I’ve had a heart for orphans since my first mission trip to Zambia in 2008, but living and working at the children’s home in the Philippines all month reaffirmed my heart and passion for orphans and adoption.
God used two instances during my time in the Philippines to remind me of his Father’s heart for the orphan and how, not only does He adopt us into His family, but He loves to see orphans welcomed into Godly families here on earth.
The first instance was when I was putting the girls to bed. After telling some of them a bed time story based on my life, one of the older girls, 13, began asking me if there are orphans in other countries. I told her the truth about Swaziland and China and even America, countries that have many orphans just like in the Philippines. Then she asked me to pray for her. When I asked what I could pray for, she asked me to pray for a family to adopt her and her three siblings. At that moment the Lord literally broke my heart for what breaks His. As I prayed for her, I held her in my arms, stroked her hair, and let her cry. I trust the Lord for her and her siblings, and I know God has a beautiful family prepared for them.
The other moment was when I actually got to witness an adoption for one of the three-year old girls from the nursery. I got to see a beautiful Swedish family come pick up their new baby girl and treat her as their own. I saw the joy in their faces when they finally met their daughter. I saw them drive away with her and take her to a better life. It honestly is one of the most beautiful, heart-warming things I’ve ever witnessed.
And if that doesn’t convince you that adoption is beautiful and something worth considering, then here’s 35 reasons you should adopt.
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Also please note that, for the record, it is actually impossible to directly adopt any one of these kids. They call it “matching” and it is illegal. But if God is stirring your heart up for adoption, I promise you will love any child you are given. Just listen to His voice, follow to His leading, and ask for His heart. It might change not only a child’s life, but your own.
