“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” -James 1:27 NKJV
Quite a few years ago, somehow, I became aware that there are orphans worldwide that are without a family simply because they have disabilities - physical, developmental, and/or intellectual. In many countries, sadly even here in America, babies with disabilities are valued less. In some Eastern European countries for example, it is common for children with disabilities to be placed in orphanages, then if they are not adopted, they get placed in adult institutions where they pass away at a young age due to lack of care. Some countries have foster families in addition to orphanages, but these families may be older or not intending to adopt. So, when the child becomes an adult, they are left without a family and do not have as many opportunities and familial love compared to if they had been adopted. I say this, because some people may think if they are in a foster family why adopt them and tear them away from a family they are bonded to?
I feel strongly that adoption should be a Christian duty, it restores and redeems, just like God the Father does when He adopts us into His family through His Son Jesus. My prayer is that I get to adopt a child one day. I specifically hope to adopt a child who has Down Syndrome or who is deaf/HH. But, I’m waiting until I get married, because I believe that it would be best for my children to have a mom and dad, being a single mom would be super hard, and going through the adoption process itself alone would be very difficult!
This Christmas season, I’m involved with Reece’s Rainbow’s campaign for the third time! Their campaign aims to raise $1,000 more for an orphan’s adoption grant. International adoptions are SO expensive!! I really like that this organization helps support families by being advocates in this way. The people who choose a child to advocate for are called the Miracle of Christmas Adoption Campaign Warriors, or simply “MACC Warriors.” The first year I was a MACC Warrior to sweet-looking girl with Down Syndrome from China named ‘Bree’1. I later found out she got adopted, so exciting!! Two years ago, I was a MACC Warrior for ‘Leon’2 - a sweet, happy looking boy from South America. He is 10 now, and I seriously can’t believe he hasn’t been adopted yet! I would’ve picked him again this year, but he is already eligible for a $15,000 older-child grant, so I couldn’t pick him.
This year I am the MACC Warrior for a 6-year-old girl from the same country as ‘Leon,’ named ‘Rosita,’3 whose primary diagnoses are cerebral palsy, deaf/HH, and epilepsy. If you click on her link below, there are videos you can watch, she looks so precious!!
Right now, her grant is at $253, so I have a goal of $747 left to raise, and my other goal is to share about her because the more people who see her, the better chance she has at being adopted and having a family of her own!
Here’s how you can get involved! I am giving away a $25 gift card to ThriftBooks! For every $5 you donate to Rosita’s grant (Rosita – Reece's Rainbow), or every time you share her link (or this blog post), you get placed in a drawing for the gift card! If you decide to donate or share you MUST send me a screenshot of your donation and/or share so I know for sure how many times to enter you into the drawing! Send me a screenshot to my email, savedbygrace28@startmail.com and let me know your best contact info in case you win.
The giveaway starts now, and the winner will be drawn a week from now on December 29, 2024!
Thank you so much for being a part of helping there be one less orphan in the world!! And a special thank you to everyone who has donated so far!!
Visit the Miracle of Adoption Christmas Campaign!4
BREE for the Duvall family — IN – Reece's Rainbow
Leon – Reece's Rainbow
Rosita – Reece's Rainbow
MACC 2024 – Reece's Rainbow