July Newsletter (volume 3,5)

Fun in the Sun

Summer is traditionally a time that people look forward to each year. It is a time for going to the ballpark. It is a time for having family picnics in the park and having fun in the sun. It is a time for vacations and getting away from our school work and jobs. It is a time for relaxing and getting away from our regular schedules and the normal hustle and bustle of life. Summer is carefree. It is a time to escape the everyday stresses of life to enjoy some of the simple pleasures of life like taking a walk down a warm sandy beach or drinking a glass of lemonade with a friend on a front porch swing.

And yet in all this talk of vacations and getting way from the everyday stresses of life, I realized that there is no such thing as vacation for orphans. There is no relaxing or taking time off for an orphan. He or she is bound by their life's circumstance. They are poor and alone. There is no escape. They struggle to live and survive. They struggle to feed and clothe themselves. Most of them are lonely and afraid-- real strangers on the earth. They do not have the luxury or freedom of going to the ballpark or having a family picnic in the park. These are things that orphans only dream about. However, for the second summer in a row, together we are changing lives and are making some dreams come true for the orphans in our care. We will be hosting a summer camp in Guangxi Province for many of our orphans. This year (on July 23-24th) we anticipate about 150 orphans will come to the camp. The camp will run for 2 days and 1 night. The orphans will be treated to wonderful food, inspirational speakers, and a trip to an amusement park. We anticipate it being a blessed and fun-filled time for everyone!

Kids like to Play!

Part of our ministry is giving dignity and respect to a part of mankind that has been forgotten. We reach into the cracks and crevices of China to pick up and love orphans who were previously abandoned and unloved. We help out others who are too poor to help themselves. This is our duty. And part of our job is give these orphans a home. We give them a place where they can feel safe. We provide them a place where they are taken care of, loved, and supported. We establish an environment that is warm and friendly and where everyone is accepted. We give them warm beds to sleep in and generous meals to fill their bellies.

We also desire to make the orphanages fun places for the children. We believe all children should have a fun and creative environment in which they can play, grow and learn. One of our orphanages currently has a wonderful play area that includes a basketball court, badminton courts, and ping pong tables. Surrounding this area are beautiful trees with sitting areas underneath where the children can congregate, play games, and just talk. Each day you can find the orphans running, jumping, playing, and “just being kids” under the trees and in the play area.

Like I mentioned above, only 1 of our orphanages has a play area. Two of our orphanages do not currently have a play area. This is definitely something we want to see completed in the future (the sooner the better, Lord willing). And so I would ask you, as servants of God, please help these beautiful orphans have a place where they can play and “be kids.” Please, as men and women of not only faith but action, help these rescued orphans have a play area where they are free to run and play and exercise. Again, I would encourage you to give and by your giving be a blessing to these children. We currently are beginning to construct a play area for 1 of the orphanages that is in need. We still need approximately $500 to complete this project. And we still have not begun a play area for our third orphanage. It will cost approximately $1500 to build that play area.

Phasing out foster care work

Since the start of this ministry we have been reaching out to and supporting orphans. In the beginning and up to now we have supported orphans through foster care. On a regular basis our workers go out and visit the orphans in their foster homes. On each visit, the workers spend time with the children, talking with them and befriending them. They ask them questions about their home life and how he/she is doing in school. They also take any opportunities they have to share a lesson from God's Word with the child. Every time the workers visit the orphans, they deliver supplies such as shoes, umbrellas, clothing, bedding, school bags, school supplies, food, daily necessities (toothpaste, shampoo, etc.) and medical care as needed.

Several years ago we began operating several orphanages. We quickly realized how much better we were able to care for and support the children in the orphanages versus those in foster care. We have had more opportunities for teaching, helping, encouraging, and loving the children in the orphanages. We know the children so much better because we see them everyday versus monthly or bi-monthly in foster care. Thus, we understand their needs more and we are better able to minister to them.

We are currently operating 3 orphanages and 2 more are in the plans within the next year which will bring us to a total of 5 orphanages. This is exciting news because it means we will be able to provide a home for more orphans as we find them as well as moving orphans out of foster care and into the orphanages. As we do this, we will begin slowly phasing out of the foster care work. As we transfer more of the orphans out of foster care, we will be placing more of our emphasis and energy on the orphanage work. We will continue to move in this direction until the entire foster care program is phased out. Again, we believe that we are better able to care for the orphans in the orphanage setting, not only physically but also emotionally and spiritually. Thus, we will begin slowly phasing out the foster care program later this year. Rest assured, if you currently have an orphan in foster care, we won't be discontinuing their support. Rather, as space becomes available we will begin moving them into the orphanages.

Thank you for another great month!!!!

IN MEMORY OF:


Ruby Snell
Cornelia Ragester


Fred Dillon
Cornelia Ragester


Rexie Archer
Mr. & Mrs. Howard Hoshall

Sara Jones
Jeff and Loraine Spangler


Jim Gilliam
John & Mary Ann Kelly, Bob Melugin, Jeff and Loraine Spangler


IN HONOR OF:

Jim Warren (Father's Day)
Bill, Mary & Kaitlin Warren

Father John Walsh (anniversary and birthday)
Ronnie & Eva Trussell