A Voice For Vanya

I've got a remarkable friend living in Ukraine. She and her husband have hearts full of compassion, and it shows in everything they do.

My friend has asked me for help and I cannot refuse her. She's asked me to help her find a family for one precious little boy named Vanya. Vanya is blind and living in a baby home in Ukraine. He does not receive the specialized care required to give him the life skills necessary to manage with his impairment. If Vanya does not find a family he faces being moved into the next tier of children's homes where it is very likely he will continue on being largely ignored, and possibly fall prey to victimization at the hands of older children.

I cannot tell you how much I trust the opinion of my friend. If she says Vanya is a remarkable and loving child HE IS. My friend and her husband would bring Vanya home themselves if it weren't for the fact that they are already in process to adopt sibling boys from Ethiopia.

Please, please, Bloggy friends, help get the word out about Vanya! Follow THIS link to learn more. Then, please post about Vanya on your blog or social networking site.

Looking To The Least of These

Recently, a post by Russell Moore titled Jesus Has AIDS has caught the attention of many people. I have been pleased to see such a positive reaction to the message.

Tonight the Lord is burdening my heart for those He dearly loves who are most at risk in this world great big world.

It's hard to imagine levels of risk or need for orphans (truly could it get any worse for them?) but special needs children are the epitome of the least of these in the eyes of the world; children like Sean who require special education and training to live with disabilities.

Boys and girls with physical disabilities like Sean will have no chance to earn a living without the help of expensive prosthectics, therapies, equipment, etc. For these children there is little hope of ever leaving the orphanage.

Special needs orphans require love and attention that a team of outnumbered, overworked, and underpaid caregivers can't provide. The nature of the disabilities these kids live with require nothing less than a family's devoted love and care. Children like those of Reece's Rainbow are God's beloved; could one of them be your beloved son or daughter too?

When I saw Sean's picture I immediately thought of this man. I'm sure Nick's parents shudder to imagine missing out on the joy and richness life with their son creates.


If you can't parent a special needs child would you consider helping a family who can? Look for ways to donate to special needs adoption grants, such as Reece's Rainbow or others, and gift the blessing of parenthood this Christmas to a family with a heart for these kids.

No Mistakes

I love this video on the dignity of life, God's sovereignty and disabled child made in the image of God. Take a moment to watch how Chuck Colson and R.C. Sproul view their special needs grandchildren.

http://www.joniandfriendstv.org/video.php?id=28

On the Sovereignty of God

A father speaks at a conference giving his testimony about God's sovereignty and about suffering. It's WORTH your time. Follow the link and click on One Generation Shall Tell Your Works to Another- http://www.childrendesiringgod.org/events/conference2005.php

John Knight (the father speaking) has a blog called The Works of God. You can read John Piper's letter here: http://ow.ly/qSjx