Elijah's First Christmas, and a Fighting Chance

Elijah's first American Christmas has come and gone. We tried not to make it too overwhelming for him. He did extremely well, all things considered. We visited Santa Claus at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. He loved all the lights and looking at the animals, but didn't care too much for Santa. Which is what we figured. But he did pose for a picture with Daddy in front of some of the lights (see right). The next night was Christmas Eve, and we opened presents, just the six of us. He was very meticulous in the opening of his gifts (reminded me of his great-grandma). I think he liked cleaning up all the wrapping paper and putting in the trash bag more than anything (the boy's a clean-freak- leftovers from his old home). Christmas day was a bit more hectic for him with more people, but it ended up being a special time celebrating two first Christmas's (Elijah's and his baby cousin Savannah's).

Now a New Year approaches, and it greets me doing a lot of soul-searching. I know this sounds crazy, but I long to go back to Russia. I know that right now it is not a possibility, but I miss it, if that possibly makes sense. I know that it's not the only place to find God, but it's where He wanted me to find Him. And while since I've been back I have been studying what God is doing in other parts of the world and places where He is needed most (Africa, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam), I find myself still drawn to Russia. I still remember my conversation with a group of missionaries in Moscow, and being saddened to hear how the years of Communism have left a nation almost completely devoid of personal interaction with the God of this universe. And I am heartbroken. And I think about all the little ones we saw in Baby House #5, ones that we knew would probably never spend a Christmas with a loving family. And I think about the hopelessness that many of them will feel when they become adults and have to leave the only homes they have ever known, never to return and alone. And I think, if only they knew there was a God out there who loved them. That even though they may not have a "family" in the normal context, there was a man who walked this earth 2000 years ago, bringing hope to orphans just like themselves, healing the broken just like themselves, and laying down his life so that they might live. I feel like if someone at least told them this, they might stand a fighting chance...

JP