Fundraisers!

Here are the fundraisers we have going on right now:

AMAZON
Who doesnt love Amazon....ok dont answer that, lol. If you plan to do your holiday shopping on amazon please do so using the link below. A portion of your purchase goes toward our adoption. TYSM!!!
http://www.amazon.com/?&tag=beckfamiadop-20&creative=397325&camp=211173&link_code=ur1&adid=1ZYG1RXBQM0SYD7ABXPF

BRACELETS!!!
http://continuingourjourney.blogspot.com/2012/11/bracelets.html

Click here to purchase- https://www.wepay.com/stores/wristbands


KINDLE FIRE GIVEAWAY!!!!!
http://continuingourjourney.blogspot.com/2012/11/kindle-fire-hd-giveaway.html

You can also make a tax deductible donation here

http://reecesrainbow.org/36043/sponsorbeck


We are hoping to get travel dates at any moment now. So if you love adoption and want to follow God's command (James 1:27) to take care of the widows, orphans and fatherless here are some really great ways to do so. Thank you all so much for your support.

Be blessed

Yours to Hold

The smell of urine was thick tonight. It was almost too much for me to bare. I think God is preparing me for the orphanage.

"It is humbling when as you are praying for a homeless man he begins to pray for you"- Paul

Words cant really express of convey accurately the feelings I had. It was different tonight. I saw a side of a few that I hadnt seen before, anger and fear. I wasnt afraid though. I had a calmness about me. I knew that God was there. He was meeting these people right there on the urine soaked cement. He was laying with them as they tried to keep warm and sleep. 

One man had just gotten his Bible. He wanted to show us and read for us. It was in Arabic. I had to see.

The joy on his face at being able to read God's words in his language was humbling. How many Bibles we have and never open. How easy it is to get our hands on a Bible and yet we dont take advantage of that. This man was full. He had his Bible and a sac lunch and hot coco, he was happy.

 "Look! Look!" he said and then he would start reading to us. "And here!" and turn the pages and read another verse he loved. He was sharing the gospel with me, joyfully. A homeless man. He took the time to share with me God's word right there on the cold, dark, damp street. He didnt care what time it was. He wasnt in a hurry.

I sat on the ground and bravely ask questions I would not normally ask. "How...why? Um.. you look like an upper middle class guy how did you and your girl end up here?" I sat and listened as a man told me about his past and redemption. Prison and bad choices had  left a stain on him and now 20 years later it was still haunting him. He couldnt find a job because of his mistakes, but he knew his God would provide. "God gave me grace and covered my sins, but in this world my background makes it hard for me to get a job. I dont just sit here on the street all day. In the morning me and her get up and we go to the library and we look at the jobs online. Next week we will be bell ringers. Its not like no one cares. There are ministries that come out here wanting to help and I accept it. God takes care of us." 

Then he went into the Bible and the way we are so blind now a days. He spoke about being ready when the Lord comes and knowing that the end is near. I joked and said that soon he would have his home in Glory then, a roof, a real home. "I dont care about what I get in Heaven I just want my people there. I want to see my mom." This man really knew his Bible. "People come by every night and some say arent you afraid? Afraid of what I say? If God is for me who can be against me?" 

We sat for a long time talking about God, the world as it is now, the Bible, family and jobs. Someone tried to offer him pizza but he refused saying. "thank you but we have more than enough right now."

All he needs, all his girl needs is someone to take a chance on them. He wasnt asking for a handout he just wanted a chance to work. 

I left there feeling uplifted and like I had just been to a really inspiring church service. As I walked away I knew that I knew that one day Paul and I would see Ken in Heaven. It wasnt about reciting a prayer of words made up by a preacher. It was living Christ like, being humble and obeying God and His word. Ken did this. He loved God and I imagine a day when he will run into Jesus arms smiling and jumping and knowing he finally was home.

Another street, more people. Cold, dark, smelly.

Each person getting a need met because people chose to put their lives on hold and go to the street to be His hands and feet.

The hot chocolate was a hit, as were the hot dogs (still warm) and the warm burritos. 

A mans was screaming about war as a young man knelt down beside him to listen. The young man was there like every other night handing out food, praying, talking with and listening to these people. Tonight he took the brunt of this man's angry words and just listened. The angry man I imagine was more afraid than angry. He seem to have PTSD and was a vet. Not a very old man age wise but aged from fighting wars and seeing too much of things we shouldnt see. After the man tired out the young man walked away. He wasnt hurt, he wasnt afraid, he was being Christ like for a hurt man in need of healing. 

 Of course there was time for fun too. I mean when besides midnight could you bull ride a moving car?

Being on the streets tonight reminded me of a Skillet song. Yours to Hold

I see you standing here

But you're so far away
Starving for your attention
You don't even know my name

You're going through so much
But I know that I could be the one to hold you

[Chorus:]

Every single day
I find it hard to say
I could be yours alone
You will see someday
That all along the way
I was yours to hold
I was yours to hold
I see you walking by
Your hair always hiding your face
I wonder why you've been hurting
I wish I had some way to say

You're going through so much

Don't you know that I could be the one to hold you

I'm stretching but you're just out of reach
You should know
I'm ready when you're ready for me
And I'm waiting for the right time
For the day I catch your eye
To let you know
That I'm yours to hold

I'm stretching but you're just out of reach
I'm ready when you're ready for me

Some know Jesus and all He does and will do for them. They know His love and they bask in it.  Others they dont see Him, they dont feel Him, dont even know His name, but He is there waiting for the right time to hold them, to hold us.  We are living in times of such vanity to think that we can do it all we dont need Him. And still He waits ready to catch us when we fall, ready to take the hurtful words we spew at Him, taking it all, paying the price because He loves us.

Be blessed

Pearson

Meet Pearson

Pearson is a 16 yr old boy with Down Syndrome living in state care.

His profile reads:
Pearson is friendly and active. He loves to play with toys that are stimulating to the senses, especially ones that light up and twirl. He enjoys going to the park and playing on the playground. Pearson gets along with his peers; however, he prefers to play alone. He can become upset easily when he is told "no" and can have tantrums. Pearson is a great eater, although he needs to be watched closely, because he tends to put too much food in his mouth at a time. His favorite food is bread! Pearson attends life skills classes in school to give him the opportunity to live as independently as possible when he gets older. Pearson is making steady progress on his communication skills and daily living activities such as getting dressed and bathing himself. Pearson is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Down Syndrome. He also is non-verbal, but is able to communicate by saying a few words. He prefers to communicate through gestures and sign language. 

Desired Family Profile:
Pearson needs a family who has experience with children who have developmental and physical challenges. He will do best in a family who can provide close supervision as well as a highly structured environment with a daily routine that is easy to follow. This family needs to be patient and understanding of Pearson's challenges and be able to provide a nurturing and loving home. Pearson will do best in a home where he is an only child or the youngest child in the home. This family will need to be willing to make a lifetime commitment to Pearson and be able to advocate for him across a variety of settings to ensure he is receiving the services he needs. This family will need to be able to celebrate the small achievements Pearson makes while challenging him to reach new goals.

http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Adoption_and_Foster_Care/Texas_Heart_Galleries/SanAntonio/pages/Pearson_60955.htm

Every profile I read says the child should be the only child or youngest. Why? More than likely he lives in a group home with a ton of other kids or in a foster home with several other kids. At 16 I highly doubt he is the youngest or only in a foster home. I say if you think he is your child go for it. If you have 10 kids or 2 but they are babies, go for it. Experienced or not, go for it. These children sit on these sites and wait for years and years for their caseworker to find that perfect family, well guess what! There is no such thing and in the mean time a child grows up motherless.

This boy has 2 years. 2! Then he will be unadoptable. In foster care they throw you out on the street at 18 with a couple hundred bucks in your hand and say go and be a grown up after we stifled you all these years. Good luck with that! They wont throw him out on his own right? No he will spend the rest of his life in a group home with other handicap people. How are we more civilized than Europe?

Please spread the word. Pray. Help this child find his family.

Be blessed

BRACELETS!!!!

We have bracelets for sale! One for 4.00 

Two for 6.00

Three for 8.00

Four for 10.00

Five for 12.00

and that includes shipping.

If you are local and would like to pick up a few we can offer a discount.

Help us bring our boys home while using these bracelets to tell others what true religion is Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

                      -James 1:27

Click here to purchase- https://www.wepay.com/stores/wristbands

Be blessed

A Challenge...

Today on facebook as I was commenting about the need for the church to step up something occurred to me. Why do congregations support missionaries monthly and yet they do not support adoptive families? What is the difference between a missionary and an adoptive family?

A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. A Christian missionary can be defined as "one who is to witness across cultures."

Well that sounds a lot like adoptive parents. Usually part of a religious group. I educate my adopted children, I make sure their needs are met. I take them to get health services they need and perhaps never had.  My children like other APs kids are from all cultures so I would be witnessing across cultures. 

I know churches who support foreign orphanages which is awesome! But think about it, the church supports them in the orphanage but not the family God called to go and bring them home and set the lonely in families...hmmmm....how come?

Could you imagine if a church supported one adoptive family each month through the end of their adoption? They would be supporting a missionary in the US.  Say they give 300.00 and it takes the family one year to bring the child home. That is 3600.00 toward the ransom of a child. That is a lot of money to an adoptive family. In a church of 2000 people that isnt really a big amount of money only 1.80 per person in the church. C'mon! Seriously! 1.80 per person and you can give a family 3600.00 in a year. WORD!!

I imagine that from what I know about blessings and what I know about where your treasure is there your heart is also and what I know about God's love for the least of these, I imagine a very blessed congregation. You think you cant fit it in your very tight budget with all the bills you (the church)have. I feel like it is as important as tithe. 

So here is my challenge to the churches of America. I challenge you to find one adopting family and pledge to give them X amount a month. That amount  that after prayer God shows you to give. I challenge you to continue to give until the children are home.

But that isnt all. Commit to pray for them because you will never see warfare like you see in adoption. Pray for them daily. Talk about them when you are mentioning your giving or missionaries. Maybe ask them to speak one Sunday.

 

This is my challenge to you. Be the change you wish to see in this world. Watch the miracles unfold in your congregation. Tell your church about my proposal. Let me know if you are doing it. All it takes is 1% of christians to help and it will end the orphan crisis. 

"Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know, and holds us responsible to act." Prov. 24:12

Be blessed

The Connected Child

If you are in the foster or adoption arena you know about The Connected Child. Karyn Purvis is amazing. Here are a few videos of hers. If you havent adopted watch them anyway. More can be found at http://empoweredtoconnect.org



I will add more to another post. These are great. Check em out!

Be blessed

International what now?

International Foster Care.

Do you know what that is?

http://www.ccdofw.org/ifc

"The International Foster Care (IFC) Program provides foster care for unaccompanied minors who do not have adult caregivers. The program partners with foster families to provide a safe, nurturing, and culturally sensitive environment that equips and empowers them to reach their full potential. IFC provides services to meet the needs of each youth. These services include tutoring, mentoring, independent living skills training, cultural activities, legal assistance, mental health services, intensive case management and education/ESL classes."

This program is a great way to help the orphans. In this program children are historically between the ages of 15-17yrs old. They flee their countries in the middle of the night to find refuge. Then they board a plane and land in a foreign place where no one speaks their language and they have a family waiting for them to help them get through this. Now the children coming over have been as young as 8yrs old. 

These children are fleeing genocide, persecution, trafficking. In the shuffle to get them out of immediate danger papers can be lost. Because of this and out of respect for the children's birthfamilies these kids are NOT available for adoption. 

Like any foster placement the first 6-9 months will be difficult. 
There are only 22 places in the United States doing this. 

This is a way for God to use you for His glory. Please prayerfully consider your part to help the orphans.

For more information , please contact Merryl Barker at mbarker@ccdofw.org office 817-289-0466

Please consider what part you could play in helping these youth:

• Become a foster parent and have your home licensed so you can welcome these youth when they arrive (requires 36 hours of training and a home study by a CCFW home developer).
• Volunteer as a cultural mentor or educational tutor.
• Host an outing/party for the youth (soccer game, bowling, swim party, etc.).
• Donate: welcome boxes, school supplies, gift cards for clothing, or sporting equipment.
• Spread the news: Tell others about this great opportunity and how they can get involved. 

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.

Proverbs 31:8-9

Be blessed