Frank's Freedom

Meet Frank. He’s 13 years old, and is curious, busy, fun happy and bright. He has a mental delay, but that doesn’t stop him from being friendly, engaging and kind. He’s also an orphan in Eastern Europe. This means he is in an institution. If he is not adopted by age 16, he will be thrown out on the street with nothing but the clothes on his back and his “disabled orphan” status. Let me tell you more about Frank.

He’s little, about the size of a 7 year old. And he’s smart. He is in a group with teenage boys ages 16-24. He does puzzles and he does his chores diligently. He is very kind to the younger children. Frank is friendly and engaging. He likes being with the boys, but is happy being alone too. He plays appropriately with toys and is “all boy”. He could very easily function in a family. Frank is curious, smart, fun and sweet. He likes to play in the dirt and jump on the trampoline. Frank is independent, a good eater, is happy and content. Frank is physically healthy. He walks, runs, feeds himself, speaks, does puzzles and interacts with others well. He's a sweet boy who seems rather unaffected by his surroundings. He has no future where he's at, and without help, he's never getting out. Institutions are a one way ticket to nowhere. And this little boy deserves a future. This little boy will be a blessing to any family.

The Baker family has committed to adopt Frank and another boy, Emmitt. But international adoption is pretty expensive. The adoption would cost about $30,000. Reece’s Rainbow is an organization that helps with this cost. They set up grants for children in 25 countries around the world, and any money that is donated to these funds is given to the families to help with adoption fees. With Reece's Rainbow's help, the Baker family only needs about $10,000 to bring home both boys!





Thursday, November 22, 2012

Thanksgiving


It seems that stores start decorating for Christmas a lot earlier every year. Thanksgiving gets pushed to the side. Thanksgiving isn't commercialized, it's the day after that is. 
Isn't it funny how right after giving thanks, we rush to buy all this "stuff" we can't live without? 
Isn't it funny that we didn't even wait until the day after this year? 
Isn't it funny that this year, stores started their "Black Friday" sales Thanksgiving night? 
Isn't it funny that we spend the day eating an insane amount of food, when there are people even here that don't have enough to eat? 
Isn't it funny that we say we don't have enough time to help orphans, yet we have time to spend hours in line to go Black Friday shopping?
Are you laughing? 
Thanksgiving is an important holiday. It's not about planning your Black Friday shopping marathon, and how to avoid being trampled over that perfect pair of shoes for Jill, or that new football jersey for Jack. It's not just a day off to sleep the day away. It's about spending time with those you are thankful for. It's in the name. Thanksgiving is about giving thanks. Maybe you are thankful you didn't burn the turkey, or you made enough mashed potatoes. Be thankful for those little "helpers". Look around, you will see a lot to be thankful for. A fun family project would be to make lists of what you are thankful for. 
First, I want you to make a list of 25 things you are thankful for. I'll do one too. 
1. Jesus
2. My family
3. My friends
4. My church
5. Food and drink
6. Internet
7. My phone
8. My bed
9. My house
10. Clean water
11. Rain
12. My camera
13. My puppy
14. Clothes
15. Headphones
16. Music
17. Books
18. My writing skills
19. Duct tape
20. Education
21. Job
22. Health
23. Sun
24. Snow
25. Chocolate
Was that hard? I want you to make another list of 25 (50 total).
26. Stores
27. Language
28. Lights
28. Heating
29. Air conditioning
30. Swimming
31. Animals
32. Shampoo
33. Soap
34. Indoor plumbing
35. Computers
36. Blankets
37. Medicine
38. TV
39. Movies
40. Waterfalls
41. Cars
42. Airplanes
43. Boats
44. Clocks
45. Audio theatre
46. Imagination
47. Mission trips
48. Sight
49. Hearing
50. Expression
We have so much to be thankful for. Remember that this year. 

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