Graduation day is coming...
Exciting, right?
Well, not in this case :(
It would be if these girls were graduating from high school and excitingly finishing plans for college...
Or if they were graduating from college and lining up their first job in their chosen profession!
It would be wonderful if these lovely girls could pursue their dreams with support and guidance from Mom and Dad and trusted mentors...
But this is not there privilege :(
These precious girls are turning 16 in April of 2014...
In less than a year and a half they will turn 16.
But instead of getting their drivers license...
Their hope of a family with parents of their very own...
Will be forever dashed!
And sometime soon graduation day will come...
Graduation from the orphanage!
While leaving the orphanage sounds pretty good on the surface...
It really is only good if you have somewhere to go!
And someone to guide you...
Someone to give you advice when the hard things come...
Or you are not sure what to do...
When you have a big decision to make and are not sure which choice is the wisest or best!
But these girls have NOWHERE to go!
It's just...
Goodbye now...
It's time for you to go.
Here's a little money...
Have a nice life!
No, sorry, you'll have to find your own food now...
And a place to sleep...
A job?
Well, hope you can find one!
No one wants to hire an "orphan" with no experience?
That's too bad...
You'll just have to keep looking...
When it's cold out...
Huddle together...
And try to keep warm...
Sorry, we can't afford to keep you any longer...
We can't help it...
It's the way the system works...
They don't give us money to feed and care for grown up kids like you...
It's sad, and to bad, but...
You are big girls now...
You'll just have to manage as best you can!
Estelle and
Julie MUST find families before they turn 16 it will be TOO LATE!
They have a little time...
But families must be found soon!
Or they will be forced to "graduate" and leave their only home...
READY OR NOT!
*****
Burgundy and white look sharp on her - don't you think?
She looks like she would make a great nurse...
Or a teacher!
Her special need is VERY manageable with medications...
She has great potential!
She just lacks opportunity :(
*****
She looks so much like my first high school roommate...
Who has since become a doctor!
Julie got a taste of life outside the orphanage...
She was able to attend a 3 week summer camp in the US and stayed in a family's home...
She enjoyed roller skating and the water park...
And got a taste of family life...
Enough to let her know that she would like to have a family too...
If only she could get one!
Thankfully she has been able to study at the orphanage...
Though she is behind her peers and it is thought she might have some brain damage...
Which is all the more reason she needs loving support and guidance!
She needs the support of a family to help her reach her potential!
Life on the street will be death to her...
If not death from starvation or cold, she may be conned into prostitution...
Or become the victim of crime...
Or the powers that be could decide that instead of graduating to "freedom" in the outside world...
She should "graduate" to an adult mental institution...
Where she will be surrounded by moaning, groaning, rocking, grownups...
Who are bored out of their minds...
Where she will have nothing to do...
Nothing to stimulate her mind...
No chance to learn...
Just day after boring day to sit and rock or pace the halls...
Or possibly be assigned to some unpleasant chores...
With no chance to better her lot!
Either fate would be dreadful for her!
She must be saved soon!
No child should have to suffer such a fate!
Look at her face...
And her bright, beautiful smile!
She has hope and potential if she is adopted!
Is she your daughter?
*****
What can I say about
Karen?
Her situation is URGENT too...
She turned 16 last January...
In her country, orphan graduation day often occurs at the end of August each year...
On that day 16 year-old orphans must usually leave their only home...
And try to make it on their own :(
Karen may
ALREADY have graduated...
She may already have been forced to leave the place that has been her shelter!
But where is she now?
Does she have enough food to eat?
Does she have any money left?
Does she have a good place to sleep?
Does she have a warm coat, hat, gloves, boots, or a nice thick blanket?
Or is she out on the streets...
Clothed in tattered, much too thin clothing?
Is she huddling over a grate in the sidewalk trying to catch some warmth?
Or is she huddled against a wall or a corner trying to get a break from the biting winter wind?
Is she looking through the garbage for a bite to eat?
Or looking for someone's cast-off clothing in hopes of finding extra layers to give a little relief from the cold?
Has she broken down and tried some stealing...
Just to try to survive?
Has someone conned her into prostitution...
With promises of money, food, and shelter?
Where is she now?
I hope she is safe!
I hope she's bee allowed to stay at the orphanage or school a bit longer...
Or been taken in by a charity organization...
Or found a safe, helpful friend and mentor!
This beautiful girl has so much potential!
She has no "special needs"...
She's a very normal teenager...
Who needs love and guidance and opportunity to make something of herself!
But it must be very difficult to get ahead with no job training...
The stigma of "orphan" status...
No guidance...
No income...
How can she manage all alone?
HOW?
Karen does have one hope for a family...
Because she has a little sister...
She has hope!
Karen is eligible for adoption....
IF she is adopted WITH her sister!
And wouldn't it be wonderful for them to be able to be together again!
And spent some time in an institution that was not very good...
But thankfully she has been transferred OUT of that institution to a MUCH better place!
She is now able to get some education...
And is well taken care of!
This change has been so VERY good for her!
Imagine how she will blossom with the love and attention of a family!
******
There is one more child I'd like to introduce to you today....
Kristie's graduation day is a bit farther off...
She's 11 years old...
But why make her wait till the very last minute to have family and love...
Let's save her now!
A family came for her sister...
Imagine how sad she must feel!
Not only missing her sister...
But feeling unwanted too!
She sure needs a family to help her to thrive...
And assure her that she's special too!
*****
These children have the distinction...
By my very own Mother!
She has a heart for the older kids...
And the ones who are about to "age out."
Almost 2 years ago she looked through pictures of some of the older kids on Reece's Rainbow...
And 7 spcial kids stood out to her...
Since then 2 have been adopted...
(But sadly not Kristie too)
And a boy named Marat...
A third is "my"
Emmitt who is the focus of this party!
After reading about Emmitt's party, Mom decided "her" remaining 4 kids had to come!
They are...
And she added one more...
Estelle who lost in the angel tree voting...
And will age out very soon :(
And bringing "your" kids to his party!
I hope they find families soon!
*****
For each $5 donation to
Emmitt's grant fund a child of your choice will have a place on my sidebar until
Emmittt's birthday on January 26, 2012 - maybe longer!
I will also include your child(ren) in an upcoming blog post in which I will link to your blog or fundraiser if you wish.
You can let me know you donated and who you would like me to add to my sidebar by commenting on this post or e-mailing Pam at savinghissparrows@gmail.com
Please pray for
Emmitt to get a family soon...
His time is also running out :(
*****
You can read more about any of these children by clicking on their names in this post.
You can learn more about the adoption process
HERE.
Please pray and share to help these kids find families!
