"In this world you are an orphan— eagerly anticipating your 
adoption as God’s child. In this world you are a widow— longing for reunion with your Bridegroom. In this world you are a stranger— a pilgrim waiting to become a citizen of heaven. And in this world, God has called you to care for the orphan, the stranger, and the widow."
adoption as God’s child. In this world you are a widow— longing for reunion with your Bridegroom. In this world you are a stranger— a pilgrim waiting to become a citizen of heaven. And in this world, God has called you to care for the orphan, the stranger, and the widow.".
---Tom Davis, Fields of the Fatherless.
At first, I was just going to post this photo of Julie Anderson with her adorable, adopted Swazi daughter Ellie, but you know me...I've just got to tell a bit of their story. Julie is a missionary with Adventures in Missions. We were blessed to meet them when we traveled to Africa in January. Julie teaches Swazi women about God and His plan for their life through Bible studies and being in a relationship with them. She also gives them a way to support their families financially as many of them are widows. She has taught them how to make beautiful Swazi purses which bring in money desperately needed by these women who are often the only financial providers for not just their children, but often many members of their extended family and orphaned children.
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Julie is one of the few Americans who has been allowed to adopt a Swazi child. The Swazi people are very proud of their culture and they want their children to be raised as a Swazi and all that entails when at all possible. It was truly a God-ordained plan that made it possible for little orphaned Ellie to find a forever family with Julie. Here is the first part of their story:
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"January 2005
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It's 2:30AM and I've just returned home from the government hospital here in Mbabane, Swaziland. There's a little baby girl there, not even three days old and less than four pounds, who was dumped on the hospital property and found by security guards yesterday morning wrapped in a plastic bag. Inadequate hospital staff, along with inadequate training and facilities, makes proper care for such a tiny baby nearly impossible. So we sat with her for a few hours tonight to do her hourly feedings (and flick cockroaches out of her bed) while another crew is heading out shortly to take over. I've never seen a baby so small. I can literally hold her with one hand."
.It's 2:30AM and I've just returned home from the government hospital here in Mbabane, Swaziland. There's a little baby girl there, not even three days old and less than four pounds, who was dumped on the hospital property and found by security guards yesterday morning wrapped in a plastic bag. Inadequate hospital staff, along with inadequate training and facilities, makes proper care for such a tiny baby nearly impossible. So we sat with her for a few hours tonight to do her hourly feedings (and flick cockroaches out of her bed) while another crew is heading out shortly to take over. I've never seen a baby so small. I can literally hold her with one hand."
To read "the rest of the story" and more about Julie's ministry, go to:
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http://julieanderson.myadventures.org/?filename=bio
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1 comment:
Elysa, thanks for posting this. I've been wishing I could get more of these beautiful bags!!
Timbali Crafts has a website:
www.timbalicrafts.org
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