All of Me--Video

          CCM artist Matt Hammit wrote this song for his tiny son, born with a heart defect, yet his song has touched me as well. I've been an adoptive sister for 11 years now (okay, really all my life since Anna is adopted, but the roller coaster ride for me started when we began our first Russian adoption in 2001), and this song was so right I started weeping in the car when I heard it.

My siblings have been through a lot. They've been abandoned by those who should have cared for them. Three of them were homeless and spent a winter under a bridge at the ripe old ages of 4, 5, and 6.  One of my sisters has a flat spot on the back of her head because she was left for long hours in a crib with a dirty diaper and an empty stomach. They've been rejected by foster family, torn from friends, taken from grandparents, and separated from each other as biological siblings. Worse yet, they lived in spiritual poverty, utterly unaware of Jesus or His hope-giving, life-giving Rescue.

Things get messy when you spend your first 3 or 7 or 15 years like that. The worlds slaps the word "disorder" on a child with a background like that and calls the situation hopeless. And it is hopeless...without the love of God.

But I've seen the healing power in His love, made real to ex-orphans through the love of believers around them. It doesn't mean everything will be perfect right away. There will be tears. There will be brokenness. There will be ache and hurt and sin for all involved. But the Good News believed, the Gospel lived out and loved in a home, albeit imperfectly, really does heal. And to see former physical orphans becoming ex-orphans spiritually and gaining a perfect Father is unbelievably beautiful.

That's why I, as an adoptive sister, want to live the sacrificial everything-I've-got love modeled by my Savior. "Christian" literally means "little Christ," and that is what I want to be to my siblings 24/7. I can hold back my heart, knowing that their brokenness may break me, or I can love them like Christ loved me when I was broken. I can't bring about their salvation, but I can show them Jesus' passionate unconditional love.

They're going to have all of me!

Молитва за сирот-video

This video was created by Ukrainian Christians for Orphan Sunday (November 6, 2011): a day for the church to remember and act on behalf of the fatherless and vulnerable. In the words of Jedd Medefind on the Christian Alliance for orphans blog, the Ukrainian church is "on fire" in its desire to adopt and care for the orphans in its country. *Enter personal commentary: It makes me extremely excited to see Christ's church on the other side of the world passionately living out the Gospel to the needy!*

(The video is called "Prayer for Orphans," and the words at the end basically say that there are more than 30,000 orphans in Ukraine and that each person's prayer can make a difference.)



Is the church in America on fire to live out James 1:27? Please leave a comment if your church is doing something for Orphan Sunday! I would love to hear from you.

~Lissie

Day 2

          I did it! When the alarm went off at 3 a.m. went off, I thought it must be a joke; I knew I had fallen asleep less than an hour ago! But the dread of missing my 6 a.m. flight rolled me out of bed, and thankfully everything else went without a glitch. The shuttle was on time, check in went smoothly, the flight took off on time, and I even caught a nap before landing in Chicago at 7 a.m.

I have a seven hour layover here, so I sat down and listened to an amazing Timothy Keller sermon on, believe it or not, missions. It was a great way to spend some time on a Sunday.

In a few hours I will meet with one of my other team mates for this trip, and this afternoon, we depart for Frankfurt to meet up with the others. To wrap up, I will post a short video put together by the mission group I am traveling with. Please remember that while this information gives you a sense of the desperation and need, these kids are not just statistics. They are real people like the ones that live in your town and your neighborhood and your home. They have a birthday, a favorite color, pet peeves, and emotions not unlike your own. And like you, they hope for the approval and love of the people around them.

So what can you do about the statistics that represent real people and real needs? Later I'll follow up with 10 practical suggestions from the Christian Alliance for Orphans. Take a deep breath and relax, I'm not necessarily asking you to adopt half a dozen teenagers from Zimbabwe. But please consider: why wouldn't you do something to help the neediest, the ones closest to God's heart, the vulnerable? Why not? 

Russia from Orphan Outreach on Vimeo.

And I'm Off!

I was delighted to receive my first bouquet about a week and a half ago. It had been ordered with much love by my all-time favorite guy...

My dad!

          These flowers served as a tangible reminder of my parent's love and support as I leave to spend 10 days loving on orphans in St. Petersburg Russia, and even more importantly, getting the opportunity to tell the children I encounter about the Hope of eternal life to be found in Jesus Christ. With nine siblings who used to be in the same situation as the orphans I will be spending time with, I am utterly convinced that the news of that Hope is desperately needed and all too little heard in that country. 

         I am very excited, amazed at God's goodness in allowing this adventure, and slightly nervous. God is so good at giving me opportunities to learn to trust Him better! However, I believe God will prove himself good and faithful no matter what difficulties I encounter, and I look forward to learning much more about Him along the way. 

        My flight leaves verrrrry early tomorrow morning, so enough with words; I'll post a few pictures from my trip today to the exotic city of Minneapolis-and then it's off to bed! Chicago is on the agenda tomorrow, and then an overnight flight to Frankfurt. After some of my family experiencing a 14 hour flight earlier this week, my 8- 1/2 hour flight will seem like a breeze!

This blue bag is affectionately nicknamed "My Precious." Yup, it contains the beloved schoolbooks and papers. I'm hoping praying the promise of internet in Russia turns out to be a dream come true. Another great test of trust here!

The bag on the right (I guess I'm going with a blue bag theme this time!) contains generous gifts from my church family for the two orphanages I and the team will be working with-school supplies, candy, paper products, crafts, and more.

And this is thanks to the indulgent generosity of my parents. The hotel room feels so empty without the happy chaos of my siblings, but it has been a great place to rest and work on school.

I'll put in a plug for this place-it's really, really nice.

This is my friend...until 3 am, that is. I'm not used to rising that early!

Soon after I arrived, a wedding began in the beautiful atrium 7 stories below my room. I confess I watched most of the ceremony! Hope they don't mind. It was hard to get clear pictures, though...I have a lot to learn about photography!

My favorite part was the pastor in the turquoise suit and matching shoes.

The wedding party did a sort of swaying step-dance down the aisle to the music.

As you can see there were other univited spectators besides myself; most were women (surprise) but I saw an older couple watching and hugging each other and looking at each other so lovingly. I thought that was precious!

The ceremony was short and filled with laughs, clapping, a standing ovation, and "AMEN!" from the audience. At the end, the bride and groom literally "Jumped the broom." I found it fascinating and fun to see a culturally different wedding.

As you can see, Mom, I'm practicing with the camera! Hopefully I'll get much better as the week goes on.

 My greatest hope and prayer is that God will get the glory and praise for all I do this week...including how I respond to challenging circumstances. I'll practice that tomorrow morning when I rise at 3 am. ;) I'm not sure whether I'll be able to update this, but stay tuned for more either during or after my trip. Thank you, thank you, thank you  for the prayers! You participate in the spreading of God's praise and in reaching vulnerable and hopeless kids with the love of Jesus with your prayers. Thank you!

~Lissie

Not Unwanted

Angelina and 10 other children visited this  church last January--all but one of the other children had hosts on that trip, and 8 of the other children (3 of them my siblings) now have a forever family. Angelina remains an orphan. 

       
          No wonder she is shy and insecure. Rejected times innumerable by her birth family, by school mates, by potential friends at her orphanage, mocked and ostracized often, Angelina feels entirely unwanted by all the world at the ripe old age of twelve.

        This young girl was in my brother Alexander's group in his orphanage, but their lives could not be more sharply contrasted now. Alexander is universally loved and admired. Angelina is ignored or made fun of. Alexander has a family. Angelina has no one to call Mom or Dad, no sisters and brothers to play with, no grandparents to remember her birthday or her favorite color. Alexander's future is bright with possibilities and opportunities. Angelina's future is bleak, if not even grim.

          Yet Angelina is not unwanted. Her future is not without hope. Little though she may know it, she has a Heavenly Father--the self-proclaimed Father of the Fatherless-- who is looking out for her and loves her more than anyone ever could here on earth. This Father calls us, His adopted children, to look out for those who are vulnerable and orphaned.

          Would you be so good as to take 5 minutes and read the article about Angelina below (written by the very same Becky who assisted us so much in our adoption), and would you please pray for this precious little girl? Would you pray for her shattered heart? Would you pray for her salvation? It is more than likely that she has never heard the true Gospel, which alone can give her never-ending hope. And, would you please pray that God will give Angelina a godly and loving family? After all, it may seem unreasonable and impossible by human standards, but nothing is impossible with God!

Link:
Angelina--Crushed Little Blossom

Video: We Love Because

We Love Because from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

My mom, Lissie and I were talking the other day about some good friends of ours who are adopting a little girl from Ethiopia. You can find their blog here: Room For More They became fired up about adoption and orphan care about a year and half ago on Orphan Sunday. Since then, we've watched them through the ups and downs that accompany an international adoption of an older child. We've cried tears of frustration and sadness with them, and jumped up and down for joy with them. They are getting ready to go meet their little girl in just a handful of days now and you can feel the excitement building, not just in their family, but also for us and others close to them!

So we were talking and Lissie made an interesting comment. She said:

"Mr. Nordstrom's passion and zeal for the Gospel has grown since God tugged at his heart about adoption."

Her comment made me pause and think. I definitely had to echo her sentiments upon reflection. His passion - no, not just his, but his whole family's passion for the Gospel - has grown since God placed orphans on their heart. Adoption is such a beautiful picture of what God has done for those who are His children. The Gospel is laced and intertwined with adoption, all the way down to the details. I think this video really helps to show the inseperability of adoption and the Gospel.

~ Tessa

Video: John 10:10

John 10:10 from Children's HopeChest on Vimeo.

~ Tessa

Friday Articles

Here are my articles for this week:

• Empowered Traditionalist: How To Be Feminine
• Justin Taylor: Mary v. Zechariah
• Kisses From Katie

~ Tessa

Remember

Untitled from Children's HopeChest on Vimeo.

Please consider the orphans as we start a new year. How can you help this year? Remember that this is the mark of true religion. Maybe this means you go somewhere: Russia, Ethiopia, Haiti, Guatemala, Ukraine. Maybe you are called to sponsor a child and provide for them. Maybe you will raise money to build an orphanage. Maybe this means you will adopt a child, or children. Maybe you will save a girl from prostitution against her will. Whatever it is, the sacrifice you make will return far more than you could even imagine.

~ Tessa

Heartwork: Families like this are my inspiration

Heartwork in Haiti from Heartwork on Vimeo.

~ Tessa

Heartwork Video

YOU can help an orphan, no matter who you are, what you do or how much money you have.


it. from Heartwork on Vimeo.

~ Tessa

Friday Articles

Here are my links for this week. Enjoy!

• Cross-Eyed Blog: Courtship and Dating (This is an excellent article on the differences between courtship and dating. I highly recommend it.)
• Cross-Eyed Blog: The Sweetest Charm
• Russell Moore: Is The Orphan My Neighbor?

~ Tessa

Hope Is Fading

This video makes my heart just ache. Bring your box of tissues.


Hope is Fading – Orphan Sunday from Allan Rosenow on Vimeo.

~ Tessa

Do Something Now

Do Something Now from Children's HopeChest on Vimeo.

If we don't.... who will?

~ Tessa