No Room

"God gave us four bedrooms for a reason.  I don't think they are suppose to stay empty."  This was a comment I made to a friend recently when she had brought up our decision to begin Foster Care.  She quickly replied with a comment about how many spare/guest rooms there were in the this and what would it be like if people were willing to give them away.

A dream.  A dream to see children with no bed, fill one of the many empty beds across America.

This really got me thinking about what we "have room for" and what we "don't have room for". So often in America we "don't have enough money" or "enough time" or "enough room."  I know I'm guilty of that many times.  But I wonder if the real issue is there isn't enough room in our hearts.  Are we opening up our hearts to what God truely wants or are we looking at the world through American Christianity. 

Everything we have is not just from God.  It IS God's.  But what does that look like in our lives.  I think if we were truly able to view things as God's and NOT ours the world would look a little different.  God has blessed us with SO much in this country.

Watch this video by the Miniature World project and let some of the numbers sink in.

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Can you give One Day, One Lunch

Many times I am wrestling with the question, "What can I do?".  A number as staggering as 147 million does not leave my mind very easily.  I feel completely lost when it comes to the orphan crisis and my part.  Recently, I found a way that my whole family can help.  A simple way.  A way that everyone who is just willing to give a little can do. 

One Day, One Lunch.

After 15 year old Addisyn visited the Adami Tulu preschool in Ziway, Ethiopia she felt compelled to help.  However, she felt helpless.  But Addisyn decided to do what she could to support these sweat angels.  She began eating what the children in the feeding program were eating, a small bowl of soup and a piece of bread, for lunch in order to give her lunch money to Adami Tulu preschool.

February 3 will mark 100 days that Addisyn has been eating a simple lunch in order to be an advocate for those who have so much less then her.  Addisyn is asking that on that day you would join her.  The average American spends $2 to $8 a day on lunch.  It cost $3 a month to feed a child in the feeding program.  Could you feed one child, for one month? 

So I'm asking you to seriously consider your part in this?  Did God have you read this blog for a reason?  Don't hit the red x with out taking time to think about what YOU can do.  Could you eat from the stock pile in the cabinet, rather then eat out?  Could you eat a much simpler lunch, rather then a fancy lunch?  Could you fast for that lunch so that a child could be fed for a month. 

Pass this along on Facebook, Twitter, or write about it on your blog.  Check out Amy Block's (Addisyn mom's blog) to find out more about her inspiring 15 year old and her amazing family.  (Side Note:  Building the Blocks is now my new favorite adoptive family blog.  They have a story that will truly inspire you.)  Or look for more information on Facebook.

Donations can be given online at: http://www.lifesongfororphans.org/donation.html- please indicate it’s to go to the Adami Tulu Preschool.  May God bless what you do!

ECUADOR

So I will not be on my blog for the next week and a half at least.  If you would like to follow our team's journey to Ecuador please hop over to our blog.  We pray it will be a blessing to you.

Giving to Haiti

So on a blog I LOVE to read (www.moneysavingmom.com) they have issued a challenge.  They are donating money to Compassion International for Haiti for everyone who donates and blogs about it.  Crystal is an amazing woman of God whose goal is to spend less so she can give more. 

Tony and I wanted to give to Haiti because of our passion for the impoverished and suffering.  We will probably bring home at least one child from an impoverished country and we would love for others to help our child if in the same situation.  Granted, Tony and I are not able to give much but we thank God for blessing Crystal and the other 60 bloggers who have banded together to help maximize the giving.

God WILL do amazing things in Haiti because of this crisis.  He has turned the worlds eyes there.  Please considering being a part of that.

Side Note:  You do not have to donate to Compassion.  Tony and I chose to donate to the Red Cross.