I've been Inspired
Thursday, September 4, 2008
It never ceases to amaze me where inspiration can come from. I recently visited a blog where a woman wanted to know where her church was in her time of need. Now I'm fairly new to church and pancake breakfasts and all the other things church's do, so I asked a few questions. I really must not have a grasp on how much a pancake breakfast brings in. I know nothing of making adoption a ministry or what is involved. I do know that the word orphan refers to a child who has lost both parents to death.
A woman who has taken it upon herself to adopt orphans from 3rd world countries with AIDS was complaining that her church needs to make her personal endeavours a ministry. She claims that in order to be a good christian we all need to take in orphans and help the widows. I was confused, so I asked a few questions. I wanted to know if her personal ministry helped the widows or the older children since all she seemed to be talking about was the younger ones. I wanted to know if a pancake breakfast was going to bring in what she needed, and what exactly was the money for, travel, socks,.....
I did point out to her that if she were doing what she claimed I applauded her for saving lives and that if I was dying I might be asking people to care for my children as well. I don't deny her that. But she went on and on about how her bible said we should care for the widows and the orphans. So far all I was hearing is that the mothers were dying not dead yet, and the orphans were all within a certain age range. I was curious.
What about the widows, aren't there any older kids that could use some help? I didn't ask this but I was asking my self how can you refer to someone as an orphan if their mother isn't dead yet? The dictionary is very specific about orphan referring to a child who has lost both parents to death, that's what it says. Not almost, not near death, It says lost both parents to death. So how can they be orphans if their parents aren't dead? And if you are supposed to help the widows is the best you can come up with taking their children?
Six thousand dollars one way, her words not mine, to get one child out, keep them from being with their mother until she does in fact pass and then asking for a pancake breakfast put on by the church to help with her expenses. Am I the only one who's lost here?
She spoke of cancelled flights and transfusions. If you can't afford these children why not give SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS to help fight AIDS in their country. The response to this was that you never know who's hands the money will end up in. BINGO. She doesn't want to give unless she gets something in return. So how much did it cost for the child, and just who's hands did that money end up in? She was willing to pay that amount, which I assure you there is a fee, and an additional $6,000 return flight fee to bring home one child to raise as her very own with no worries of them getting all squirrley and wanting to look for their first parents later because she's going to tell them that their dead. Besides the flight cost is pretty pricey, no kid will be able to afford that. If you want to minister to these people why not move there, then you will know who's hands the money ends up in.
I tried to be nice and simply ask about the older kids, the widows and how much a pancake breakfast brings in, but I was guilty by association to my friend who found the blog and had voiced her opinion there. I was told that I refused to see the truth. Truth about what pancakes?
I was told I would be blocked from her blog and to take my opinions (that were not like hers) elsewhere and that I needed to talk to my pastor.
My response to her was that I was accused of harassing her for asking questions about her intended ministry and that since she was so rude I am now completely turned off by people who do the work she does. I most definitely intend to talk to my pastor, ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE HER, and I did.
I went to my pastor today along with his mother who is involved with my church and I have started talking to them about adoption, opened records, foster care, guidance counseling (which they do for pregnant teens) and next time I will most definitely be talking to them about making adoption a ministry and having pancake breakfasts in order to raise families. I think I want in on that. I ran out of time but got a good start going. I am so inspired I can't stand it.
I want to hear what other christians have to say about bringing children half way around the world, whom you know are sick and will need lots of expensive treatment and wanting to pay for it through the church.
I am most definitely inspired.
Friday, September 5, 2008 at 12:11:00 PM PDT
Lori you rock. I hope you and your pastor can get started raising families in your community with pancake suppers. Maybe we can use Bristol's family as a role model and we can all aspire to support young mothers/families with church fundraisers.
Please keep us posted. I'm almost tempted to go join a church.
Friday, September 5, 2008 at 12:31:00 PM PDT
awwww orphans. wait, they have mothers, so they arent orphans unless some person that wants more sympathy and cash from the trusted members of a community says they are. i am all for helping and taking in children that have no one else, but to call a child an orphan because it sounds more pathic when you ask for cash-hmmmm, let me think on this for a moment.....bullshit.
i am not doubting her heart, i bet she has the purest of intentions but come on, 'i am going to travel around the world to take kids from their sick mothers and bring them home with me so the church can foot the bills i incure due to this because i cant do it myself'
what a lonely life one must have to make such a spectacle of themselves that they must travel accross the world to bring someone home to love them. AND expect someone else to pay for it. because they worship God. and if they dont then they are bad people.
wow-guess its a good thing i dont live closer. i may just get both of us sent to hell.
Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 9:23:00 AM PDT
Two thoughts
In regards to helping families domestically:
Ask these "saviors" to help a struggling mother here and they will be quick to call her a "welfare queen," or whatever else they can think of to demean her. (Not all, but many.)
But if the program involves getting a youngster to call you "mom," notice how quickly the whole game changes.
In regards to third world adoption:
I recently read a statement from an older man in a 3rd world country that was very enlightening. He said when we take their children, we destroy their future. They have no pensions, nursing homes, or social support for the elderly, they must rely on their children during old age.
What happens to the surviving mothers/fathers/aunts/uncles when their only source of support are adopted by Americans? These people need to think more about unintended consequences.
And no, many of these children are not orphans in the true sense of the word.
Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 6:42:00 AM PDT
Oohhh Maybe, Thank you for posting that comment by an elder from a third world country. I most definately will be repeating that.
I haven't checked lately but last I did no one had answered my last 2 posts on her site. I think they are ignoring me or I have been blocked. That's okay because she has fueled a fire in me, and that statement has spoken volumes.
It's not just about one child, it's about a community, an ancestry.
How are they going to feel when their little adoptees grow up and discover that the rest of their relatives perished because there were no children left to care for them.
Thank You for that statement. It most certainly is powerful and I intend to use it.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 12:56:00 AM PDT
Wow, it is amazing how you have twisted that discussion from Carole's blog at twietconfetti.blogspot.com & the subsequent discussion on Cricket's blog cricketsintheraw.blogspot.com. If anyone is ignoring anyone's comments on their blog, perhaps you should talk to Cricket who refused to post my response to your comment on her blog!!!
It is one thing to have differences of opinion and respectfully discuss the differences, but quite another to actually lie and completely distort and mischaracterize the other person's opinion to try to make your point. I am so sorry that the discussion struck such a nerve that you have had to resort to this!
Everyone is entitled to their opinion and if things posted on someone else's blog generate such venom in us, we should not read their blog! Please do not respond with hate and venom --I think your daughter's father's family is already a recipient of this from your post.
My heart goes out to you for your past drug addiction and I hope you have found other things to ease your pain.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 4:02:00 PM PDT
Hello
I just wanted to stop by and tell you I enjoy reading your blog. I am adopted and find such encouragement knowing you are adoptive parents. I am the Director of Public Relations for a non-profit organization called World Orphans. We build church based orphan homes all over the world and our mission is simple E3 to reach each church…each child…each community. I would love for you to take a look at our website and let me know if you have any questions. (www.worldorphans.com) I hope you will have a glorious blessed day!
Jenna M. Howard
-Director of Public Relations
www.Worldorphans.org
Jennah@worldorphans.org
www.JennaMarieHoward.com
Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 6:02:00 PM PDT
ms jenna marie-thank you for your post to our little blog-but i think you may be confused. lori and i ARE NOT adoptive parents. in fact we are quite the opposite. lori is a birthmother-my birthmother. i am rachael, the child she relinquished 36 years ago.
our blog is commited to ethical adoption, adoptee rights and generally our thoughts, feelings and experiences on adoption.
i just wanted you to completely understand what we are about. we are advocates of reform. i do hope you come visit and bring your views in a constructive way. we have learned much from others that have visited and i would like to think we were able to help some too.