While in Haiti this past summer we visited an orphanage that held over 20 children who had no parents. No one to fight for them. No one to protect them. No one to love them. No one to call mommy and daddy. My heart was forever changed.
Later that week we visited a tent city to pray and care for the people living there. We approached a group of women and children to talk with them, pray with them, & tell them that people all over the world are praying for them. While talking to one of the women, I asked her if the child on her lap was her daughter...She told me that it was not her daughter, but that the girl's parents were killed in the earthquake and that she was now taking care of the girl on her lap. She had no relation to the girl or her deceased family, but was now in charge of this precious young life. I was speechless, but managed to tell her that the little girl was beautiful.
She asked me if I wanted to take the little girl home with me.
My heart was broken and forever changed.
It is estimated there are 143 million worldwide. This number does not include abandonment (millions of children) as well as sold and/or trafficked children.
Every day 5,760 more children become orphans.
Every 2.2 seconds another orphan ages out with no family to belong to and no place to call home.
Studies have shown that 10% – 15% of these children commit suicide before they reach age eighteen.
These studies also show that 60% of the girls become prostitutes and 70% of the boys become hardened criminals.
Another study reported that it would only take about 7% of Christians to adopt one child for all of the world's orphans to have a home.
Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us. (james 1:27 NLT)
Beautiful Denise. I love your heart!
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