Hope and More Hope!

How wonderful to be here spending time with the precious babies and dear friends. Words can't describe the range of emotions being here with dear friends who serve these children and being here with little ones who are so precious, yet many will not be adopted because of their medical condition or are so sick their days on this earth are short.

Charles and I met Dr. Joyce and Robin Hill in May of 2001 when they brought two orphan babies to Vanderbilt for surgery. Amazing how my comment to her, "We'll do what we can to help you and bring supplies when we adopt in 2002" led to packing about 2,000 “Suitcases of Love” filled with supplies in the past 14 years. We still marvel at how God used our willingness to pack suitcases as volunteers to cross our paths with so many people willing to help in the care of orphans.

Several years ago, Show Hope, a non-profit organization involved in orphan care and adoption located in Franklin, TN, partnered with New Hope Foundation in Beijing to care for sick orphans in China. Since that time, the work has expanded and there are over 300 medically-fragile orphans being cared for at five locations.

The generosity of so many people around the US to donate much-needed supplies has enabled the care of these children to continue with many items they cannot get in China or cannot get for a reasonable cost. (There are some items that are much more expensive here that are needed in daily care of these babies.) And the travelers - wow, so many people going to adopt, to tour or do business have taken and continue to gladly take suitcases of supplies to Beijing or Luoyang and the supplies continue to be there when needed.

Pages could be filled with the amazing stories of items they thought they would not necessarily need arriving just in time for an emergency situation where that item was needed. God just goes before and provides for these orphans. And it has been sweet to meet some of these folks in person, including one adoptive family this past week to Maria’s Big House of Hope to visit. That mom brought a suitcase when she visited last year. Three weeks ago in Beijing, I met a mom traveling for adoption that I had sent two suitcases to just before we left.

The need is on-going for supplies to care for over 300 medically-fragile orphans. Look at the list on www.hopefosterhome.com or www.showhope.org or email us if you want a current wish list anytime. It is amazing how God has used people from all over this world to care for these babies in many ways.

Charles and I are so thankful for many friends and family who love our girls and make such an impact in their lives and encourage them to live generous lives. Our hearts overflow with thanksgiving for the generosity of so many to make our journey possible, sweet friend providing gift cards for the girls to use at the airport, someone to stay at our house, people willing to ship suitcases in my absence, friends preparing treat bags for our girls to enjoy, neighbors returning overdue library books, manpower watering the new tree that is high maintenance (due to a teenager having a car accident in our yard during the winter) and so much more that is such a blessing while we are on this Hope journey.

I won't be posting often as this is the girls' blog but wanted to share our thoughts as we continue this special journey. The days here are filled with much activity and seems we are not finding much time to even blog what we would like to share. Continue to pray for our journey, the babies, and those caring for them. Also pray for adoptive families. Since we have been in China, at least seven little ones from the care centers have been adopted. What a huge, life-changing blessing and answer to prayer it is for these children to have FOREVER FAMILY!

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Psalm 82:3