"Expanding Families"

Every so often I come across something incredibly helpful as I search for ways to articulate this journey we're experiencing.  Today, this "something" was a white paper written by the Christian Alliance for Orphans.  

--17.8 million children worldwide have lost both parents.--

There are many inherent limitations to any data that claims to be truly "global" in nature.  One of the greatest weaknesses in these global orphan estitimates is that they include only orphans that are currently living in homes.  They do not count the estimated 2 - 8+ million children living in institutions.  Nor do current estimates include the vast number of children who are living on the streets, exploited for labor, victims of trafficking, or participating in armed groups.  Thus, global orphan statistics significantly underestimate the number of orphans worldwide and fail to account for many children that are among the most vulnerable and most in need of a family.

In addition, the CAFO utilized the term "Expanding Families" to describe when orphans are placed in permanent, loving families.  Phrasing like this so beautifully defines our feelings and beliefs about our current situation.  These amazing Haitian sisters are a family.  They have a family history.  We are not replacing that family history - we are becoming part of their "Expanding Family".   What a miracle.


If you'd like to read the complete CAFO white paper, please see the link below.
Understanding Orphan Statistics