The Smallest Moments

I want you to imagine an Easter Sunday morning in a rural part of China. Two wonderful volunteers for LWB had been invited to share a meal that day at a local family’s home with the orphanage director. They sat on assorted stools placed on the cement floor and looked out at the countryside and rice paddies through wide open doors. There was no other furniture in the room, except a shrine to honor ancestors.

One hen nested in a cardboard box behind the door while others pecked at the crumbs that had fallen from the table. The volunteers soon learned that while they ate…...a tiny baby slept in the furthest back room. He had been abandoned with an abdominal surgical scar and a misshaped head.

The volunteers were told he was four months old, but they immediately could see that he was the size of a newborn. Wondering what his fate would be in the rural countryside if he wasn’t seen by a doctor, the volunteers asked if he could be sent to the hospital for a full evaluation. Thanks to some wonderful supporters, he was able to be moved right away. That tiny little boy spent a month in the hospital receiving needed medical care, and then was moved to an LWB foster care program to live with one of our very best mommas. He was loved completely in that home for the next 2 years.

This past December, he was adopted to the United States, and his mom just wrote to us asking if we had any information on her son. There is always so much joy when we learn that a child we have helped has been united with a loving family. This child, however, brought both joy to our hearts but also a realization that the smallest of moments can change the course of one’s life forever. What if the invitation to eat in the rural home had not been extended to our volunteers? They would never have seen the tiny baby in the back room. What if they had chosen to not speak up and say “we think he needs care”? Or what if the funding had not been available at that moment to move him to the hospital for a month long stay?

But the beautiful thing in this story is that the volunteers did share that humble Sunday meal, and they were taken to the back bedroom to meet a little baby. Everything came together in the perfect way for one more child to be given a second chance at a healthy life. And when that happens……I can only close my eyes and give the sincerest thanks for everyone who takes the time to care about the children around the world who are orphaned.



To everyone who volunteers, who lifts prayers, who gives of their hearts and their funds to those in need……THANK YOU. You may never even know how your gifts have changed the course of someone’s life, but I hope this story shows that when we step out in love, beautiful things can happen. I think life is filled with these moments that we might think are insignificant at the time, but which allow tiny miracles of hope to shine through. And how wonderful is that?

Amy

How do you Serve?

On Monday, in the US we remembered all those people who have sacrificed their lives for our country. How very lucky we are to have all of our freedoms and choices available to each of us. There are so many words that come to mind as I think of these people who have given so much….”Service” is at the top of the list.

Also on Monday, Dr. Tom Morris, a philosopher, speaker, and former professor, started a thread on service from his Twitter account. Dr. Morris is a person that I love to check in with, because I learn so much and he always is inspiring. There was much discussion on what service means and from this, he was inspired to write a wonderful article on service at Huffington Post through this Link. There are so many great quotes from this article; I would love to share a few of them:

"Service lifts us up as we lift others up", "True service always inspires", "Service brings people together"

On a global scale, so much is done because we serve others. Over and over I see how lives are changed because people have taken the time to give themselves in service to another. People with passion and mission can change the world.

I am so fortunate to be able to volunteer with some of the most self sacrificing people I have ever met. LWB now has over 140 volunteers…an all volunteer run, virtual foundation. So many people have taught me much about service and passion to lead change. I have received far more than I have ever given.

What does service means to you? Is there a special project or mission you are committed to you? Have you been able to see a difference through your actions?

Karen LWB