Now remember my last post - when I said that I have every intention of making SURE that any family who commits to Brett is fully funded... but that it all starts with you, clicking that vote button? Remember when I said I would post tomorrow about what happens once he's fully funded? This is that post.
For Brett... the little baby abandoned by his mother... the little boy shunned by society... there WILL be a day... with no more tears... no more pain... and no more fears.
There WILL be a day... when the burdens of *that* place will be no more
He'll see Jesus' face.
In the framed photo in the living room of his adoptive family. On the wall of his Sunday School classroom. In his children's Bible. On his coloring sheets. And someday, in Heaven... but not yet. Because Brett is only 10 going on 11... he's got a lot of life ahead of him... once he's got a committed family and the funds to come home.
There will be a day when someone comes to the orphanage just for him. When they come twice a day to spend time with him, every day for five days. When someone will play with him, sing to him, dance with him, tell him how much he is loved both by his parents and his Creator... soak up his laughter... wrap him up in their hugs... and promises to come back for him.
Then there will be a day...
A day that can't even be adequately described by words.
A day called "Gotcha Day".
That person that came to spend time with Brett... or perhaps the husband or wife of that person... will come to the orphanage to see him... only this time, they will bring clothes, a camera, and a smile as wide as the ocean they crossed to get to him. They will dress him in clean clothes that fit - maybe for the first time ever. They will say goodbye to the nannies, to the director, to the building. They will ride away in a car... only this time, in the car, the person sitting with Brett will talk to him and grin while he stares out the window, wide-eyed at a world he's never known. This time, the person will give him toys to play with in the car, and instead of taking him to another cold, scary building, they'll take him to a warm room, give him some food to eat that is more delicious than anything he ever got at the orphanage, and tuck him into a warm bed. Maybe they'll sing him a song. Maybe Brett will be scared - maybe it won't all be perfect - after all, all he has known is an institutional life... but he is learning what it is to be loved. The very same child who was left to die as a newborn... a son, a brother, a friend.
There WILL be a day.
A picture is worth a thousand words. If you have never experienced a homecoming or a Gotcha Day, the true wonder of it is beyond your comprehension. I have never witnessed one - only through pictures and videos... but I will, someday. These people... these children... have already had that day. The Big Guy gave me short notice on exactly how this post was going to go, so I wasn't able to gather many pictures (when you use families' photos, it's prudent to ask permission), but here are some, and they are truly worth a thousand words.
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| GOTCHA! |
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| Photos from 'Phoebe & Bella's Gotcha Day' with permission. |
Yes, indeed, Jeremy Camp... there WILL be a day. A day when sweet Brett... and so many other orphans... will leave their institutions forever, and learn the love of a family and the love of a merciful and graceful God.
But, of course, you all know, that Gotcha Days don't happen without families being fully funded... and being fully funded doesn't usually happen without fundraising... and fundraising doesn't happen without advocating... and voting... well, that's advocating too.
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| Everyone can do *something*. |
Let's talk about the rest of what Brett will experience. After a couple days in this apartment, a couple more car rides and appointments, maybe a bit of sightseeing, the car will take Brett and his new mommy or daddy (or both - this country allows one or both parents to travel) to a big place called an airport. The airport is loud and at first it bothers Brett, he's not used to this kind of noise, but for the first time ever, there is someone there to reassure him. They get into what looks like a really big car, which starts going very fast and very high. Brett looks out the window, amazed as the sky becomes the ground. They do this a couple more times... after a while, Brett isn't afraid anymore. The woman called Mama gives him candies and cookies and coloring books and stickers. They watch movies and play with some squishy dough and doze off together on the longest flight. Then the last plane lands. Brett and his Mama get off the plane and walk into another airport... but this time, instead of getting on another plane, they go through a long line, and on the other side, there are people - smiling, waving flags and signs, holding toys and candy and things Brett could only have dreamed about in the orphanage. Maybe he's introduced to brothers and sisters. Maybe all the commotion upsets him, but once again, Mama reassures him. In time he will get used to the new types of stimuli in his life. They will get in another car, and drive to a place called 'home'. At home, Brett will be settled into his very own bed. Maybe it will have dinosaur sheets, or cars and trucks, or colored stripes. Maybe Mama will sing again. He likes it when she sings. Sometimes he doesn't understand her words, but he knows it sounds nice. And in the morning, he will wake up and begin to experience all the amazing things that 'home' has to offer. He has already become a beloved member of a family. There are so many more exciting things (bumps in the road, yes - but don't all families have these?) in Brett's future...
Things he will never be able to do... without YOU.
This is the last time I will beg you to vote for sweet Brett... forgotten and abandoned his whole life... until now... as voting ends today. Start the chain reaction that leads to Gotcha Day and all that comes after it.
Vote. And there WILL be a day.
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