Of one heart and soul...Argentina, 2012

(Traducción al español a continuación para todos mis seres queridos en la Argentina.  )


Dear Readers,
   Argentina was absolutely incredible.  Incredible. God did so many beautiful things on this trip, I can't even find the words for them. I will try, but know that this is just barely touching what He did...

  First of all, thank you again to all of you who made it possible for this trip to happen. Without you we couldn't have gone, and that would truly break my heart. Thank you, also, to everyone who encouraged  us and prayed for us as we went on this new journey into uncharted waters. I'm so grateful to you. So very grateful.

  For me, the trip, and the church we were with, can be summed up in this Bible verse:
 "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony tot the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all." ~Acts 4:32-33

  Precious families opened their hearts and their homes to a group of teenagers from Arizona. They fed us, got us where we needed to be on time, shared their lives with us, sacrificed personal family time, and loved us.  Spending time with my host family was my favorite part of the trip. They are a gift from God, and truly blessed my heart.  Thank you to everyone in Buenos Aires who hosted each of us...I love you so much! May God bless you for truly being His Hands and Feet.



 I know you all probably remember my fears and my prayer requests as we left...well...not only did God answer them all beautifully, but He surpassed all my expectations.
    God did miracles on this trip, dear ones. Absolute miracles that I am still trying to sort through.
 But let me start by saying that the people from La Puerta Abierta are genuine gold. They jumped in and lifted Benjamin and his wheelchair wherever it needed to go. They hugged and kissed us and welcomed us in even though most of us spoke not even enough Spanish to get by.  I love that kind of Acts 1 fellowship. Again, just like that verse I shared above.  My heart was full the whole trip!


   This post really doesn't even scratch the surface of all that God did while we were in Argentina...I can't even communicate the love I have for these people. I can't communicate what a blessing they were to my heart adequately enough. Words just aren't there for any of this. I feel like I am a different person now that I've gone.  And, God willing, I will definitely be back.



   God is doing amazing things in Argentina, but the work is not done. We painted one prison room bright colors...but that's only one. We were able to feed the homeless a meal...but they are still hungry. We passed out clothes to people...but more are cold. We talked with the guards...but they are still lonely.

  Do you see my point? I know God is going to continue the works He is doing in Argentina..I am praying He will guide people in Buenos Aires' hearts toward prison ministry.  And I am praying He will bring more of YOU there...your heart will be blessed, your faith will be grown, and you will leave even more in love with God and this world He created.

  So are you ready? Go!

Your Blogger,
 Claire  (PS keep scrolling past the Spanish translation for photos!)

Estimados lectores,
   Argentina fue absolutamente increíble. Increíble. Dios hizo tantas cosas bellas en este viaje, ni siquiera puedo encontrar las palabras para ellos. Voy a tratar, pero sabemos que esto es apenas tocar lo que hizo ...

 En primer lugar, gracias de nuevo a todos los que hicieron posible este viaje a suceder. Sin ustedes no podríamos haber ido, y que realmente me partiría el corazón. Gracias, también, a todos los que nos animó y oró por nosotros a medida que avanzábamos en este nuevo viaje en aguas desconocidas. Estoy tan agradecido. Así que muy agradecido.

  Para mí, el viaje, y la iglesia nos encontramos con, se puede resumir en este versículo de la Biblia: "Ahora, el número total de los creyentes tenía un solo corazón y alma, y ​​nadie dijo que ninguna de las cosas que pertenecieron a él era el suyo, pero tenían todo en común. Y con gran poder los apóstoles daban testimonio tot la resurrección del Señor Jesús, y abundante gracia era sobre todos ellos. " Hechos 4:32-33 ~

  Familias preciosos abrieron sus corazones y sus hogares a un grupo de adolescentes de Arizona. Nos daban de comer, nos dieron a nosotros, donde teníamos que estar a tiempo, compartieron sus vidas con nosotros, el tiempo de sacrificio personal, familiar y nos ha amado. Pasar tiempo con mi familia fue mi parte favorita del viaje. Son un regalo de Dios, y verdaderamente bendecido a mi corazón. Gracias a todos en Buenos Aires que organizó cada uno de nosotros ... te amo tanto! Que Dios te bendiga por ser verdaderamente sus manos y pies.

 Sé que todos ustedes seguramente recuerdan mis miedos y mis peticiones de oración cuando nos fuimos ... bueno ... no sólo que Dios les responde en toda su belleza, sino que superó todas mis expectativas.

 Dios hizo milagros en este viaje, queridos. Milagros absolutos que aún estoy tratando de clasificar.

Pero déjame empezar diciendo que la gente de La Puerta Abierta son oro puro. Se saltó y levantó Benjamín y su silla de ruedas allí donde necesitaba ir. Se abrazaron y besaron con nosotros y nos dio la bienvenida a pesar de que en la mayoría de nosotros no habló siquiera el español suficiente para salir adelante. Me encanta ese tipo de actos una beca. Una vez más, al igual que el verso he compartido anteriormente. Mi corazón estaba lleno todo el viaje!

    Este mensaje en realidad no tiene ni siquiera arañar la superficie de todo lo que Dios hizo cuando estábamos en la Argentina ... ni siquiera puedo comunicar el amor que siento por estas personas. No puedo comunicar lo que una bendición que estaban a mi corazón de forma suficientemente adecuada. Las palabras simplemente no hay nada de esto. Siento que soy una persona diferente ahora que he ido. Y, si Dios quiere, voy a estar de vuelta.

   Dios está haciendo cosas maravillosas en la Argentina, pero el trabajo no se hace. Pintamos una prisión brillantes colores de la habitación ... pero eso es sólo una. Hemos sido capaces de alimentar a los desamparados de una comida ... pero todavía tiene hambre. Pasamos por la ropa a la gente ... pero más frías. Hablamos con los guardias ... pero siguen siendo solo. 

¿Ves lo que digo? Yo sé que Dios va a continuar las obras que Él está haciendo en la Argentina .. estoy orando Él guiará a la gente en el corazón de Buenos Aires hacia el ministerio de prisión. Y estoy rezando para que traerá más de vosotros ... su corazón será bendecido, su fe se cultiva, y se irá aún más en el amor con Dios y este mundo que Él creó.

 ¿Están listos? Go!
Su Blogger,
Claire

Making meatballs to feed the homeless...
going to deliver them was an incredible experience.
The needs are the same everywhere...

Hacer las albóndigas para alimentar a las personas sin hogar ... vamos a ofrecer una experiencia increíble. Las necesidades son las mismas en todas partes ...

The boys and I with the founders of Sacdem, Daniel and his wife Maria Elena. God has used these two to bless so many lives...mine included! I love them so much.
Los chicos y yo con los fundadores de Sacdem, Daniel y su esposa María Elena. Dios ha usado a estos dos para bendecir tantas vidas ... incluido el mío! Los amo tanto.

One day during our trip we spent the morning with  the kids at high school. We got to talk with their classes, and afterward play with them during PE. Here Benjamin and I are playing with the girls who are triplets, also! It was such a blessing to meet them.
Un día, durante nuestro viaje pasamos la mañana con los niños en la escuela secundaria. Tenemos que hablar con sus clases, y después jugar con ellos durante la PE. Aquí Benjamin y yo estamos jugando con las niñas que son trillizos, también! Fue una bendición para hacerles frente.

Here I am with my sweet host sisters, Nico and Cami.
These two girls blessed my heart immensely...I will thank
God for them for the rest of my life!
Aquí estoy con mis hermanas de acogida dulces, Nico y Cami. Estas dos niñas bendecido mi corazón inmenso ... voy a agradecer A Dios por ellos para el resto de mi vida!

After we went to the high school we spent the afternoon
at the primary school. These children are little angels!
We got to worship with them in English, here is a picture of that
beautiful experience.
Después nos fuimos a la escuela secundaria pasamos la tarde en la escuela primaria. Estos niños son angelitos! Tenemos que adorar con ellos en Inglés, que aquí hay una foto de ese experiencia muy bonita

I got to serve in Nico's class, here I am braiding her hair!
I got to teach an English mad lib to her class, that was an amazing
experience I'll never forget. Her teacher was just
precious and we had the best time!
 Having the opportunity
to influence children should never be taken lightly.
Children are one of God's createst gifts!
Tengo que sirven en la clase de Nico, que aquí estoy trenzando el pelo! Tengo que enseñar a un lib Inglés loca a su clase, que era un increíble experiencia que nunca olvidaré. Su maestro era preciosa y tuvimos el mejor tiempo!  Tener la oportunidad de para influir en los niños nunca deben tomarse a la ligera. Los niños son uno de los mayores dones de Dios!

We spent a few days near the town Colon ministering
to the people there. Or rather, they ministering to us!
 In this picture I'm with one of my friends
 trying fruit mate for the first time. I love it!
Pasamos unos días cerca de la ciudad de Colón, el ministerio a la gente allí. O más bien, que el ministerio a nosotros!  En esta foto estoy con uno de mis amigos  tratando compañero fruta por primera vez. ¡Me encanta!

Triplets!! :)

When we got home to Buenos Aires, one of the things
we did was to go to a little Barrio and sort through
clothes to be donated to those who lived there.
(the girls did this while the boys laid down a foundation)
I tried on this ensemble..what do you think? ;)
Cuando llegamos a casa a Buenos Aires, una de las cosas que hicimos fue ir a un barrio poco y ordenar a través de la ropa para ser donados a los que vivían allí. (las chicas lo hizo, mientras que los chicos establecido una fundación) He intentado en este conjunto .. ¿qué te parece? ;)

While parents got clothes, we played with the children.
This was one of my favorite parts of the trip!  (second to my home stay and prison ministry)
The kids were so sweet...here we are teaching them "Ring around the Rosie"!
Mientras que los padres tiene la ropa, jugamos con los niños. Esta fue una de mis partes favoritas del viaje! (segundo de mi estancia en casa y el ministerio de prisión) Los niños estaban tan dulce ... aquí les estamos enseñando "Ring Around the Rosie"!

I tried to fit as many as I could into my lap...
I'm pretty sure we are laughing at my Spanish here!
Me trató de encajar tantos como pude en mi regazo ... Estoy bastante seguro de que se están riendo de mi español aquí!

These sweet girls made my heart smile!
 The love they had for each of us upon
meeting us was endearing.
The one on the left went around with her arms around my legs
telling everyone that we were amigos!
Estas chicas dulces hizo que mi corazón sonría!  El amor que se tenían para cada uno de nosotros cuando cumplir con nosotros fue entrañable. El de la izquierda dio la vuelta con los brazos alrededor de mis piernas diciendo a todos que éramos amigos!

This young mom and her sweet kiddos touched my heart.
 She has 5 kids and another on the way...each of
them was so sweet and my interactions with them were huge blessings.
Please pray for them all!
Esta joven madre y sus dulces kiddos tocó mi corazón.  Ella tiene 5 hijos y otro en camino ... cada uno de que era tan dulce y mis interacciones con ellos eran enormes bendiciones. Por favor, oren por todos ellos!

La Puerta Abierta is a precious church...
filled with precious people. I am so blessed
 to have met some of them! Here I am with my dear
friends Sol and Ana Clara, who I love like sisters!
La Puerta Abierta es una iglesia preciosa ... lleno de personas valiosas. Me siento muy bendecido  de haber conocido a algunos de ellos! Aquí estoy con mi querido Sol y amigos de Ana Clara, que me encanta como hermanas!

My precious host "brother", Renzo, and I. I cherished each moment I got to hold him!
Mi anfitrión preciosa "hermano", Renzo, y yo he apreciado cada momento llegué a tenerlo

I sang Cate's lullaby to him, saying "Goodnight, Renzo" instead of "Goodnight, Cate".
It made me smile to think that the same song I used to comfort my little sissy
for so many years I'm using again to comfort this sweet boy all the way around the world!
That is a memory I will cherish forever.
Canté arrullo Cate a él, diciendo: "Buenas noches, Renzo" en lugar de "Buenas noches, Cate". Se me hizo sonreír a pensar que la misma canción que solía consolar a mi pequeña mariquita durante tantos años que estoy usando de nuevo a consolar a este chico dulce, todo el camino alrededor del mundo! Es un recuerdo que se aman para siempre.

Family picture take one!
 Foto de familia tener uno!

Family picture take two!
Foto de familia toma dos!

Family picture take three!
 This family blessed me immensely and I cherished every moment with them.
 God had the perfect plan when He placed me in their family for those weeks, and I'm so
blessed for it!
Foto de familia tener tres!  Esta familia me ha bendecido muchísimo y me apreciaba cada momento con ellos.  Dios tenía el plan perfecto cuando Él me colocó en su familia por esas semanas, y estoy muy bendecido por él!     Los amo tanto.

I LOVE this picture!!
Me encanta esta foto!

So many of my dear ones all in one picture...makes me smile!
Mom and they boys' host family was also precious...
I loved getting to meet them!
Así que muchos de mis seres queridos en un solo cuadro ... me hace sonreír! Mamá de la familia los niños y los de acogida fue también preciosa ... Me encantaba llegar a su encuentro!

We spent our final day shopping in La Boca...
the day was a sad one...but the area very colorful!
Pasamos nuestro último día de compras en La Boca ... el día fue triste ... pero la zona muy colorido!

Sweet Debora and I! She was such a blessing...
I'm sad I only got to spend a little time with her,
but look forward to spending more time with her when I go back! :)
Dulce Débora y yo! Ella fue una bendición ... Estoy triste, sólo tengo que pasar un poco de tiempo con ella, pero esperamos poder pasar más tiempo con ella cuando vuelva! :)

Entering my mission zone...

 Dear Readers,
  Argentina has never been on the list of places where I wanted to go. Honestly, it hasn't. I have dreams of going to Uganda to visit our sponsored child, Moris, and am hopeful that one day I can go to China-- either to get my own child or to go serve children in orphanages. As I blog for Reece's Rainbow I have fallen in love with children from Russia, Bulgaria, Ukraine. I have cried over the conditions these sweet ones live in, and have daydreamed of one day going to one of those orphanages and living there..feeding mouths, kissing foreheads, wiping little chins...and most of all showing God's LOVE to these children who are dying with no love at all.  Watch this video and your heart, too, will break for these children who lay, starving, cold, and desperate for love all day long. My Marcia is in a mental institution, losing hope, as I type...
    I'm getting off track here. :) (You see what I mean? I'm passionate about missions...and have several places I would love to go!) But God hasn't opened the doors to any of those places (yet!). He HAS however, opened the door to a place I would never have imagined myself going to. He has paved a way for me, my brothers, and Mom to go on a mission trip through our high school ministry- something I not only thought was impossible for all three of us, and also something I, quite frankly, wasn't comfortable doing. We are going to Argentina in 3 days, dear ones.... Three days!!!!!!
  
    I think I have gone through this whole process in a kind of daze...attending meetings and learning about the culture, furiously practicing Espanol, feeling extremely blessed by the outpouring of love so many dear ones have sent us in the form of prayers, phone calls, emails, and donations that have brought us to where we are. Sweet family and friends, not only did your donations provide us with enough money for my family to go to Argentina, it also provided us with enough money for two other people to go, plus a few 'bonus' checks we received this week that will cover some of our ministry costs. How amazing is that? God is big, and He could not have shown me any clearer that it IS His will for us to go on this trip.
 
  argentina. three days. argentina. argentina. i will be in argentina in three days. argentina argentina argentina!
 
  I can't believe it, really, I just can't! I'm scared and excited and nervous and surprised and blessed and trembling.  Oh, readers, even though Argentina was never on my list of places to go, at this moment I'm feeling so very blessed that I get to go! I have a feeling it will be on my top favorite memories list for the rest of my life. I have a feeling God is going to do great things in this country, and I have a feeling that I am going to be grown so much through this experience it's going to make me cry and God laugh!
haha
 
  Just the fact that I'm going to be spending a week in a stranger's (who doesn't speak English!) home a country away from half of my family and a street or block or house away from my other half of my family is a scary thought. I don't know how I'm going to handle it...I'm the girl who panicked after a weekend at camp! I don't do well away from my family, not well at all. The fact that we have never been to Argentina and have no idea how wheelchair accessible it is is a scary thought. The thought that my mom and brothers may be in an entirely UNaccessible home and I'm not there to help them frightens me. The fact that I may have to share my testimony (which as of right now seems to be nonexistent as far as anyone but me is concerned...I can't get it out of my mouth to save my life) frightens me hugely. And the fact that my Dad and little sissy aren't going makes me nervous.



   This trip is going to be different than any trip I have ever been on before.. I am going to have to cling to God for dear life!
   
I am really looking forward to drawing near to God this trip. I am also afraid of the circumstances that will draw me near to Him, but overall I am excited.
  I used to look at mission trips as things that you go on for God to use you to grow/bless others. But now I am realizing that He also uses them to grow and bless you!
 
  Please pray for our entire team as we leave for Argentina this Wednesday. We leave around noon. Please pray for all of the kids in our group, that as they leave their families and the familiarity of AZ behind that they will cling more and more to God, and build supporting relationships with each other. Please pray that no petty riffs will come between us, that we will all come together and love each other fully. Please pray for safe travels, and that we will stay healthy as we leave AZ's sunshine to Argentina's winter chill. Please pray also for God to make a path for Benjamin's wheelchair in Argentina. Please pray for little Cate and Dad and Uncle Lenny at home, that they will be okay without us. Please also pray for me as I am staying in a different house from Mom, Benjamin, and Mason and am nervous about that. Please pray for the people of Argentina to feel God's love through us, and for His Will to be done. Please also pray for Scottsdale Bible's other mission teams that will be going out while we are in Argentina.

  Thank you, my readers, for praying with us and for supporting us as we embark on this new journey. My mom over at theblessingcounter.blogspot.com will be blogging while we are on our trip, and I will be back with pictures galore!
  Much love and God bless,
 Claire

Remember Natalee

Dear Readers,
I'm participating in a link up with a fellow Reece's Rainbow Prayer Warrior, Renee. My post today will be how I invision Natalee, the child I will be writing about, in the future. So, come with me and imagine this sweet girl in 5 years, home with her forever family...

Natalee squeals with delight as a friend spins her wheelchair around one last time. As the music fades out, she feels her wheels begin to slowly come to a halt. Her heart slows and she just sits there smiling, unable to contain the joy of her moment! You see, Natalee has just finished her first ballet production. They performed "Cinderella", and she was one of the dancers at the ball- and also a little mouse! Natalee may not have been able to say how she was feeling, but everyone around her knew how much she loved them--and ballet! She loved to don her pink tutu (even though the tights were difficult) and to grace her orthotics with dainty ballet slippers.
But even though all that was wonderful, her favorite part was the music. She would sway and gracefully swing her arms to the music whenever it played. She absolutely loved music. Her mom thought music was the best therapy for her, and played it constantly.
They giggled at "Silly Songs with Larry the cucumber" together, and her mom spun her around to Tchaikovsky's famous Nutcracker tunes. Her mommy heart ached for those years when Natalee lay alone in the orphanage with no music or loving care.

As Natalee's friend, Sasha, skipped down the stage in time with Natalee's speeding wheels, Natalee heard her parents gasp. She was afraid, for a moment, that something was wrong. Her parents were so precious to her...she hated for them to be sad. Her fears were soon put to rest, however, when she felt herself being enveloped in a huge hug from Mom, who was crying and saying "You were amazing! Just beautiful." Next she was crushed in her dad and brothers' grasps, relishing the fact that she was loved.

Natalee had spent 5 long years in an orphanage..but now she was home.


Oh, how I long to take Natalee's hands and help her dance, twirl, and spin! I pray that she finds a forever family who will help her soar to new heights.

But as cheerful as this story is, for Natalee there currently is no Mommy to love her or ballet productions to take part in. Right now Natalee waits.

Step with me into a gray room, a few years from now. I'm going to introduce you to Natalee, and what her future looks like today. Yes, that is her, the pale, thin child lying in bed with haunting eyes and almost no hair.
She is 13 years old...yet the size of a 6 year old. She wishes she could reach out to you...please help her!
She doesn't know a loving hand. She is neglected because there are simply too many kids who need care- no time to pamper any of them. And by pamper I don't mean long bubble baths. I mean frequent diaper changes. Natalee hasn't had a diaper change since yesterday morning. She shivers as she lays in wet, sticky sheets. Her nose is runny, her feet are cold, her bottom is sore. Her stomach feels the aches of hunger and malnutrition. Sweet Natalee has no one to hold her, or sing her to sleep. She doesn't cry, because no one would hear, any way. She just lays there. And she waits.

Please help change Natalee's future...please pray that this precious daughter of the King will not have to endure any of this horrific nightmare.
And if you are her Mommy or Daddy...please come bring your baby girl home.

Your Blogger,
Claire

Benjamin, Mason, and me!

 

Dear Readers,
 
   I love celebrating birthdays! Our birthday is next Wednesday. However,   I just got the sweetest birthday present and wanted to blog about it! :)
  My sweet NICU nurse and her family came to visit these past two days! It was such a gift.

  Just to backtrack, Benjamin, Mason, and I were born at 28 4/7 weeks...Benjamin weighed 2 lbs 15 oz, Mason weighed 2 lbs 5 oz, and I weighed 2 lbs 11 oz.  Hearing about my mom's pregnancy makes me feel so guilty--she did so much for us! Her story is amazing..hop on over to theblessingcounter.blogspot.com to hear it. : )  We appeared on the scene  April 18th, 1997.

  My mom, however, didn't get to see us right away. We were whisked away to the NICU, to doctors, medicine, and...sweet nurses! Laura Curatolo was my primary nurse. I don't remember my days in the NICU, but I have seen so many pictures...

From my mom's scrapbook :)

Nurse Laura put oxygen in my water so Mom could give me a bubble bath!



  Our family has remained in contact with Nurse Laura since our NICU stay (which means our birth!! So very cool.) , and it has truly beeen a gift. Nurse Laura and her husband, Mr.Jay, encourage me so much...they are such blessings! I can't even tell you how much I appreciate having a relationship with them through all these years..because I find it amazing and so special.  I loved getting to see them and meeting their dear children.

And today!

Before my baby dedication...

  We're now almost 15 years old... There are babies, I know, who were in the NICU just like we were  who didn't ever get to reach 15 years. So I have decided that I will never, ever get to a point where I will talk about my birthday as "I wish I wasn't another year older" or (as an adult) tell kids I won't tell them my age because it's rude.  I want to always be able to say "Wow, God, I can't believe You gave me the gift of LIFE. Thank you for letting me live to be ___ years old!" And I will always thank Him for the people who helped me get here.

  Your Blogger,
 Claire

 




 

Thank you!

Dear Readers,
   I need to say thank you. Thank you for reading my last post, which was not even written well, and sharing with everyone. Thank you for praying for Duncan. Thank you for posting my blog on Facebook. Thank you for believing that our Mighty God can do amazing miracles.  Because you know what? He did.
  Duncan has a family!! I can hardly believe it, but it's true--he has a forever family waiting to bring him home! Please continue praying for him as he waits, and please pray for God to continue providing- for Him to provide peace to the family as they wait, for Him to provide finances and resources for them, for Him to keep Duncan safe, and for the government to cooperate.  I know God has this all in His Hands, and I feel so at peace--so grateful, so content!  I don't think I have ever seen Him  answer a prayer so beautifully. Thank you all for praying that prayer!
    "And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests we have asked of Him." ~1 John 5:14
  This was all God. It was His Will for Duncan to get adopted. We played a miniscule part in all of this, but I will eternally be grateful for  taking part in God's amazing plan for this boy. I'll never forget how you all came together and supported him.  Words can't even describe how thankful I am!!
  
    I am also thankful for all of you for making  it possible for us to go to Argentina. As the trip draws near (only 70-something more days!) my worries are slowly melting away and my level of excitement is quickly mounting. (I never even thought that possible!) I am loving getting to know our team, they are all precious! And then there was the adventure of clothes shopping this weekend..and the hours of Spanish...and the amazing missions meeting...and the thank you card writing...I am reveling at it all! Thank you. Thank you.

  God is so good and my readers are so sweet! I love you all. Please be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. : ) Miracles will happen if you stay close to God!
  Much Love and God bless,
 Your Blogger

Please.

~Note~ If you are going to read this and then completely forget about this child I do not want you to read it. I only want those who are going to DO something to read this. Duncan doesn't need you to sit here and feel sorry for him- he needs you to DO something. So, if you are willing to get down on your knees, I beg you to read this. I beg you to remember him, and to mention him to your friends. Blog about him yourself, print out his picture to keep in your Bible, post about him on Facebook,- what ever you do is appreciated. So long as you do it. Thank you.

Dear Readers,

 

 I love children with special needs. I wish every single child knew how much they are loved. But the sad fact is--they don't. There are many children in the world who don't know they are loved, and it tears my heart to pieces. A lot of these children were given up for adoption because of their special need. There is nothing wrong with them, they are not defective, they are made exactly the way God wanted them to be. Yet some of them don't know that.  Duncan is one of them.

  

He actually worried someone who saw his picture would decide not to adopt him
because he was ugly. Break. My.Heart. (again!)

My brother Mason, and my shadow signing I love you to him. :)

Duncan is almost 16. Once he turns 16, he will be sent to a mental institution. A mental institution is a terrible place. For many, it is a death sentence.   I picked him to write about because he reminds me of Mason. Duncan has Cerebral Palsy and uses a walker to walk. He is very smart and compassionate. He does not deserve this life. He did not choose this life. And I am going to do everything in my power to make sure the rest of his life is different. I beg you to do the same.
Here is what the family who met Duncan said about him:

"Duncan very much wants a family. He is smart and works hard. He gets along well with others. Duncan struggles with facing the future here in his native country. He knows that unless a miracle happens and he gets adopted (or a family commits and gets USCIS approval) in the next few months, he is going to be sent to a mental institution, even though mentally, he has no issues. Duncan appears to have CP, and he is small for his age (about the size of a 13 year old). Duncan's medical information is en route from the orphanage now, but the family who met him and who he approached to ask for a family and the facilitator want to go ahead and get his information and picture out there.

Duncan uses a walker to walk and is independent in mobility. Duncan is a compassionate teen and one who says he "fears even to hope for a family, because he doesn't think anyone would want him because he isn't handsome". In fact, when it was time to pose for this picture, Duncan worried that someone would see it and then not want him. Duncan needs a family to show him God looks on the heart to see beauty (even though he's a quite handsome boy regardless)- and so do Christian families. Duncan's heart is big, and he is well-loved in this orphanage. Many worry for him if he doesn't get adopted before he turns 16 and it is too late."
 
  Wow. Are tears streaming down your face?? Duncan has so much to offer the world. Please help him.
 I realize there are lots of people hurting, and the orphan crisis might not be your "thing" you want to support. Trust me, I get that. But look at Duncan. How long does it take for you to post his picture to Facebook? To print out his picture? To pray for him?
 There are so many children in the world who don't know how much their Father loves them...I can't imagine a bigger blessing than showing them He does.
Your Blogger,
 Claire
  

My week and random thoughts from Claire

  Dear Readers,
  Just have to say...sometimes ( I mean a LOT of times!) I can't believe all the pain of the world, and it crushes my spirit. But then there are times like this week, when I can't help but jump for God's greatness! Times like when Mason goes to Special Ministries with me, and we get to worship with 17,000 other Christians, and --oh, yeah- you read that right! He went with me!!
 
  He has wanted to go because every night I come home with bunches of stories to tell, and he has been wanting to meet all these people who have become so dear to me. So...he went. And I feel so thankful that he did go. Of course I have many  reasons for this, but the main one is that now he gets it.  When I come home from Special Ministries, I feel like I want to laugh and cry at the same time. You see, these people make me laugh with their hilarious jokes, and I can't help but smile as I think of all the ladies who told me my brother was "pretty cute". I love going there and helping the other people at our table sign the songs so our Deaf friend can feel more involved. I love going there and meeting new people every week who love so much and seem to have enough hugs to go around four (or ten!) times. I love hearing everyone praise the Lord together, and I  love singing "Silent Night" in February because its one of the student's favorite songs.

  But it also makes me cry. Sometimes I just have to cry because I can't believe God has brought me here. I  can't believe He has let me use this beautiful language to bring His Word to someone else. Sometimes I just cry I feel so blessed my heart could burst.
 But   sometimes my heart bursts and a  torrent of tears comes out. Sometimes I look at this woman I'm interpreting for and realize "Oh.. she has no idea what I just said!"--because she doesn't know enough ASL to get by. Sometimes I'll feel so helpless and upset that she has no means of communication with those around her.
Sometimes I hear stories that break my heart.  Sometimes I watch a girl have a seizure.
 And  when those  things  happen,  I go home and write it all down in my prayer journal, praying for each of them. 
   And Mason got that. He started telling Mom that is was hard, but that he loved it. And, of course, I finished his sentence and said "You want to laugh and cry at the same time, right?" I feel so blessed to have these triplet brothers of mine who really do get it. And I'm blessed to have a place that contains so much joy as  Special Ministries! I'm learning so much and treasure each minute.

  This week we went to the Rock and Worship Road show. It wasn't nearly as fun as it could have been because my Dad wasn't there, but it was still pretty amazing. My favorite part was the crowd. 17,000 Christians worshipping the Lord together is a powerful thing! I palpably felt the Lord's presence.  Arms in the air, voices lifted, so and so band playing glorious music--I felt  that must be what Heaven is like! Although... when I first heard Lecrae, I didn't like him. But his love for God was so strong he ended up winning me over! I just hope I never have to interpret a rap concert. :O
   
    I read a few blog posts on a girl who shares my name. Only this girl has rhabdomyosarcoma, and has just been told there is nothing more they can do for her. It breaks my heart to hear the anger, fear, and  brokenness  in her mother's posts. The fact that she shares my name serves to remind me how easily she could have been me. And I hate how ugly, and scarred, and bruised our world is! But then I have an experience like last night, and I realize that no matter how many tears are shed, lives are taken, or babies abandoned, this world belongs to God. Satan is not going to win!
 So stay strong this week, friends, as you want to laugh and cry at this temporary home. Please remember that it is all in God's hands, and that He will have victory! One of the hardest things about advocating for  orphans is that I can't help but wonder "If God has a perfect plan for everyone, what is His plan for those who are stuck in an institution for their short life??" And although I still don't have an answer, I kow this- God is going to take those little ones into His arms once they are in Heaven. Even if their life was so short and so broken, He is going to make all of that disappear when they reach Heaven. I know He is, in the end, going to take the victory as He holds His precious child! And the Marcia's of the world will realize, once and for all, that they are loved. I find peace in the fact that even in the most hopeless situations, God will win!

Much love,
 Your Blogger Claire

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ³³ Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:
   “For your sake we face death all day long;
   we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
 ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
~Romans 8:31-39 (taken from Biblegateway.com)

I love my Readers! : )

 

Reece's Rainbow and you

Dear Readers,
I hope all of you have been having a nice February! We are enjoying the nice weather as much as we can-- taking bike rides, roasting marshmellows--it has been so much fun! I love my family and all the fun things we get to do together.

February is here, and even though I am still shocked by its arrival, it is time for me to write my 'child of the month' blog post! I have some good news... Marcia now has $ 907.50 towards her adoption! This means that the family who adopts her will have that much less to pay to bring this precious girl home!

Marcia needs a Mommy and Daddy!

Please, please help me find her a forever family! She is four years old and will be sent to an institution when she's five. Once there, her chances of ever getting out are dim, and she will be bedridden for the rest of her short life. She is a cuddle bug and is not thriving in the orphanage- she really needs a family to cuddle with. So if you are her mommy or daddy please come quickly and rescue this sweet girl! Also, for those of you who do not feel called to bring this sweetie to your home, please lift her up to her Heavenly Father! I pray that she knows He has not forsaken her. Even if she is sent to the institution, she has a Heavenly Daddy who loves her. But my goal is for her to SEE that love in the form of an earthly mommy and daddy!

Now, I know I said I would be blogging about different orphans each month. But I just can't get Marcia off my heart! So, until she goes home, I will continue advocating for her and beg you to do the same. Please share her story with everyone you know, mention her on your blog, Facebook, Twitter- anything! Please pray for her and the family that I know God has ordained for her.

This is my orphan of the month blog post. Here is the definition (from Webster)of the word orphan; "one deprived of some protection or advantage". It also says abandoned means " forsaken or deserted" Marcia is both.

What is the Bible's definition of an orphan? You. "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. " Romans 8:14-16
We were adopted into God's family. We, the Gentiles, were not His Chosen People. He took us in, adopted us, if you will. So, then- if we ourselves are orphans, how could we NOT have compassion for others who are? Marcia is one of thousands. I am one of thousands. You are one of thousands. We all are children of the King. So, please- show Marcia and the other orphans of the world His love for them.

Your Blogger,
Claire


"He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them." ~ Mark 10:14-16

Momentary Troubles

Dear Readers,
 I miss you! I am just so busy with school right now, I don't have time for a real post. But I NEEDED to encourage all of my dear ones this morning, so thought I would post a devotional from Joni Eareckson Tada.  It really touched my heart, and I hope it gives you perspective on whatever is going on in your life right now!  Much Love,
 Your Blogger

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal weight of glory that far outweighs them all. --II Corinthians 4:17

When Vicky's husband abandoned her and her two-year-old son, she needed to find work. On one fateful day of job hunting, she was brutally attacked-and shot through the neck-by a man pretending to hire her. Later that day, lying in an emergency room, she knew she would live... but as a quadriplegic in a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

In the years that followed, Vicky's anguish and bitterness finally began to melt under her friends' prayers, warming to the Word of God and its promises. "But sometimes I wonder," she once told me, "about the fairness of it all." I explained to her that it took the most unfair act in history, the execution of Jesus, to satisfy divine justice in a world full of injustice. That event made it possible for the least deserving of all-a convicted thief on a cross next to his-to gain an eternity of undeserved happiness. One day the scales of justice will not only balance, but they will be weighted in our favor, all for our good and God's glory.

Vicky now understands that, even in her wheelchair, she is no better than that thief on the cross. By all that's "fair," she knows she should be on her way to hell, and that there was nothing "fair" about Christ paying the penalty for her sins. She doesn't deserve such mercy. And neither do we.

This present life of ours is infinitely shorter than the blink of an eye compared with the eternal beauty, purpose, and joy we will experience in the Father's house. Let your thoughts linger on heaven for awhile, and then give thanks to the One who made it possible-by the great injustice of dying on a cross to pay the penalty for our sins.

Lord Jesus, I praise you for enduring the humiliation, the injustice, and the unspeakable agony of your crucifixion to win an eternity of light and hope for me.

Dear Readers,

 






































My Mom introduced me to this song "It is Well"... and then shared the story behind it.  This man had lost basically everything. And yet still, he could sing ' it is well with my soul'. What a beautiful reminder! My prayer is that whatever you're going through- whether cause for joy, cause for fear, or cause for grief, it will be well with your soul! I know this is easier said than done, but it is not impossible. Why?
 "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
 
  Have a wonderful weekend, dear Readers! And know that God knows everything you're going through.
 Your Blogger,
 Claire

by the way- the image is from the  Life.Rearranged blog!

Blessings in Special Ministries

 My dear Readers,
  I have been so excited to write this post!
One of my favorite parts of blogging is that when I feel sad that such a good thing is over-vacation, volunteering, Christmas, etc.- I can always relive it on here when I write it all down! That may sound goofy, but it is fun! My other favorite part of blogging is the off chance that someone reading this might be encouraged. Or feel pressed to adopt one of the precious orphans I feature. Or, just- enjoy the life stories I so love to share!
 
  So. I can't wait to share my first visit to Scottsdale Bible's Special Ministries' Bible study with you!
First of all...it was amazing!!! It was kind of like meeting Bridget, in my opinion. (here's a link to that blog post if you're new here! :) ) I think they're similar because  in both of these encounters, I felt like God was so clearly there. This Thursday I felt so sure that God has planned for me to be there it was just exhilerating!
   For those of you in AZ, you HAVE to visit this Bible study. (Thursday nights, at Scottsdale Bible Church, 6:30-8:00) It is the most amazing thing. All the people there are just precious! They had just met me, and yet several of them mentioned me in their prayer requests.
  I wasn't even there but a few seconds when a girl came up to me and started talking to me all about sign language, and how she would love to hang out with me, and how she was so glad I was there. Then later, as I was interpreting she just came up and started signing everything I signed! I don't think I have ever made a friend that fast in my life! She was so sweet. But they were all sweet. They all were so sweet to me from the minute I walked in the door- I felt so loved!
 And as I was detailing all of this to my mom afterwards, she told me that that was the beauty. That is the beauty in Down Sydrome and some of the other challenges these people faced. They are so pure and loving. I wish all of us could be as kind as that!
   I loved interpreting. Love love loved it! It's the best feeling in the world to know that you are making God's word more accessible to someone. And I love it. But the hardest part about it was the prayer requests at the end. Each person told their table leader their prayer request, and then the table leader would pray for each of the people and each of their requests. There were about 7 tables....and each person had about a dozen prayer requests! Fingerspelling all those names and trying to make sure my friend understood what I was saying was quite a task! And I'm so glad that I got the oppurtunity to do it. Because listening to each of the people at my table's prayer requests was the best thing in the world! Caregivers, parents, friends, family, pets, others at the table, ME,- they each had so many people who they loved, and who they wanted to pray for. I think one of my favorite things I got to relay to my friend was when I got to tell her that one of the people at our table had requested to pray for her. By this time she was watching my signs more attentively than when we started,and I knew she got what I was saying when she smiled.
  
  These people at Special Ministries are living like Jesus. And it was such a blessing to be able to spend time with them. I can't wait to go back next week!
 
    I just feel so amazingly blessed that God has allowed this.
   And moments like Thursday night are such beautiful reminders to me that I am exactly where God needs me. Some days I wish with all my heart that we could adopt a dozen little children with special needs. And some days (like when Mason was recovering from surgery) I wish we didn't have to go through surgeries or therapies at all. But if we adopted a bunch of precious children, I couldn't have volunteered with Special Ministries. And if we didn't have to go through surgeries or any of the other things Cerebral Palsy comes with, I wouldn't be the same person I am today. We wouldn't be the same family,either.
 And right now I really am so glad that we are exactly where God needs us! Because in His plan is an amazing place to be.
 Your Blogger who probably just shared way more information than you wanted,
 Claire
 
 By the way- here is a link to SBC's Special Ministries site. I encourage you to contact Amy Daniels if you want to get involved! She's amazing!

Dear Readers
  Have you ever felt like you just wanted to escape to a deserted island with your closest dear ones? Although no one ever really means this (how would you get healthcare, food, evangelical oppurtunites, etc??) I know sometimes my family jokes about it. When the weight of the world come crashing down full force, it can be easy to want to escape to your own tiny nook free from troubles!


   "For the Lamb at the center of the throne
            will be their shepherd;
      He will lead them to springs of living water.
   And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." ~Revelation 7:17

Doesn't that sound just like your island? Except even better.  Some days God gives us little glimpses into what it will be like, and I think Christmas generally does! The time to be goofy with your family is always  much appreciated in my house.

I tell Cate I want pictures..and this is what she does! haha love that girl

She does this,too...





Christmas baking makes for some goofy pictures,too!





And then there's the silliness that comes in a box full of gingerbread!

I thought you might like to see the final project just for fun...

This one's me being goofy...giving aerial photography a spin!
I thought this one turned out really pretty,though

Another birds eye view! Haha this one looks REALLY goofy!





And the triplets who wrapped all their gifts up in ridiculous boxes!

I looked forward to the sugar cookie decorating ALL DECEMBER. We finally did it on Christmas eve!

EVeryone pitched in--this is a very serious project, people! Haha





I hope everyone had a smiling-ful Christmas! And I also hope it provided a much needed breather from everything going on. I always feel like the world rushes,rushes,rushes, and while Christmas certainly isn't free from that, it does allow you to take a deep,collective breath and just 'be'.
  But my prayer is that this week, as everyone adjusts to going back to school,work, etc, it will be joyful! My mom always says joy is a choice and it is definitely a choice I'm working to make as we go back to school tomorrow.
  God has been amazing with already providing me an oppurtunity of joy. I started volunteering at our church's Special Needs Ministries this past weekend, and it was beyond amazing. I loved every minute and fell in love with the kids and the ministry. But not only that, I now get to interpret their Bible Study for a Deaf woman who attends. Those of you who know me know that this is a dream come true! I am thrilled and CAN'T WAIT for my first Bible Study this thursday. I will be blogging about it, I promise! Prayers would be appreciated. :)
  Also, I wanted to give a shout out to anyone reading this. I have fallen in love with Marcia (the orphan mentioned in my previous post) and feel desperate to get her out of the orphanage. I have emailed Jeanette and the blog "Life Rearranged" to request that she advocates for Marcia on her blog. If you or anyone you know would like to help this dear child find a home by featuring her on your blog, leave a comment! I would love that more than anything. You can also visit  this link for all the information you need on her. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

 Have a joy filled week, my friends. I am forever thankful for those who read my thoughts on here!
Your thankful blogger,
 Claire