What a week! It has been really nice to have an entire week with no camps, no schedules, but lots of swimming and enjoying the kids playing together upstairs (plus/minus a few screams every now and then!). On Sunday, our team presented at one of the Sunday school classes to talk and share about our trip. Shannon and I worked on a power point slide show, and Trent, Beverly, Claire, Mary, Shannon and I all shared some about the trip. We had a great turnout, and several people talked to me afterwards. As for me, I LOVED looking at the pictures. Every time I looked, I noticed something I had not noted before. A sparkle in an eye, a tear on the face, one child helping another. Honestly, I could have continued to load pictures on power point and looked all day. The children at Hohhot haunt me. I cannot get them out of my head (wonder who is doing that?!) As we are home, and processing everything, my desires to help them with basic life skills, and potentially to learn a trade so they can work are growing. Few, if any, of the older kids will be adopted, and only 100 have been adopted from there in the last 9 years...so, are they stuck living in a social welfare institute the rest of their lives? Some of the kids are mentally capable of working and living on their own, but they need guidance, teaching and help to do so. My goal over the next 3 or 4 years would be to help integrate a "class" at the orphanage to teach some of these things, like how to wash yourself, how to clean laundry, how to cook...to give the kids that are able options. I realize some may choose to remain in the institute because it is home, and the only home they have known, but I want them to have the option...How to go about this will take time, and planning. I recently read a quote ( I am a huge quote person!) that really struck a cord with me. It is from an unknown person: " I wondered why somebody didn't DO something. Then I realized I am Somebody." if we sit back and wait, things will never get done. Life will pass us by before we know it. Life is meant to be LIVED, not observed. We are ALL Somebody; but, we just need to know what gifts we have to help. We are ALL Somebody, that by working together, we can make a difference. Please, when you go to bed tonight, take time to look in the mirror and ask yourself, really ask yourself, "What kind of Somebody am I, and What kind of Somebody can I be?" Pray about it, pray that your gifts are made obvious to you. You are Somebody!!
I am also praying for Nicholas, the new baby at Starfish who needs heart surgery this week. He is frail, and has to travel with Amanda to get to the hospital. Alex has selected him to sponsor, and is quite attached to his photos. We are also opening up sponsorship of Amanda's babies at church again, which I know can make a difference for many. Please pray he will have a good outcome after surgery!
There have been a lot of amazing meetings around Nashville the last few days with regards to a potential medical mission trip. I will write about this soon, but please read about the Morning Sun Center for HOPE on my site!
Love,
Eve
1 comment:
It is so great to read about how you were affected by your time in China, and how you can't get the kids out of your head..that is exactly what happened to me in 2005! They will never leave your head, and they shouldn't, because they mean so many different things to everybody that comes in contact with them, and open their eyes to the world. I hear neat stories from so many people that come to visit here, it's amazing. And I have also been pondering on the whole "what somebody am I?" thing. I don't know what comes after October, and have been praying for it to become clear, but the choice is not obvious at this time.
P.S. Can you send me the info on the Starfish Home? The website may be blocked here b/c it doesn't seem to open. I may be traveling down to Xi'an soon if it works out and wanted to contact them. Thanks!
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