Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Teamwork Tuesday

Russell is a 2-year old boy with Down syndrome in an eastern European orphanage. He is available for adoption and we're praying that his Forever Family finds him soon... VERY soon. The truth is that there are LOTS of families that would love to adopt children, but the financial hardship makes it difficult. The higher Russell's adoption grant, the more likely he can find a family before he turns 3.

EVERY child deserves a family. Children in orphanages in his country with special needs who don't get adopted before age 4 are often sent to mental institutions. For life. Which isn't very long after transfer. There is no physical therapy, education, early intervention services, etc. If they haven't learned to be mobile or speak, no one will teach them. No one wakes them up with a smile. No one tucks them in. No one worries if they spike a fever or helps them eat if they cannot do it themselves. No one loves them.

There are 163 million orphans in the world. That's really overwhelming to me. So, for today, on Teamwork Tuesday, we're only worrying about Russell.



If you would like to help, there are three ways.

1.) Consider for a moment... “Are you Russell's mom or dad?” If you might be, please look over the following list of qualifications to see if you meet them. And if you do, PLEASE visit his page and inquire about him!
- 3 trips to the country to complete the adoption
- Both parents for 2 weeks on the first trip
- Wait 2-3 months for court
- Both parents travel for 2nd trip
- 30 day wait period after court, one parent would return to pick Russell up.
- No family size restrictions
- Both parents must be younger than 60 years
- Total program fees under $25,000, plus travel expenses
- Married couples and single mothers may apply
- Canadians welcome!

2.) If you would like to make a direct (tax deductible) donation through Reece's Rainbow to Russell's fund, visit the following link that will allow you to donate with paypal to Russell. The higher his grant, the easier for a family to go get him! http://reecesrainbow.org/19670/russell-2

3.) Pray, pray, pray. Take a moment. This very moment. And pray for Russell. Pray that his orphanage is well equipped, pray that the caretakers there are the "good" kind... the kind that shower him with love and hugs as he waits, but most of all, please pray that TODAY, Russell's mom or dad sees this posting and rushes to go get him. Let's pray Russell into a family. Today.

Thanks to everyone who reads this! Join us in making a difference for Russell!

Russell 3G