Stretching Out A Hand of Relief

"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." James 1:27

To visit in cases of need, means to stretch out a hand for the relief of those who are oppressed. - Calvins' New Testament Commentary

We found many ways to do this on our trip . . .

Buying coats for orphans in Balta who had no winter coats.

Two churches in Jackson, Mississippi heard about this need and responded by donating money for the coats. We had the fun part of shopping at the market . . in the snow!

People also donated over 100 ziploc bags filled with Christmas presents. On our first morning in Odessa, we wrapped these presents that will be delivered to children in a village outside of Odessa. In this picture Karina and Kristina are wrapping and putting the presents in categories by age for boys and girls.

As I think back over our trip, and think of ways God used our small team to stretch out a hand for relief for orphans, two conversations come to my mind.

On one of our days in the first orphanage, Matthew (with Karina's help) shared the gospel with one little boy. As he talked about Jesus coming to die on the cross to pay for our sins so that we can know and love God and live with him in heaven, this little boy listened and nodded. He looked at Matthew and said, "I love God."

"I am glad you love God." said Matthew.

This precious little boy carries a disease that, without treatment, will end his life. Of all the kids that we visited, this child looks eternity in the eye on a daily basis.

Then he looked at Matthew and said, "Heaven is better than here."

This statement reveals that over the years, God placed Christians along this boy's path to tell him about Christ, to teach him about facing death. It also reveals that God's Spirit is working in his young heart.

These people were willing to be the ones to strech out a hand of relief to this sweet boy -and they have been used by God to make a difference that reaches into eternity.

While Matthew was playing football with some of the boys, Karina called out, "Daddy, can you come here?"

She was talking with Edic and Marat, two boys that she had grown up with in the orphanage.

"These boys want to tell you something," she said.

"We want a family."

Matthew looked at them and said "Karina, tell them that being in a family can be hard sometimes. Families have rules that you must follow. Are you willing to follow rules?"

Karina took a few minutes to describe some of the differences of living in a family. And after she stopped, the boys said, "Yes, we are willing to do this. We want a family."

These boys are 14 years old. When they turn 16, they will "graduate" from the orphanage. This means they will suddenly be on their own, without job skills, without a great education, without a place to live.

Later Karina told me that these boys know that when they leave the orphanage, their lives will be shortened by living on the streets.

The two greatest needs of orphans are to belong to God's family and to belong to a godly family.

Sometimes it takes being in a godly family to understand God's love.

Stretching out a hand of relief to orphans can mean sharing the gospel with them, it can mean praying for them, it can mean opening up your home through adoption.

By reading James, we can see that it is in God's plan for us to offer a hand of relief. The question for each person to ask is "How?"

The situation of 100,000 orphans is too overwhelming to get involved in without asking God where He wants to use us. Without asking God's direction, it would just be easier to never get involved. But by asking for God's direction, we can take part in the life-changing plans He has planned for these kids.

I first found out about orphans through Karina's adoption. From the beginning I have asked God

"Now that we know about orphans. Now that you have brought this group of children to our attention, what do You want our family to do?"

We've prayed for them, we've sent packages and pictures my children have drawn, we've talked to other people about them, and now I've actually gotten to meet them, hug them, and spend time with them.

I am beginning to see that by taking part in God's plans, He often changes our lives as well.

Have you ever wondered what pure religion looks like?

I've read this verse many times over the years, but really came face to face with it yesterday.

"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."

In the past when I've read that verse I've made a mental list of the widows I knew and looked to see if they had any needs. Then I thought, I don't know any orphans. And I was done.

But yesterday, I caught a glimpse of pure religion as I loved on and got to know a roomful of orphans.

What did it look like?

Yesterday it looked like this . . . throwing a football back and forth, working a puzzle, giving out presents . . . and just being silly.

My sweet mama made these scarves and the girls really liked them!

Pure religion also involved . . . cookies and milk (you know me!) Robert and Kristina brought milk for the kids. Thanks to Margaret Mahelmann and the girls at Spencer-McCain home at French Camp Academy for making Karina cookies. They were a huge hit!

Thank you also to everyone who gave candy for our team to hand out. Those 16 bags of candy are bringing smiles to some faces! We'll be visiting at least two other orphanages and it is great to have candy to take to the kids.

Seeing the kids faces light up today was amazing. When Robert played football with Yuri, Yuri's face absolutely beamed each time he caught and threw it back. Jenya LOVED the remote control car sent from the Moen family from French Camp. That car really helped to break the ice. The boys have already worn out one set of batteries!

Deuteronomy 10:17-19 describes God's power, His compassion, and His desire for us to follow His example in reaching out to the fatherless. Sure, the needs of thousands of children are overwhelming, but God is not asking any of us to solve the problem. He is asking us to join with him in what He is doing.

For the needy shall not always be forgotten; The expectation of the poor shall not perish forever. Psalm 9:18

This is a promise in God's Word. In this picture I am standing in front of the orphanage with Karina and Kristina, two former orphans who have seen Psalm 9:18 happen. God kept His promise by working through two families who were willing to join Him in His plans for these precious girls by bringing them into their families. God keeps His promises.

This is a picture of Karina, Kristina, and Masha, another classmate who has been adopted.

A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation.

God sets the solitary in families . . . Psalm 68:5-6a

After we visited the orphanage, we ate pizza with Alonya.

Back in March, Anderson wanted to write a letter to Alonya. He wrote:

Dear Alonya,

When your mama and daddy come to adopt you,

we can go to Karina's house and have a cookout.

I love you.

Love,

Anderson

"But Anderson," I gently said. "There is no mama and daddy for Alonya."

In exasperation, he said, "Mom, I said WHEN!"

And now, WHEN is in process. A family is in the process of adopting Alonya.

Please pray for the paperwork and finances they need for their adoption process.

Anderson won't be surprised when it happens, he'll just say "So, when are we having the cookout?"

He will bring justice to the poor of the people;

He will save the children of the needy. Psalm 72:4

God has a special concern and love for orphans. It is an honor to be a way the kids saw God's love today. And the hug and kiss on the cheek from Vladik was a bonus!

Ways you can pray for us:

PRAISE for all the answered prayers for our traveling and safety.

Pray for our traveling and safety as we leave in a few days for another city.

Pray for our time in the orphanages.

Pray for Alonya's adoption process.

Pray for Yuri. He is in the orphanage we are visiting now.