Don’t Forget Haiti
I’m afraid that we’re already forgetting the tragedy in Haiti. I don’t mean you, personally. I don’t mean the thousands of folks who have gone to serve the suffering, the dying, the orphaned, the hurting. I don’t mean the good men and women who pray for light in dark places, those who give freely - often times sacrificially - to the needs, those who have a desire to bring an orphan home.
I’m thinking more about the U.S. culture, generally, and our ability to forget. We tend to move on to other interests, more pleasant things that don’t remind us that our world is fallen, that God doesn’t prevent disasters, that pain in this world is pervasive. I’m thinking this as I scan the “Most Popular” category of news items over at Google news. As I write this, there are stories about the Grammy Awards - specifically the fashion blunders, the Apple iPad - and Amazon’s response, China’s indignation about U.S. arms sales, the expected bad news from the White House about the economy, and the meandering leviathan of a film, “Avatar.” THEN there’s mention of Haiti, the responses by our military and also the dispute between some Americans and the Haitian government regarding orphans.
In case you’ve forgotten, there’s still a tremendous need for financial assistance, for medical help, for prayer. Follow the news. Pray knowledgeably. And give. For where you might give, here’s a list from Focus on the Family of trusted partners. It isn’t comprehensive, of course. But it’s a start.
News On Haiti’s Orphans
Here’s a helpful site with latest news about the orphans of Haiti.
Family Trip To Peru
For many years we’ve wanted to take our family on a missions trip, learning and serving together. And finally, it happened! We celebrated Christmas in a memorable way, as we visited Ayacucho, Peru and volunteered at an orphanage.
The orphanage is operated by a local church, and we served with their U.S. partner, Vision Trust, an agency whose mission is to develop orphaned and neglected children into mature Christians equipped to live in their own culture. They do this by enabling Christian nationals to meet the physical, educational, emotional and spiritual needs of these children.
Together with two other families, we showed kindness and Christ’s love to the 38 orphans at Casa Luz. We also worked a bit on some land the orphanage is developing.
We are so thankful God worked through us to touch the lives of the children we met! Also, that He gave us safe and relatively smooth journeys.
Leonid’s Devotion
The following was written some time ago, while I attended a radio event. While I never posted this journal entry, I thought it was a good story worth sharing here.
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I’m staying a downtown hotel in Nashville, and while the place is pleasant enough, the AC has not been adequate. I especially noticed it yesterday afternoon, when the sun was pouring into the room and adding unwelcome heat. Despite having the thermostat cranked as low as I could make it go, it stayed uncomfortably warm in here, even until almost midnight.
So, today I finally called the front desk and a “technician” was summoned. A few minutes later, I met Leonid at the door, and greeted him with appreciation for his prompt response. A shorter man with graying hair, he had his little cart full of tools, light bulbs and supplies. Quickly he asked me some questions about the direction of the outlet vents, and the fan speed, and how cold I wanted the room. I told him I’d had the unit going full blast, and that the current temp was just too warm for my comfort. His brow wrinkled, as if he were thinking about the possible source of the problem.
Leonid pulled off the face plate of the furnace/air conditioning unit and tinkered around with it there for a few minutes. He then changed out the clogged air filter (ewww…it was bad), and put the unit back together. After carefully cleaning up after himself, he inspected his work and pronounced the AC was fixed. He showed me the venting arrangement between the bedroom area and the bathroom, and how I could redirect air if desired, in case I wished to direct 100% of the cold air toward my ‘living space.” I thanked him, and asked if he had another few minutes?
“I wonder if you can repair toilets,too?” I explained that it needed an adjustment, as the toilet did not flush without the handle being fully depressed for almost 30 seconds. It was most inconvenient, and probably an easy fix. Leonid took a quick look, and two minutes later was finished with that job.
“Wonderful,” I exclaimed, “Thank you!”
Noting his foreign name, I asked where he was from? “Oh, where you guess,” he asked? “Well, it seems to me that you probably grew up in Eastern Europe or Russia.” “Ah, Ukraine,” he replied. Turns out Leonid came to the USA 15 years ago, hoping to give his children better opportunities than were possible while back home. Indeed that had worked out well. Now, in addition to a good job at the hotel, his kids were enjoying success in a way that wasn’t possible in Ukraine.
In fact, Leonid is working so his 26 year-old son can complete his MBA from Wharton. His daughter, in her early 20s, is in law school, in part because of her father’s sacrificial support.
“Now I know why so many people come here (to the U.S.),” he said. “The opportunities here are great. That is why we come.” It occurred to me that Leonid’s kids will eventually earn bigger salaries than he could possibly have imagined making back in Ukraine.
I showed Leonid a photo of our youngest son, who was adopted from Russia. He smiled, knowing that the boy’s life will probably change significantly, much as his own children’s lives have undergone transformations since arriving in America. We talked a bit more, and I expressed my respect for him for the work he did with such devotion, all to benefit his family. After thanking him once more for taking care of the AC and the toilet, Leonid left.
As I reflected on the exchange, I felt a variety of things. Gratitude for my own situation, for the many good things God has given to me personally and to my family. Glad to live in freedom, in a culture that allows a person to chase their dreams, whether that is to go into business, to study law, or to work maintenance jobs so his children can pursue those vocations. Happy to see a father so devoted to his children that he’d leave everything familiar, move across the ocean, and take a new job, solely to see the next generation succeed.
And I became even more anxious to get home to Colorado, so I could see my own children. I couldn’t wait to hold them close, and tell them I missed them a bunch and that I love them dearly.
Finally, I was really glad the hotel room AC unit needed some attention. It allowed me to meet a remarkable man. Thanks, Leonid!
Orphan Care Sunday Coming Soon
Join Focus on the Family, Hope for Orphans and Show Hope as we observe the first annual Orphan Sunday on November 8. The Nashville-based live event will take place with musical guests Steven Curtis Chapman and Geoff Moore, and guest speakers Jim Daly and Dennis Rainey. This event will be simulcast to churches around the nation that desire to pray for and remember orphans around the world. Go here to learn about how your church can participate.
Plan Now For Orphan Sunday
On November 8 you can be part of something really big. Learn about Orphan Sunday here. Get involved in something “God-sized!”
Orphans In The News
My friends over at Christian Alliance For Orphans have mounted a positive campaign to counter the negative message of a new film. They are getting some press, for which I am thankful. Maybe you can help spread the word?
Horror Film Does Disservice to Orphans
Next month a new horror film will be released about a family that brings an orphan into their home. While I’m not a fan of the genre, what really bothers me about this movie is its distorted portrayal of orphans.
There are millions of fatherless children worldwide, and they should be offered our love, not presented as a sick stereotype in a horror movie.
Here’s a short video from someone who takes issue with the film - and offers some interesting perspectives about who orphans really are, and what we can do to reach out to them.
More on Vasco, The Malawi Orphan
An update to a recent post about Vasco, an orphan who was brought to the States for heart surgery, from USA Today. Short read, long impact.
Touching: Malawi Orphan Comes To Chicago
This article about an AIDS orphan who comes to Chicago for life-saving surgery is my introduction to a very interesting writer. Cathleen Falsani seems to have a rather unique perspective about spiritual living, and this is a tender account of how little Vasco has touched her life.