Orphans and orphan care has been on my heart for as long as I can remember. When I was 16 I almost went to Hong Kong for a summer to help at an orphanage. Almost.
Foreign missions has always been a big part of my life and something I feel called to do at some point. When I was a young adult I almost joined Mercy Ships (the Christian relief organization my parents joined when I was 13 and they served with for many years). Almost. There have been many great things I have almost done with my life.
I'm fairly certain that when I stand before God when my time on this earth is through, He isn't going to say to me "look at the wonderful things you almost did and all the people you almost helped in My name. Well done my good and faithful servant". I believe He puts causes on our minds and passions in our hearts for a reason. He has put on my heart missions and orphan care. What has He put on your heart?
As I raise my three children, I know this is not the time in my life where I can become a full time foreign missionary. But there are many ways I can support missionaries and directly impact lives across the world. We are not in a position where we currently feel led to adopt. But there are many ways I can support orphan care and support families who are in the process of adopting. I am done almost helping. I am helping. Now. For me, this is being a Noonday Ambassador. It is helping families raise money for their own adoptions while supporting artisans in foreign countries. I'm helping orphans. In a way, I am a missionary helping provide for the basic needs of families in Uganda. In Ecuador. In India. In Ethiopia. In Peru.
The following passage in Matthew 25 speaks to me on the difference in serving and almost serving. And I know which group I want to be in.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ (NIV)
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