Powerful

ran.som – 1. to free from captivity or punishment by paying a price.

Powerful word and I am going to post powerful images. If you can read to the end you are going to be given a POWERFUL opportunity to change a life. So brew a cup of coffee, grab the chocolate and smile as you read about what I have been blessed to be a part of.

I want to tell you that through a project we called Orphan Tree, over $13,000 was raised to help families ransom and rescue special needs children from orphanages in Eastern Europe.

This past December, so many stepped up to take home the name and face of a special needs orphan with a promise to support them through prayer and funding. It was beautiful to see families step up and give what they could. Others promised to pray daily to help bring these children home. It is with absolute joy I share some of the before and after pictures.

Welcome HOME Teddy Scheid!

Teddy was Tobias on our Orphan Tree

Welcome HOME Ryker Lee!

Ryker was Marcus on our Orphan Tree

Welcome HOME Victoria Horton!

You knew her as Hope on the Orphan Tree.

Welcome HOME Eleanor Zltaka Faith Sutton and Samuel Sabi Thaddeus Sutton!

These are beautiful reunion pictures of children adopted from Eastern Europe. The statistics are staggering and I invite you to read my previous entries called To Hell and Back and Redemption Is Not Pretty or Painless to develop a greater understanding of the absolute desperate need for these children.

I can honestly say that we were able to adopt our beautiful son Israel, because people were moved to give. He now has a community of people who follow his journey and cheer over every accomplishment. It truly is beautiful to see a child transform with the love of family and community. I’d like to invite you to be a part of another family’s journey. I’d like to invite you to adopt a family!

I am going to list 4 families and a picture of the child/children they are adopting. If you’d like to come alongside one of these families through prayer or giving to their adoption, private message me on Facebook (Stacey Jackson Gagnon), or leave a message on this blog. I will mail you a more in-depth biography of the family you choose with a photo of the child/children you will be helping. It will be just like the last Orphan Tree, minus the ornament. You can then follow links on the biography page that I mail you to follow their journey. The biographies are perfect to place on your refrigerator to remind you to pray for your adopted family.

Here are the families that you could help on their adoption journey:

 

Eric and Blythe

I met Eric and Blythe on my first trip to Bulgaria. They were picking up their son Nicholas from an orphanage in Bulgaria. Nicholas has cerebral palsy and is the cutest little man in a button-up shirt you will ever see.

Eric and Blythe are going back to Eastern Europe to adopt Mark, a sweet baby boy. If you would like to support the Blythes, please click here.

 

Thomas and Shannon Puckett

I met Thomas and Shannon when we began the journey to adopt Israel. They saw our son Silas on a local news channel and connected with us. They helped us out with so many aspects of adoption and we are still wonderful friends. Thomas and Shannon adopted a sweet, little girl with cerebral palsy from an orphanage in Bulgaria.

They are now in the process to bring home two more children that need a family. Thomas is currently deployed, and Shannon holds down the fort. They could use all the support we can give. If you’d like to donate to help bring home Wen and Rhodey, click here.

 

Elizabeth Sherley

On our Orphan Tree in December was a beautiful child named Heavenleigh. She was so tiny and so frail. She needed her mama to get her out of the orphanage fast to provide the care she needed.

Due to neglect and lack of medical intervention Heavenleigh passed away before Elizabeth could bring her home. It was absolutely heartbreaking. Elizabeth was grieving, but God laid on her heart another child that needed a family. She is now in process to bring home Nels. If you’d like to support Elizabeth and her journey to Nels, click here .

 

The Parrish Family

This is the Parrish family. There was one child in Israel’s orphanage that he played with daily. I write about her here. Her name is Rosa. Initially, Rosa had a family, but due to unforeseen circumstances they were unable to complete the adoption. All the money already donated to Rosa remains with her. When I realized that Rosa (aka Ryleigh) needed a family, I reached out to Anna and her husband. They immediately knew she was their daughter. The Parrish family brought home a sweet boy from Bulgaria last year and they are ready to bring home his sister. Eddie is excited to bring home Rosa to be his best friend. You can read their big announcement here and donate to Rosa’s adoption fund here.

These amazing families are working hard to bring home these special kids. If you would like to adopt one of these families, please contact me on Facebook (Stacey Jackson Gagnon) or by writing a comment on this blog with your address and chosen family. I will send you a biography card featuring the family you would like to support. You can donate directly to that family through the links on this page or by following the link on the biography card. I am by no means a professional fundraiser, I am just a mom who has adopted a special boy who has blessed us beyond measure. I am hoping to give you an opportunity to see God move mountains to bring these children home.