Ten Ways to Help Orphans

In basically random order…

Read -books, blogs, the Bible... things that raise your awareness of the plight of the orphans and the need to help them.

Share -share a worldview with your kids... tell them about other countries, learn about different places and people... broaden their view of the world so they begin to see with God's eyes rather than narrowed ones.

Talk -tell people about your discoveries... introduce them to orphans and their stories, talk about the ways to help, talk about the need to help.

Listen- If you're reading this, chances are you already have an interest in orphans. And probably are developing some strong opinions, too.  Take the time to listen to the facts, to the stories, and to the people who are involved on the front lines.  Orphans and adoption are highly emotional topics. Try to listen without judging. Be a supportive ear for a friend going through the adoption process. Share the joys, commiserate over the troubles.

Give -time and money, always needed, always valued... even a little bit goes a long way.  You can give to charities or orphan missions, or directly to adopting families.  As incentive, many are tax-deductible, too.  Some families seek donations in a fun way, "selling" birthdays... for example, you donate $5 for each date you want blocked off... or puzzle pieces... for a small donation, your name is written on the back of a puzzle piece and someday the child you've helped will be able to see the names of all the people who cared.

Collect -gather your cast-off toys, those little Happy Meal cars and dolls, extra school supplies, socks or hats on sale. Store them in a small box and be ready to donate them to Christmas ministries or other orphan care.

Pray -without ceasing. With joy and thanks for these children. With love and concern for them. For the people who are taking care of them now. For the people who have the power to change a life. For the families who want new sons and daughters. For the children who very much want families. For those who are uncertain. There's a phrase in adoption circles... "RH", which stands for Reluctant Husband.  I've seen many RHs become enthusiastic dads-to-be through the power of prayer… I've seen it first-hand, in fact!

Adopt -this is an obvious one, and the biggest. It's not necessarily for the faint of heart! But God does equip us. No, you can't adopt everyone. And some shouldn't be adopted. What? It's true. There are many older children who do not actually want to be adopted... they've spent their lives learning to look after themselves, and removing them from their native culture at an older age can create great difficulty. Does that mean we can't help them then? Not at all! They, too, need help... there are wonderful opportunities for them to live in a group-home family style setting, and get the care and food they need. Consider supporting one of these homes.

Shop -This one's a win-win. Many families fundraise for their adoptions... after all, how many of us have thousands of dollars laying around? Children are worth a little work! The fundraising takes the form of selling handmade goods, online auctions, and receiving commissions from parties such as Pampered Chef, Scentsy, and Tastefully Simple.  There are also some businesses who help with sales of t-shirts, coffee, and gift certificates, to name a few.  Many people have found shopping this way to be a wonderful source for unique gifts, as well as an opportunity to help bring a child home.

Start -Start moving- or start a movement.  I've found that sometimes the hardest part of doing something is just getting started. So, don't put it off. Start now! Start with prayer, if you like. That's the easiest, and will help guide you in the best direction.  Why not start a movement, too? I would love to bring up the subject of orphan ministries at my church. It would be great if I started something there.

Starting Monday, I'll look at each of these "ways to help" a little more closely.  In the meanwhile, I'll be remembering on Good Friday and rejoicing on Easter Sunday!