I just finished a documentary entitled Stuck. This documentary is based on families trying to adopt children internationally. I watched as families struggled to get their children home from various countries. It was heartbreaking to watch.  It was heartbreaking to watch even more because I know a family with a daughter that is stuck.

Ryan and Katie Ganshert have been waiting to bring their daughter home from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She has been legally adopted since July. They closed the doors on the “exit permits” in September.  They can’t bring her home. She needs the exit permit to get home to the United States.  They were suppose to be grandfathered “in” to get this “exit permit”, but that hasn’t happened yet.  They are one of several  hundred families going through this crisis right now.

I have sent letters to everyone from local government officials to national government officials in my state. They are turning their backs on my friends. I received a letter, stating, I could not advocate on behalf of my dear friends.  I am and will continue until this child and all other stuck children come home.

How can you help?

1. Mindset: not everyone agrees with international adoption. People will cry “What about our children in the United States?” I agree. We have needy children everywhere. God has placed orphans on the hearts of Christians everywhere.  It’s not your place or your choice to judge on where people choose to adopt from, but as a Christian is your duty to act on behalf for orphans.  Sorry, that was bold. Let me say it a different way: “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Orphans are everywhere.

2. Prayer: God can move mountains and governments. We need to pray for a movement. A movement that will bring these children home. Not in orphanages alone and unloved. Not in orphanages where they are under staffed and underfed. No one wants these children in some of these countries, yet they are being denied to loving homes in the United States.

3. Do something: Write a letter, sign a petition, write a blog post. Just do something. The more noise that is made the more action the United State government will be required to take.   Don’t know where to start? Start here:  https://bothendsburning.org/help-out/sign-the-petition/)

4. Still unconvinced? Watch the documentary Stuck.( http://buy.stuckdocumentary.com ) After watching this documentary, I was more convicted than ever to write a blog about my friends and their situation. I felt that it was my duty as a Christian and as their friend to speak out even more.

Don’t allow one more day go by and these children remain stuck.

” Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” James 1:27