An Experience of a Lifetime

On Monday, December 13th, I got the pleasure of traveling to Atlanta with a dear sweet family as they picked up 2 Russian orphans they are hosting for 5 weeks in their home. 

The experience is forever etched on my heart.  As we entered the international side of the airport a choir was singing Christian Christmas music...

Below are pictures of all the families waiting for their children as well.  Such an amazing sight to see ~ everyone with signs made up with their children's names on them.  And the pure anticipation of joy and love on their faces was something I never will forget.

And here are the 15 children rounding the corner to meet the families they will be staying with for the next 5 weeks.  It bought me to tears as I watched.  And I wondered what these children were thinking.  Here they are living in an orphanage in Russia with nothing to call their own (notice in the picture below they are not caring anything with them...no luggage, toys, etc.) and they get this amazing opportunity to come to America.  To a country of plenty, to families that don't speak their language, to homes full of love and Christ.  How amazing!

And here is a picture of the brother and sister my friends are hosting.  The little boy is 5 years old and his sister is 3 turning 4 at the end of December.  They are the cutest children ever!!

Even though there was a language barrier, there is apparently a universal sign of communication....playing!  Here they are playing in the playroom of their new home.  This was taken the same night they were brought home...about 10:30pm!  They look right at home don't they and wide awake!

This hosting program is through New Horizons.  Every winter and summer they bring orphans to the U.S. into the arms of families that are willing to open their homes and hearts to these precious children.  What an amazing experience for both the children and for the families that host them. 

This year was especially unique.  There was much attack on the program that has not happened in the past..everything from children's paperwork not getting completed, Russia passing new laws regarding orphans which caused many orphanages to pull out of the program at the last minute and just the not knowing (up until the night before) if the children that were still scheduled to come would make it out of the country.  And in the end, 15 out of 45 children (all the other orphanages pulled out except one which is where the 15 came from) arrived safe and sound in America.  And this was made possible by 2 brave women who put their trust in God and decided they were going to "go for it" and boarded the plane with these 15 children.  They risked it all and isn't that what it's all about anyway.  Risking it all for Christ.

Needless to say, this experience changed my life.  I think about it often (it brings tears to my eyes still) and all I can do is thank God for allowing me to see THE gospel in action.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27