Well, if you're reading this, you've probably received an invitation to a Dessert Social at the Country Rose to benefit the adoption of a little boy named G**b. So...I'll tell you a little bit about G**b and how he has captured our hearts.

Back in June I received an email about this little boy. He turned 1 on June 27th and he lives in an orphanage in S********l, R****a. I felt compelled to request more information about him, even though it was not our plan at that time to adopt any more children. (The house is already bursting at the seams!) Well, sometimes God's plans are completely different from our own! We prayed a lot about this little guy, and eventually we sent in an application to the agency with which he is listed. At this point, we are praying that God will provide the means for us to bring this little boy here from R*****a.

On his medical report, his special needs were listed as club feet, a tibial anomaly, and a dislocated hip. We were told by a doctor specializing in adoption medicine that he probably has a syndrome of some sort. After a few weeks, we received two new pictures of him that showed his legs. They gave a much clearer picture of the leg deformites: a club foot that pointed outward instead of inward, missing toes, and very importantly, a "dimple" or bump on the front of his shin. With all these clues and Google, a diagnosis was found that took every anomaly into account: fibular hemimelia. Now since our son Marc is an orthopedic anomaly himself, we are seeing an orthopedist at Dupont quite regularly. The last time we were there (last week, actually), I had the opportunity to ask his orthopedist which doctors in the practice treated this disorder. He said both himself and the head of the department handled fibular hemimelia. He also confirmed from the pictures that both of G**b's legs are affected and would require below-knee amputations. The encouraging part is that prosthetics are so advanced today that G**b will be able to do most anything childhood throws his way: running, jumping, swimming, riding a bike, or playing sports.

We have a long way to go as far as raising the funds to complete this adoption, but we are determined to give G**b the life and the medical treatment he deserves. If he stays in R****a, there will be no intervention for his legs, and he will remain crippled. Children (and adults) with disabilities aren't treated the same way in R****a as in this country. I can't begin to tell you how much we already love this child and how important it is to us that we're able to bring him here.

God has given Chris and I an incredible burden for orphans, and it is so close to His heart that we take care of them: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..." James 1:27. We also find in scripture that He wants us to speak for the helpless: "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31:8-9.

We hope to see you at the dessert social on September 12; I'm sure it will be a lot of fun. In the meanwhile, we would really covet your prayers for this little boy and his future. Thanks!