Orphans

Children at the school on the Island

Children praying at the United Methodist HUMBLE school and orphanage

Orphan babies at Nsambya Babies Home in Kampala Uganda

Orphan baby at Nsambya Babies Home in Kampala, Uganda

Nicolas to see his story see http://www.vargamission.com/the-kids/

Grace: to see her story visit: http://www.vargamission.com/the-kids/

Waiting to be read to

Beautiful girl on Island

When we were at Eden Revival Church in Nansana, Uganda, we were asked to speak. This wasn't new for any of us. We had all spoken at the church the previous week, and we knew we were speaking this day as well. I wasn't too worried, for I knew that God had given me the word in which he wanted me to speak the previous week. So as my turn approached, this is what the Lord spoke to me:

" My name is Julie, and I live in America. I have 7 children. 5 of them are adopted. I want to read you a Bible verse:

Matthew 19:14 (New International Version, ©2011)

¹⁴ Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

" In America, we have a problem. You see, there are parents who don't take good care of their children. There are parents who don't feed their children. There are parents who beat their children. There are parents who don't love their children. Uganda has the same problem. In America, if you don't take good care of your children, the government will take away your children, and give them to a family that will take good care of them. That is how I got all of my adopted children.

Romans 8:15-16a

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

Why am I passionate about orphans? Because God is passionate about orphans. I too am adopted! God has adopted me into sonship! Praise God I am an orphan no more.

I read on the computer that 1 in 4 households in Uganda is caring for an orphan. That warms my heart. Not even 1 in every 100 households in America is caring for an orphan/foster child. But even still, Uganda has over 2.5 million orphans. There are so many orphans who have no one to care for them. God needs us to care for them. He is calling us to care for them. God will provide the food for us to feed them. God will provide the space in our homes for us to care for them. God will give us all we need to take care of the orphans."

So now that I am back in America, I cannot quit thinking about the orphans in Uganda! God loves each and every one of them. There are more orphans in Uganda than any other country in the world. Uganda is the size of Oregon, and has 10 times the amount of people. 51% of Ugandans are under the age of 14. There are more than 2.5 million orphans in Uganda! There are only about 3.4 million people living in Oregon!

James 1:27 (New International Version, ©2011)

²⁷ 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.

We are to take care of these orphans! We are to take care of the orphans in America, China, Guatemala, Japan, Haiti & everywhere else! It is not an option! As Christians, it is not a choice! We were orphans once too!

How is God calling you & me to care for these orphans? Not is He, but HOW IS HE? Because He is! No doubt about it. Is He calling you to adopt? He will provide the money it takes. He will provide the food. He will provide the space in your home. He will provide! Allow Him to be God, trust Him. You will be blessed!

Julie