I've said that sentence so many times, to people who are curious about my "hobbies" and want to know about "Alyssa". I tell them that I advocate, that I blog, all for children who have no hope, children that I love immensely. The response I normally get is somewhere along the lines of "Oh how cool!" and that's typically where the conversation ends. Every time, after one of those short conversations, I'm left feeling sad because to me advocacy is so much more than just "cool".
I mean, I don't expect someone to have input on advocacy when they nothing about it, but I do wish people would ask more questions. To me advocacy is currently my life. I spend all of my time fundraising, sharing, blogging, donating, brainstorming, and praying over these kids. I strive daily to know more about the orphanages, the living conditions, the needs, the outlets that I can use to help the urgent situations.
I started when I was 13 and I have been dedicated ever since. My best friend Kaitlyn, and I have raised thousands of dollars for adopting families, and waiting children over the past 5 years. We have gained no money, no publicity, no "higher rank", we have done this purely for the children and their families. We fight, daily for these lives, because they matter and we see their potential.
Advocacy isn't easy, you can ask any advocate. It's hard because sometimes you fight tirelessly for a child and they wait year, after year and sometimes their family never comes. It's heartbreaking, and tiresome, to fight for a child and then to see them age out... Advocacy is not for the faint of heart. Being an advocate means having your heart broken, picking up the pieces, and loving the next child.
There are joyful moments too. Those joyful moments, when your child has a family, or when you get updated pictures and know your kiddo is doing 'alright', or when your kiddo finally makes it home after months of praying their family through the adoption process. Those joyful moments make all of it worth it. Because, you see, watching a child go from malnourished and broken, to restored, chosen and LOVED does something extraordinary to your heart, and makes you want to do it all over again.
Being an orphan/adoption advocate changes you. It gives you a different perspective on life, and is a constant reminder of just how lucky we all are. I know that for me, I am always cautious of the best way to use my money. "Do I need this $12 shirt? No, this money can go to a child/family/urgent need." I have literally had that conversation with my self hundreds of times, and I'm thankful for the heart, and mindset that God has blessed me with.
Advocacy has changed me, and I am grateful for that. I am a proud orphan advocate, and I wish everyone could experience having a love, so strong for a child that you have never met, never held, never spoken too, never kissed, or loved on, but yet you fight, every day, for that life. Because these children, they matter.
No comments:
Post a Comment