What will happen to Ian?

With just 205 days until Ian turns 5, we face the reality of trying to raise 25K in order to save his life. The economic crisis is making it a challenge to raise money. If only I knew 25,000 people, at one dollar each, Ian would be saved. Please stand with us in prayer that we can do this in time to save our sweet boys life.

This is a borrowed entry from a lovely family who saved a child, Mary, from a fate similar to the fate that all of these children, Ian included, face if not adopted before transfer to the institution.

Read. Know. Give.

Sad news

Last fall/winter we ran a fundraising drive for this little girl named Olga, who lived in Mary's orphanage and (like Mary) was bound for the institution. Her CP was much more severe than Mary's (much) limiting her physically, almost completely. However, as so many have seen when bringing home these Reece's Rainbow children, there is no way of knowing what leaps and bounds she would have made given the chance.

As it became clear that no family was stepping up to come for her, we began the process of inquiring about providing a full time care-giver for her while in the institution. The organization Life2Orphans has been arranging this for children there who need extra care (they ALL do) funded by sponsoring families for NOT very much a month. The only best and even good thing is to get these children OUT of there but the truth is they won't all get out. A caregiver could have made sure she was given physical stimulation, enough food, etc, all under the watchful eye of the Life2orphans personnel. Again, with the hope that, in time, a family would come and take her home.

Well, Olga has gone home. We received official word today that Olga passed away on August 16, 2010. Antoshka had kept her as long as they could, but when she was finally moved, she did not last long.

I cannot fully put into words how I feel about this. Yes, there is a relief that she does not suffer. However, I must be honest and say that trite words about "God's plan" will not be received well. I believe God showed us His plan in His son, and in the words of His book. We are supposed to do better than this. All of us. This is NOT His will, for children to suffer and die alone in the world.

In some ways my faith in Him and His heart feels stronger because I believe I have shared in His pain over Olga's little insignificant life. I believe I was given a gift to see her on some small scale, as He sees her, and hurt for her as He does for each and every one of His children.

But in other ways I feel jaded from the experience, and find certain songs hard to sing - certain statements hard to "amen!". I suppose that is to be expected when you know what you'd like to wish you didn't know, but you can't wish that because if you didn't know ... and didn't care... you know you'd live a shallow insignificant life of your own.

This is going to change things. I can't say what or how yet, but it does. We hope to travel with Life2Orphans on a missions trip, and this solidifies that desire. For now, those who gave SO generously, please know that Reece's Rainbow will distribute that money to the "Other Angels" fund for older children waiting for families to adopt them. So many happy stories are shared there on the homecoming page. Your gifts are not in vain.

“Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, suffering, and injustice when He could do something about it.”

“Well, why don’t you ask Him?”

“Because I’m afraid He would ask me the same question.”

(Anonymous) -a quote from A Hole in the Gospel, by Richard Stearn