Amazing Grace

Today  I share a very special song sung by a very special little boy….

You are an amazing boy, Timothy!  God has big plans for your life.

Gabriel

Lately Gabriel has been on my heart.
A lot.
I have his file if anyone would be interested in reviewing it. He is 10 and just a real sweetheart.
He wants a family.  He was with the ROG foster home for many years but is now up in Guiyang with a foster mom.
He could be locked in today. His file is ready and just waiting up at the CC*A for a family to find him.
He is doing well in school and has repaired cleft lip and palate.
I do wish he could have a forever family.
He has been waiting for so long…..
But Gabriel means: God is my strength.  And so I rest thinking that Gabriel is getting his strength from Him.


And please pray for this little girl.
Her name is Salome. So please pray that the orphanage would release her into the loving care of our friends and that she may feel the love and security of a family unit.

She is very sad.  And it just breaks my heart wondering what this little one has had to endure in her short life already.
In Jesus name we ask that Salome will be allowed to leave the orphanage and then be able to have a FOREVER family someday.
Amen.
_________________________________________________
There have been many of you who were also moved and want to DO something.  To help in some tangible way.
You may not feel called to adopt but you have asked me “what can I do to help an orphan?”
And some have asked for the ROG address so you can send your (tax deductible) donation to help the kiddos.
If you would like the address please email me at: ljhtjl@embarqmail.com and I'll be happy to hook you up with it!
Together let’s make a difference in a child’s life.

Adoption is:

 A RESCUE MISSION
I’ve been pondering this for awhile now.  Many have said to us “you have saved these girls.” That isn’t the way we look at it at all.
This whole adoption journey has “saved” us.

But really only Jesus can save.  And Amy over at One More Blessing put into words exactly what I’ve been thinking so instead of me writing the same thing here are my thoughts in her words:
“Adoption is a rescue mission, but not in the way you may think. God is rescuing MY heart in this process and drawing me closer to him. He shows us through an earthly adoption how wonderfully glorious our heavenly adoption is. He has redeemed ME. He has saved ME. He has grafted me into his heavenly family. God’s nature is so evident in adoption and he has brought my family on this journey to see more fully the depth of his love for us.

I believe God calls people to adoption to display a beautiful example of his redemption of us.
We can’t save Hannah (or Lena, Ava or Josie). It’s not our job to rescue her. That’s God’s job. We are simply obeying God by going to get her. In the process he is saving me a little more and rescuing me a little more from myself and the things of this world that just don’t matter.

I pray that one day Hannah will choose to accept God’s gift of salvation, and invite Jesus into her heart. That’s when the real rescuing happens! That’s the adoption that will really matter. The rejoicing on that day will remind me of how God used Hannah’s earthly adoption to help us see our adoption into God’s kingdom more clearly.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— Ephesians 1:4-5
visit Amy and “meet” Hannah at: http://onemoreblessing.blogspot.com/

So we aren’t called to “save” the orphan but are called to care for them!
It is right there in the Bible.  We can’t “pick and chose” what we would like to do from God’s word.  We just need to try and live according to His word day by day.  (and we have a long ways to go!)
Below are some kiddos who need some prayer but also forever families!!!! A lot of the kids paperwork should be ready soon….please continue to pray that it will get done in a timely manner.

But some of these kiddos will probably be called to their forever home in heaven before they will get a forever family here on earth. So very thankful for the loving home they are in and that they are getting cuddles while they are here on earth.

Please prayfully consider one of these children and if your heart is being called and pulled than start the process!  I promise it will change your life!
 
 If you need an agency recommendation I would tell you to contact Sara Lang at Madison Adoption Agency. sara.maa@comcast.net

Madison’s website is: http://www.madisonadoptionagency.org/

Drumroll please…..

Because of  your generous giving through buying t-shirts or just donating to River of Grace we have $1,542.00 in cash to take to our friends!!!  PRAISE GOD. 

We are very excited!  So many precious children will be helped becuz of you.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Here is an update from Jeff:

Thanks so much for your kind encouragements and gifts. We have received more than usual lately and are thinking about a vehicle purchase. The rushing over to the orphanage in GZ prov. and emergency runs to the hospital as well as times to just go to a park with a bunch of children may justify the purchase. It also looks like I may need to travel to other places where orphans or children with needs are being cared for or need care.  We are very thankful for this opportunity.

At the beginning of January little Malachi passed away. We had taken him to the children’s hospital. The leader of the heart specialists, Dr. W, has volunteered to help out when he can. He took us to get an ultrasound.

Malachi’s heart was very congenitally deformed with one value shut. The blood was going in the wrong directions. So the doctor said nothing could be done and Malachi would need to be loved till he passed away. We took it before God and asked for his hand to be on Malachi. We set up a side room with a soft chair, Malachi’s crib, oxygen and times of cuddling and songs.

As Malachi breathing became more labored I hopped in a taxi and took him to the ER. The nurses put us in a quiet room. Only one other baby was there, a newborn of a Miao couple from Kaili.

By God’s divine appointment I got to have a meaningful chat with this family. They got a copy of Father’s book.

And a bit later Malachi passed into Father’s arms.

We are learning a lot about God’s presence in our lives….especially in suffering. His grace is abundant!

Victorious because of Jesus great suffering for us.

In Him,

Jeff for all

Update on Malachi

 

Malachi died around 7.30 tonight (Jan. 2nd).... he had a rough day and was unable to eat much and hold his body temp, then his breathing was labored.....

He is now in the arms of Jesus and not suffering anymore.

Only God....

So in Dec. a special family decided to bless ROG with a $250.00 donation. You can read about it here:
http://afamilyofsix.blogspot.com/2010/12/sunday-snapshot-fifth-day-of-giving.html

And I sent them t-shirts as a thank you for their gift.

Well just this week they decided to say "yes" to a boy who will be aging out Feb. 9th.
And guess where he is from?!?!?!!?
The same prov. and city that our friends live in!!!  Talk about cool!
They will be there the same time we will be so we will meet them in China and hopefully get to introduce them to our friends!!!!

Read more about their journey and the cool things God is doing in their life here:
http://afamilyofsix.blogspot.com/2011/01/prayer-requests-and-more-red-threads.html