Just Over A Week!

In just over one week, our family will be welcoming Anna into our home! We are getting more excited as each day we get closer to picking her up from the airport!

I have been working endlessly at fundraising, preparing her room, and just getting "ready" for the things I know I can be ready for. I am excited to show you Anna's (almost finished) room! I just have a couple other things I am determined to get done... but if it doesn't happen... this is what she's going to get! If this girl loves pink the way she says she does... she might just love this room!

We had our home inspection this past Sunday and the woman was nearly in tears over this room. She mentioned that in the twelve years she has been doing inspections, she has never seen a family redo a room for someone who is just a host child. I didn't know what to say! Was I not supposed to? I can't imagine not sprucing up this room so that it is special for her - even if it is only for four weeks! For the four weeks she is here she will be able to claim a room that is her own! Not only that, but Anna will see that we paid attention to the things SHE likes and wants (probably not something that happens very often)... maybe that will open her heart towards us? Maybe her room will be a haven like she has never had before. Maybe she'll hate it. I just don't know! I feel excited and nervous every time I look at this picture! Will this room be a good fit for Anna? Even though it's only for a few weeks? I sure hope so! In just over a week, we will find out!

Please don't think I'm so superficial... her room is a fun thing to put time and effort into - but trust me... that is not the only thing we have taken the time to prepare! We have been preparing in so many other ways as well! We understand that there will be tougher issues to face and other trials to deal with... but since we don't know what they are, we just pray that God gives us the wisdom to handle them correctly when the time comes. We are praying for Anna as she prepares her mind and heart to come here. We have been in constant preparation through prayer since we started this journey... and I don't think it will end anytime soon! In fact, I think it may only become more constant (if that's possible!) once she arrives! Please don't think that we think this will be some sort of fun walk in the park. If it is - FABULOUS! If it isn't - FABULOUS! With the Lord's help... we will be prepared either way and will deal with any situation as it arises!

We have been learning so many interesting things about Anna and I'm just so curious what she is thinking about us! One thing we have been told is that we should not be surprised if she just stands at the fridge with the door open - staring in to see what's inside. The concept of an endless supply of food is foreign to many of these poor children... so a fridge! Can you imagine! Another thing that we have been made aware of is that NOTHING is private! They share EVERYTHING. Again, can you imagine!? If not, let me help you... Some of these children get a pair of shoes (that may or may not fit) in the morning that are on a different kid's feet the next day. They get one outfit a week and then it could belong to another child the next week. The backpack she will be bringing with her - is probably borrowed. Nobody has their own room... nothing is their own. I can not even begin to understand this, yet for them, it's life. I just have to take a deep breath in every time I ponder these things. We have been warned - expect to be thought of as millionaires. She will think we can afford everything. Little does she know! Though, how can she not think this? We have a room that is totally empty and waiting just for her! We have a fridge that has a seemingly endless supply of food. We have space that we can call our own, clothes that only we wear, and shoes that fit... many, many shoes that fit. Materialistically, to her, we certainly "have it all." It sure does put things into perspective, doesn't it?

I count my blessings every time I think about Miss Anna. I can not wait to meet this young girl!! I want to keep talking and talking, but I fear - I'm exhausted. I guess I will have to wait until another time. Perhaps at that point, I will be telling you all about her rather than wondering what she will be like!

Until next time!

Misconceptions

October 18, 2012 By Stephanie Norman

This is a guest blog post by veteran host mom and Western/Central Great Lakes Area Regional Coordinator, Marty Shoup.

When presented with orphan hosting, one of the first questions people ask is:

“Isn’t it cruel to bring an orphan here for a few weeks, give them a taste of paradise and then send them back?”

I’ll admit, when I first heard about New Horizons, it was something I wondered about as well. Because on the surface, it DOES seem cruel. To bring them here, to the “land of plenty”… to let them experience life in a family, where there’s plenty to eat and they don’t have to worry about their safety, where they’re loved and well taken care of, where their opinions matter… only to take it all away 4 or 5 weeks later.

Recently, a gentleman emailed New Horizons founder and director, LeAnn Dakake, with this very concern. A couple he went to church with had announced that they were hosting an orphan through New Horizons and they were asking for donations to help cover hosting costs.  As is true with many new (and experienced) hosters, the family was not able to articulate many of the reasons why hosting is so beneficial to the orphaned child. They just knew it was something God was calling them to do and they were being obedient.

Because of his misconceptions, I don’t think this gentleman was inclined to help this family minister to the child they were hosting.

In her reply, LeAnn addresses this concern and visits some of the reasons why we do what we do.

“The kids that we bring are coming on a visit, or exchange type program. Many of their orphanages close during the holidays and over summer so all kids must go somewhere. They go other places like Italy, Spain, Holland, other camps in their own countries (former Soviet training camps for kids) and some go to local foster families as well. We are one of the “options” as far as the kids are told, and they are selected to come on our program after being interviewed and after we talk to their caregivers about behavior, school efforts etc. So, everyone goes out of the orphanage for the summer and in our case, we are a 5 week program, so they come here and usually return to a camp type place in their home country or start out at one and come to us from the camp. In Latvia, children are mostly in foster families as they are trying to close traditional orphanages, but the foster families are not able to care for them beyond the monthly low stipend and in many cases, they don’t have indoor plumbing and are very rural with little access to anything for the children to do outside of school or off the farm (most are on farms).

Our program shows children what it’s like to be fully and unconditionally loved in a Christian family. It is an experience that many would never have in their lives. Even in most of the foster families, the foster parents are “workers” and do not treat orphans as their own children. They do this due to culture, poverty and also to keep up some wall as they know they cannot provide for a permanent situation even if they so desired. In addition to the ministry aspects of the program, the kids come and gain a new language. Most learn as much English in 4-5 weeks here as they would in a good English class in their schools over 4-5 years. Latvia is a part of the European Union as well and in that, residents are able to move and work in other EU countries. But Latvian is a language that no other country speaks or uses, and English is a very common language in all. So, that alone, would be a good “tool” to give kids now to help them later. However, many of the children who come are also eligible for adoption and after being hosted, about 65% of the eligible children are adopted into a forever and unconditional loving Christian family. Besides participating in a program like ours, they have literally 0-1% chance of ever being considered for adoption through a traditional process. Latvia doesn’t place children under about age 9 as available for adoption unless they have medical issues or are part of sibling sets. And, most families who consider  adopting would not just send a dossier (family adoption package) to Latvia asking for a preteen or teenager sight unseen. So, this does offer them a lot of possibilities beyond just a visit to a nice family in America. Also, most children who are older and have aged out for adoption who come, are learning enough English they can be considered to return on a student visa, which Latvia allows if we find sponsors.

Surprisingly, most families who host do not intend to adopt the child they bring. Most consider it as helping a poor orphan child and being sacrificial towards that child- a missions trip for their family where they can still live at home. However, in the end, many families do decide they want to adopt or they have friends through church, neighbors etc who meet the child and decide to adopt. Nearly all families say they went into it to bless a child and come out of it feeling like they received the blessing. On the other side, when I talk to children after they have been fully adopted and live in The US, none of them state that on returning to their home country they felt like they were being ripped out of a glorious land and placed into poverty. It was a trip to remember and they returned “home”. When they were offered adoption later, since we don’t speak of it on the host program, they were in most cases, shocked and it took a great deal of thinking to consider it real and accept it.

So, in the end, if a child who comes on the program has even 10% chance of being helped through one of these purposes, where they had 0% if they didn’t come; should we decide not to do this, or to do this for them as much as possible? And, that 10% is in reality, much greater for each child who participates…more like 99% gain something important from the program whether it’s Salvation, family, language or love.

Lastly, it is interesting to consider that the kids don’t have such the expected “trauma” after having to go back as one would assume. In fact, I have traveled with some of the groups all the way back home and each program I travel with them through security to the plane after we depart parents at the airport in Atlanta. The kids look at this as a vacation. Once they separate from their 4-5 week family, they refocus on friends after we get through security and find familiarity in them. “They are going home”. It is told to them and explained as such and being their “homes” are in Latvia and Ukraine, they don’t expect to stay forever. The things that we see as extreme poverty and necessary things we have to have in life to live… just aren’t seen that way when it’s what you know and come to accept as “life and home”. We are “Disney World” and no one expects to live at Disney World. In fact, there are some kids who go back, are offered adoption and say no. For Americans, many things we deem necessary to live comfortably, they see it as waste and extreme, even greed and ugly wealth at times. After traveling myself twice a year, to where they live, I tend to feel their viewpoint at times too.  Not having running water in a house doesn’t mean it isn’t a comfortable home that provides attention and a sense of belonging. Safety and security of the “known” is there and that is number one on what humans need in order to consider what things are important. I suppose, considering where they were prior to the orphanages, streets and foster families, which is something none of us has had to see or endure, where they are now is a welcome version of “home”…just not what you and I would think of or ever consider as sufficient to be home. Consider the show Little House on the Prairie? They had little and felt like they had everything. These kids are similar, except they don’t have the “family” and that’s what we aim to offer them.

So, I hope this helps you to see the benefits far outweigh the negatives and also, the “craziness” of a new world is something exciting to experience for all of them. Flying on an airplane is a ride at the amusement park…and in some cases, riding everywhere in a car instead of going by metro or by foot is something they really dislike. So, they perceive it much differently from how we see it.

God bless you and your family for considering joining us as we minister to orphans and coming on this journey with your friends.”

I hope it changed his mind.
And if the same thought has scampered through your head, I hope it changes your mind as well.

What A Blessing!

It has been really awesome to see the individual things God has been doing for each of the families who are hosting. I have been part of a Facebook group with other families that are hosting children. There have been so many amazing examples of how God has specifically provided for them as they do their fundraising. Some families have two or more children and have so much more to raise than we do! It literally causes me to be speechlessly in awe. All that seems to come out is WOOOOOW. Examples of how a family needed $400 more than expected and then someone sends a check in the mail because of something totally unrelated... that happens to be for $400. Situations where things "just happened" at "the right time."
I have seen God work before, but I've never personally seen Him work so globally before. As I said in my last post, God wants Anna here. We understand that during the time she is here will face challenges - language barriers, emotional issues, and who knows what else... yet we are nothing but thrilled to have this opportunity to be serving the Lord. It is fun watching Him work right now just with the fundraising... We simply can't wait to see how He works in each child's life once they arrive. I'm already praising God in anticipation for what He is going to do... and I'm CERTAIN there will be many MANY more "WOW" moments!

One Month!

It is officially one month from this day that we will be welcoming Anna to our home! I am so eager that it feels like that day will never come. Though, I have so much to accomplish that I feel like she'll be here tomorrow and I won't be able to get everything done in time!

One thing that I just can't thank the Lord enough for is that we have been so blessed as we prepare for our silent auction fundraiser. Everything seems to just be "working out." Of course, we know that it has nothing to do with coincidence and everything to do with God's greatness and provision. We have a nice list of things that will be auctioned and the donors seem to keep coming. I had two businesses call me yesterday with gifts to auction! I am humbled and in awe of God's hand in all this. He wants Anna here.

As we prepare our hearts and home for Anna, we are preparing her living space as well! Yesterday we cleared some things out of the spare room and got her bed made with her PINK fleece sheets (it gets cold here), her PINK pillows, and her PINK comforter!! She said her dream was to have a room that was all pink... that is one dream we can most certainly fulfill!! Though we won't be painting the walls... she's probably going to change her favorite color after all the pink she'll be bombarded with here. :)

This girl is so stuck in my heart and mind. It's such a strange feeling. I don't know this girl but by a picture and a few things that she likes... but I feel like I've had her in my life forever and I'll be welcoming back a lost child. I know that her perspective will be completely different than mine, but perhaps the Lord is preparing her heart as well. We pray for her each night and I love her so much already! I understand it will not be all smiles and happiness the entire time she is here, but I understand that she needs us and because of that, I'm ready to plunge into the difficult stuff too. I want to help her so much. I want her to feel loved, secure, and "at home" here, even though it will only be temporary. Though I know, in the end, I will have to say goodbye... all my walls are down and I'm preparing for the heartache of the "goodbye."

All we know is that God has put this darling girl in our lives... and we are not letting her go. Though when she returns to her country we will not be with her in person... she is now and forever in our hearts, our minds, our prayers, and our lives. Hopefully our involvement in her life will change the typical statistics for a girl in her situation. It sickens me to think that she could potentially end up in prostitution... or worse, end up committing suicide. I just beg God that we can be the tool He uses in her life to change that. Oh God, may we PLEASE be the ones to help change that.

Who Will Care For Them?

What a day! It's 2:00 AM and I've just finished getting a new website put up.

www.bringorphanshome.com

I want to make sure there is a place we can send people when we start telling them about what Josh and I are doing this winter. It's hard to ask people for financial support, so perhaps we will feel better if we can direct people there for more information!

I spent quite a bit of time today talking to a friend (who is also part of this host program) and I continually learn more each day about orphans. Children. Children with no families. It's easy not to think about them, really. Until now. We have been made aware of these children who are in such need of love and attention that, I believe, might have started us down a road we never even knew existed... but has fully captured us.