transform their hearts slowly as they learn to trust and love is beautiful and humbling. It reminds us of the transformation God has orchestrated in our own hearts. We pray that many of these children will be counted among our brothers and sisters in eternity, where “The Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:17 .

If you would like to learn more about what God is doing through (un)adopted, please email info@unadopted.org or call (205)967.0811.

Jessica Dixon, (un)adopted Assistant Coordinator

ONE body of BELIEVERS...

I don’t have to tell you that there are so many children in need of love, care, and attention in this world. One can be overwhelmed by the photos of so many children in orphanages, on the streets, and in foster care. To hear the number 147 million orphans in the world is staggering & painful.

Several years ago, God provided the opportunity for me to go on several missions trips to various countries. Each of these countries were vastly beautiful with God’s natural creation, yet just to look at the children close by was a stark reminder of the poverty they lived in.  As I left the airport I was shocked at the site of children begging, their clothes tattered and torn, and their little eyes so weary from the worries of life.  Despite the fact that the caregivers were trying their very hardest at what they knew to do,  I was saddened by seeing babies lying in their cribs day in and day out with very little attention.   These little ones were rocking back and forth to soothe themselves most of the day.  One caretaker told us that if we took a baby from a bed, to put them back in the same bed as their names and birthdates were written on a little piece of tape to each bed; otherwise they would not know who they were.  Their cloth diapers were only changed a few times a day and were so thick that these little ones could not roll over or even touch their toes. Bottles were propped and they were not held while they ate. In the bottles was a mixture of pureed vegetables and potatoes.  With streams of tears running down my face and a loss of what to do, I did at that moment the only thing I felt I could do, I gently told each one of them, “Jesus loves you so much”.

The older children, ages 4 and 5, flocked to you like a magnet just wanting a smile and some attention. If you sat down on the floor with them, they sat with you and would not let you get up. When you did leave, they would bang their heads on the floor crying at the top of their lungs. How my heart broke and once again, tears streamed down my face for these precious forgotten children.

But… they are not forgotten, no not a single child!!  Jesus our savior knows every detail of their heart and soul. He wants the very best for them in a family and someone who will tell them on a daily, moment-by-moment basis how much Christ loves them and wants a personal relationship with them. He knows them not by a piece of tape with a name and birthdate written on it, but he knows them as HIS child.

Once again we ask ourselves, how do we deal with the number of orphans in this world?  How do we feel like we can make a difference? Anyone can make a difference even if you are 7 or 107 years old.  ALL believers are called to help! Each and every one of us who have Christ as our Savior are united together into one body of believers.

1 Corinthians 12:20 says: But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”: nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you”.

Here at Lifeline we are also of one body in Christ.  We work together as a team to help make a difference for as many of His precious children as we can! 

So, now the question is for you - Can you foster, or adopt, pray or give of your resources, or time? We would love to talk with you about Lifeline and how you can be a part of HIS hands and feet for HIS children. Please pray and give us a call.

Angela Beemer, Lifeline Children's Services of Kansas Administrative Assistant

Colombia Accreditation Status

Lifeline  is more than excited to announce its newest program in Colombia!! This is going to be an amazing program. Colombia currently has over 11,000 children waiting for adoption, and Lifeline has what we believe to be the best on-the-ground team to assist in the adoption process and advocate for our families. We look forward to providing International Adoptions Services in Colombia. The resolution of accreditation is on its way at this time!

Families adopting from Colombia can adopt children with special characteristics. Children with special characteristics include:  1) older children, at least age 7 years old or older, 2) sibling groups, and 3) children of all ages that have one or more medical or special needs.

The Colombian adoption process takes an estimated time of 18 to 24 months for children with special characteristics. This is from the time your application is approved through the time of travel. Please remember that this is an estimated time.

Colombia requires that those seeking to adopt be between the ages of 25 and up and Colombia requires that married applicants are married for a minimum of three years. Single women may also adopt from Colombia.

When a family travels, the expected stay in-country is approximately 4-7 weeks. Both parents must be willing and able to stay the entire time if necessary, but one parent may return to the states during the process after the first few weeks if approved. The length of in-country stay will depend on the originating city of the child.

The estimated total cost of a Colombian adoption right now is around $27,600. We have done our best to provide an all-inclusive figure for our families. We also assist in providing families with information on  scholarships and grant programs that are available. If families are concerned about the cost, they can also contact their accountant to get information on the Adoption Tax Credit.

Colombia is a great country to adopt from for the following reasons: It is a “Hague-certified” program; there is high quality orphanage care; they provide detailed medical and developmental information on available children; children who wait receive counseling and advocacy services;  there is a well established government child welfare agency  that oversees the “transition” process; and children are able to reside with the adoptive parents throughout the family’s stay in-country.

The country of Colombia has many children in need of loving, permanent homes. If God calls you to embark on this journey, it would be our joy to partner with you!

For more information, please contact Beth Stanley at beth.stanley@lifelinechild.org.

What I Have Learned

My sweet friend Tera Melber, who is a friend of Lifeline, wrote this blog post on  the airplane on her way home from Ethiopia with their new precious son.  I wanted to share it with you!  May her words speak to you as they did to me.  

Lesley Scott, Kentucky State Director

"What I Have Learned":

This is what I have learned, not what I have mastered. I am utterly helpless. I could not blink without God causing me to blink. I couldn't take one breath of air without Him opening my lungs and filling them with the oxygen that He has provided. I am utterly unworthy. I am not worhty of being born in America to parents who love me. Not worthy of being introduced at a young age to the Gospel. Not worthy to be married to a strong, faithful, God-fearing man who loves me and cares for me. Not worthy of being a mom to six incredible kids; all who are so different with such different stories, hopes, and dreams. Right now, I sing in my heart, the old hymn....I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene and wonder why He would love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean....how marvelous, how wonderful, and my song shall ever sing, is my Savior's love for me.

This week we have watched God's hand guide every aspect of our journey. Lots of travel troubles, UGH. Through it all, when I would feel anxiety welling up in my heart, I would hear Him asking me, Do you trust me? Do you really mean all the things you say to everyone else? Do you trust me to work out circumstances according to My plan, not yours? Do you recognize that you are not in control? Over and over, I know that He was and is telling me that in good or bad I must choose to trust that this journey is HIS. This journey of the life that He has planned and intended. I don't always react the ways I should to difficulties.  I still get very anxious, want to control situations and people, but honestly....deep within my soul, I do trust Him. I may not like the plan, but I trust that He has ALL worked out. I'm on a plane right now on our last leg home from bringing home our boy. We are surprising the other 5 kids with an early flight home. Soon we will be the eight of us. Our boy is sleeping peacefully. He fully trusts us as his parents. We know where he is going. We know what is in store of the other end of this plane ride. We had a plan to bring him home. Everywhere we've led him, he has willingly gone with a smile on his face, hand held out to take ours. Fully trusting. May I be the same with my Heavenly Father who has the plan."

Psalm 34:8-11
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Tera Melber

Don't Forget Who I Am

{The Hord Family}

We have not been one of those couples who had to have their arm twisted by the Lord to get us to adopt.  It is something that we always wanted to do, something that we have delighted to do.  Growing up with three adopted siblings made adoption seem beautifully normal to me.   When our oldest son came home through adoption several years ago, it did not fulfill our call to adopt but only deepened it.  My husband and I anxiously waited for the time when we would be old enough to adopt from China.  

But even with all the excitement, experience and knowledge that this is what God had for our lives, there have still been times of relentless fear.   I did not expect this process to be such a time of emotional storm. 

I love to read the Jesus Story book Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones to my children.  I often think I get as much out of it as they do.  Close to the beginning of this adoption process, I read the story of Jesus calming the storm.  He does this simply by His word.  He speaks, and the storm obeys.  When the sea has settled back down, Jesus turns to his anxious disciples and asks, “Why were you scared?  Did you forget who I Am?  Did you believe your fears instead of me?” 

Filling out the special needs check list proved to be a much more daunting task than I had anticipated.  I found myself crippled with fear and anxiety over what the Lord might call us to do.   How would our life change?  What if God called us to love a very sick child?  What heartbreak might we have to face? 

When we found out who our little girl would be, all fears instantly vanished over how our life might change when we brought her home.  She was our daughter and we would do whatever it took.  But it is a hard thing to be in love with a child who is so far away from your aching arms.  I can find myself obsessively worrying about her precious little life.  Is she safe? Is she healthy?   Is she getting enough food?  Is anyone kissing her goodnight before she goes to sleep? 

{The Hord's waiting daughter in China}

And, then there has been the plight of the orphan at large, which has burdened me more than it ever has before.  I mean, I have always thought about orphans, but to know that I have a child out there who is being counted among them has been a hard thought to gnaw on.  It has made the countless faces come alive, the ones that I encounter day after day who are still waiting to be claimed by a loving family. Whenever I am in a crowd, I find myself estimating how many people are in the room.  As I sit in church on any given Sunday, the sanctuary feels full with around 300 people inside.  And while this feels like quite a few, there are comparatively over 147 million orphans in the world!  Why do there have to be so many?   How can we ever do enough to help make a difference in their lives?  What can I do with this burden besides feel overwhelmed?   Why do I often forget that these precious children weigh much more heavily on His heart than my own? 

All of these fearful questions have been hard to wrestle with.  I have found myself  ready to just be done with this process so I can get back to life as usual-  easy and comfortable, just thinking about myself and those closest to me.  Consequently, this process has brought to the surface more sin in my life than I ever dreamed it would.  Selfishness, jealousy, anxiety, doubt and impatience and that is just to name a few!  I have spent many days feeling like a spoiled brat who is pouting because I am not getting my way.  How in the world could God love a sinner like me?  How could he not treat me as my sins deserve?   Why is it so hard for me to simply rest in His goodness when He has shown Himself to be so very faithful? 

And so this simple story has replayed over and over again in mind as I have battled against my fear and doubt. Regretfully, I have found myself believing my fears instead of Him.   “Don’t forget who I Am” He whispers:   A great Redeemer (Gal 3:13).  The supplier of our needs (Philippians 4;19).  Our strength and refuge (Psalm 46:1)  Faithful when we are faithless (1 Timothy2:13)   The Bearer of our burdens  (Psalm 68:19) Father to the Fatherless (Psalm 68:5)

And by His Word, He alone can calm the storm.

Jenny Hord, Lifeline Family

The Light Shines in the Darkness

God recently gave me the privilege of spending 6 months in North India “living life” with 6 Indian women in their slum. These ladies became my family. They are my friends. They are my sisters. They are some of the poorest people I’ve ever seen. They live each day not knowing if they will have clean water and food to eat. On the outside these ladies and I are so very different. But on the inside we are exactly the same in our need for a Savior. I look at their lives and the world would tell us they are hopeless. They live in extreme poverty, surrounded by disease and filth and face unfathomable oppression on a daily basis. They live in a country with a population of approximately 1.2 billion. Less than 2% of those 1.2 billion are Christians. This means that the vast majority of these beautiful people face an eternity separated from Christ. And God gave them to me to love. Me? Not only did He place them in my life and allow me to love them, He created a bond between us that only He could create. There is no other explanation. Only He could do it. They are truly my family, my sisters, my friends. I want to share with you what it was like to say good-bye to these precious ones when the time came for me to return to America and how God reminded me of the hope and promise that the “light shines in the darkness.”

We all wept when it was time for me to leave them. It was terrible. Hard and pitiful and awful and painful and sad all rolled into one. There was so much to be said but words failed each of us and the language barrier was just too strong to communicate how we felt.

Amy Carmichael once wrote:

"…in the silence of a pain we cannot conquer we find ourselves just spirit-crushed, and with no language but a cry."

So there we stood, our little group. In a cloud of clasped hands and forehead kisses. Dupattas swiping, swiping, swiping away at black, eye-liner filled tears. With no language but a cry. The fear of never seeing them again filled my heart. The fear of leaving them in such oppression and poverty and complete spiritual darkness made me sick.

As I approached the airport the next night to fly home, I saw them. My heart stopped in my chest for a moment. Sitting on a curb just outside the gates of the airport, under a street light was a little bundle of sparkle and color and smiles. Precious, precious ones.

I climbed out of the car and was welcomed by the most beautiful sight. Each of the ladies – all 6 of them – had come to the airport to say good-bye. And they looked beautiful. They had worn their best clothes. Can a heart burst with happiness? Well, I think mine almost did.

We spent the next thirty minutes hugging and laughing and talking. I was so proud of them! What it took for them to be able to come to the airport, I'll never truly know. Bus money…approval of husbands...food prepared for families…courage. I was so proud of them. These ladies who never leave their slum, who were too afraid to go on a picnic just a few miles from their homes, had bravely come to the airport. I was humbled and amazed. Overwhelmed with thankfulness.

Then, sooner than any of us wished, it was time to say good-bye. We formed a little circle in the grass and prayed. Then, slowly we said good-bye. After many, many, many hugs and tears, I walked away. It seemed like I turned around and waved at them 100 times as I walked toward the airport. And 100 times the little, sparkly bundle raised their arms in unison and waved back. Oh, my heart was full.

As the plane rose higher and higher in the air and the lights of our city shone in the night, I couldn't help but notice the large patches of darkness where there was no light. I assumed these were the slums or power-cut areas. My heart ached for my ladies, knowing they were on the way back to their slum. To their patch of darkness. And I couldn't hold it in anymore. The tears just came and came and came.

So much darkness. So little light.

Then suddenly, out of the middle of one of those dark patches came a spray of fireworks. And another and another. That patch didn't seem quite so dark anymore.

Familiar and comforting words came to me:

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

There will come a day, He promises, when the oppression and suffering and mourning will be no more for those who know Him.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
"Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.
He will dwell with them, and they will be His people,
and God Himself will be with them as their God.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,
and death shall be no more,
neither shall there be mourning
nor crying nor pain anymore,
for the former things have passed away."
And He who was seated on the throne said,
"Behold, I am making all things new."
Also, He said, "Write this down,
for these words are trustworthy and true."
And He said to me, "It is done!
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.
To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.
The one who conquers will have this heritage,
and I will be his God and he will be my son."

Revelation 21:3-7

And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. Revelation 22:5

And I was reminded by the One who is Light, that it will not always be dark. He has promised. We put our hope in Him. We find comfort in Him. We trust His promises. We follow Him in obedience to shine His glorious Light into the darkness.

Jessica Dixon

Administrative Assistant

An Adoption Story

As this is my first official blog post since coming on with Lifeline. I thought I would take this opportunity to introduce my family and our adoption story.

It is amazing to look back at our lives and see how our God is a God who plans. He is at work in our lives long before we are even born. He knew that adoption was a BIG part of our story of redemption in His eternal family and so He teaches us that true religion is to care for the orphans! The adoption of our daughter was much bigger than “rescuing” her. Instead this is an even greater love story of Jesus.

Geoffrey was young when he first heard the testimony of missionary given at school. He thought to himself, “I will do this one day.” So when the opportunity arose to travel to Kenya, he went. That summer he spent days in the slums of Kibera. He did some door to door evangelism, but spent most of his time playing soccer with the children. The love for the fatherless was planted there in the dirt fields of that slum. Over the years, that love grew and he knew he wanted to love on the fatherless forever.

Junior year of college, he met Jama. It did not take long for both of us to realize that we wanted to spend life together serving the Lord. After college we had plans to go serve on the mission field, but God had a different plan. Surprise! We found out we were pregnant with our first child. So instead of traveling overseas, we began our family in Birmingham, AL and Geoffrey started seminary. Over the first year, we sold our house and made some money. Not long after that, the Lord impressed upon Jama’s heart that they were to save and set it aside. Over the next 5 years we prayed and searched for where God wanted us to give, patiently waiting. Meanwhile, God was making a way for us to adopt.

Adoption had not been a thought in Jama’s mind, but after struggling to have a second baby God began working. After a miscarriage, God did bless us with another baby, but the adoption seeds had been planted in Jama’s heart. Three years later, God placed the call on our lives to adopt, June of 2010. After praying, we felt that he desired us to adopt domestically through Lifeline Children’s Services.

It is amazing to see how lost fingerprints (the State Department lost Geoffrey’s papers), were all part of God’s plan. Our journey to our daughter, became very real when we got the call that a birthmother had chosen our family and that we would meet her soon! We never imagined how hard, but how wonderful the next 3 months would be as we awaited her birth. Initially being very closed minded, we didn’t want to have contact with her, but God changed our hearts and we decided to go and see our birthmother. I can remember walking into the room and thinking, “She is the most beautiful woman.” There is something special about that first meeting and we loved her already so much.

After that very long meeting our relationship began. We then came to doctor visits, heard heart beats, and lastly she invited us to be in the room for the c-section. Now I do not want to paint a perfect picture of a seamless or easy adoption. But it was in those moments that we stayed on our knees. God woke us up many nights, in the middle of the night to pray for our birthmother and our daughter. We were aware that we were fighting a spiritual battle that was very real and that God was using our prayers to protect.

During that wait, we attended our old church. It was Father’s day morning and before beginning any part of the service the pastor asked for all the families adopting or that have adopted to please stand. He shared scripture on adoption and then began to pray for us. So there we were standing among a crowd of 2000, with a few others, being encouraged our God through His church. It was at that moment, in our tear filled hands, that I knew He was going to take care of birthmother and our daughter. After the service, a sweet lady approached us and wanted us to know that God had impressed upon her to pray for us today. And that she wanted us to know that she was praying for us. Wow!

So we went bright and early June 20, 2011 where I watched the most amazing story unfold. There in the delivery room our birthmother instructed the doctors to take her baby from her belly and place her in our arms. It was that morning that I witnessed the most selfless, courageous women sacrifice herself for her child. It was in that moment that I witnessed the gospel and I gained a greater understanding of God’s adoptive love for myself.

While in the hospital, we spent long days and nights holding our daughter and loving on our birthmother. We would eat together, rock the baby, and hear her stories. It was an emotionally and very cherished time. I got to know our birthmother in a way that most adoptive parents never get and I am so grateful that I will get to tell her story to our daughter. One day I tell my daughter that her birthmother loved her so much and I know because she told me!

This adoption journey has changed our lives. It has taught us more about God’s love for us and more about His plan for our family. It was not long after this adoption, that God placed the opportunity in front of us to serve in the adoption community! January 3^rd, Geoffrey began his job with Lifeline Children’s Services, as their International Manager of Programs. We never imagined how our daughter would lead to a complete life change and that God would use her to begin our family’s life passion! We are so excited about bringing orphans home to Godly families, where they will hear about our heavenly Father’s love for them!

Too God be the glory,

Geoffrey and Jama

Geoffrey Ketcham

International Manager of Programs

China's Waiting Treasures

Lifeline would like to take this opportunity to stir the hearts of many in the adoption world who are considering the adoption of an older child. Will you join us in in this challenge and spread the word?

These children have been waiting a long time. They are all special focus children. They have been specifically assigned to Lifeline. We have been blessed with the privilege of partnering with the CCCWA (China Center for Children’s Welfare and Adoption) to locate homes for these precious Waiting Children. As a participant in this program with the CCCWA, we are able to advocate for these older children with special needs.

Unique challenges come with adopting an older child with special needs. We realize that! But, they are so worth it! They deserve to have a forever family to call their own!

Please contact us with any questions including questions of transfer possibilities for these children. We are here to help in any way that we can.

Please email Logan Gibbons here or you can reach her at 205-972-8480 or e-mail Lisa Kelly here or by calling her at 785-783-4565 with any questions about these children.

Help us share these children who are waiting with others by "liking" and "sharing" our our "China's Waiting Treasures" Facebook Page HERE.

SOMEONE

Today SOMEONE is feeling compelled to care for the fatherless
And SOMEONE is heeding the call for needy orphans in distress

As a result, SOMEONE begins to give, begins to serve, begins to go
SOMEONE decides to build an orphanage, sponsor a child, get in the know

SOMEONE realizes that 38,000 orphaned children age out every day
And there is SOMEONE who is screaming out that this is not okay

SOMEONE sees a child's empty future, and feels their lack of hope
SOMEONE knows without life and job skills the orphan can not cope

Seventy percent in crime or prostitution, SOMEONE has a heart break
There is growing desperation, SOMEONE sees an over 10% suicide rate

SOMEONE is restless, in spite of all the efforts, that this problem only grows
SOMEONE is impassioned enough to ruffle a few feathers and step on toes

Finding a strategic solution to orphan care becomes SOMEONE's chief aim
SOMEONE knows there are a 147 million orphans and they're people, not a stain

SOMEONE understands that to reach orphans you have to reach their town
Discipleship in homes, schools, and business, SOMEONE isn't messing around

SOMEONE refuses to settle for welfare, band-aid ministry models that fail
The Gospel transforms the city, because SOMEONE decides to go tell

SOMEONE decides to be the church, to have their actions say I love you
I've decided I'll be that SOMEONE, will you be that SOMEONE too?

Dave Wood, International Director

Esperanza – The Hopes and Dreams of the Orphan

Bogota, Columbia - On a nondescript street in the heart of Bogota stands 6 individual housing units scattered within the neighborhood. To a casual observer, you may believe that these units contain single families or a few multiple families, until you walk inside. Once inside, you find that these units are the homes of some 25 to 30 children who are being protected from the streets; from hunger, abuse, and the plague of being without a family.


Each unit is home to an age-segregated gender of children and within each unit is a small, dimly lit closet which contains all of the clothing, shoes, sheets, and worldly possessions belonging to these clusters of 25. Each child is relegated to a cubbyhole of about 4 cubit feet, and within these cubbies, each child has their own handmade, colored, wooden box.

This was the scene I experienced last week on the final day of our 6 day trip to Columbia. This was the very last orphanage we would visit before flying back home to the states, and we had almost canceled this stop for the sake of time. As I stood in this small closet, I couldn't take my eyes off of these multi-colored boxes. I was intrigued as to their purpose.

Raul, our trusty teammate, asked the director of the orphanage to please explain the meaning of these boxes to our team. She walked back into the closet, removed one of many boxes from a shelf, and clutched it in her hands. She explained in a soft Spanish the significance of these boxes.

"This is the only thing that truly belongs to our children. These boxes are the only thing they will keep. They are intensely personal to each child, and we have a rule that no one but the child who owns this box may ever open them or examine the contents inside until and if that child is adopted. Inside these boxes contain their most important trinkets and inside these boxes contains their hopes and dreams written upon slips of paper."

As I stared at the small box, possibly 8 inches long, 5 inches wide and 3 inches deep, I couldn't help but wonder what the owner of this box had written. What were the hopes and dreams of these little boys that filled the four walls of this home? Did they hope to sail the seas or climb mountains? Did they hope to play sports, to have a career, or to have a family? Did they dream that they could have a car, travel the world, or conquer battles? I was mesmerized by the contents of these precious boxes.

We asked the director, what - in her 12 years - had been some dreams she had discovered placed within the boxes. Were there certain hopes or dreams that seemed to be common or seemed to stand out? Then she told us, the number one dream in all of the boxes, for all the kids, no matter age or gender, was to have a family or to restore their broken families.

"O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more." Psalm 10:17-18

May the Lord fulfill the dreams of these orphans to not only have an earthly family, but may these children find the hope of a Father whose adoption is perfect and eternal. May these children know the love of a God who allows our spirit's to cry out Abba, Father. May they come to know the Savior who says in John 14:18, "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."

Over 150 small boxes, on a nondescript street in Bogota, Columbia contain the hopes (Esperanza) and dreams of a fraction of those orphans living worldwide, but they poll the hearts of the 143 million orphans better than the Barna group, Gallup, and Rasmussen could do collectively. They show us that children were meant for families.

But it also shows us something about our own orphaned hearts. We were meant for a family. Our true dreams should not be for riches, wealth, prominence, power, or recognition, but for the fellowship with a Father who does not disappoint and for a life built upon displaying His glory to the world around us.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." Isaiah 29:11-13

Has the Lord put your family in a place where you could adopt or foster a precious child in need and in so doing meet their biggest dream? Has the Lord burdened you with his command in James 1:27 to care for orphans in distress? If so, partner with Lifeline today. Visit LifelineAdoption.org to donate to the cause, to apply to adopt, to sign up for a trip through our (un)adopted ministry by visiting orphans in need, to apply to be a foster parent for a child in US foster care, to volunteer in one of many ways for the sake of orphans, and ultimately to partner with us as we seek to meet the hopes and dream of the fatherless.

"For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever." Psalm 9:18

Oh beloved, will you allow God to use you to impact the life of a child? Please do not hesitate to give Lifeline a call because we are here...

On behalf of the orphans and fatherless.

Herbie Newell
Executive Director
Lifeline Children's Services
giving children a hope and a future
twitter: @hmnewell

Mountains, Mustard Seeds & Miracles

About 18 years ago, a tiny little seed had been planted in my heart when I met and became very close to a family whose child had been adopted. As I approached my mid-thirties, and still single, I knew I always wanted to be a Mom and hoped that this time for me would be coming really soon. Little did I know how God would choose for me to take the leap of faith, known as adoption, as a single! It was Mother’s Day 2006, singing in the choir at church, a baby dedication was going on. There was a beautiful single lady there dedicating her adopted daughter to the Lord. At the moment that she was reading her child’s life verse, I distinctly remember hearing an audible voice that said “You can do this too!” In fact, it was so audible that I turned to the person next to me and asked “What did you say?” But, I knew all along whose voice it was. I took two years to pray through this revelation and to get finances in order, and choosing just the right agency for me. But the whole time I was thinking that this would be the craziest thing I have ever chosen to do. I mean, who CHOOSES to be a single Mom? They have to be crazy, right?! During this time, I came to the conclusion that adoption really is at the very core of God’s heart, and that YES, He does sometimes call us to do “crazy” things, just so that HE can show us HIS faithfulness.

I chose Lifeline for a number of reasons, but primarily because of their Christian commitment. I needed to know that those who were making decisions on my behalf were indeed praying for me. When starting the process, I was told it would take about 18 months, so I went in patiently waiting and going through the process, but after the 18 months and NO child, I became very weary and worrisome of my journey. There were some really dark days, especially as I began looking at files of the special needs children from Peru. I would read a file and cry and stay awake all night for weeks on end until I agreed with God that this wasn’t the child for me. After reading the first file, I was a bit frustrated with God, why would He ask me to read the file of a sweet, precious, beautiful child and that child not be the one for me. My answer from Him… “so that you might pray for this child for her entire life.” Wow! God reminded me that I may be the only person who ever prays for this child….wow! Unfortunately, the plight of millions of orphans around the world is often misunderstood or ignored by so many. So, as I continued through the darkness, I had to remind myself daily of God’s goodness, of how God ALWAYS works thing to the good of those who love Him and are called according to HIS purpose (Romans 8:28). It was during this time that a faithful friend, who spent countless hours praying for me and encouraging me, gave me a bracelet with Matthew 17:20 on it (“...If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will be done for you”). Have you ever really seen a mustard seed? They are so, so small. Yet, God promised that if I could have even just enough faith to be the size of a mustard seed, NOTHING would be impossible. But, I had to hold onto this verse with a fierceness I have never had before and daily remind myself of HIS promise.

After a couple of months of not viewing files because they became so overwhelming for me, a name appeared on the Waiting Angels list for Peru. I didn’t want to read any more files, but I kept being drawn to this name and little girl, like a moth to a flame. Finally, after much prayer, because I couldn’t get her off of my mind, I requested to see her file. I received her file and after reading it for the first time, had this unexplainable peace. But, there were a LOT of “HUGE mountains” in her life! There were her special needs, the fact that she was part of a sibling group, and the list just went on and on and on. I even asked God if I was “crazy” thinking that this might be the child for me. I asked the Lord to reveal to me whether I should request this child or not. He just kept reminding me of Matthew 17:20. One day, after having her file for about a week, I went to a bookstore I hadn’t been to in a while. There, I saw a baby name book, and I thought, “I know what this name means in Spanish, let me look it up and find out its Christian meaning too. “ The meaning of her name is “Strong in Faith,” and the verse that went along with her name was Matthew 17:20! At the time, I could only take it as encouragement that God heard my prayers, later it became confirmation for me. I kept getting reports on her as they updated them and finally in December decided that I had to take hold of my mustard seed and trust the Lord for HIS answer. I prayed daily, that if she were not the child for me that God would close the door. I was continually reminded of the “mountains” and the little mustard seed God had given me. Finally, the matching day came, December 23^rd, 2010. For the first time ever, I fell on my knees before God and said “Lord, not my will, but YOURS be done!” and I meant it. Then, no word for 24 hours... just another opportunity to hold onto that mustard seed a little tighter! Then on December 24^th, Christmas Eve, my little mustard seed of faith (and literally no more than that!) made the Mountains MOVE!! What a glorious day it was! God was still in the miracle business. On this very day 2000 years before, he brought the HOPE of the world, and on this day in 2010, He moved mountains so that I and my Precious Peruvian, the child HE had chosen for me before time even began, could walk the journey of life together.

Incredibly, after 2 ½ years of journeying through the “labor” process, I was able to see my little girl for the first time (might I mention, that she is from Cusco Peru, which is right in the heart of the Andes Mountains - God made those mountains that He had moved, a very visual reminder for me, every day I was there). And God, from the beginning of time, had everything orchestrated for our meeting. Because of her special needs, they told me not to expect her to acknowledge me, not to ask for hugs or expect them either. In fact, instead of bringing her to me, they asked me if I would go in and just play with her and the other children. From the moment I entered the play room, she was eyeing me, looking at me, as if to say, ”Hey, don’t I know you?” Finally, after about a half hour, one of her care givers told her, ”Here’s Mamá!” At that moment she looked at me and said, “Mamá?” and I answered her with “Sí.” A smile came across her face and within a few minutes she was giving me kisses and hugs. She allowed me to feed her that very evening and didn’t want to go to bed and leave Mamá. Of course, not every journey happens this way, but I had prayed and held on to that mustard seed, that our attachment would be quick and solid. God showed up BIG time that day in an orphanage in Cusco, Peru, and moved even more mountains that day. There were 2 psychologists, the director of the orphanage, my social worker, and all the orphanage workers were standing in amazement at what God had just done. The psychologist and head of the Cusco SNA (adoption authority) both said, “We have NEVER seen anything like this before!” I was reminded of this other verse about the mustard seed I had been holding onto, “The Kingdom of God… is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground is the smallest of the seed on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade,” Mark 3:31-32. Not only had God moved mountains, but He planted the seed of my prayers for attachment and then produced a large, beautiful plant, that all might see HIS mighty work!

My time in Peru was an excellent experience. The people there are very generous and very eager to help you. So many Peruvians would look at me and ask if I was taking her to the US; and upon saying yes, they would say, she is such a lucky little girl. I thought, “No, I am the BLESSED one!” There are some things that I think helped my time in Peru. I am a Spanish teacher, and already being fluent in Spanish, I found that it was very helpful, not just from the “getting around town” aspect, but because by using Spanish (even if I did make mistakes). It communicated such a sign of respect for the people there and a respect for their culture. I also believe VERY strongly that it helped immensely with the bonding with my little one. While she only said 5 words when I got her, she still had only heard Spanish her whole life, having her “heart language” spoken to her was such a comfort for her. If I could give one piece of advice for those adopting from a Latin American country, it would be to learn some functional Spanish. You don’t have to be fluent by any means, but it means so much to the people you will be working with and to your child to be able to communicate with you. I would also encourage both parents to have some knowledge of the language because the child will be most drawn to the person that he/she feels understands him or her and can fulfill his/her needs. Peru is a beautiful country, as are the others in the Latin American program! Having traveled extensively throughout Latin America, the people are just amazing.

On this side of the airport, my Precious Peruvian is doing really well. We have had our difficult moments, but they have only been moments. Many of the special needs that were listed in her file have been negated by the doctors here in the US. Does she still have special needs, YES! And there are no guarantees about what her needs will be in the future, but God has been so good. There will be more difficult days ahead because being a part of God’s healing the broken-hearted is a difficult job. But He will continue to provide everything that we need, including the wisdom to know when we need it. In adoption, there are very few “Knowns” and lots of “Unknowns.” It is best to keep this in mind as you journey to your child, but you can also KNOW that God is faithful and still makes miracles happen!

Rebecca Suarez
Lifeline Mom