Electricity is Overrated

Our second-to-last hosting payment was due yesterday. I fundraised like a madwoman,

and some of you donated through our YouCaring link over there on the right ...

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

But we still fell short of the mark.

Quite a bit short, actually.

Like $1700 short.

(Yeah! I was bummed.)

Fortunately, my husband received a check over the weekend that cleared Tuesday morning ...

Just.in.time.

(He's self-employed and his payments are not always predictable, so this was a huge blessing!)

For some reason, our bank card wouldn't work on New Horizon's website and we ended up having to make the payment in cash.

As Shawn counted out seventeen crisp, green Benjamin Franklins, my eyes widened. The expense side of hosting reached out and whacked me. Hard. Doubts began to creep in.

"Should we really be doing this?"

"It's not cheap!"

"We need that money!"

"And we have a large electricity bill due this week!!!"

This rather large withdrawal caused our bank account to plunge. My heart began to race wildly and a slight feeling of panic set in. I had to look deep within my soul to reexamine exactly why it was we were doing this in the first place.

Hosting is, first and foremost, a missionary opportunity where orphans from various countries are matched with families in America, Canada, or Western Europe for a few weeks in the summer or winter. (The orphanages close down for twice a year for six weeks to save money.) For Christian families this time is an amazing opportunity to share Christ with a child (or children) who have never heard the precious gospel message. In addition, hosting establishes contact with someone interested in the child's well-being, thus protecting them down the road from the typical pitfalls faced by so many. Statistics tell us that a high percentage (between 60% to 70%) of emancipated orphans fall victim to prostitution, trafficking, substance abuse, and/or criminal activities. Positive relationships provide an anchor of hope for orphans who might otherwise give up and join the tragic 15% who commit suicide within their first two years of leaving the orphanage. Plain and simply, orphans are some of this world's most vulnerable citizens.

Although still young, our two have their own difficulties to endure. Within the orphanage walls, bullying tears them down and leaves them feeling hopeless and forgotten. For the last three years, L has been emailing me. "When can we come to you?" she pleads. "When can we see you again?" (They were initially hosted by us in the winter of 2012.)

Really, I needed only look at the picture I carry of them to be reminded of how "worth it" this whole venture is. To see them again, to wrap our arms around them and pull them close, to love them unconditionally is worth every penny we spend. Caring for the orphan is not an option, it is a mandate! And if we spend everything we have to bring them here to share the love of Jesus with them, it will be worth it!

THEY are WORTH IT!!!

And, as my husband so lovingly reminded me, electricity is way overrated.

Somehow, through all of this, we will survi