Christmas Orphan

It was Christmas and I wanted more than anything to adopt this little boy I met at an orphanage in South Korea. 

When I first met him, it was as if I knew immediately there was something special about him. He stole my heart because he was so precious and God stirred something in me to recognize something in his spirit- He is one of God's children, present or future, it doesn't matter, He is God's. And he needs to be loved! We only got to spend a short time with the children, passing out gifts and taking pictures, as we were visiting multiple orphanages that day. But there was just something about this little boy, 8 years old, that really made me ache for him to have a family to be there for him in the ways he needed. 

The next day, I went back with my friends to give him gloves and a hat that I had bought for him to keep him warm in the winter. He may have thanked me; it didn't really matter at the time, but I could tell he was so excited to get the gift, it made him light up!

 In the gift, he may have seen acceptance or love or someone who believed in him. It may have just been cool to get an extra Christmas gift to show off to his friends! But I held onto the memory of his sweet spirit and I still pray for him when I think of him. His mom is still in the picture, from what I had heard when I had visited the next day after our Christmas visit. But she is unable to take care of him. I would have loved to adopt him if I were able. But I know that through my prayers, I can make a difference in his life. Through God working in his life, he will see that people believe in him. That people care about him and love him. He will feel God's arms around him. He will stand strong and tall one day as a man of God. 

Please say a pray for him today as Christmas is nearing again, 3 years later. Pray that God strengthens him and warms his heart and provides for all his needs, that he recognizes God's love for him and comes to know him. That God raises up a family to be there for him and love him always. 

God promises us, "I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you." John 14:18

This promise can apply to you as well. If you ever felt abandoned, remember that God will never leave you, He will come to you and rescue you and comfort you! For all the ways people fail us or fall short or disappoint or hurt, there is a reason. People were not made to fully meet all our needs! We cannot always love each other perfectly. Only with God is there perfect love. Still, God calls us to love others even in the pain, even when they disappoint us. Even when we fail. 

God desires you and loves you just as if you were an orphan who needed someone to be there for them! His heart melts for orphans and praying for them can help us to draw nearer to God as we learn more about His heart for His people. And His heart for us. God loves you more than you could imagine. Stop. For a moment. And think about it. God promises He will never let you go. Even if you run away uninterested or deny Him. His heart breaks, but He loves you and our God is a God who pursues and fights for the ones He loves, which is really an amazing thing that I am super thankful for!

 When has God come through for you and rescued you in a powerful or surprising way? Please comment below. I would love to hear your stories about orphans or anything related! 

 (These pictures are of other precious children we visited. I did not get a copy of the picture with the little boy I so wanted to adopt! However, the little one not pictured could also be "your" little one that you spiritually adopt and commit to pray for- check out this awesome site that allows you the privilege of praying for an orphan- one who is on God's heart! Or pray for these cherished children waiting to be adopted today. It's as easy as asking God if He would have you pray for a certain child and printing out their picture to share with your family and friends to pray for!) 

Deut. 31:6 I thought all three of these versions spoke out strong truths! What parts of these verses- what words stand out to you or touch you the most?

New International Version
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
New Living Translation
So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you."
English Standard Version
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

I am going on The World Race! I will be joining a team through Adventures in Missions, going to 11 countries in 11 months to share God's love with the least of these: orphans, widows, the poor, and human trafficking victims.  Learn more on my World Race blog here.

Happy Birthday! Compassion Kids Spolight: Birthdays around the World!

Please pray for Niyotwizera- I had to stop for a moment to pray for this young and precious son of God who looks so scared and downtrodden from life- he is really one of the littlest ones or least of these that we are called to love and protect! Niyotwizera is from Rwanda and just turned 6 today. He also lives in an area affected by AIDS, which puts him even more at risk and in need of your support today.

Watch this powerful video of a music artist's visit to the country and what we can do to help! 

Please PRAY that God rushes in to pick up this little one and embrace him with His love and that he does powerful things with his life. My heart hurts for him- please consider sponsoring him- and please pray about it first! It is crucial to consider the benefits of long term sponsorship and to really be sure you can make a solid and long term commitment to this precious child who desperately needs stable love and consistency in his life.

Pray for Niyotwizera that he gets a loving sponsor soon and pray for other boys like him in Rwanda who also need a sponsor! 

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Pray for Uwamahoro who is only 5 years old and lives in the country of Rwanda.

Her birthday is August 8th. Please show your love and support for the littlest of these today!

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Antora needs your prayer today- she turned 6 today in Bangladesh and needs prayer, love and support!*

*Praise God that He has provided for her!

Young girls like her continue (unsuppored, no life line) to live in a high risk area for exploitation and abuse, which means that she is at risk of being sold into sexual slavery or taken advantage of. Having a Compassion sponsor would protect girls like her from this and allow a wall of defense to be put around her, as she would then have the means and support necessary to be protected against this.

She is waiting and hoping for someone like YOU to step up to defend her and show her she is worthy and loved! She is a precious child of God, please pray that God comes quickly to rescue and defend her and please consider sponsoring a girl like her if you feel led to give your love and support!

Pray for other girls like her in Bangladesh also waiting for a sponsor like you! 

There are also many girls similar to her living in a high risk area in India, that also face the horrifying reality of being sold into sexual slavery- please pray for these girls today!

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Meet Abdurkerim who just turned 11 today and lives in Ethiopia. He enjoys soccer and group games.

Please pray that he comes to know Christ and that God works in his life in a big way! Abdurkerim has been patiently waiting for a sponsor for a long time- for 225 days!

 Please give him a birthday present he will not soon forget! End his wait today! 

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Praise that Kamilajini has gotten a sponsor! She just turned 8 and lives in Sri Lanka. Pray she continues to get support and encouragement to survive and thrive in the dangerous environment she lives in!

Pray that she comes to know Christ and is surrounded by God's love and presence!

Pray for another girl like her in Sri Lanka who needs your prayers and love today!

Pray for a girl who has been waiting a long time for a sponsor in Bolivia!

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Mebrat's birthday is today! She is wearing a lovely pink dress, but is lacking much of the love and support she needs today to reach her full potential in Christ.

She is 6 years old today and from Ethiopia, where she lives in an area affected by AIDS.Though she lives a world away from many of us, she is still a child with many similarities to other children her age.  She likes to play with dolls and is is kindergarten.

Please pray for her that God shows her His amazing love. Her eyes speak the sadness that she has experienced.

Please show your love today and pray for a sponsor for her that will support her and provide what she needs most of all for her birthday- your love, Jesus.

Pray for Mebrat today! 

I challenge you to pray for the other girls in Ethiopia who, like Mebrat, desperately are waiting and hoping for YOU to lift them up in prayer to our Father!

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Suporn is now 11 years old, a young girl  from Thailand. Her bright smiles and cheerful outlook show that with support, she will blossom and grow into a strong and beautiful young woman in the future.

Please pray for the other girls like her, also in Thailand who need a sponsor just like Suporn!

There are 4 children in her family. She enjoys singing, playing with dolls and playing house.She helps her family with gathering firewood, washing clothes and cleaning.Her parents, like many other adults in the area, are sometimes employed as farmers and make about the same as $53 US dollars a month.

Please continue to  pray for Suporn that God provides her a new sponsor with all she needs to be a long term and loving sponsor. Pray that those around her, along with her sponsor, will be a stable source of love and God's light in her life.

 

Pray that these birthday children (as well as many others around the world!) will see Christ's love today and that He provides for them in His perfect way. 

See which kids living in poverty share your birthday with the convenient search tool here!

Pray for these children and the other children in Thailand living in poverty who are patiently waiting for a loving sponsor like you to reach out and change their lives!

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*Praise God that Imanashimwe has received a sponsor! 

Please say a prayer for her! And please pray for these other girls who have also been waiting for a sponsor in Rwanda!

Imanashimwe makes her home with her stepfather and her mother. Carrying water, washing clothes and helping in the kitchen are her household duties. Her stepfather is sometimes employed as a farmer and her mother is sometimes employed as a farmer. There are 5 children in the family.

For fun, Imanashimwe enjoys walking, playing ball games and running. She attends church activities regularly and is in high school where her performance is average.

Your love and support will help Imanashimwe to receive the assistance she needs to develop her potential. She also lives in an AIDS affected area.  Please pray for her protection and health and for her to come to know Christ! Pray for the other girls in Rwanda who have been waiting for a sponsor too! Pray for girls who have a birthday today to get a great gift of love on their special day!

Please also pray for the all of the children in Rwanda who have been waiting for a sponsor to guide them and protect them and show them light which is hard to see in the dark world where they live! Give them hope and light today!  

Watch this video of Rebecca St. James' visit to Rwanda that shares a powerful message and how we can help!

Pray for the young girls in Rwanda who have been waiting a long time for a sponsor like you to show them support- act in love today! 

Pray for these young ladies as well- who are growing into beautiful woman but who need your support today to thrive in love and reach their dreams. 

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 Pray for all of these young people and children in Christ- that He won't give up on seeking them and that He will come quickly to rescue them and show them His amazing love!

I challenge you to pray for these kids and to consider finding a child to sponsor that you feel is just right for you to love and support as God leads you! 

How did you choose your child to sponsor? Do you think birthdays are a good way to choose a child- why or why not? 

 Do you have a sponsored child's birthday coming up? 

I want to hear from YOU! What do you want to read and learn about and what do you want to hear more about?

Have you considered sponsoring a child or do you have a sponsored child that you chose for their birthday or special day? Or what other ways have you chosen the child you sponsor? Or are you still considering your decision?

  Do you feel drawn to a certain country or group of children? I challenge you to search for the child that you feel is right for you to sponsor and support! You can search by country, age, special needs, children at high risk of exploitation and abuse, or children living in an AIDS affected area. This is a great way to reach out and touch a life- for eternity!

Support a child affected by the AIDS endemic 

I understand that not everyone is able to make this financial commitment of $38 a month, but please pray for these kids- if everyone committed to prayer for these children, more of them would find a loving sponsor!  Search here for a child who needs support and commit to pray for them!

Please pray for these precious children with special needs- physical or mental- that desperately and vitally need support and love from you today!

Have you decided to sponsor a child? Please share with me- I would love to hear this great news and pray for you and your child! Send me an email at jsilverman286 at gmail dot com.