Worth a Look ~ the Dark Side of International Adoption, Disaster Relief Done Wrong, and


A Few Articles that will May make you Rethink some Assumptions

Kidnapped and Sold:  Inside the Dark World of Child Trafficking in China   I recently read a book called One Child that examines the challenges and tragedies associated with China's policy of allowing families only one child.  One part of the book examined the problems of increased child trafficking, in particular in relation to international adoption.  I'd always assumed that the stories I'd heard about adoption from China could be taken at face value:  a child abandoned because it was outside the one-child rule, tragically often girls, then blessed to find an international family.  The reality isn't always so pretty.  The book outlined incidences of child abduction, coercion by state officials to give up a child who is then sold to an orphanage, and phony paperwork.  The Atlantic article goes into the problem in depth.  It's so sad to me to think that some parents who are trying to do good for these children might be contributing to a market mentality that increases the chances of babies being bought and sold.  From other articles I've read, it appears that the domestic market for babies is also a problem.  Sad.


All the more reason I love my Church's new #IWasAStranger initiative, with it's emphasis on personal, local service and relief.  "With these truths in mind, we have organized a relief effort called “I Was a Stranger.” It is our hope that you will prayerfully determine what you can do—according to your own time and circumstance—to serve the refugees living in your neighborhoods and communities. This is an opportunity to serve one on one, in families, and by organization to offer friendship, mentoring, and other Christlike service and is one of many ways sisters can serve."


For a Laugh

Never argue with an idiot:


On Motherhood

Seven Reasons We Hate Free Range Parenting  This is getting ridiculous!


Beautiful


Comments

Jenny Evans said…
The service trips article was so interesting. Trying to really help people/communities who need help is way more complicated than it seems. You might be interested in reading The Idealist by Nina Munk.