National Adoption Month

"Orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names. They are easier to ignore before you see their faces. It is easier to pretend they're not real before you hold them in your arms. But once you do, everything changes.”
From the book Radical by David Platt

 Since November is National Adoption Awareness Month, I thought I'd tell you about some orphans I know.  I won't tell you about Ansley and Turner because they no longer are orphans.  There are more.  Millions more who are orphans.  Some by social reasons.  Some, true orphans who have no parents living.  No matter the reasons for their circumstance, the reality is THEY did nothing to deserve their status as ORPHAN.  It was thrust upon them and something NONE of them want.  

This is Tamirat.  

The tallish one with the head dress on.  He's celebrating the Epiphany during Ethiopian Christmas.  He became an orphan when he was 11 years old.  His Mom died leaving him and sister and a brother without a parent.  His sister was younger and adopted into an Italian family.  His brother was older and joined the Army. So he was ALONE.  At the age of 11, he went to live in an orphanage by the name of  Kolfe.   Kolfe was better than living on the street.  However, Kolfe is an old war prison, many decades old.  Until recently, many windows were busted out and bathrooms were in disrepair.  He is 20ish now.  He does not know  his actual age but he's guesses.  He had NO ONE to help usher him into manhood. The boys mostly just raised themselves in a very Peter Pan sort of way.  He did the best he could and has turned into a pretty good guy from what I know.  I am hoping to meet him some day.

This is Silas. He had the misfortune to be born in a country the limits the number of children allowed in a family.  I don't know much about him, except what I've read on Reece's Rainbow.  I just know I like the spunky face and I want him to find a family to love  and accept him.  

This is Andrew.  He had the misfortune to be born in a region who places NO value on kids who have any perceived imperfection.   This happens a lot in Eastern Europe.  He, too, deserves a family.

So, in honor of National Adoption Awareness Month, I want you to know some names.  See some faces.  Not just say, "I'm sorry" or "I'll say a prayer" but REALLY see them as human beings worthy of life and love and everything we all want.  I could put you in contact with some blogs/stories that let you see what happens to these children.  It's not pretty.  But it's enough that you know their faces.  You know their names.  It's enough that you open your heart and mind and become involved.  It's enough that you don't ignore them.