5 Ways to Make a Connection with an Orphan

I've been thinking of ways to reach out to people that have an interest in becoming a warrior for an orphan with Down syndrome and other special needs.   As I was telling my best friend earlier, I tend to assume everyone already knows all the tips and tricks when it comes to advocating, mostly because the people I talk to on a daily bases advocate for orphans.  But I forget that so many people are uneducated and don't even know where to begin when it comes down to advocating/being a prayer warrior for a child.  And maybe there are some advocates out there that would really like to get a closer connection with their orphan.   So I thought that this might be a nice post to share some of the ways I've made connections with my orphan(s) in the past. :)


1.  Write Letters to them.

This one with either sound completely crazy to you or something you've done or heard about a hundred time before, but it's SO true!  Especially if you have a blog for the child you advocate for.  You'll find out quickly that you run out of things to post about on that one child you get little to no new information about.  And that's not a bad thing, in fact it's completely normal.  Trust me, I'm friends with lots of advocates and we've all discussed having this issue before, you're not alone! 
Writing letters will give your readers an insight on how you love and care for the child you're advocating for.  But the main reason I recommend doing this is because you will truly build a strong bond with this child when writing out your love and feelings for them!  They can't hear or read it in the moment, but when their forever family finds them you will have those letters to send them one day.  It shows just how loved and thought about they were when they thought no one was there for them. 

2. Print their Picture(s)!

My best friend, Alyssa and I have always printed out our child's photograph(s) and put them all over the house!  Why not?  Every single time you see their photo you automatically think of them and where they're at right now in life, which leads me to pray for them a lot more often than I would without the photographs.   This is a HUGE way for me to make a connection with a child!  I love seeing their photos everywhere.  And as Alyssa said, it makes everything seem so real.  They aren't just a virtual photo anymore, they're actually something you can hold and hang in different places!

 

This photo above is Alyssa's kiddos.  She has them hanging above her desk <3

 

When I advocated for Mick (who is officially home) I hung his photo in a shadow box frame above my bed. I woke up to his precious face every day.   This is a wonderful thing to do!  You just HAVE to! :)


3.  Give a Nickname

I naturally give the kids I advocate for nicknames.  I don't usually even have to think about giving the child a nickname in most cases, I just start calling them something and it sticks.   To me it makes them feel more personable.  Since you can't get to know them physically, all you have is that one photo and maybe even JUST a description of them to go on, take advantage and count it as a blessing to have whatever you have about them!  Study it in detail and then something will pop up that you will just know is "the" name. ;)   This really helps build that connection you're looking for! 

4. Create a Theme

Just like a mama makes a theme for her child's nursery or room, you should create a theme for your orphan advocating process!  Especially if you have a blog!  Make a fun theme that you think fits the child you're advocating for!  Whether it be Hello Kitty, Winnie the Pooh,  jungle theme, ocean theme or whatever just give it a try!  It also makes everything feel a little more personable I feel. :)  


5. Make a Keepsake Box

Our human nature usually tends to lean more to the doubtful side of things, but I encourage you to step outside of that comfort zone!  Don't think that the child you are advocating for *may* never find their family.  Don't doubt!  Doubt will be your enemy in advocating, always think positive and pray hard! Trust that the Lord will provide that precious little one with their perfect forever family!  Don't doubt.  Instead go buy a special box and little by little fill it with little special things that you feel fits the child.  Their mama and daddy may not have found them yet, but this is your time to prove one day to the orphan that YOU CARED and that YOU LOVED them before they were "found".  
You can don't have to buy everything, in fact you can make it all!  It's your keepsake box to make!

Get a little stuffed animal (make it go along with the theme you have for their advocating process like suggested in step 4) fill it with books that remind you of the child.  Write letters and stick them in the box too.  I even get the kids birthday cards and put them in the keepsake box.  They're going to get ALL of these things one day because when their family finds them you will send this keepsake box to the family. 
This is is a lovely and valuable way to make that connection stronger. <3 :)

And there you have it!  My 5 ways of building a special connection with a child (orphan) you advocate and pray for.  This isn't by any means the way you *have* to do it, but simply the ways I recommend trying.  If you don't have "that" connection it's harder to do anything for that child.  Trust me, I know.  I'm hoping that these suggestions and ideas will help you like they've helped me. :)


Thank you for reading feel free to follow or subscribe so you can keep up to date with my journey in advocating for "my" three cuties, Joe, Talia and Fern. <3

 

#WheresMyMom?

Tomorrow is the day you hug your mama, tell her how much you love her and appreciate all the many things she's done for you.  It's another day where you take some time to really think about how big you're blessed.  And you do know, you are *really* blessed if you have a mom.  No matter how many times she gets on your nerves, makes you angry, tells you things you don't want to hear or think you already know, she is a huge blessing that I personally take for granted too often. 

Today I had to opportunity to give my mom some special treatment for her special day (which isn't until tomorrow, but one of my brother's turn 9 that day as well and she'd much rather celebrate him)
It wasn't the grandest thing you'd ever seen, but she was so grateful and excited.   It made me so happy to see her so happy about something so small.

I forget how much God has blessed me with.   I have the world's best mom.  She would do or give anything for one of her kids.  She's always looking for ways to make us happy and to give us all she can,  I am so much more blessed than I deserve.  She is so wonderful and I can't imagine my life without her.  She's my best friend, there isn't a thing that she doesn't know about me.  I tell her everything.

On this day when I count my blessings a little more than usual my heart breaks for the 147 million children in this world today without a mom to call their own.

No mom to kiss your booboos when you've fallen, no mom to tell you how much you are loved, to hug and comfort you.  No getting rocked to sleep while she sings a sweet song in your little toddler ears.  No laughter together, no shoulder to cry on when life hits you hard.   None of anything.   Nothing.

365 days alone inside the orphanage walls just waiting and wondering, "Where is she..where's the sweet lady they call "mom"?...you know, that one that comes in and takes you outside of this everyday of striving to survive and clinging to what little life I have.  The one that rescues me."

These precious children don't know what love is.   Some of them as old as 16 and have never felt one ounce of it.  Not a mother's love.  Which is something entirely unique and overwhelming.  Someone that is always there for you no matter what.   

This Mother's Day I want to encourage you to consider making a donation of amount to any of the waiting children listed on Reece's Rainbow.  Or ANY adoption connection you have.  Chose at least one to pray for today and share on your social media and hey, why not church?  It is on Mother's Day! ;) 
Spread that child's name and photo EVERYWHERE.  Help them find a mom this Mother's Day.  Tell your mom what you're doing, I bet she'll think it's fabulous!  

 Here are the three I will be shouting for all day! :)



                      My gorgeous sweet Talia: Click here to donate, share and read more about her.:)

 

My little soft Fern: Click here to donate, share and read more about her.

 

My oh so loveable Joe: Click here to donate, share and read more about him.

You might have noticed the hashtag theme going on here, I'm hoping that everyone that reads this will go share a photo on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #WheresMyMom in the description box.    Let's see how many people we can get to spread this hashtag everywhere!

This is an easy free way to help someone today!  You could be response able for one orphan (or more, you never know..) finding their mama!  YES.  I'm talking to you!  

Please don't ignore this, do it!  Help someone, like I said before, get your mom involved!  She'll love this!  

And maybe, just maybe, you might be one of these beautiful babies mama? Aye? ;) 

Thank you for taking the time to read this post, sorry it's a little bit of a rambling mess. Please comment and tell me which child you chose to share on our #WheresMyMom day!  I'd love to know! 

Visit ReecesRainbow.org to chose a child to share on #WheresMyMom day May 11 2014!

  
 

Peggy | A Letter to Peggy

Dear Peggy,

Hello "my" little chickadee.  I hope that you are doing well and feeling as comfortable as possible.  

I don't really know how to write out this letter..I mean, you and Vera and both on my mind all the time.  But you have a piece of me that puts me in constant worry.  Alyssa (my best friend and advocating partner) and I looked up all your diagnosis and I discovered that you are in a lot of physical pain.   I just want to go rescue you and give you everything you need and deserve.  It isn't fair that someone as small and precious as you has to go through so much suffering.   I just want you safe and sound.  I pray for you and Vera constantly, knowing that God can comfort and hold you both in His never failing arms.  But there is always a part of me that want to do so much more.  I feel SO helpless.  

You need so much and have so little.  I know that you have a forever family out there in the world somewhere..the hardest part is finding them and reaching them for you.  

I won't ever give up on you, EVER.  Whether it takes my whole life, I will find someone who will love you, care for you, kiss you, hug you, rock you to sleep and treat you like the little princess you are.   

And goodness girl, I can never write a post or letter to you without tears filling my eyes..you have a special way of always doing that to me. ;) 

If someone offered me a ticket to your country and permission to your orphanage, honey I would have been GONE a LONG time ago!   I'd do anything to help you and Vera.  

Though you are young, frail, tiny and weak, I know that you can get through this...I'm here for you until the day you are with your forever family, safe and sound.    

Sorry this letter is a little bit of a rambling mess.....okay maybe a big rambling mess, but my mind is all over the place when I try to write anything about you I end up shouting for help.   If only you could know how much I love you baby girl....keep your head up.  God's got this and he will carry you and Vera both!  <3