Here's the wonderful (and BIG!) magnet on the back of the GMC suburban that I drive, advertising the ministry of Reece's Rainbow.
Here's the Orphan Adoption Workshop poster --that our 3 oldest helped majorly to decorate--taped on the railings in front of our church's fellowship hall.**********************************************************************************************
Well today was the big day. Our workshop was scheduled from 9:45 am to 12:00 noon with a light lunch to be served for those who wished to stay, ask questions and/or just chat. I had sent invitations to about 25 pastors/churches. We advertised on Christian radio (thank you KTSY) and on TV (thanks, Jay) plus put up posters. So I was pretty bummed when the day got closer and closer and we still had no RSVP's. Thanks to the encouragement of friends and family--and what I felt God was speaking to my own heart--I eventually came to believe that if the only people who showed up were our own children and my parents then I would just go right ahead and do everything as planned anyway.
As it turned out, we truly did not have a great turnout but the people who came seemed to enjoy the workshop and said they learned a lot. Our pastor's wife said she'd like us to do something like this again in the future. The caseworker from A New Beginning Adoption Agency --Dixie Tate--who helped us with both our international home studies was very encouraging and informative--and you could just see her personal passion for adoption.
The big surprise was that our local TV station--KMVT--sent Reporter Brittany over (again, thanks Jay), interviewed me, took some adorable footage of Caleb and Steven hugging, and aired a very nice ditty for the 10:00 news tonight. So even though so few were physically present, a lot of people got to hear about the 143,000,000 orphans world-wide and their need for a family of their very own. I pray that someone is encouraged to adopt because of it.
If you haven't checked out the resources at http://www.orphansunday.org/ please do so. I believe you will be touched. Sponsored by both Cry of the Orphan and Christian Alliance for Orphans, November 8 has been designated as Orphan Sunday.
Once again, Joy, you were faithful to your calling. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDelete