Reflections on The Orphan Summit

This month I was thrilled to attend the eighth annual Summit,  hosted by Christian Alliance for Orphans.  The Summit is held in a different city each year and this year it took place right in our own backyard (at Saddleback Church).  Last year I flew to KY to attend The Summit, and next year I hope to travel to Nashville for The Summit IX.  For more information on Christian Alliance for Orphans or The Summit, visit:

Christian Alliance For Orphans

One of the highlights for me personally this year was being able to attend The Summit with so many friends and family members as well as members of our So Cal Orphan Care Network.  We shared lots of tears, laughter, and joy as we experienced The Summit together!  We were moved and challenged by speakers like Pastor Rick Warren, Francis Chan, Steven Curtis Chapman, the Honourable Susan Jacobs from the US State Department and The Honourable Inymba Aloisa, Minister of Family Promotions, Rwanda.  Rwanda's goal is to be the first country to place every orphan into a permanent home and they are close to achieving their goal.  The story of God's healing in Rwanda after a horrific genocide, which left one half million children orphaned, is unparalled. We were absolutely amazed to hear unforgettable stories throughout The Summit of the miracle of adoption and the father heart of God. 

It's nearly impossible to summarize what I learned, felt and was inspired by in one blog post.  But I'll try to express a few thoughts.  The overall sense that we all walked away with is the fact that adoption is the heart of the gospel.  As Christians, our calling to adoption is gospel led and gospel centered.  Our heavenly father reached down from Heaven and adopted us as His sons and His daughters.  He adopted us in our sin, rebellion and brokenness.  We therefore love orphans through foster care, orphan care and adoption out of His marvelous love for us.  We were reminded again and again of God's love for His children and the redemptive miracle of caring for the fatherless.  The Church has been given the incredible privilege and responsibility to display God's love to the world through caring for His precious children.  We are not the "rescuers" of children.  God is.  And we are privileged to be His hands and His feet as we care for His children. 

I was extremely honored to attend an all day, pre-Summit training on attachment led by world-renowned attachment specialist, Karyn Purvis and marriage/family therapists Milan and Kay Yerkovich.  I loved learning about the hope of healing in the midst of trauma through brain development and trust-based relational intervention.  One of my favorite quotes from Karyn was that "Science catches up with God."  It was incredible to grasp how certain foods, sensory activities, appropriate touch and connection can actually heal the brain of a traumatized child. 

Rick Warren challenged us with the fact that if one person in one out of every four churches in the US adopted out of foster care,  foster care would no longer exist in the United States.  Wow!  We learned that 80% of the men in prison in the US lived in foster care as children.  He also challenged us with the fact that the Church is the only answer to the orphan crisis.  Why?  He listed the following reasons:

(1)  We have the largest participation (2.4 billion Christians)
(2)  We have the widest distribution
(3)  We have the longest track record
(4)  The church has the fastest expansion (60,000 people come to Christ every day)
(5)  We have the highest motivation - LOVE!
(6)  We have the strongest authorization - THE GREAT COMMISSION!
(7)  We have the simplest administration
(8)  We have the greatest conclusion

There are many stories, thoughts and experiences that I continue to process after attending The Summit.  One thing is for sure, I can't wait to get on a plane to El Salvador this Saturday and love on the precious children who we sadly call "orphans."  They have been forgotten, abandoned and abused.  But our team will bring hope, joy, laughter, loving touch, gifts and the reminder that their Heavenly Father loves them.  He has not forgotten them.  He is right there in their midst.  And that's what it's all about!

Home, Sweet Home - We've Moved!

That's right!  We moved again!  It seems like we have become "professional home movers," fixing up and decorating home after home!  What a journey!  This was not "part of our plan," but it was God's plan!  When our landlord announced his intent to increase rent two months ago, we realized it was time to downsize.  We'd just been praying about how to save money as a family, and God made it crystal clear.  We found a smaller home that allows us to save significantly. The doors opened quickly through our property management application and the rest is history!  We've signed a one year lease and continue to trust God's hand over our family.  We are incredibly grateful for our new home.  It has clean water, gas and electricity, a pantry and fridg filled with food and plenty of room to host events and make memories as a family.  We know that by these standards, we are richer than 97 % of the world and we are truly blessed beyond  measure. 

Two years ago I was introduced to the book, "Radical," by David Platt.  I have been so deeply impacted by this book that it's become required reading for all of our orphan outreach team members.  In his book, Platt chronicles the lives of radical Christians who are living sacrificially in order to serve the poor, the destitute, the forgotten and the lost.  On page 136, he says:

"It is a constant battle to resist the temptation to have more luxuries, to acquire more stuff, and to live more comfortably.  It requires strong and steady resolve to live out the gospel in the middle of an American dream that identifies success as moving up the ladder, getting the bigger house, purchasing the nicer car, buying better clothes, eating the finer good and acquiring more things. 

What would happen if together we stopped giving our scraps to the poor and started giving surpluses?  Give.  Give generously, abundantly and sacrificially.  Give not because your stuff is bad.  Give because Christ is in you.  Give because your heart has been captured by a Savior who has produced in you overflowing joy, welling up in rich generosity (page 131)." 

It is our desire as a family to give more, serve more and offer our lives daily to bless others.  We are grateful that this new home allows us the freedom to do that.  Years ago, our church missions board sent home-made plaques to all of our missionary partners serving throughout the world.  The plaques said, "Home is Where the Lord Sends Me."  Our plaque is hanging above my office door and reminds us that we are on a mission, He is our Commander and we have the indescribable privilege of knowing, following and serving Him.  We are so grateful for our new home, sweet home, and the amazing journey He has called us to!

Our first missions dessert in our new home

(hosting the Scorziells, who serve in Zimbabwe)

my new office

Jordan heads back to El Salvador!!!

Jordan will be serving with the July El Salvador team! Please take a few minutes to read his letter!

Dear family and friends,

Two years ago I went to El Salvador with my mom and I loved it. I made a lot of new friends even though we spoke different languages.

I am hoping to go again with my mom and a team from our church from July 7-14, 2012. There are nineteen volunteers on our team and half of our team members are kids or teenagers. I think that’s cool! One of my best friends from church, Joshua, is coming on the team with his family and I’m excited to travel with such a big group of friends this time! On my last trip to El Salvador I saw that the orphans were really content and grateful, even though they didn’t have much. I have never forgotten that. I want to go again because I want to bless more orphans and visit the new orphanages where my mom works. My brother, Aidan and my dad got to visit these orphanages last year and I’m excited to go as well. We’ll be helping in a government orphanage and also at a Christian orphanage.

Our team will be throwing a big party for the teenage girls at the government orphanage. These girls have already turned 15 but never had a quinceanera (a traditional Latin celebration for girls). Our team is collecting prom dresses, shoes and jewelry for the girls. We’ll also be making meals and feeding the homeless from the back of a truck one night. I’m looking forward to doing that. My mom told me that a lot of the kids from the government orphanages live on the streets after leaving their orphanages, and that makes me feel sad. I’m glad that we can make them a meal and visit them while we’re there.

Everybody on my team has to remember a Bible verse about orphans. My verse is:

“I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.” - John 14:18

Thank you for your support and for helping me to go visit orphans!

Love,
Jordan Ramsey

THE SO CAL ORPHAN CARE NETWORK

Karen Yates, an adoptive mom and popular blogger who formerly worked for Amazima Ministries, recently wrote an incredible blog post about The So Cal Orphan Care Network entitled "Start an Orphan Care Network". The So Cal Orphan Care Network was launched in 2011 by Jenni Ramsey, to provide support and encouragement to churches in So Cal with a passion for foster care, emancipated youth, orphan care or adoption.


Members of The So Cal Orphan Care Network volunteering at a Steven Curtis Chapman concert in November, 2011

The network has grown to over fifty members in the past year and God has done amazing things in our midst! We will be gathering again next Tues, April 24 from 7-9 pm at 17491 Parker in Tustin and everyone is welcome. Karen Dunkelberger, Executive Director of Foster Care and Adoptions for Olive Crest, will be speaking. Feel free to invite anyone who is interested in foster care, orphan care, or adoption!

To read more about Jenni's launching of the So Cal Orphan Care Network, visit Karen's blog (dated April 16, 2012) at :

www.kareneyates.com

Thoughts on Waiting...

This week we were asked by Show Hope to write some words of advice to other adoptive families who are in process. Last fall we received a grant from Show Hope and feel honored to be part of their network of families. Since we feel like "professional waiting adoptive parents," we had a few thoughts to share...

Our family has been on an incredible adoption journey for almost five years. It has been a painful, but extremely rewarding journey. We believed that God had called our family to open our hearts and home to one child. Instead, He has opened our lives to impacting thousands of orphans as we have become deeply involved in orphan care. Through a series of "God ordained events," I have been privileged to lead six orphan outreach trips overseas and our family has become passionate about the international orphan crisis. The waiting for our daughter has been confusing at times. We suffered from a failed adoption in El Salvador and lost all of the funds invested in that adoption ($15,000). However, we still felt led to adopt and after much prayer and counsel, enrolled in Korea. At that time, we had no funds available for a Korean adoption. But we had faith in a big God who was not overwhelmed by the costs or challenges of updating home studies, immigration paperwork and all that was required.

Since that time, we have raised over $11,000, including a $2,000 grant from Show Hope. We organized an iPod raffle on our adoption website (www.ramseyfam.com) and raised close to $3,000 in two months. Our church hosted a blood drive to help raise funds for adopting families and supported our family. An adoptive family that we have never met heard about our need and contributed $3,000 though our Lifesong for Orphans online Paypal account. Needless to say, our journey has been nothing short of miraculous. God has provided funds through neighbors, co-workers, and people that we have never even met. And He has opened our eyes to "the least of these" and allowed us to serve His orphans. It has truly been a privilege.

The waiting can be painful and can even feel cruel and senseless at times. We have watched other friends complete numerous adoptions while we've waited just for one. But we're learning not to compare or judge other situations. The last page of my adoption journal is now completed and we have not yet received a referral. However, the journal is filled with miraculous stories of God's provision and comfort. It is filled with stories of our family serving in third world orphanages. While it is not filled with our completed adoption yet, it is filled with testimonies of a powerful God who knows every hair on our heads. The verse that we continue to hold onto is this:

"But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, be patient! For it will surely take place. It will not be late by a single day." - Habakkuk 2:3

SHOCKING: Orangutan Care vs. Orphan Care

Our son Aidan recently brought home a Scholastic News magazine with an adorable cover photo of an orphaned baby orangutan. As Aidan and I read the article on the orangutans together, I was amazed by the level of care that these orphaned orangutans receive at The Nyaru Menteng Center in Indonesia (home to more than 600 orangutans). The little cuties receive "life and survival skills," including how to swing from trees and how to flee poisonous snakes. The babies live in a nursery with "human baby-sitters" who provide 24 hour care. The following is a quote from the magazine:

"At night, the babies are tucked into laundry baskets filled with blankets and pillows. The baby-sitters sleep nearby or snuggle up next to them, just like the babies' orangutan moms used to do. When the apes get older, they go to Forest School. They are taught how to climb trees, build nests, and find food. Orangutans usually learn these things from their moms. But these orangutans have lost their mothers. Most of the orangutans graduate when they turn 6. Then they're released into a protected part of the jungle. They have a right to live in the wild and to live healthy and free, says orangutan expert Michelle Desilets."


Wow! I was shocked to discover that these orangutans have humans caregivers who actually cuddle and sleep next to them. Incredible. Upon further investigation (through the website), I discovered that the orangutans have been gifted with iPads to help increase their knowledge and creativity. Now don't get me wrong. I think these little guys are adorable. However, after serving in six orphanages in Guatemala and El Salvador, I must question why baby orangutans are receiving greater care than baby humans. I applaud The Nyaru Menteng Center for their stunning level of care and commitment to these creatures. But this article left me baffled. There are an estimated 147 million orphans in the world. To my knowledge, there are very few orphanages which provide this level of care for their children. And that should disturb each of us deeply.


Is it possible that we can learn some lessons from The Nyaru Menteng Center in Indonesia? There are many complicated issues which must be accounted for in this discussion. Most orphans around the world are orphaned due to poverty, abuse or AIDS/HIV. Most orphanages simply lack the financial resources to provide the level of care given to these outrageously lucky baby orangutans. But this simply should not be. The orphan crisis is an international crisis. Orphaned children demand our love, compassion and sense of urgency. They deserve a GREATER level of care than these animals. And we can do something about it. Some of us can adopt or foster children. Some can not. But we can each do something.

How can you change the orphan crisis? You can give financially. You can support an orphanage. You can sponsor a child or visit orphans on an orphan outreach trip. You can use your educational or business skills to train foster children or prepare children in orphanages with life and job skills. You can contact your government leaders to express your concerns about the international orphan crisis and how UNICEF is causing many international adoption programs to close. Get involved. Do something. What would you do if your child was stuck in foster care or in an impoverished orphanage? Millions of children are stuck today and they need your help.

“You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.” ― William Wilberforce (British politician, philanthropist and leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade)

Leaving the Pity Party....

The past few weeks have been filled with many emotions. As seen in the adoption timeline at the top of our blog, it has been nearly five years since we started our adoption journey. Five years!!! That's a long time to be expecting and waiting. Talk about "What to expect when you're expecting!" We have recently begun to question our adoption path, especially in light of some recent heart breaks as well as changes in our adoption program. Needless to say, we have become extremely frustrated with ongoing challenges and delays. That's why I decided to plan my own party. My pity party.

However, after weeks of prayer, journalling and intense conversations with close friends, family and colleagues, we have decided to leave the pity party and march forward. We have become willing to increase the age of a child at the time of referral (the paperwork which matches a child with their forever family) and have made the required changes in our home study. Our Korea adoption program director believes that our family could receive a referral soon and does not feel that Mike's age is an issue. One of the Korean adoption policies is that neither parent can be older than 45, and Mike is nearing his 44th birthday. Once again, we have no other choice than to release our worries and fears and fully trust God's perfect timing. And that's a great place to be. I prefer to party at God's throne... a much better place than my own pity party!

So, what does this mean for our family? It is very possible that we could be matched with a little girl some time in the next few months. In the meantime, we continue to apply for grants and trust God with the financial requirements needed for a Korean adoption. We still need close to $15,000 in order to accept a referral from Korea. The required fees are $18,040 to Korea and $3,700 for adoption agency costs. We are extremely grateful for the $2,000 grant that we received from Show Hope last fall. We also received some significant donations from friends over the holidays, which deeply encouraged our hearts.

If you feel led to partner with our family in helping to meet these financial needs, contributions can be made through Lifesong for Orphans. We are beginning to feel more and more excitement building in our hearts as we consider the fact that our family may actually be adopting in the near future. We trust God's perfect timing and are amazed at all that He has done in our lives in the last five years. We recognize that His plan for us goes way beyond one adoption. It involves advocating for adoption, foster care and orphan care, supporting adopting families and leading teams to serve orphans overseas. It has been an unbelievable journey. Thank you for standing with us in our amazing adoption adventures! And thank you to those of you who briefly attended the pity party and encouraged our hearts!