Kathleen's Family's Blog

The Kimble's, Kathleen's family, got their blog up and running!


I still haven't gotten over my excitement that she has been chosen, she is loved, and she will, Lord willing, be rescued this year!

Answered Prayers

Guess what???

A certain little girl has a family that wants to adopt her!!

I am so happy that someone looked into that sweet little face and saw the treasure that she is.

I am praying that all of the details will be worked out, and that the Lord will bring it about. Hopefully they will be able to officially commit soon, and little Kathleen won't have to wait much longer.

UPDATE:  Kathleen is on My Family Found Me!!! I am so thankful that she has been found and that she is loved already!

I will go before you and will level the mountains;
I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.
 I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places,
so that you may know that I am the LORD,

the God of Israel, who summons you by name. 

Isaiah 45:2-3

Supporting The Bible Orphan Ministry

I don’t know a lot about how ministries raise support.  Obviously churches pass the offering plate at their services, and I know that many missionaries visit churches to present their work. By doing so, churches often take an offering for the missionaries and some commit to ongoing support.

The way I see it, one of the greatest strengths of the Bible Orphan Ministry team is that they are Ukrainian. They minister to people of their own language and culture. There is a huge advantage in being able to communicate the gospel because they know how best to say things.

Some of the team members also know what it is like to be left in an orphanage, or to have some of the difficulties that the children they minister to experience. That also makes it possible for them to relate to the children and empathize with them like few other people could. They can say, “I’ve been there, I know what it’s like.” And then they can share about Jesus and what He has done in their lives, leaving Hope with children who before had none.

They also have an ongoing ministry to the same orphanages, which means they are able to build relationships and nurture the small seeds that are planted. They are not just doing short-term missions which provide a need, and then are never seen again. They are able to learn the names of the children, get to know them…truly love the children and give the children someone to look forward to and love in return. How precious is that?

On the flip side, one of the difficulties for the Bible Orphan Ministry is that they’re Ukrainian. They cannot just hop on a plane and come and share their work and their needs with the churches. Although, Alla does an excellent job on their blog sharing about the work they do.

The economic situation in their country makes it hard to raise support there. And the people they minister to can’t come to church and put something in the offering plate. So what is the answer?

I am a believer in THE Church. The Body of Christ, God’s family…made up of brothers and sister of the same Father. As The Church, I believe that we are to share what we have and help our brothers and sisters, no matter where they are. I Corinthians 12:16 tells us that if one part of the body suffers...all suffer.

The Bible Orphan Ministry sees the needs around them every day. They want to help. They share what they have. They pray and ask for the Lord’s provision for the needs.

Many of us already have a heart for the orphans of Eastern Europe. We have learned of the needs, and many of us are able to help. Even if we cannot travel and help the children ourselves, we can still be an answer to prayers. The Lord can use us to provide for the needs of these children by sending a donation to those who will use it right away to meet those needs.

Even the smallest gifts will be put to good use and will make a big difference. Please consider giving what you can to help.

 I love this picture. It's a picture of the children running to meet them. The children were waiting because they knew people who cared about them were coming to visit and spend time with them, to teach them a lesson from the Bible, and play with them. You can read more about it in this post from Bible Oprhan Ministry blog

iPad 2 & More Giveaway!!

Please check out  Five and Two Fish to see the awesome giveaway they are doing to raise funds for two great causes.

This is Teri Lynn. A sweet little one listed over at Reece's Rainbow

Teri Lynn is 4 1/2 already and needs a family to rescue her soon!

Her adoption grant is small. Brianna is her warrior. She and her family are hoping to raise money for her fund, and raise awareness about her to find her a family. Please consider donating and spreading the word about her.




They are also raising money and awareness for one of my favorite causes, Bible Orphan Ministry. The Bible Orphan Ministry needs our support for the incredible work they do. Please consider helping.

If you donate to both causes your number of entries will be doubled! You can also earn extra entries by sharing on your blog or facebook.

How long?

I wonder how long Kathleen will have to wait. Will she slip through the cracks and just keep waiting until she's one of the older girls?

When I first saw her back in October, I thought she would be claimed any day. How could she not be? She is so little and so cute. She is so in need of a family...how could she wait long?

Has anyone considered her? Does anyone else pray for her? She will be 4 this year. Does her baby house let them stay longer?

Please, Lord. Bring her family to her. Help them find her. If it's difficult for them, please clear the obstacles. In the meantime, please keep her safe. Provide for her needs. Shelter her heart and her mind. Hold her close until they come. Amen

Slipping Through the Cracks

So, how does a cute little guy like Christopher end up in an institution? I guess he just got missed. Nobody noticed him. Nobody wanted him in time. How could that happen?

Just like the older boys, all of the girls on the older girls page have gotten passed over. Helle over at The Noggie Bloggie is doing a fundraiser for the older girls. She is Brigita's warrior.

Brigita can't have her own fund. All of the older girls have one group fund, so Helle is raising awareness for Brigita, hoping to find her family, and raising money for the older girls' fund.

I love the older girls. It's heartbreaking that they've slipped through the cracks. They are treasures that no one has claimed.

Here are a just a few girls from that page. I have such a hard time understanding why they're still waiting.

This is Delia. She is the same age as my daughter, Hannah. She looks so sad.

 Hannah prays for her and hopes she will be adopted.

This is Anastasia. She's so beautiful. I don't understand why she still waits.

This is Heidi. She has already been transferred. Nobody rescued her in time. I hope someone rescues her from where she is. She needs a family.

This is Veronika. She's waited a long time. She looks so sweet. She needs someone to want her. Someone to love her for her.

When you donate to Bible Orphan Ministry

-You will be meeting a current need. Likely your gift will be used to put gas in the van to be able to drive to an orphanage, or used to buy craft supplies for an activity to go with the next Bible lesson, or to buy a treat to pass out to the children. It will not go into an account to be used in the future. It will likely be used this week to meet this week's needs.

-You will be giving to a small group. Bible Orphan Ministry isn't a large organization. It’s a team of just a few Christians who have a big, seemingly endless job. The people they minister to will not come to their church and contribute an offering to help with expenses. The people they minister to are locked up and the church must come to them. Our gifts are needed to bring the hands and feet of the Body to the least.

-You will be helping real people. Like I said, this is a small group of real people who go out and meet the needs of real people. I know of two adoptive RR moms who have personally met Misha, Alla and Oksana while adopting in Ukraine. One of the children adopted lived in an institution that the Bible Orphan team visited. They were instrumental in making her adoption possible.

-You will be making a difference. For many of the children, these are their only visitors. This is the only way they will learn about Jesus. The church must come to them. Many cannot read, so the Word must be shared with them in a way they can understand. They listen to a story, participate in a game or craft. They feel the love of Christ knowing that someone cares about them. When you donate you can specify how you’d like your donation to be used. There are so many ongoing needs. You can find a list of the most needed items here.

-You will be an answer to many prayers. The Bible Orphan Ministry team sees huge needs every day. They have answered the call and joyfully submit to do the work. They step out in faith, even though they don’t see how the needs will be supplied. The economic situation in their country makes it very difficult to raise support. But they pray constantly and ask the Lord to supply the needs of their ministry. Our gifts are truly an answer to their prayers.


‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’  Matthew 25:37-40

Big red letters for Christopher

When I first read Christopher's description, I was surprised how it was just casually mentioned that he is already in an institution. No shouting. No big warning.

I'm sure it's because he was older when he was listed and he was probably put right to the the older boys page where a lot of boys are already in an institution. It's just a common thing on the page where Christopher is listed.The fact that they're older and they've been there longer makes it more of a big deal, not less.

Anyway, if only to make me feel better, here are Christopher's big red letters.

HELP!!!   I HAVE ALREADY BEEN TRANSFERRED!!!!!

Beautiful

My daughter, Rachel put this together of some of our favorite RR kids. The song is by Mercy Me.

Christopher and Nick

Christopher was born in 2004. He's 6 1/2.

I have a little boy who was also born in 2004. He's 6 1/2 too. Nick is just a couple of months older than Christopher. Nick was born into our large family. From the time of his birth he was held close and nurtured and loved. He was surrounded by parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

 What were Christopher's first days like? Was he comforted when he cried? When no one came, did he eventually just stay quiet?

When my Nick was three he really only said a few words. When he was four he knew a few signs and could say some words that his family understood. As his mother, I was a little protective of him during this time. I was there to help him when he tried to communicate. I was there to help alleviate frustration. I was there to help prevent misunderstanding. His speech has really come along and he doesn't need that so much now. People understand him pretty well. He is more confident and less frustrated now that he has words.

I wonder who spoke up for Christopher? Who taught him and helped him through? Does he have any words at 6 1/2? Or like the the crying, did he eventually just give up and be quiet? Really, do words even have much of a place where his is? Do words matter when you are just shuffled through your same institutional routine day after day? When you are just surviving..just getting by. Does it matter if you use words to ask for something when you're just going to get what you get anyway? Does it matter if you use words to share thoughts or ask questions when no one has time to listen? Does it matter if you use words to say that someone hurt you when there is no one to tell?

Christopher is only 6 1/2.  I know in reference to adoption it sounds old, but if you don't have one, find a 6 1/2 year old boy and see that he is still a little boy. He still needs a Mama. Christopher needs someone to speak for him. To care about all of the little things that he needs. To cheer him on when he finds his words. He needs a family who will learn to understand his attempts and care about whatever he has to say.

I'm praying for Christopher. He seems buried on the RR boys 6+ page. I know I don't visit that page very often. I saw his sweet face on someone's blog one day. So that's why I'm holding him up too. For someone to find him...so he can be rescued.

Waiting for them

I spend my days surrounded by people. Never alone, but yet still lonely.

Even though there are always people with me, I somehow sense that they do not belong to me. I do not belong to them. We're just here. Waiting together.

I can't put it into words, but something in me longs to belong to someone. Longs for someone who belongs to me. Even though I don't even understand what a family is....I'm still waiting. Waiting for them to come. To take me home. To love me, take care of me, teach me things. To give me a chance. To give me a real life.

I hope I won't have to wait too long.

Heartbreaking

I read a very sad post on the Bible Orphan Ministry blog yesterday. The director of one of the orphanages they visit called to tell them one of the girls had died. Inna was twelve years old, but was very tiny for her age. She had Down's Syndrome. She had a heart condition and she had surgery, but not in time. They found that her ventricle had atrophied. They were unable to save her life.

The ministry team visited regularly where Inna lived. They had Bible lessons with the older girls. Obviously, the members of the team are heartbroken.

The orphanage administrator asked them to help with the funeral costs, but they didn't have the money to help. It must be so difficult to be surrounded by so many needs every day when you're only one small group with limited resources.

This is from the Bible Orphan Ministry blog:
  
This is unusual cemetery, because here buried children with special needs...
Some of them never saw a face their mommy, never heard warmly and tenderly words, never  played, never felt mothers hands, never played any game or with any toy, never saw sunshine or even breathe a fresh air...

We believe they are in the heaven with Jesus Christ, Who loves them so much that died for them on the cross and arise from the dead to give a new life! 

   

Baby Kathleen