Looking After

What is my responsibility to children outside my home, city, state, country that don't have parents to cuddle them, love them, feed them, read to them, teach them, and train them? God tells us that we have have a responsibilty "..to look after orphans and widows in their distress..."James 19:27 What does that mean for Brant and I? I think the easy answer is ADOPT of course...however...we really feel at this time in our lives that our quiver is full. Also, the bible does not specify adoption as the means to "look after". Today as I was roaming my local blog roll I discovered that one of the orphanges in Ghana was robbed and the staff experienced severe brutality as a result...read here. The orphanage, who is already small and operating with minimal rescources, lost a great deal of money and assets that are very valuable to the successful adoption of these very needy children. My heart and eyes continue to pour and I truly feel it is time for us to step up to the plate and work to help make people aware of the crisis in Africa. We are not all called to adopt however, that does not mean we are not called to "look after", go read James.
Here are some ways you can start educating yourselves:
AAI
AHOPE
A Bushel and A Peck
Red Letters Campagin
There Is No Me Without You
Full House, Full Hands, Full Hearts

Here are some simple ways you can "Look After"
Pray
Donate (money, toys, clothes, medical supplies) to AAI or other agencies
Spread The Word -- Churches, Blogs, Email, Facebook, Good Ol' Fashoned Talking With People
Adoption...these wonderful little people do need families to love, love, love on them

BTW, for those of you who don't know, there is a real chance that Brant and I will soon be the UB (uncle Brant) and Auntie to at least one beautiful child from Ethiopia...keep praying!