We learned that orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names.
They are easier to ignore before you see their faces.
It is easier to pretend they’re not real before you hold them in your arms.
But once you do, everything changes.
– Radical by David Platt.
According to the United Nations, there are between 143 and 210 million orphans in the world. If they were a nation, they would be among the top 10 most populous nations in the world (somewhere between Russia at number 9 [2019 population of 143,895,701] and Brazil at number 5 [2019 population of 212,392,717]).
Each day 38,493 orphans around the world age out of care.
That means one orphan is thrown out on the streets every 2.2 seconds.
(Photo above - A Romanian orphan living underground in an abandoned sewer.)
In Eastern Europe, sixty percent of the girls who age out will end up in prostitution. Seventy percent of the boys will become homeless or criminals. Ten to fifteen percent of these children will commit suicide by the time they are twenty years old.
As of May 1, 2019, we have two projects that desperately need your immediate help.
(Photo above - When most children age out of an orphanage, the trash bag with a few personal possessions is all they have.)
First, we are trying to raise money for two orphans who will age out of their current orphanage in August of 2019. When this happens, they will be completely on their own. The good news is that the government will provide them with an apartment - but nothing else. These boys own nothing but the clothes on their backs. They will need to purchase everything that someone would need to furnish his or her first apartment.
Everything.
Pots and pans, dishes, glasses, utensils, mattress, mattress foundation, bedframe, bedding, pillows, curtains, kitchen table, chairs, sofa/futon, towels, shower curtain, lamps, clothes washer and a refrigerator (apartments in their country do not come with any appliances). Both boys will still be in high school for the 2019-20 school year. They will receive nothing from the government - no money, allowance or food stamps (which do not exist in their country). In addition to going to school full time, they must work to buy food. The average wage for teenagers is about $4.00 per hour. We hope to raise $2,500 for each boy.
Second, we are trying to raise money to facilitate the hosting of five orphans so they can come to the USA this summer. Orphan hosting brings orphans from developing countries to the USA for 4-5 weeks over Christmas and 4-10 weeks over the summer. It gives these precious children: (1) a break from the bleak and hopeless environment of an orphanage; (2) the opportunity to experience the love of a family; and (3) the chance to learn and improve their English which can open many doors in their home countries. Most importantly, it often results in the adoption of these children. Orphan hosting fees range from $2,800 to $3,100 per child. We hope to raise $15,000 for the five orphans we want to bring to the USA.
(The five boys who were hosted for Christmas 2018 [which does not include the one eating the football].)
We love the lyrics from the song Do Something by Matthew West.
I woke up this morning
Saw a world full of trouble now, thought
How’d we ever get so far down, and
How’s it ever gonna turn around
So I turned my eyes to Heaven
I thought, “God, why don’t You do something?”
Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of
People living in poverty
Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, “God, why don’t You do something?”
He said, “I did, yeah, I created YOU!”
If not us, then who?
If not me and you?
Right now, it’s time for us to do something.
If not now, then when?
Will we see an end
To all this pain
Oh, it’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something
I’m so tired of talking about
How we are God’s hands and feet
But it’s easier to say than to be
LIVE LIKE ANGELS OF APATHY who tell ourselves
It’s alright, “somebody else will do something”
Well, I don’t know about you
But I’m sick and tired of life with no desire
I don’t want a flame, I want a fire and
I wanna be the one who stands up and says
“I’m gonna do something”
If not us, then who?
If not me and you?
Right now, it’s time for us to do something, yes it is, come on
If not now, then when?
Will we see an end
To all this pain
Oh oh, it’s not enough to do nothing
IT'S TIME FOR US TO DO SOMETHING!
Sympathy says, “I’m sorry you hurt.” Orphans don’t need our sympathy.
Empathy says, “I hurt with you.” Sympathy stands at a distance. Empathy draws close.
But the ultimate form of love is compassion. Compassion says, “I’ll do anything I can to stop your hurt.”
This is why we are Compassion for Orphans. May we not be angels of apathy, but rather, may each of us offer compassion to one orphan. This is not about one person doing a lot. It is about a LOT of people each doing a little - $10, $25 or some other amount. May we humbly ask you to do two things.
First, PLEASE earnestly consider making a contribution.
(Phone above - One of the boys who was not left alone in an orphanage at Christmas, but instead, was able to spend Christmas with a family in the U.S. who loves him.)
Second, would you please share our website and fundraising campaign with your family, friends and on your social media websites?
The difference between a child who is a statistic . . . and a success story . . . could be YOU.
Please BE The Difference.