Faithful Fridays ~ If You Must Look Forward, Do So Prayerfully.

Good afternoon!  :)  I'm back from a wee break and ready to share something with you guys that I've been learning lately.  :)

Faithful Fridays is a weekly linky party hosted on my blog. I made it so that Christians could have one special day out of the week (Friday) to share something from their walk with Jesus on their blog. If you'd like to participate, write your post, grab the button from the Faithful Fridays page on my blog (so that it will link back here), and come link up at the bottom of this post! :)

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"If you must look back, do so forgivingly.  If you must look forward, do so prayerfully.  But the best thing you can do is to be present in the present...gratefully."

-Maya Angelou

I've always classified myself as a worrier.  I think a lot, and a lot of that thinking involves thinking about the future--fantasizing, dreaming, or worrying, depending on the subject.  It's just my default mode, and I think a lot of people are the same way.  It seems to be in our programming; we want to know what's next, and when, and how it's all going to play out (okay, maybe a part of that is a woman's curse ;)).  So we spend time mulling over the future and all its unknown details.  And so many times, that leads us into worry.  Which is really just a lack of trust in God; a lack of faith.  

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

-Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything.  

That's a command, and it's a pretty crazy one, isn't it?  

Do not be anxious about anything.

Not your health, or your job, or your career, or your dreams, or your future husband, or your friendships, or your relationship with God, or if people will like you, or how good or strong of a person you are.  

Instead, in every situation, by prayer and petition (or supplication, the kind of prayers where we let God know what we need), with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

"Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough."

-Francis Chan

It's not that we aren't supposed to think about the future at all.  In fact, over and over again, we're told to keep our mind's eye fixed on Jesus' return, and our homecoming to Heaven, where our lasting citizenship lies.  But it's how we look at the future that matters.  Do we look at it through the lens of trying to figure out what's going to happen and how we're going to handle it?  Do we look at it with the thought of, "Well just in case God decides not to act, I will....."?

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."

-Hebrews 11:6

That is how worry and anxiety come to fill up our souls, to take over our minds and make our lives miserable.  The key to living without fear of the future, to look forward and still battle away worry and anxiety, is to look forward prayerfully.  Not living it out in our heads in our own strength, or over-planning, but by praying.  By bringing that issue that's nagging at our minds, however big, small, strange, terrifying, or petty it may be, straight up to God.  Laying it at His feet in trust.  Because you see, He is sovereign.  Omnipresent.  Always there, everywhere, eternally and completely in control.  He truly has the whole world in His hands.  Whatever is happening or could happen to you is not a surprise to Him--He doesn't come rushing onto the scene afterward to do damage control and clean up.  His hand is on it all; and it's not your response or ability to circumstances that matters, but your response to His ability.  He cares enough about you to not want you to live your life in anxiety or fear, and He's waiting on you to give those things to Him in trust.

Prayerful looking forward is when we start to feel ourselves stressing out over our next grade, our college choices, that one relationship that is on shaky ground, or even our distant future life choices--and we choose to turn our minds instead to God's perfect sovereignty and love for us.  

"We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.  ...Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear.  If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love."

-1 John 4:16 & 18

Whatever it is in the future--or the present--that strikes fear and anxiety into your mind, bring it to your Father, the one who created, loved, and paid the price for you to live entirely in Him and His life of freedom.  Look forward prayerfully, with thanksgiving, too--thanksgiving went before God's miracles so many times in Jesus' walk on earth, so thank God in remembrance for what He's already done and in anticipation of what He will do.  Look forward prayerfully and do not be anxious about anything--He's waiting to take those burdens from you.  

"For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.  He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.

-Psalm 33:4-5

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This is my last Faithful Friday post--more explaining about that to come soon!  I want to bring my blog back to a place where I simply spill out my thoughts and what happens in my life, unconfined by a certain time (I'm always late :)) or name.  Don't worry, though, the content of Faithful Fridays--sharing what I and others learn in our personal relationships and walks with Jesus with one another--is something I definitely want to keep up through blogging, and I won't stop sharing those things here!  :)

Have a lovely week and God bless you guys,

Joy :)

Faithful Fridays ~ Why Pray?

It's Friday again!  :)  This has been a full week--our first week of school!  More on that coming in a later post.  :)


Faithful Fridays is a weekly linky party hosted on my blog.  I made it so that Christians could have one special day out of the week (Friday) to share something from their Christian walk on their blog.  If you'd like to participate, write your post, grab the button from the Faithful Fridays page on my blog (so that it will link back here), and come link up at the bottom of this post!  :)
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Today I'm going to be doing something a little different from what I usually do. 
Bible is a subject for us in homeschooling--that's one of the may things I love about it.  Couldn't really do that in a public school, now could you?  :)  This year, our curriculum has given me some great Bible books to start off with.  One of them is a 40-day devotional by John Devries called Why Pray?

I'm only five days in, but I already love it.  It's hit on some great points.  I wanted to share some of what was written for the third and fourth day, because it really made me think.
Everything from this point on in italics is from the devotional book.  :)
Day 3 Prayer is Holding Hands with God
Prayer is not the ultimate program by which we get God to do things out way.  It's like the act of a little child climbing into the lap of the Father and putting his hand on the hand of the One who is driving.  And it's more.  It's something far better--this mysterious relationship that is so much more than a means to get what we want.  We were made and redeemed to pray.  Prayer is a relationship in which we first of all recognize who God is and how greatly He is to be praised (see Psalm 48:1).
"Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain." -Psalm 48:1
And prayer is the means by which we do that.  All of our communication with God is prayer.  In prayer we are enfolded into God, and God is enfolded into us.  It's like this: when God made us, he made us in His image.  This means, among other things, that we "look like" or resemble God in striking ways.  
Let's imagine that your left hand represents God and your right hand represents you.  The two hands look like each other, but they're not the same, are they?  Similarly, while we may look like God in some ways, as His image bearers, we are not the same as God.  We were made to bear God's image so that we might "fit into" God.  You can picture this by fitting your hands together with your fingers interlocked and your palms open.  Only human beings, who were made in God's image, can "fit into" God in a way like this.  No animal or other creature can "fit into" God.  Something happened, though, in the way we fit into God.  In our picture of the hands fitting together, think of the right hand becoming infested with thorny burrs stuck between each finger.  The right hand has to be separated from the left hand, of course, because the "fit" is too painful.  The right hand symbolizes us, and the burrs symbolize our sin.  When Adam and Eve sinned, the pain of sin separated their "fit" with God.  As long as sin remained, they could not be joined together with God.  
Now, if we are that thorny right hand, there's no way for us to pull out those thorns!  A right hand cannot get thorns out of itself.  It needs the help of the left hand.  So it is with our sin and us.  And that's exactly what God has done.  In mercy, God freed us from our thorny sin so that we could fit together with Him again.  God did this by sending His perfect Son, Jesus Christ, to take away our sin and give us new life.  Think of the crown of thorns Jesus wore on the cross.  Just as that crown was pressed upon His head, so our sins (thorns) were laid upon Him.  
Hold your hands in the traditional way of folding hands in prayer.  Think of your left hand as God and your right hand as yourself.  Every time you pray, you are enfolded into the very heart of God.  This intensely close, intimate relationship is the deepest and most profound relationship any human being can have.  It is for more intimate than any relationship we can have with another person.  
Prayer is a dependent relationship with God in which I am enfolded into Him.
I love that analogy of the thorns--it really brings me back to being thankful for the amazing sacrifice and mercy God's given us.  

Day 4 Prayer is Filling the Gas Tank
Imagine that it's Sunday morning about ten minutes before worship time at your church and that I'm going to be preaching there.  You notice me pushing a big old car down the road.  It dawns on you that I am the guest preacher, and it's clear that I'm never going to arrive on time.  I'm right in front of an open gas station about a five minute drive from the church and I'm passing the station!  You slam on your brakes, hop out of the car, and ask me, what's the matter?  Why are you pushing your car?  I brush some perspiration off my forehead and reply that my car happens to be out of gas.  "Why, then, are you pushing it past the gas station?" you ask.  "Push it into the station, and fill it up!"  "But," I protest, "I don't have time to stop for gas.  I have only ten minutes left to get to church.  I can't be distracted by anything.  I must be on my way!"
My reply is so foolish that it's hard to comprehend.  No one in his right mind would be too busy to fill up if he were out of gas.  No one would push his car pas ta gas station because he was in a hurry to get somewhere.   Think of this illustration whenever you want a good example of a prayerless Christian.  The vast majority of Christians in our society claim they don't have time to pray.  But that excuse is as senseless as my saying I don't have time to stop and fill my gas tank.  Prayer is the relationship in which we stop, right where we are, and are filled with the Holy Spirit.  Without Him we can do nothing.  "Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unlesss you remain in me" (John 15:4).  Just as a branch apart from the life of the vine is fruitless, so we are empty apart from the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.  
Prayer is not a program but a dependent relationship upon God, through which we are empowered and filled by His Holy Spirit.
Prayer is so crucial to our lives and our relationship with our Savior.  And it's such an awesome privilege to be able to go before the Maker of everything in all creation and talk to Him like we would our father our friend.  Because He is our Father and our Friend!  And yet, sometimes, we underestimate prayer, let it fall to the side, and act like it doesn't hold much importance.  But it so does--a lot!  Prayer is our lifeline to God, it's how we connect and feel His presence oftentimes.  
"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
"But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." -James 1:6
"Is anyone among you in trouble?  Let them pray.  Is anyone happy?  Let them sing songs of praise.  Is anyone among you sick?  Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord." -James 5:13-14
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." -James 5:16
Prayer is important and prayer is powerful.  It's kind of one of our main love languages to God and His to us.  Take advantage of this amazing gift God has given us, to be able to talk to Him, day in and day out, wherever we are!
God bless you guys and have a great day.  :) Joy :)

Faithful Fridays ~ Keep On

Hi everyone!  Happy Friday!  We're getting ready for Luke's birthday party tomorrow and are leaving a bit early today to pick up his cake, so I wanted to get my post on before we left!

I started Faithful Fridays so that Christians could have one designated day a week (although I don't think they should keep it to just one day) to share something about their Faith--a prayer request, answered prayer, Bible verse, something God's laid on your heart, etc. To participate in Faithful Fridays, just grab the button above for your post along with a link to my blog somewhere in your post, too. After you've published your post, please come let me know in your comment that you participated and leave me a link to your blog. I'd love to come read your post!  Once I see that you've participated a few times, I will add you to this list of regular Faithful Friday-ers!  :)

My mama participates on her blog, Country Girl at Home...

Ms. Patty participates on her blog, Blessings Beyond...

Ms. Retha participates on her blog, Retha's Rambles...

and Rachel participates on her blog, Stand Out Don't Fit In.

I had two subjects on my mind to write about today but when I began to really think about them, I realized they could be tied together.

First of all, I was reading the online news that pops up when I check my email.  You know, something usual, but last night, it just seemed like the news was nothing but deaths and cruelty and evil.  You know, one of those times that you just sit back and think, When is Jesus coming?

A nine year old little girl in Alabama was forced by her mother and grandmother to run around their house for three hours, simply because she lied to her grandmother about eating candy bars.  A day or two later, Savannah Hardin, severely dehydrated, had a seizure and passed away.


Savannah Hardin

Fourteen year old Ashley Long told her parents she was going to a slumber party at a nearby friend's house, but instead, piled into the car with her friends and traveled to another city to one of the girl's older sister's condo, where they drank alcohol and took drugs.  Then, they passed around a helium tank to make their voices sound funny.  Ashley didn't want to do it, but when a friend held it up to her face, she finally assented and just moments later, she passed out.  She never regained consciousness and later passed away in the hospital.  Ashley enjoyed drawing and going to church and had never drank, taken drugs, or gone to a party before.  Her school and family are banding together to make this tragedy an example to the community of what can happen in just a moment--just one bad decision.


Ashley Long

I want to ask that you all keep Savannah Hardin's and Ashley Long's families in your prayers.

Sometimes, we just feel depressed.  Down.  Sad.  Upset.  Whether it be from losing a loved one, a bad day, an arguement with a family member, or some other disappointment.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

-Hebrews 12:1-3

Pause.  Pray.  Get into the Word.  And remember that God loves you so much that he sent his Son to die on the cross for you.  For you!  His Only Son.  The cross was the way common criminals were killed.  It was the worst, most shameful, most torturous way to die, and God put that burden on His Son!  And you know what?  He'd do it all over again.  So keep on running the race.

Please Pray for Blossom!

I have a special prayer request today--a girl that God's laid heavily on my heart.

This is Blossom.

She's frequently referred to as "Bubbly, Beautiful Blossom", and I think you can see how she got that name!  Look at her smile--it just radiates out from her face!

Blossom is thirteen years old.  She has spina bifida and her left leg is amputated above the knee.

Despite this, Blossom shines.

Blossom is being cared for at Shepherd's Field, a wonderful home for orphans in China.

Some of you may know that in the Chinese adoption process, once a child turns fourteen, they are not allowed to be adopted--this is commonly called "aging out".  It's a very sad thing--in some cases, a child must spend the rest of their life in the orphanage (until they are able/want to leave).  And, I've heard of cases where a child is made to move out of the orphanage on their own--to fend for themself.  Either way, a child that has aged out will never know the love of a family and will forever carry the title of "orphan".  That title is considered "unlucky" and quite scorned upon.  It could keep Blossom from getting a good job or education (to read more about this, please click HERE.  I love this article that was posted on the Love Without Boundaries blog).

So Blossom has several strikes against her.

-She has a more significant special need.

-She is an older child.

Halloween Cowgirl Blossom!

And, to top it off, Blossom's paperwork is not even ready yet--it never has been.  Therefore, that could very well be the reason she has not yet found her family.  I have confidence that Blossom has a few families waiting for her file.  I think that when she does hit the Shared List, there will be more than one family ready to begin considering and praying over her. 

But, Blossom will age out in about seven months.  If a family worked very hard and pushed to get their process expedited, they could bring her home in time before she ages out.

I have access to a wonderful, lengthy video of Blossom where she speaks in her wonderfully poised way, shows off her amazing artwork, and writes her name.  If you would like to see the video and/or get more information on Blossom, please email us at countrygirlathome@att.net.

Read about Blossom:

"She has spina bifida and her left leg is amputated below the knee, so she's in a wheelchair. She has been at Shepherd's Field since July (thanks to some wonderful sponsors!!) and a specialist there has evaluated her and thinks that she would be able to eventually walk with a prosthesis! I have pictures of her swinging on the swings and playing on playground equipment with the other kids (going up the steps and sliding down the slide) so she can certainly get around on her own and has the muscle strength!

Until she came to Shepherd's Field in July, she'd never had any schooling. She had a nanny who taught her some things and she is bright, and she is now learning at Shepherd's Field."

Blossom needs our prayers.  She needs prayer, first of all, that she will come to know Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior.  That's the most important thing.  Secondly, Blossom needs to have her file completed and sent to the Shared List--now!  And then, Blossom needs a family to sprint to her and scoop her up and love her like only a family can.

Will you join me in prayer for this sweet girl?

God bless you!

Joy :D

Cheng-Please Look at This!

This is Cheng.



  

Cheng is thirteen years old, and when she turns fourteen, she will no longer be able to be adopted. 

I am asking you to PLEASE look at this girl, look at her videos, and PRAY.  Ask God if she's yours because she's just so sweet and it's almost too late. 

Below is how she's listed on Lifeline's "Shared Children List" page.  She's on the Shared List. 


Cheng (URGENT) female, age 13


post operative cleft lip and palate

Cheng video: password cheng2 

Cheng video: password cheng1

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Click on "Cheng video" to see videos of Cheng.  Type in the password in the space provided at the top-ish part of the page. 

I believe that in the first video listed, Cheng is singing "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee," or at least she is singing the tune (of course it's in Chinese). 

Please pray!  If you want to know more about Cheng, leave a comment with your email address.  After reading it, I won't publish it (for your privacy). 

God bless you!

Love,

Joy

This Week's Waiting Kids! :)

All of these BEAUTIFUL children are two and under, most from BAAS and some from Lifeline.


First is sweet Howard, who is a year old, about to be two in May. He's with BAAS. Here's what's written about him:




Howard was born in May of '09. He has repaired cleft lip and un-repaired cleft palate. He is described as an active and bright child with a ready smile.


Next is adorable Jenna, who is also with BAAS and is almost a year old. Here's what's written about her:




Jenna was born in March of 2010. Her special need is postoperative congenital anal atresia. She had surgery in May of 2010 and received “rectovestibullar fistula repair and anoplasty” under GA and the surgery was successful. At present she recovered well and defecates normally. In November of 2010 she had a complete physical exam. The final diagnosis about her: rectovestibullar fistula repair, postoperative congenital anal atresia, congenital deformed cranium: absent callosum, foliaceous holoprosencephaly, dilation of cella lateralis. At present Jenna has plump face, red lips and fair skin, and she looks lovely.




Now she has good physical development, has 2 teeth, can roll over, can raise her head, can walk alone quite steadily, has some grasping ability, can grasp the small toys near hand, can visually follow moving people, can respond when her name called and will shake her head to express refusal when others give her the food she does not like.


This is precious John, who's a year old and is also with BAAS. I am not completely sure he is available, but, here's what's written about him:

John was born in May of '09. His special needs are cleft palate and repaired cleft lip and HBV carrier. John is a lovely boy with good appetite and ready smile.

This is cutie Anthony, who is almost two. He is also with BAAS. Here's what's written about him.

Anthony was born in March of '09. He has albinism. He is a lovely boy who likes to play with his own hands.

This is beautiful Lily, who will be three in a little less than a month. She is with BAAS. Here's what's written about her:

Lily was born in Febuary of '09. Her special needs are post operative congenital heart disease (valvular pulmonary stenosis); severe sensorineural hearing loss in both ears; tympanitis and mastoiditis in both ears. Lily's current height is 73.5cm, weight is 10.5kg, head size is 44cm and chest size is 50cm.



She lives at the orphanage right now and her physical development is good. She can sit, stand and walk on her own. She can only say Ma Ma. She likes to be with people she knows, and likes to play with other children. She is a bright and lovely child.

This is adorable Phil, who is going to be three in about a month, also. He is also with BAAS. Here's what's written about him:

Phil was born in Febuary of '09. He has albinism. He lives with a foster family and is very attached to his foster mother.

This is precious Sean, who is two. He is with BAAS. Here's what's written about him:

Sean was born in October of '08. He has β thalassemia. He lives with a foster family and is an active and bright boy.

This is beautiful Ting, with BAAS, who will be three in less than three months. Here's what's written about her:

Ting was born in March of '08. Her special needs are postoperative anaplasty of crossfoot in both sides, dislocation of hip joint in both sides. Ting had surgery on September 17th of 2010. The surgery was basically successful. However she still cannot walk after the surgery.



She cannot sit as steadily as before the surgery and will need to rest just sitting for a little while. The orphanage took her back to the hospital for recheck and was told the surgery was not a problem but it would take a while to recover.

This is cutie Zane, from BAAS, who is two. Here's what's written about him:

Zane was born in October of '08. He had CHD: aortic stenosis (mild to moderate), VSD (perimembranous part), PDA, pulmonary stenosis, permanent left superior vena cava, and anomalous muscle band of right ventricle.



In March of 2010 he received aortoplasty, valvuloplasty of pulmonary valve, VSD repair and ligation of ductus arteriosus under GA CPB. The surgery was successful. After operation his general condition was good. He is being cared for at the Philip Hayden Foundation. He is a lovely and active little boy.

This is precious Zachary who is two, and is with Lifeline.

Zachary has CHD. Look at that smile! :)

This is adorable Joseph, who is two and is with Lifeline.

Joseph has scoliosis, and also has a $1,500 grant with Lifeline.

This is cutie David, who is two, and is with Lifeline.

David has "deformed left forearm and left hand bilaterla oblique inguinal hernia." He has a $1,500 grant with Lifeline.

This is precious Michael, who is two, and is with Lifeline.

Michael has CHD. Sweet Michael has a $1,500 grant with Lifeline.

Next is adorable Jeremy, who is one and a half and with Lifeline.

Jeremy has a meningocele. This little beam of sunshine also has a $1,500 grant with Lifeline.

This is cutie Christopher, who is one and a half. He, too, is with Lifeline.

Christopher has Post Operative Spina Bifida, umbilical hernia. He also has a $1,500 grant with Lifeline.

Please pray for these kids. Some of them with the more major SN's, such as CHD, B Thalassemia and such really need to get out of China to get good care. If you want more info on them, leave a comment with your email and after I read it, I won't publish it, for your privacy. :) Also, someone left me a comment requesting information on sponsoring some children that I had on a post, but they left no way of contact for me. Can you please leave me a comment with your email? Thank you! :) If anyone wants to sponsor, let me know and I can get some info to you! Just leave a comment with your email address, and, again, I will not publish it after reading.

A quote for you today:

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is writing a love story to the world."

-Mother Teresa

Jesus loves you!

Blessings,

Joy :)

This Week's Waiting Kids!

So today, I want to focus on two kids, both from BAAS.


This is adorable Johnathan, from BAAS, who has cleft lip and palate.



He is from Luke's orphanage and is being cared for by Half the Sky. Look at that smile!! He was born in October '09. His special needs are cleft lip and palate; hernia. Here's what's written about him:


He can sit on his own, stand holding onto something and take steps holding hands with someone. He is bright, curious and good-natured. He loves to smile and communicate with others. He understands instructions and loves to listen to music.




On his original file, he could do things like locate a sound or voice and visually follow moving toys,

and was described as active, restless, quick-reacting, impatient sometimes, and closest to his caretaker. He also was described as having a ready smile.

This is precious Kai, who is six. Here's what's written about him.

Kai was born in April of '04. He was admitted to the SWI in April of 2010. He is fond of communicating with others. Under excellent care and nursing of the staff and live together for several days, he adapts to the environment in a short time. While being familiar with the caregivers and children, he is outgoing, has strong ability of imitating, likes playing games with the other children, often sweeps the floor with a small besom, helping the caregivers to tidy the toys and baby walkers.



He is very helpful, restless and active, intelligent and fond of study, knows the number of 1-10, can count from 1 to 100, knows the addition within 10, can write his own name down. He is fond of communicating with caregivers, often runs and jumps with his fellow friends, and has enthusiasm for learning. He accepts to new things fast, can help his fellow friends, quick in reaction, lively and outgoing personality. He has strong self-care ability and is able to dress, sweep the floor, mop the floor, do the dishes, fold up his quilt all by himself. He is fond of meat and candy.





So, if you haven't figured it out already, Kai was given to his orphanage somewhere around his sixth birthday. Very sad. :( It seems as if he's adapted very well, though. Don't you think he'd be a wonderful, easy going, sweet, smart little boy?


Keep these kids in your prayers, please! I've got a few blog posts coming up! I just have to proof and schedule them!


Blessings,
Joy :)

This Week's Waiting Kids!

This week, I want to start out with a little boy who needs a family-he very much so deserves one, just like every other waiting child-and I don't understand why he hasn't gotten one!

This is cutie Feng. He is 8 years old.



He enjoys his life with his peers, living, studying and playing games together. He is very outgoing, active, talkative and polite. Occasionally he is naughty. Every day after school he plays happily with his friends. He loves to chat with his teachers as well. He likes drawing, reading and watching TV. Feng is very bright and quick to learn.



He responds quickly to other people's words. He is in third grade. He is very conscientious in his study. He got 74% point in both Chinese and Math in the last tests. He has strong self-esteem and is very confident and independent.



He likes to express himself. He has a strong sense of justice and knows what is right and what is wrong. His aspiration is to become a policeman after he grows up. Feng is never a picky eater. He has a normal appetite. He sleeps well. He is very healthy and seldom gets sick.

This is sweet Annabelle, who is nine, and has been waiting for a while. There is a $4,200 grant if she is adopted through WACAP. Bright and brave is what they call Annabelle. :)



When we first met Annabelle in the Wuchuan orphanage in Guangdong, we learned that she had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and was unable to stand or walk. She could only move herself with her hands, and she often sat in the corner sadly while the other children played. However, the orphanage staff told us how very intelligent she was and praised her great leadership skills, as all of the kids were willing to listen to her. LWB suggested that a wheelchair would allow Annabelle more independence, and so through our orphanage assistance program we were able to purchase a pediatric wheelchair, allowing Annabelle to get around more easily in the orphanage. We also knew that this bright little girl should have the opportunity to attend school, and she now attends the orphanage school every day.



Since beginning school, Annabelle’s whole outlook has changed. While at first she was shy with foreigners, now she smiles a lot. Her caregivers say how brave she is and that she is careful with other children. They are very optimistic about her future.Due to Annabelle’s medical needs, she is waiting to be matched with a family through the Waiting Children Program. Annabelle would benefit so much from the opportunities afforded to her by a family of her own. She so deserves a bright future that the care of a loving family could provide.

And this is pretty Rochelle, who also has a $4,200 grant if she is adopted through WACAP. Rochelle is posted as "Rochelle the Budding Artist".



Rochelle is a lovely four-year-old child with an artistic streak that she uses to express her sunny personality. Though she cannot stand or walk, she has very creative hands that can do wonders. Rochelle loves to draw colorful pictures of flowers and the sun! Her painting is full of creativity and features quite unusual shapes. Not wanting to limit herself to one art form, Rochelle is surprisingly good at paper-cutting (for a four-year old!) and can cut shapes such as flower baskets, planes and birds.



Rochelle’s artwork is a reflection of her sweet and loving personality. The nannies tell us that whenever a nanny is tired, Rochelle crawls to her side and gently pats the nanny on the back. So sweet!

This is precious Austin, who is five and listed with AAC.



This cute little guy just turned 5 years old. Austin is very, very clever. He does very well in school. At four years old he was able to speak clearly and produce long sentences to tell a story vividly. His teachers often ask him to recite poems. Austin is currently learning English also. People say that Austin is very opinionated and can express his likes and dislikes. He can sometimes be stuborn and obstinate but is polite. He is very well liked by his foster family, peers, neighbors, and teachers. He has several hobbies. He is very interested in drawing, music, and computer games. Austin has contracture of his achilles tendon. This is a shortening of the tendon causing him to be unable to put his heel to the ground while walking. He can walk and run but does so on his tiptoes. He is scheduled for surgery in January.

This is curly cutie Snow. :) She is three.



Snow was born in September. She has deformed hands and feet. She can walk, jump, run and pick up things without problems. She is a friendly and good natured child.

This is adorable Zach He's on the right.



Zach has club feet that have been treated, and may have dwarfism, and he is covered in scabbies and is malnourished. You can't tell it in the picture above. I'm told he's a loving boy! He does look like he's full of fun, doesn't he?

This is Jaxon, from FTIA's Journey of Hope program. He is six.



Jaxon is almost seven and in 1st grade. He is a good student, with Math and Chinese as his favorite subjects. He also likes to read. He is a very friendly boy and can carry on a conversation well.



He made a very colorful picture for the JOH team, complete with a house by water (with fish) and blue skies full of birds and butterflies! Jaxon is missing his left hand.

And Kung Fu Drake, who is almost seven. :)



Drake is a vibrant, resilient, and determined boy. At 7 years of age, he has mastered many tasks. He is at or above target in all areas of development when compared to other children his age. Drake has deformity of his left face and ear. His caregivers state that Drake has a higher IQ than most others. He is very athletic and enjoys martial arts.



He speaks very well and has good hearing. Drake will be in the 1st grade it the fall. Drake is fast paced, outgoing, and confident. Drake has so many strengths and wants to be part of a family!

If you're interested in any of these children, leave a comment with your email so I can get the info to you! Please keep them in your prayers!

Blessings,
Joy :)