The Gala . . . Amazing God!

Drum roll please .  .  . according to Cindy Foote's blog  the Gala raised $25,200 for orphans, with donations still coming in!  God is AMAZING, and so was the Gala.  So many people worked so hard to make it what it was --an orphan's ticket HOME, many tickets home! 

Look at the precious faces that adorned the tables . . . 

all children who once waited for their own 

ticket home, who wait no longer! 

The "ticket home" actually refers to covering the administrative costs needed to get orphans "paper ready" to be adopted.  Without this help many orphans would never become available, simply because of paperwork that needs to be done on their behalf.  Oh how thankful I am that my own daughter did not remain an orphan forever because of paperwork.  Thank you Father God that Teddi had a ticket home.  Thank you that you brought her to us.

Billy and Cindy Foote lead worship, it was a wonderful

time with the Lord.  Cindy and Billy's daughter Libby 

(from China) is pictured in the centerpiece above.  

They are also waiting to bring a baby girl

 home from Ethiopia.

Bryan and I, and Robin and Gary.  

As adoptive parents we were recognized with special name tags that read, "It is not flesh and blood, but the heart, which makes us families."  Under that was penned in the country we had adopted from, in our case China.  Many had more than one country penned in!

Me, Jenn and Robin

What a joy for Robin and I to meet our blogger friend,  Jenn.  Jenn and her husband were the creators of the beautiful centerpieces.  Jenn and Karl are counting down to Karleigh Mei -- who will be placed in their arms in China in about two weeks! 

Robin and I  

This is for our friend Melissa, who is waiting on Katie . . . Oh how we missed you and wished you (and Greg) could have been there with us on Friday night.

This last picture is not from the Gala, but was taken

at our own church this morning.  It was a sight that 

made my heart sing and I wanted to share . . . 

A table piled high in shoeboxes full of gifts, ready to be

 delivered to orphans in Haiti and Nicaragua.

James 1:27 says this, "Pure and faultless religion is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress." 

Tom Davis, author of "Fields of the Fatherless" sums it up this way, "God gave the responsibility to care for the defenseless to those claiming to be followers of Christ.  It is through our hands the Father's love comes, it is through our voices His voice is heard, it is through our efforts and those of the church that His care is revealed to the ones the rest of the world has forgotten."

Edited to add:  Something has been bothering since I posted this . . .  I believe in a way, the quote above implies that the only people who look after orphans and widows ("the ones the rest of the world has forgotten"), are Christians.  This is a God-given responsibility that many Christians carry out well, yet many overlook.  On the other hand, I feel there are many who haven't chosen Christianity, who do a tremendous amount of good for orphans and widows.  The important thing, no matter what we call ourselves, is that we act! 

Lord,

I pray that you would help us, everyday, to be Your hands and feet.  That we would meet the needs of widows and orphans, and others who need us.  Let Your voice be our voice Lord, that we might speak encouraging words of life and love into all we come in contact with.  Thank you for blessing the Gala, thank you for blessing orphans.  Let us never grow weary in doing good.  In Jesus name, Amen. 

Blessings from my ever thankful nest ~

Tina