If She Were Mine...

This is Dorothy...she is an orphan in Kisii, Kenya where we went to visit before picking up our children in Ethiopia. Dorothy is three years old and was found abandoned in the near by woods of Kisii, alone and starving. Government officials brought Dorothy to Pastor Cyrus, knowing that he had compassion for orphans and would care for her like his own.

Today Cyrus called me to let me know that Dorothy needed lots of prayer. She is sick with fever and possible Pneumonia. It is the rainy season in Kenya and they don't have the money for medical care, let alone food, or transportation to get to the hospital. As Pastor Cyrus was giving me the update on little Dorothy, my eyes began to fill with tears. My heart ached and here is why:

I am a mother of nine. If one of my children were sick with suspected pneumonia, I would be taking her to emergency ASAP. If Dorothy were my child, I would not have to wait until tomorrow to have her seen by doctors. If Dorothy were my little girl, no amount of money or medical expenses would stand between her and a cure. If she were mine, she would be on antibiotics, safe, warm and in my arms. I would comfort her when she coughed, monitor her temperature and feed her warm soup. If Dorothy were my little girl, mommy would be just a call away and she would not have to sit in a damp, cold dorm, with no electricity, and no heat. I would cradle her in my arms and tell her that it was going to be alright and that Jesus loves her.

But...Dorothy is mine, and yours. She is entrusted to us by Jesus Himself. His word says, that if we love Him, we will love Dorothy and 149 million others like her. He says if we love Him, we will love our neighbors like ourselves. He says if we love Him we will obey His commandments. His commandments say; To care for widows and orphans in their distress and keep oneself from being polluted by the world. Jesus says; If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well, be warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?

Dorothy is mine. If you are a follower of Christ, she is your too. We are to be the hands and feet of Christ. God has allowed us to work on His behalf, sharing God's glory with all nations. Dorothy not only needs our prayers she needs sponsorship, which will afford her food, clothing, medical care and education. If you are interested in sponsoring Dorothy please leave a comment on my comment page and I will send you details on how you can become Christs hands and feet for Dorothy.