It's Not Glamorous but please read and watch...

Lately, Shawn and I have been re-calling the path that God took us down to bring us to this point that we are at. The point where our hearts are broken for orphans and where we are encouraging everyone that shows the least bit of concern for orphans to join us by rescuing one..... or two, three or however many they will. The point where we are saying, only God knows where this journey is going and how many of HIS children will be taken in and loved by us. As we have traced back the steps to our hearts we've realized that it wasn't an adorable "gotcha video"; although God has used those as a tool of inspiration for us. It wasn't the precious little Ethiopian boy at our church that plays with our baby in the nursery.... although, God has used his family as an example for us. It wasn't our dear friends who "got it" before we did and began their journey to a little girl in India.... yes, God definitely used them to show us what obedience looks like. I've read a ton of books and they were filled with a wealth of information and conviction but let me share with you what God used to "break us".

It was actually the NOT SO glamorous facts and videos.

(Please don't stop here where the ugly truth begins; KEEP reading)

-There is over 143,000,000 orphans in the world today!

-Every 15 seconds, another child becomes an AIDS orphan in Africa.

-Every day 5,760 more children become orphans.

-Approximately 250,000 children are adopted annually, but...

-Every YEAR 14,050,000 children still grow up as orphans and AGE OUT of the system.

-Every DAY 38,493 children AGE OUT.

-Every 2.2 SECONDS, another orphan child AGES OUT with no family to belong to and no place to call home.

-Many children who age out of an orphanage commit suicide before age 18.

-60% of the girls are lured into prostitution. 70% of the boys become hardened criminals.

Many of these children accept job offers that ultimately result in their being sold as slaves. Millions of girls are sex slaves today, simply because they were unfortunate enough to grow up as orphans.

The disastrous outcomes of most children who age out of institutional care is evidence that these children don't know the meaning of love, and are unable to comprehend God's love. Receiving Jesus Christ makes no sense and too many of them will never have a chance to become adopted children of God.

These numbers make me sick to my stomach but not as sick as this NEXT one.

-If only 6% of the church would break out of their comfort zones and adopt one of these children, every adoptable orphan would have a home.

Okay, so God took those facts and this following video and changed our hearts and lives forever. I don't even know how I came across this video (actually my 9 year old found it) but it would forever change our family. It's not a cutie pie "gotcha video" but it was GOD'S "gotcha video" for our family. It definitely "GOT US". I pray that it "gets YOU".

Please stop my music at the bottom of this page, you definitely want to hear this.