One Each . . .
- Posted on 24 June 09 by Bruce Kendrick
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Much is made of numbers when discussing orphans and waiting children across the world. For instance, there are an estimated 145 million “orphans” in the world today. In the state of Texas, approximately 70% of waiting children are considered older which is often a code phrase for “most likely unadoptable.” All of the numbers have stories and this story is no different. While it may not include the gravity of AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa or the deafening silence of infants lined in cribs in Russian orphanages, it is a simple call to each of us to think beyond our practical means and limited notions of what we can or cannot do. This story is about 540 hot dogs.
Embrace, our church foster-adoption ministry, held an event at the Frank Buck Zoo where a few hundred kids and parents came to enjoy their time as a family. The zoo was kind enough to cover the entrance fee for every child that came, and we made the most of our time as families fed giraffes and walked throughout the park. Afterwards, we provided a very simple hot dog lunch. We prepared hot dogs along with a bag of chips, a cookie and a drink. We had prepared enough hot dogs for each person that registered for the event to have one each.
As lunch got started and everyone had their first hot dog, we noticed there were still quite a few left over due to the fact that approximately half of those who registered were not able to join us. So with nearly 200 extra hot dogs, we encouraged families to come back and have more. We sent the remainder home with some families, packed up our tables and coolers, and called it a day.
A day later, we received this email:
“What a wonderful thing you all have done, and the wonderful friendly attitudes of all of your volunteers just made my children shine with happiness. My oldest came to me after his second trip to the hot dog table and whispered, “That man keeps telling me to take the whole tub of hot dogs and to eat as much as I can, no one has ever let me eat all I wanted before.” What was just fun for that man, was a life changing moment for my child. He came from an environment of neglect and not having food for days at a time [which] was something he was used to. Now for the first time, I think he is beginning to see that his life has changed thanks to the love and kindness of God’s people, and that his plate runs over with the bounty of the Lord.”
The man this parent was referring to was me. The thought never crossed my mind that I might serve a child who had never known such a simple pleasure as excess hot dogs. To be quite honest, we just didn’t want to have to throw away all that food. There was no spiritual intent in my beckoning families to come have their fill.
I have encountered God’s work through my naivety a handful of times in my life. While my wife and I have been foster parents for more than six years now, it never dawned on us to start a ministry that would encourage others to do what we do. It wasn’t until a stay-at-home mom at our church approached us after having been pulled over by God while listening to a Cry of the Orphan) radio program. It never occurred to me to adopt a teenager who was placed in a group home to age out of the system either. And it still hasn’t quite set in that God has much more in store for me, my family and our ministry.
I often dream little dreams…dreams that limit my responsibility and God’s imagination. But, as I have heard miraculous stories of men like George Mueller and the countless others who have become the visible Gospel to children in need across the world over the centuries, I am compelled to think bigger and allow God to work through what I can and cannot do on my own.
So my question then is this: are we praying, believing, and expecting big enough things from God?
What story will your number tell?