Perhaps it means your child will have just started the new school year. You've finished spending quite a bit of money on school supplies, clothes, maybe even a new computer.
Maybe your child is in a year round school schedule and is approaching the first track out period where you're looking forward to doing some fun things together.
Depending on your area of the country, maybe that date means only a few more days until the new school year starts and you're making preparations and finding out who their teacher is, etc.
But for 16 year old kids in Ukraine, that date has an entirely different meaning.
That's the day where they are on their own...
August 31st signals the day when orphanages in Ukraine send 16 year olds out the door and into the world on their own...
With a backpack and a bus ticket...
No parents or mentors...
Little to no job skills...
Barely any life skills, beyond fighting for your basic needs...
NO chance at adoption...
Into a country that considers orphans the worst of the worst...
Within a few years, while these kids are still teenagers, 80% of them will end up in poverty...
In a life of crime...
As prostitutes...
With an addiction...
In prison...
Or dead...
So, why should we care about kids halfway around the world, you might ask?
Why should we care when there are kids in our foster care system who need our help?
These are good questions... and I might just offend some people with my answers...
Why is it one versus the other?
Why should Americans help only those in Ukraine (or China, or Africa, etc) and not those in the US? OR
Why should Americans help only those in the US and no children in other countries?
Here is my question...
Why can't we help BOTH?
There are many people who wonder why families want to adopt from foreign countries when there are many in our foster system who need help... That is a legitimate question IF the person asking it was in fact doing something to help children in our country...
You do NOT have to adopt from either the US foster care system or a foreign country to show your care and compassion for orphans.
Sometimes it's as simple as buying something!
Think of what you might spend money on this week:
Groceries, clothes, gas, electricity...
ALL good things...
But maybe, just maybe, there is room in your budget so that 2 orphans can have a FAMILY?!
Yes, you have probably figured out that I am blogging about my friend April, whose family is adopting TWO orphans from Ukraine who desperately want and need a family. Who am I to sit in my comfortable house in my easy life and deny those children the chance to have a family?
MANY of my friends have stepped up for April in different ways. Some have donated items that are being auctioned on her Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.484762421535164.114868.482330258445047&type=1)... Some have bid on those items... Others have asked for donations from friends and family... Others are praying... I'm sure some have even donated money (http://www.eliproject.org/families-in-process/the-mclaughlin-family/)
I'm trying to get the word out so that April and her family can bring their children home quickly. One more day in an orphanage is TOO long!
So, I'm asking for your help!
Can you give? Bid? Share?
Of course, I am asking for your prayers as well, because we know this is GOD's battle and HE desires these children to have a forever family.
Please ask yourself what you are able to do... And then DO IT!
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