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. :)


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