Familiar Faces and New Ones

Being without a vehicle, we have been reliant upon others for transportation.  Therefore, we have not been able to venture out much.  However, God has allowed us to use the additonal time to prepare our home so we can move in.

A few days ago, we were able to finally travel to a local orphanage that we have been anxious to visit.  We arrived around 1:30 pm.  As we pulled up there were several boys with basins under a tree washing dishes.  There was a time this might have bothered me, but they were having so much fun giggling and splashing in the water I was thankful to see them washing dishes in the middle of the day!  When I saw the boys washing dishes, my first thought was, "OH THANK YOU THAT THESE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN GIVEN LUNCH TODAY!"  Many in Ghana do not, but Feeding the Orphans is providing food in this home and the children are eating three meals a day.   What a gift! 

Coming to Ghana, there were a few people we were anxious to see.  Braden's heart connection is with a little boy named Peter.  You may remember reading about him in an earlier post.

On Saturday, Braden's dream of seeing him again finally came true!

Other familiar faces stirred emotions within us of joy, gratitude, and happiness as we hugged on these children we have carried in our hearts since March of last year.  Each of these precious ones are being adopted by close friends of ours and we continue to pray for them to be united with their families.

Mabel

Annie

 Frankie

And many new faces of children we are meeting for the first time.  So many.  I love how God intertwines the past with the present.  This sweet little girl is wearing one of the pillowcase dresses that several families brought from Knoxville over the past year.  I love many of the girls were wearing these dresses that had been made with love for them!  Since every dress has been prayed over for the specific child who will receive it, seeing them dressed reminded me of those around the world who pray for these little ones.  (Please keep lifting them up!)

The day we visited this home, we were amazed that God is still reminding us that He is with us through the touches of home He continues to bring.  God allowed us to meet a very special family from our hometown, Knoxville, Tennessee.  This same family is adopting Peter!  AND, as if there could be more, AND this family knows my sister, Wendy's family!  Can you believe all of the God touches?    Jeff and Valerie prayed with us.  When Valerie hugged me goodbye, I teared up because I felt it was a hug from home.   This couple, their three daughters and son have spent over a week in Ghana loving on the orphans, assisting with medical clinics and ministering in the name of Jesus.  Oh, I am so happy for Peter to be adopted into this forever family!    The day we were with them, they were providing necklaces for the kids.   (You should know that when we came to the home five days later, many of the children still had the necklaces on!)

As we continue to gain our footing here, we look forward to working with the people already doing the Lord's work.  Richard loves the Lord and his actions reflect the love of Jesus to all around.

I'm thankful for all of the familiar faces that are here, but at the same time, I am somewhat grieved to see new ones.  Although they are in an incredible home here in Ghana, they are children without families, and that makes me very sad.

As we were leaving I asked Godwin to turn around so I could take this picture.  The only reason I took it at the time was because I had not taken any of him.  However, as I was looking through the photos this one stopped me.

In this picture, there are 16 children.  At the date of this photograph, Godwin is the only child who has a family - legally.  In this photo, there are several children in the adoption process.  And there are many who are not.

Doesn't that stop you too?

Perhaps the Lord is leading you toward permanently caring for one of these children by adopting them into your home.  Perhaps the Lord is leading you to help care for orphans through the many programs Feeding the Orphans offers.  Perhaps the Lord is leading you to PRAY for these children.

Some of the stories I have heard and even witnessed myself would chill you to the bone.  In the photo above, Godwin is wearing an FTO shirt that reads, "YOU DON'T KNOW PAIN - LOVE ORPHANS."

It's true.

Please pray for these children and the millions like them.  Who knows, maybe He wants you to help.

And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying,  

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Matthew 5:2-6