How a childhood dream is now a special gift to albino children!

Rejection at 16…

At 16 I made my first picture book. I carefully hand bound the book covering it with flocked suede fabric. It was a bumpy ride publishing my first picture book.

Eager to illustrate stories, I marched my little picture book into my very first publishing interview at Penguin books almost 3 decades ago. The commissioning editor encouraged me to keep at it, but rejected my book. Looking at my little picture book today, I completely understand the rejection.

But God knew my heart…

In 2013, I finally publish my first picture book, Adoptive Father. At 16 I had a desire to publish and a desire to share a story but as a Christian, God showed me so much more! He gave me an impression that this book would be the beginning of something much bigger. I had been given a vision of great need, of broken hearts, and lost children who needed to find their way to their Heavenly Father. Also that faith was simple; it was all about the size of our hearts and not religiosity.

He told showed me the BIG picture…

Adoptive Father was an International agenda on God’s calendar. It was my assignment to spread the message of the story God gave me as far and wide as I could and witness how obedience produces His fruit. But I didn’t need to lead. I just needed to follow and be obedient to what He showed me and His timing. What overwhelms me with joy is the feedback that verifies the will of God on this book. The impact it is having on children worldwide has me regularly weeping happy tears — literally!

And did all the hard work for me…

I have limited resources and time so it is also fortunate that I have a manager, Jesus, who takes care of that and most other parts of publishing and distributing His book. It has been distributed to children in several countries now and the list grows. Children all over the world desperately need to know how valuable they are, how to everyone should care for one another, and how love we ALL are by our Heavenly Father. So, when the world around them tells some that they are any less, this book tells them the truth.

I cried with gratitude…

To know that I have been invited into something that is so impacting and in some way empowers children to grow in love, is a bigger reward than anything the world can offer and often makes me weep with gratitude. I also know what God anoints will be incredible and miraculous!

Look, look— look where a dream can travel!

There’s a lot happening behind the scenes in my studio office—it’s incredibly exciting! I can share this part now:

Tanie and Jacqueline Guy lead Forget Me Not Ministries in the United States and have embraced Adoptive Father as an important part of their missionary outreach. Their primary role is to be missionaries to missionaries and they are eager to transport these particular books to children within their reach. One of their missionaries, Claire, is caring for albino orphans in Tanzania!

The not so black but cherished albino child…

These precious children have more challenges than you can imagine! They live with the very real threat of abduction and horrific child sacrifice! Claire is protecting them and provide for their mental and ongoing physical health needs. These children have an incredible need to feel acceptance and the love of God. Can you imagine how they must feel about themselves knowing that other people think it is acceptable to use them as lucky charm slaughter? This murder is unimaginable! I am working with Jacqueline and Claire to get a shipments of the books to these children and as the numbers in Claire’s outreach grows. Then I will be working with this ministry to get books to children in the Ukraine. If support continues, we will work together as the needs arise in whatever country presents itself.

When I painted this spread in the book  I didn’t have albino children in mind, but am sure the error in God’s mind. This image raced into my head when Jacklin mentioned the albino children. Immediately I thought how this would speak acceptance to albinos. I got goosebumps when I realised how white God’s hand is painting that little girl. She may not be representative of a child in Tanzania, however Jacqueline agreed that this image is sure to speak to them.Even the words on the page are relevant.

Additional news is… with assistance from a ministry in Puerto Ricco we have translated Adoptive Father into Spanish. I am preparing the book for an e-version and possibilities of hard or soft copies for distribution. I am also in correspondence with a ministry in Bolivia with a possibility of creating a Latin American Spanish translation and distribution there.

Want to be involved?

Jacqueline has given permission to share this letter in the hope that it will speak to you. Please read the letter that explains the situation of these will be no children and their situation in more detail. If you can help cover the costs of shipping and printing please contact Jacqueline or myself. At present donations from either side can be arranged to help distribute these books. Jacqueline’s email is in the letter and mine is available fire my contact page on my website.

Download: Adoptive Father Thank You Letter

Little did my 16-year-old self, know what lie ahead for her first picture book! That it would reach to the ends of the earth and bring a smile to many a child living with incredible challenges. I feel so blessed to be using my life to help in this way, as I’m sure anyone else who comes alongside me in this journey feels also.

Thank God for the creation of story and illustration!