When I first arrived in China last February, I often found myself searching for anything that would bring an ounce of familiarity to my new life…where nothing was familiar. I searched for familiar smells, foods, and even just little moments in the day that would make me feel just a little closer to home. One of the things that brought that comfort was bananas.

It sounds sort of funny…to be comforted by bananas. But it’s true. The little fruit stand near my dormitory sold them. When I first arrived, I was afraid to eat anything that didn’t have a nice protective peeling on the outside (although I quickly adapted and soon ventured to try apples, too!). So those first few weeks it was just me and the bananas. I ate one each morning for breakfast with my instant coffee. I’d slowly peel back the yellow outside and take a big whiff of that familiar smell, closing my eyes and thinking of home. I would eat it ever so slowly, savoring every ounce of flavor. It didn’t take much to make me happy.

Fast forward six months… The day before I left to come home, sweet Caitlin (my fellow intern) threw a going away party for me in the preschool class. Caitlin was staying for another month while I returned home to start school. We asked the kids to draw a picture for me to take home. They all gathered around and began to work on their masterpiece. I’ll never forget glancing at that picture when they were half-way finished. What did I see? Bananas. Caitlin had taught the kids how to draw bananas one day during preschool, and Jaelynn loved to draw them everywhere so naturally she drew bananas for me. I looked at these perfectly formed bananas…and my eyes began to well up with tears. Suddenly, Jaelynn became very upset as the other kids began scribbling all over her perfect bananas. We scooped her up as she continued to scream, “But Abby’s going to America! I want to give her bananas! Abby’s going to America! I want to give her bananas!” All I could do was hold her and assure her that I loved her bananas…they were perfect, even if the other kids colored on top of them. The next day as I told her good-bye, she held my face in her little hands and said, “I give you bananas.”

My heart ripped in half as I once again faced the realization that I was leaving…she was staying behind. But those bananas came with me. Those bananas are framed and hanging on my wall amidst Jessica’s drawing of myself, Fahlin’s scribble, and Issac’s black circles. And even if no one else notices those bananas, I know they’re there. And I know that sweet Jesus gave me bananas. The same simple thing He used to comfort my homesick heart back in February, He is now using to comfort my homesick heart now. And every time I see a banana, I am reminded of His faithfulness. And I am reminded to pray for Jaelynn–my precious banana-giving princess–and for a forever family for this sweet one.

Read more about Jaelynn here >

Learn about how you can pray for Jaelynn >

Do you have an special picture or object that reminds you to pray for orphans? Tell us in the comments.

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been fascinated by children. I was that annoying 7-year-old who would follow around the mom with a baby relentlessly asking, “Can I hold him now please?” I was mothering other kids before I was even out of diapers myself. If there was a baby in the building, little Abby was glued to its side (not much has changed). Folks, we even had to pack an extra little suitcase for my baby doll on our family vacation when I was in third grade. I feel like God planted a mother’s heart deep within my soul while He was still knitting me together in my mother’s womb. It has always been a part of who I am.

As I enter into my senior year of college, I’m often asked, “What do you want to do after college? What are your career goals? What’s next?” I don’t know where I’ll be this time next year or what I’ll be doing, I only pray that my wayward heart will be obedient to God’s tender voice. But, the desire of my heart as a little girl still rings true today: I really just want to be a mom when I grow up.

I went through a brief period where I was a little embarrassed to tell people that I just wanted to be a mom. People would say, “Oh, I know that…but like, what do you want to do?” And I would repeat, “Well, uh, I want to be a mom…really.” I don’t really appreciate the phrase “just a mom.” To me, this implies that being “just a mom” is something a person reverts to when other avenues fail. Let me say…I am so thankful and I have a whole lot of respect for all you “just moms” out there. I am a twenty-year old college kid and I want to be a mom when I grow up. A 15-passenger van literally is my dream car. I want to raise a mob of God-fearing kiddos. And I want to see the world be changed.

Behind a lot (not all, but a lot) of godly warriors stands a godly mama. A mama who spends hours on her knees on behalf of her children. A mama who labors continuously sowing the seeds of salvation in their tender hearts. A mama who “salts the oats” in order to make His Word as desirable as possible so that her children will find themselves hungering and thirsting after it. A mama who sets an example of forgiveness, love, and humility. A mama who serves others and gives her children opportunities to do the same. It seems to me that God often uses a godly mama to shape the hearts of future warriors.

My “mother’s heart” breaks every single day living at Maria’s Big House of Hope with 140 precious children who do not have “just a mom,” or “just a dad” for that matter. I live in a house of 140 potential warriors–and they need brave mommies and daddies and take them under their wings and prepare them for battle.

I don’t know what the future holds. And I will count it my greatest joy if God allows me to be an actual mother. But you know what? I am also comforted and excited to know that even if I never have physical children on this earth, each and every day, I have the glorious opportunity to sow seeds and salt oats for as many spiritual “children” as I can. I pray to live my life in such a way that on the glorious day when we are all gathered at the throne, I will be surrounded by children from all nations, tribes, and social statuses who I’ve had the privilege of introducing to my Father. And together we will rejoice together as we sing, “Holy, Holy, Holy is He.”

A few days ago, Caitlin and I were sitting in the lobby of Maria’s Big House of Hope when little Miss Naomi came strutting off of the elevator wearing a new red dress. Her hair was pulled back in an elegant bun and she was wearing her fanciest shoes. Her eyes were beaming as if to say, “This is my new dress and I feel beautiful!”

Every little girl deserves to feel pretty and adored. We are so thankful for the nannies here at MBHOH who take the time, effort, and care to make our children know they are loved. Seeing Naomi‘s joy in wearing her little red dress is a tangible reminder that she is not only loved by the staff and visitors at MBHOH, but that she is dearly loved by her Heavenly Daddy who holds her in the palm of His hand.

Join us in prayer that this beautiful little girl will soon know the love of a forever family of her own. Naomi is also featured on the July 2011 prayer calendar. Click here to download this prayer calendar.

One of my favorite things about getting to know the children at MBHOH is learning their individual personalities. I like knowing what songs they like to sing, what best soothes them when they’re upset, and which tickle game is their favorite. As I learn their personalities, I sometimes dream of what they might want to be when they grow up. One child I love to do this with is Lucas.

This little boy’s personality is the definition of the word JOY. Whenever someone walks into his room, Lucas immediately runs up with his arms outstretched ready for a big hug. His little belly laugh makes my heart dance. What would Lucas want to be when he grows up? A singer, perhaps? Lucas loves to sing “Happy and you know it”. Often times when I walk into the room, he immediately places his little hands on his cheeks as if singing the line, “If you’re happy and you know then your face will surely show it…” He rallies the other kids in his room to sing this song…over and over and over.

Or maybe Lucas would rather be a comedian. He loves to make people laugh and he does a good job at it, even when he’s not trying! A few days ago, I caught Lucas in a corner by himself trying to wear his Nanny’s shoes. A mischievous little grin crept across his face as he waltzed into the room to show off his new look. Everyone burst into laughter as Lucas skipped around the room constantly tripping over his oversized shoes.

Or maybe Lucas would like to be a clown in a traveling circus. Sometimes this boy is just plain silly. He loves to pretend to hide under a blanket and then rip it off his head followed by an eruption of giggles. Sometimes when we drive up to MBHOH in the van, we can spot little Lucas standing at the glass window making silly faces by pressing his face against the glass. A silly little bundle of joy, that Lucas!

Of course in our limited view, we don’t know what Lucas’ future will hold, we do know that God has special plans for each and every child. So whether Lucas actually becomes a singer, comedian or clown, we are trusting that God knows the plans He has for Lucas. “Plans to prosper him and not to harm him, plans to give him a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.

As this little one comes to mind, please pray that God would open the door for sweet Lucas to come into the love of a forever family of his own.  He needs a family to walk into the future with him helping him to explore all the wonderful ways God has created him and his funny little personality.

Read more about Lucas here >

My journey with Show Hope began last year when I had the opportunity to travel to Maria’s Big House of Hope. I’ll never forget waking up each day and listening to the pitter-patter of little feet and baby giggles while I drank my morning coffee. I met my Jesus face-to-face as I gazed into the eyes of His treasures. I laughed with them as we played the tickle game, snuggled them while they slept, and wept over them as I dealt with the harsh reality that these children are indeed orphans.

I have spent this summer interning with Show Hope. It has been such a blessing to be involved with the work of this organization. The staff has been so wonderful to take me in as one of the team. We’ve had our share of laughter (Hosting three small dogs in the office and dressing up as cows for free chicken, just to name a few), and I’ve been able to witness firsthand the heart and soul behind this ministry.

As I look back over my summer, I realize how much I’ve learned. I suppose I came here with a fairy-tale image of adoption and orphan care, but orphan care is not an easy road. It’s filled with ups and downs, disappointments, set-backs and even failures. But in the midst of the dark moments, we have the assurance that there’s always Light at the end of the tunnel because we serve a God who has promised He will not leave us as orphans (John 14:18). Although the journey might be hard—it is a journey of abundant joy, triumphs, and forever families.

As my time at Show Hope comes to an end, I am counting many blessings. What an honor it’s been to play even a tiny role in the bigger picture of God’s plan for the orphan! Caring for the forgotten is a mighty command and a high calling, but more than that—it’s a divine privilege.

Jim and Abby Summer 2009