A new love for you to love!

Dear Readers, 

I'm eighteen today, so I bring you a child near and dear to my heart. 

Annie. 

This beautiful girl is six years old and has Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy. She was found abandoned at a year old, and her initial report said she was unable to support herself/sit unassisted/ hold her head up. All common in babies with CP. All just like my brother. Each birthday when I write this post I weep for the similarities. I wish all children had the opportunities we had, the parents we have, the support we have...it's unfair. 

But her story doesn't have to have a sad ending. YOU can give her the hope of a future. 

One look at that bright smile,  and it's clear she doesn't let her disability dim her joy!! This girl is such a bright light but it's hidden in an orphanage. 

An orphanage worker says the following about sweet girlie: 

She’s doing really well. She’s on medication to control her seizures and it’s working fine. I have never seen her have a seizure, but I believe it has happened occasionally when she has been febrile with a cold or virus. Of course, does need her medication to keep her stable.  She loves her wheel chair.

Annie’s personality is loving and sweet. She is happiest if somebody will just spend time with her – laughing playing and cuddling her. But she is not whiny when other kids are getting the attention either, so she would be a great fit for a large family. She just enjoys movement and action, whether it involves her, or is going on around her.  One of her favorite games is when you push her wheelchair really fast between two people – she laughs so much at this!

She’s bright and has a great understanding of everything, but cannot communicate verbally.

Her disability is definitely severe, but she is emotionally very healthy. We would so love to see her in a family. Eventually she will need to leave our home, as she is absolutely not palliative, and we desperately want to see that move take her to a loving home! She is really such a beautiful child. She is like sunshine, she warms everyone around her. Even though she is trapped inside a body which will not do what she needs it to do, the beauty of her personality will not be contained. If we can find a family who can manage her physical needs, they will be so blessed by this precious daughter. It makes me so sad to think of her future if she has to remain in  her birth country.

*******

She will likely die before she's eighteen is she stays in her country. She will probably be abused, neglected, left in a crib until pneumonia and infection from bed sores kill her. 

Don't let that be her future. Give her the chance to change the world.

Print her picture and hang it on your fridge. Share her story. Share my post. Pray, pray, pray for her and her future family. 

I've gotten to see a child I prayed for come home, and man, was that the most beautiful redemptive work of God. She went home to a family in her own country, praise Jesus. I want you to get to watch that miracle in Annie's life, dear Readers. Please don't forget her face. 

Much love,

Your now-an-adult blogger

One last post while I'm still a kid

Dearest Readers, 

It's our birthday week!! I've been perusing Reece's Rainbow all week in order to bring you a child in need like I usually do on my birthday. There are so many children, it literally does take days to pick just one. 

But here I am typing on the tiny screen on my phone (so please ignore the bad formatting!!), and I'm feeling compelled to share another thought with you. 

My family LOVES birthdays. So we're in California right now celebrating the big one-eight in such a fun way. Benjamin and Mason are at a Star Wars convention with two friends and Dad, and the girls have been exploring LA. Today we found the sweetest Argentine restaurant and grocery store and stocked up on alfajores and dulce de leche (while I squealed!!), and had the most delicious lunch of empanadas, a split Milanesa Sandwhich, and of course Coca Cola. :) We took tons of pictures and I shook from the excitement. I was in Heaven. 

Then we set out to get manis/pedis. It's one of our favorite rare treats, so we drove around for a while until we found a cute little salon. 

I read a book several years ago about a young girl who immigrated from Vietnam, and so whenever I hear Vietnamese flowing gracefully through those salons I ponder these dear women and their histories. Today God opened up an opportunity for me to hear one of those stories. This dear woman poured out her story as she massaged my hands and smoothed on polish. Stories of oppression and death, escape and loneliness in this country but no possibility of returning to her own. She is amazingly brave, and I hope she realizes that. She wished me luck in life since we won't meet again. She told me she knew I'd forget her, but I promised I wouldn't. That's the thing about opening up a piece of yourself to someone--she left an imprint on me, too. 

One part of her story struck me especially. I had asked if she knew any English when she came, and she said she knew a little because she had gone to a Catholic school where a missionary taught English. Even though many years have passed, she smiled as she remembered and told me her teacher's full name. She met her again when she came to the States. 

This missionary still brings a smile to her face. She might not have accomplished her original purpose (my friend wore a Buddha around her neck), but oh man, did she make an impact. 

My friend told me no client had ever asked her her story before. 

If you are serving across the ocean somewhere, know that God is using you, even when you don't see results. 

If you want to cross the ocean but are afraid, trust God to walk with you across the water. He will walk with you, and you'll leave His mark--and yours--even if you're only there for a short-term high school mission trip. 

You may not have the opportunity to cross an ocean and teach an oppressed people English. But you do have the opportunity to show people that they matter every. Single. Day. 

Ask the woman painting your toes where she's from. 

Ask the cashier at the grocery store how they're doing. 

Don't we all want our stories to be known?? Share yours. And write theirs down, too. 

Much love, 

Your almost-an-adult blogger