This past weekend while we were decorating the Oloffson family Christmas tree I found a small bag of Christmas ornaments that are very special to me and many other people. These hand decorated (obviously) ornaments were the very start of the ministry we now know as Another Child Foundation. Back in 2006, when this all began for me, I had just returned from a Shoes for Orphan Souls mission trip to Romania. During that trip my heart was changed from a heart of selfishness to a heart of compassion. After seeing the tremendous need of these VOICELESS children my wife Theresa and I decided to do something about their unheard cries of loneliness.
These ornaments were the start we needed to make a difference. I fondly remember the first few dozen ornaments we decorated. They obviously had much more passion into the design as artistic flair. But God used these ornaments to light a fire that has yet to be distinguished. Suddenly, we started selling these ornaments to family, friends and our church family and people really liked them. We blew right by our goal of raising $1,200 to support the Zau Orphanage project we had discussed with Dacian Moldovan in Romania. Next thing you know God had organized a mission team to support the work going on in Romania and things got rolling into something I never dreamed could happen.
A few of these ornaments remain a very special part of the Oloffson family Christmas experience. I still get an occasional comment from a friend around this time of year who had purchased one of our hand-made creations back in 2006. What a blessing the past 9 years have been for our family. Christmas has always been a special time for families, But, don't let us forget those who do not have a loving family we sometimes take for granted. Child abandonment is a major problem in the country of Romania. Another Child was created to help prevent child abandonment and to keep the God created family unit together. Stable families is a key to eliminating the child abandonment that children like Noemi, Irina and others are victims of.
Finally, I want to comment on the one ornament that is most important to this reflection on how and why this ministry got started. It is the Christmas tree ornament with the name of Noemi on it. The entire Oloffson family sees Noemi as a member of our family. While we do not get to see her or talk to her as much as we would prefer she till is our Romanian "daughter". We pray for her well-being often and pray that children like her never have to suffer through the Christmas holiday in the midst of loneliness.
I want to invite you to be part of this God given ministry to the vulnerable children of Romania. Please take a stand on child abandonment and DONATE TODAY to this cause.
No comments:
Post a Comment