For Masha

"Flight of the Butterfly" - Merri Pattinian

I am so angry right now, I'm crying. 

Today I heard the story of Masha. You probably did too. She is a young child who was adopted from Russia as a five year old girl. Adopted to a divorced man from the United States who requested a blond, blue eyed little girl to adopt. No one followed up after this child arrived in the US.

And for the next five to six years this child was sexually abused, raped, tortured and photographed by her adoptive father. Her pictures were distributed over the internet. She was finally rescued by the FBI after they tracked her down while investigating child internet pornography.

This child was hunted down and trafficked into the US by a pedophile.  What adoption agency could have allowed this to happen? And where the hell were they after this child was delivered to this man??

There are US Senators currently working to pass new child internet pornography laws, inspired by this very girl.  And so they should. Senator Kerry was quoted as saying that the penalties for downloading music from the internet are three times more severe than the penalties for downloading child pornography. Three times. God help us.

My heart is broken. And I am so angry. As someone who has never been able to have children, who has lost three of my own, and who has wrestled with the idea of adoption, I am sickened at the thought of someone exploiting a child who is desperate for a family. Exploiting the gift of adoption in such an evil way.

And I am horrified to think of how many other children, in my country and around the world, right now, are being trafficked and violated and abused. And I don't know what to do.

You can read and begin to educate yourself here.

God bless you Masha. You are a true hero. Courage, deep peace and wholeness be yours.

Comments

[anj]

Sarah - Thanks for this, I tracked back to you from my blog, and added some informational sites too.

[Deb]

How horrendous and sad...very sad. It breaks my heart too. We adopted a little girl 11 years ago. I just can't imagine someone else adopting her and doing such horrible things.

[Georgia]

I too saw that show. I was speechless...and felt so powerless....however....Sarah, you speak from the bottom of your deepest place...a place HE knows.....and I do believe HE is hearing you.....and speaking to you....rise up, oh daughter, .....perhaps you are being called to these little ones in a "new" way, not only as intercessor and advocate but as a mother....could it be time for you and yours to explore adoption? "gulp, a bold statement tis true".... may HE lavish HIS love on you....and give you the courage and boldness to love extravagantly.....risk...."