Liliana

"Deliver those who are being taken away to death, And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back.

If you say, "See, we did not know this," Does He not consider it who weighs the 

hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul ? And will He not render to man according to his work?"

-Proverbs 24:11-12

My heart is broken and rejoicing all at the same time for a little girl on the other side of the world and for many, many children who are doomed to the same fate as her.  Let me introduce you to Liliana.  She is an orphaned girl barely surviving in an institution in Eastern Europe.  She has been banished from the eyes of society simply because she has down syndrome...until now.

Her picture was also on our side bar as the "angel of the week" hosted by Reece's Rainbow.  When I first saw her picture I was saddened that she looked so malnourished and neglected only because she has down syndrome and has no value in the country in which she lives.  When I learned that she is 11 years old and weighs only 10 pounds my heart completely broke for her.  She has spent the last 11 years of her life confined to a crib and barely kept alive.  All of the children in her orphanage are in this terrible condition!  This is no life for any child, whether they have special needs or not.  

But, praise God, there is wonderful news!  In the last 24 hours, $23,000 has been raised for her ransom to get her out of the place she has been confined to!  Not only that, there is a family who has also committed to her and is on their way to rescue their little girl from this severe neglect, who already love her and are working as hard as possible to get to her and begin the process of healing and recovery.  

"God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing..."

-Psalm 68:6

Please pray for Liliana as her family works to get to her as soon as possible.  Having adopted, we know there can be many many obstacles in the way.  Adopting is a spiritual battle and Satan does not want these children to be rescued and safe in loving Christian families.  Please pray that Liliana's family can get to her quickly and that God would keep her alive until they can get to her and get her the treatment she so desperately needs...love, nourishment, and hope for a future.  
Also, please do not forget that Liliana represents one of thousands (or possibly millions) of children wasting away in orphanages around the world.  Please consider adoption.  It does make a difference in the life of a child: here and here are two examples.  Please support those who step out in faith to adopt.  Please visit the orphan and widow in their distress (James 1:27).  You can also pray for waiting children (here, here and here just to name a few) that God would comfort them with His presence and send families to love and care for them.  We are called by God's Word to action and not apathy.  Thank you dear friends.

-Sandi