The Doll Project

I told you I'd knitted recently. Here's more about that.

Dear friends of ours, Mike and Jennifer Greenberg, are living in South Africa for the year as missionaries. As their website states, they are showing hope and freedom to those ravaged by slavery, AIDS, and poverty.

One of the ways they are spreading this message of hope is through the Valuable to Jesus Campaign, commonly known as The Doll Project because of the dolls that are handed out to each child that is taught.

It is explained that "The dolls fit in the palm of your hand, just as we are in the palm of God's hand. This doll was knitted together in love, just as we were knitted together in love by God. And just as no two dolls are alike, we are unique and special, too." While focusing on each child's worth to the Lord, awareness is brought to the issues of sexual abuse, pornography, prostitution and human trafficking. Each child walks away knowing: You are Special and Unique, God Loves you, God has a plan for your life, God can heal you, Call for Help, You can Choose.

From Jen:

"According to an international BBC report, a female born in South Africa has a greater chance of being raped in her lifetime than learning how to read.
Solidarity’s Helping Hand Fund says drug lords have started a recruitment campaign for prostitutes for the 2010 World Cup…girls as young a 12 are being roped in.
But in MANY of these recruitment cases, parents are told by the drug lord or trafficker that he has “work” for them in the city. They have so idea that their child will be sold into sex slavery and never to be seen again.
Prostitution is legal here, no matter how young the prostitute is. And if a parent is tricked into letting that child go with the trafficker, that is considered legal also.

So, we’re on a preventative campaign to warn as many parents, teachers, Sunday school workers, and adults alike the tricks human traffickers use to get a child. We have opportunities in many “Townships”, which are all black communities outside the city limits. We also have opportunities in Zimbabwe among several churches. Since most people attend church, this is one of the best ways to reach adults and children alike. We are also meeting with several ministries on a monthly basis to discuss and collaborate on the prevention and education of Human Trafficking."

So, in addition to the dolls, business card-sized info sheets can be provided with a helpline number and details about unsafe situations. The small format is discreet in case a trafficker is present. Many of the dolls are handed out, though, in a classroom setting.

Both boys and girls are receiving these dolls and are thrilled. They feel the worth and love and concern. In this case, knowledge absolutely is power! Even classes of 12-15 year old boys are loving their dolls and have been seen swapping with each other after the presentation for ones whose features they prefer. :-)

Jen also put together a video here.

The really neat thing is that the success with the program in South Africa has ignited some plans to take The Doll Project to other countries where these social issues are being fought.

Here's how you can help!

Knit dolls. :-)

If you're interested, I am happy to e-mail the pattern (indicate e-mail address and your desire to help in the comments!). It is SUPER EASY. In fact, Dorothy took an excellent nap (2 hours!) one day and I was able to do most of the doll in that amount of time (everything except stuffing and embroidering) If you can knit stockinette stitch, you can do this! I'll be keeping them here until the Greenbergs return from South Africa in the fall. At that point, Jen will have a more firm idea of where The Doll Project will head next and all the dolls will find homes.

Though I haven't pursued anything yet, I would love to have knitting circles spread the word... have knit-a-longs in local yarn shops making dolls... hold Knit Nights where we assemble dolls. (a perfect point for those of you who don't knit to step in- almost anyone can stuff and stitch up a doll, then lovingly embroider a face). You get the picture.

And what a cute picture this is! :-) Dorothy with the doll I knit.

And while we're talking about human trafficking, locals will want to click here. We're attending and would love to see you there! I don't totally know what to expect, but I know that the Lord loves justice and freedom, and that we should be about our Father's business. Jesus was.

"...he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free..." (Luke 4:18)

One Year on The List

One whole year ago today, our family officially joined others on a wait list to adopt from Taiwan.  We are expecting to wait another 2-6 months for a referral and can not wait to see our daughter's picture.  In honor of this day, I share with you an entry from my Daily Life journal a few weeks back.  I write in the journal most mornings, after reading my Bible and praying- it serves as a written history of my journey with God and a reminder of His faithfulness and provision.

March 27, 2008- "The Perfect Timing of a Full, Full, Blessing"

This past week we learned that our agency expects it to be another 3-6 months before we are referred a child- before we get the first picture of our future daughter.  Why is God making us wait so long?  We're growing impatient and so deeply desire to have her in our family.  But, knowing that the Lord set out this path for us, we want to trust Him and, deep down, past the emotion of it, we know that it will be far better on Jesus' plan and time than mine.  Reading in Luke, I am reminded that when God's perfect timing is involved, there is full, full blessing.

Luke 5:1-9 (New International Version)

 1One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,^[a]with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

 4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down^[b] the nets for a catch."

 5Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."

 6When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

 8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" 9For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,

These fishermen had quit for the day and wewre washing their nets (v. 2).  Jesus comes along, and uses their boats as a platform to speak from- a pulpit.  And after Jesus teaches the multitude, he tells these fishermen- these future disciples- to sail further out and cast their nets.  Now, they've had no success all night, but at Jesus' request, they obey and catch such a great number of fish that they have to call in an extra boat and they still both started to sink, even after sharing the weight.  All who witnessed were astonished.

Points to consider:  

1. Regardless of what we've done on our own, God's perfect timing produces full, full blessing.

2. The full, full catch happened *after* the fishermen learned from Jesus' teaching.

3. The miraculous catch caused astonishment.  God's perfectly timed blessings are for the wonder and amazement of people- so they see Him through what has happened.

God,

Our adoption is in Your hands and we trust You with the timing of this miracle.  I pray that we are learning what we need to learn, growing where we need to grow, and using the extended wait to better prepare.  May all who hear of our adoption miracle know that each step was guided by You and was only possible because of Your touch. ~Amen.