Christmas Thoughts

Merry Christmas friends! I hope that no matter where you are in the world or what you are doing, that you have enjoyed a beautiful day.

My family got a puppy. She is half malamute, half black lab, and fully adorable. She only got to spend part of the day with us because she is still being weaned, so she had to go back to her mommy for another two weeks. She went outside, and loped around in the grass in an awkward crooked way still learning how to use her legs properly. Then we brought her to the beach and we all had lots of fun. My family all loves the beach, and so did she! After overcoming her fear of the waves, racing down the sandy shore, and exploring some rocks, she flopped down in the sand behind someone's leg to take a nap.

I picked her up, and she instantly curled up and fell fast asleep in my arms. I love having sleepers on me, whether puppies, friends, cats, or anything else! My favorite by far is babies. I can think of nothing I like more then to rock and sing a baby to sleep. As I held my sleeping puppy I thought of all the children without homes, the babies without people to hold them out of harms way and rock them to sleep. I felt a familiar longing to care for these children. A wish that it was an orphan I had given a home to instead of a puppy, although, don't get me wrong, I love my new puppy dearly.

My thoughts went to China and the children we will be working with. We will be trying to do exactly what I am longing for, helping give orphans new loving homes! Meeting precious children and getting to know them and document part of who they are, so that we can share them with families who have a space open in their hearts and their homes. I am so excited to be a part of this work. I am especially delighted and expectant of wonderful things because we will be going to an orphanage that is a brand new partner with America World Adoption. This will of course make it more challenging, but I want a challenge. I want to grow and stretch and do everything I possibly can for these children.

My little sister gave me a bracelet that fits me well.

It says "not all those who wander are lost" It is true. I was not lost when I wandered to a physical therapy center in Vietnam and rocked a miracle baby to sleep. She had been sent home by doctors who could do no more for her. She was given the diagnosis "failure to thrive". But, she did not just wither away, against all odds, she grew. She grew into a healthy sized baby who still has mysterious problems She covers her ears and cries seemingly in pain, but not often and she can be distracted by singing. She loves singing. She loves singing so much she has mastered holding her bottle with her feet so that she can clap along while she is sung to.


After a long morning I sensed she was very tired and with her mother's permission, I rocked her and sang to her until she fell asleep. One of the full time workers from the main office who had traveled out with me was astonished! She acted like it was almost another miracle and said she had never seen the little girl be alright with a westerner holding her.

Many of you will have heard of Cesar Millan, a semi-famous man known as "The Dog Whisperer". God has given me a special gift with children that I have fostered over the years with the thirty cousins I have that are younger than me (I have forty-seven in total), my brother who is twelve years younger than me, and the many children I have nannied or watched in nursery groups. I have become something of a child whisperer. I am eager for when I am in a position to adopt children, but even when that happens I will not be able to be Mommy to them all. Perhaps you will have a part to play in this. Maybe it will be opening your own home and heart, or maybe supporting a friend who opens theirs. I am so grateful for my many supporters. For you! Also, I am grateful for this trip to China, for the chance to be a part of bringing some boys and girls home for the first time. 

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Tatiana

Prayer Points: Please join me in praying for...

• Logistics. Because the orphanage we are assigned to go to is new to partnering with America World Adoption there is a lot of communication, planning, and organizing that needs to happen.
• Team health. Never too early to start praying for happy stomachs, and lack of tiredness.
• Funding. We have a deadline of having $2,200 in for flights by January 4th. I am short $708.00, and I know at least one other team member is short as well.
• And lastly giving thanks that we were able to have our first team meeting last week and it went really well. I am blessed to have nine beautiful ladies to travel over with! More about the meeting to come later in the week!

If you want to contribute financially you can do it online here. In the drop-down list select "Storyteller Missions", and under "Participant Name(s)" put Tatiana Martin March'16 Guangdong China Team. Or you can mail a check to America World Adoption, 6723 Whittier Avenue, McLean, VA 22101 made out to AAWA with Tatiana Martin March'16 Guangdong China Team in the memo line