An economist I am not, but I truly have to sit back and marvel when I see the truth of God-enomics.
What’s that?
The economics of being led by the Holy Spirit.
“Give and it will be given to you.”
“Divide your bread with the hungry.”
“If you have two shirts give one to the poor.”
Talk about some crazy number crunching. Who comes up with this stuff? And why does it matter? Seventy motherless children in a Ugandan orphanage are one reason. 
When I first visited Welcome Home Africa in 2005, while on a three-week trip across East Africa to adopt our daughter, Ruth, I met those who had suffered more in their brief lives than I ever had–like Agnes, the nine-month old baby who weighed seven pounds because her father could only afford tea to feed her.
Soon after completing Ruth’s adoption, I began writing her story in hope of raising money for her orphanage. Only, the agents I spoke with didn’t think her book would sell. Until she died.
Now I am finishing Ruth’s story. It’s not the one I wanted to tell, but then rarely do we get to pick our endings. If it was just about me or Ruth or our family, I wouldn’t even write it. It’s just too painful. But, it isn’t about us.
It’s about those seventy children–nearly all of them new since my time in Uganda but just as needy, just as deserving of food, shelter, and love.
Last week the Welcome Home newsletter arrived in our mailbox. Along with the faces of those beautiful kids was a note written by the home’s director, Mandy Sydo, asking whether we might find three additional families willing to give monthly.
Why?
Because while food and oil and electricity keeps rising in America, it’s rising in Uganda too. In the past three years, Welcome Home’s expenses have tripled and quadrupled along with the cost of rice, sugar, oil, and infant formula.
“We want to be able to continue helping as many children as possible,” Mandy wrote. “Your faithfulness makes this all possible.”
Welcome Home’s only overhead is its newsletter. Mandy works out of a bedroom in her house. Everything else goes directly to the care and support of these children. That’s why giving is important. Even when it’s tough.
This week our daughter’s caregiver, Christina, will herself be going to live and work at Welcome Home for the month of October–God-enomics in action.
Here’s how. First Christina helped care for Ruth. Then she stayed and helped care for us when our hearts were broken. And she has continued helping while I wrote Ruth’s book. My final edit, before passing it on to an agent, should be complete this Saturday–the day Christina leaves.
Best of all, the money we’ve paid is helping paying for Christina’s trip. But it won’t stop there. It will keep giving and growing in the lives of every child she touches.
“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:19.
To help touch the lives of children like Ruth, please pray about supporting Welcome Home. For more information contact Mandy Sydo, email: LMSydo@sbcglobal.net or go on line to www.welcomehomeafrica.com
All photos copyrighted by Alibert Bok.
