This week, Monday, August 30th through Friday, September 3rd, Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman will be guests on FamilyLife Today. Hundreds of stations will broadcast this intimate and powerful interview. They will be sharing throughout the week on their personal journey through life and adoption, Mary Beth Chapman’s new book, Choosing to SEE, and how God has been at work in their life. Don’t miss it!

Show Hope has also linked arms with Hope for Orphans, a ministry of FamilyLife, and Focus on the Family for the 2010 Cry of the Orphan campaign. Together we are creating a special, one-hour program called Answer the Cry in support of Orphan Sunday. The program features Francis and Lisa Chan, Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman, Mark Shultz, and more! This November 7th is Orphan Sunday, which is an excellent opportunity for you to engage your family, community, friends, or church to care for orphans. Learn more at www.showhope.org/orphansunday. Stay tuned for more information on this special opportunity. This program will be webcast for you to use at your event or church on Orphan Sunday! Learn more at www.cryoftheorphan.org

My name is Bridget, and I traveled with the Show Hope Sponsor trip to China.

A few months ago I was reading a series of fiction books, and I was struck by a verse that I’ve heard too many times to count, Jeremiah 29:11. It was used several times in the series, so that’s why it was on my heart daily…right? Pure coincidence that while reading the series the verse was brought up in a sermon, right? The third time I heard the verse, in a movie, I knew God was speaking to me.

My first time going into a room to play with the babies here at MBHOH, my heart broke for this one little boy, Asher. The rest of the day I was unable to get him out of my mind. I couldn’t shake the sorrow my heart was feeling for him. Who wakes him on his birthday singing happy birthday? Who will take him to his first day of school? Who will cheer for him at school functions?

The next morning,  I still couldn’t stop thinking of Asher. I heard that verse yet again, “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Just a few hours later I learned that this little one, who was so heavy on my heart, will soon be going home to his forever family. One day, I walked into his room and saw that his shirt said “Daddy loves me.” Oh little buddy, you have no idea just how much!!! Again I thought, “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.” For the rest of the trip, I was comforted with the knowledge that everyone at MBHOH, nannies and even myself, is held in the palm of our Heavenly Father’s hand. He has a plan, and I am so grateful to be part of it!

Hi, my name is Felicity. My husband, Tim, and I became Show Hope sponsors about 6 months ago. When the opportunity came to travel to Maria’s Big House of Hope on the first sponsor trip, I knew God was calling me to go. Through the generous support of family and friends, God made it possible for myself and my dear friend Merryn to come on this trip.

As I sit on the roof of MBHOH, I find it hard to put into words all the thoughts and emotions that are flying through my head. Each time I come away from spending time in the babies’ rooms, my cheeks ache from smiling. At the same time, I have a heartache for these precious children. Why have they been abandoned? Where have they come from? Where will they go next? Who will love them when they leave MBHOH?

Over the past 4 days, I have spent time with a little boy named Judah (pictured above). Judah cannot walk so he rolls on the floor to get where he wants to go. He made his way to the window and I picked him up so he could look out. He then motioned toward a sticker on the wall that says, “God made you special.” I read it aloud, turned to him and continued to repeat “God made you special, God made you special.”

It struck me again that God has a special place in His heart for these children. We may not know why they were abandoned, we may not know where they come from, we may not know where they go next, and we may not know who will love them when they leave Maria’s, but the comforting reality is that God knows. The loving arms of Jesus will carry these children wherever they may go.

Being at MBHOH has made me long for Heaven even more. In Heaven all the tears will be wiped from our eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. God will make all things new. What a beautiful hope we have.

My name is Bill, and my wife, Kelli, and I are visiting MBHOH this summer with the Show Hope sponsor team.

If you had asked me 6 months ago what I was passionate about, the word “orphans” would probably not have entered my mind much less come out of my mouth. So what changed? It’s pretty simple, really. I finally stopped skipping over James 1:27 and started reading it for what it truly says.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. - James 1:27

What is James 1:27 really saying? The widow and orphan are the perfect example of the helpless state we were in before God stepped in on our behalf. We were unable to, in our own power, change our situation of separation from God. Christ changed that, and through the cross he was able to welcome us into His family as “adopted sons and daughters.” In that same way, Christ wants to use us to be Christ to those without the means to change their situation, namely widows and orphans. Christ calls us to enter into their helpless plight and give them the home and family that He gave us as his adopted sons and daughters. That’s the call and the mandate of our Heavenly Father.

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My name is Amanda, and I am on the Show Hope Sponsor trip to China. I have been thinking a lot about our responsibility to the orphans of our world. No matter what country they are in, they are God’s children. As we read about God’s answer to the orphan crisis in our team devotional, God has given us an invitation in James 1:27. In it God is saying, ‘This is my heart for my people. If you want to know me, experience me, and experience the life I desire for you, here is a blueprint for your life.” How do we then respond to this invitation?

As we play with the wonderful children at Maria’s Big House of Hope, I have found a little one that touches my heart, Jay-ar. I found myself looking at him with bittersweet feelings. God has allowed me to see this child through His eyes. I see that He has a plan and purpose for Jay-ar, but as I look at the situation he is in as an orphan my heart hurts. I pray that God will bring forth the body of Christ to help fund the operations of Show Hope. Please pray for the Lord to show you what you can do to accept the invitation He has extended to us to know and experience Him.

My name is Merryn and I am one of two Australians visiting MBHOH this summer with the Show Hope Sponsor team.

I have had a mother’s heart since I was a little girl playing with dolls. When I became a mum 5 years ago I learned that being a mum is not always an easy journey. It is a path that, while incredibly wonderful, is also marked with struggle and tough decisions at times. Over the years I began to hear “the mother’s cry.” That is partly what motivated me to come to China…to show love to children whose own mothers were unable to. However, over the past few months another cry has been ringing in my ears…the orphan’s cry.

“I am little and small. Not even one year old. I am weight bearing and I am learning to stand. I am special, though my body is not perfect. I am slow to warm up to new people but I am curious, social and interactive. I have a sweet, subtle smile. I am an orphan. I do not know where I have come from but I know where I am. I am safe and loved and cared for. My physical, social and emotional needs are being met and I am happy. If I were not here, where would I be? Perhaps left in a room to die because a doctor said nothing could be done. My fears and hopes and dreams are so closely linked with the possibilities that lay before me. I fear rejection and a life of never really feeling as though I belong. I hope for a future that is life. I hope to be accepted, loved and valued for what I bring to this world and not seen simply as a medical need or burden. I hope for a family. I hope…”

I met this little man at New Hope the other day, and I wrote this as I imagined life from his perspective. How easy it is to sit in our living rooms at home and allow these orphans to remain nameless and faceless, and for their experience to be left unconsidered? But they are not nameless or faceless to the One who created them. We simply need to hear their cry and respond. Will you join me?

The brave team of intrepid explorers known as our First-Ever Sponsor Short-Term Trip Team (or FESSTT for short) has safely arrived in China!  In fact, we have more than arrived, we have already conquered the Great Wall, visited New Hope Foundation, and flown down to Luoyang where we are currently spending our first day at Maria’s Big House of Hope!

But let me back up. First of all, it was only a few days ago that the majority of our team met together in Chicago for the 13 hour flight to Beijing.  We were joined there by our two Aussie members and Mikey, our in-country staff member.  From the very beginning it has been clear to me that God has put this team together for His purpose and glory.

Our team is nothing short of amazing. We have such a diverse group - different ages, different places in life, even different nationalities!  Yet as one member emphasized, what we share in common far outweighs what is different about us.  Each member has displayed a heart for God and a heart for orphans that both inspires and unifies us as a group, and even the simple willingness to be a part of this team, of Show Hope, and to go around the world to serve puts us all on the same level.

The “advance team”, as we called ourselves, went all the way along the Great Wall until we could not go any further, and it is that adventurous spirit that permeates our team and is the mark of those who will leave their homes, families, and jobs to visit the orphan in distress and pour out God’s love!  There were even some of those who didn’t believe they would take the toboggan ride down from the Great Wall who mustered up the courage and made it happen!  Bravo! I love the energy of the team, and it is the fact that we are all so different, with different skills, talents, strengths, and perspectives that I know will make this such a rich time for us.

We made it into Maria’s Big House of Hope last night and today got to tour this beautiful, wonderful home.  I was here last while it was still being built, and it is amazing to see the transformation from a place of concrete and scaffolding to a place filled with love, joy, and hope.  We got to see the operating room where the Geisinger Team performed the surgeries just a few months ago, and we get to see the little kids who received those surgeries running around, healing beautifully!

Well as we start to dig into the work here, you will hear much more from the members of the team, but please pray for us!  Pray that God will have His way with each team member: Sandy, Anjanette, Sarah, Myra, Pam, Jenn, Lesley, Bill, Kelli, Felicity, Meredith, Alex, Deborah, Amanda, Merryn, Jenny, Bridget, Wes, Dana, Kathy, Mikey and myself! It is such a privilege to be here with some of the many sponsors who are making this work at Maria’s Big House of Hope and the Adoption Aid program possible. Have you considered becoming a sponsor?  We’d love to have you on one of our future sponsor trips! More from the FESSTT in China soon!

These past few months have been filled with paperwork, visa applications, donation spreadsheets, trip handbooks, conference calls and many, many emails  in preparation for the August sponsor trip to China. All the hard work is more than worth it, though, to know that these faithful Show Hope sponsors will have the opportunity to meet and hold the precious children they are supporting. The team flies to China today, so please pray for them and for their trip!

Wendy Cosby and I had the privilege of leading the Show Hope young adult trip to China this past June. Here are a few of my favorite memories and highlights from that trip:

…seeing how quickly the ladies became friends and a unified team. More than once, the nannies commented on how well the team got along and they were shocked that the girls had just met for the first time days earlier. They will indeed know us by our love.

…working as a team to help put together the new playground at Maria’s Big House of Hope.

…seeing the sweet friendships the team made with the nannies, in spite of language and cultural barriers.

…watching the team interact with, play with, and love these precious children.

…being able to introduce the team to a country and a people that I love dearly.

…meeting together for daily devotions and seeing how He was working in each of our hearts. This photo was taken on the roof of MBHOH.

…seeing these young ladies obeying His command to care for orphans, and looking forward to seeing how He is going to use this trip to clarify His calling in each of their lives.

When Janice first came to Maria’s Big House of Hope, she required attention for several medical needs, including developmental delays attributed to her diagnosis of microcephaly. Although she faces challenges related to this diagnosis on a daily basis, Janice is a very affectionate little girl who brings much joy to the “Peter Pan” room.

Janice lights up at every bit of attention she receives from her nannies, and it is evident that the nannies enjoy giving it to her! Her laughter is sweet, sweet music to hear — it will absolutely melt your heart. Janice’s eyes disappear into a grinning face of pure joy when she smiles. As she bounces around the room, she discovers and embraces those around her. She loves to explore her surroundings, absorbing every detail with gentle curiosity through her small, soft fingertips. She delights in learning the faces of anyone who plays with her.

Janice has also been busy stealing hearts this summer as teams visit MBHOH. Lucinda, who was on the youth trip, said that Janice “left a forever imprint of her precious grinning face in my memory.” Thanks to Show Hope sponsors, children like Janice have opportunities to have their special needs addressed in the loving care of Maria’s Big House of Hope. Please pray for Janice as she awaits the embrace of a forever family.

Over the next week, two dollars from each Family Christian Stores sale of Mary Beth Chapman’s book, Choosing To SEE, will benefit Show Hope! These funds will go toward operating expenses for Maria’s Big House of Hope. Both online and in-store purchases made by next Tuesday, August 17, 2010 will apply.

I am one of the privileged ones who received an advance copy of this book. As an insider who walked alongside them during some of the harder moments life presented to them over the last couple of years, even I found myself turning the pages eager to soak in the golden nuggets of God’s truth that was or has been revealed to them as time has pulled them away from “the abstract painting” that Caleb alluded they were “too close” to see at Maria’s memorial service. You should know, however, that this isn’t a book only for those who have experienced loss. If we are honest with ourselves, many if not all of us can relate to the wrestling that goes on with God sometimes regarding our plans vs. His plans. Mary Beth’s transparency about that is admirable and I am proud of her for being vulnerable. I know she has put tremendous prayer, time and energy into this for God’s glory and Show Hope’s benefit. Ultimately, orphans will benefit. If you had thoughts of buying this book, now would be a perfect time to do so through our friends and long time supporters at Family Christian Stores.

Purchase Choosing to SEE online >

Find a Family Christian Stores location >

I returned this week from leading a small team of donors on a trip to Maria’s Big House of Hope, and wanted to give an update on my time there. The team consisted of two amazing families (the Ashburns from Nashville and the Barnards from the Tulsa area) who love the children at MBHOH and have seen firsthand how this wonderful facility and staff cares for the children. We had a wonderful time enjoying the culture and people of this very unique country. We flew into Beijing two weekends ago, did some sightseeing and then went down to Luoyang and MBHOH.

It was fun getting to know the nurses and nannies, and it was especially great to play with the children. These kids are so full of life and are so well loved by the staff. I am proud of the work being done, and am excited about future growth opportunities to help more children in China who have special needs. I was reminded on this trip that it really is a miracle that we are receiving partnership opportunities with the Chinese people. Everything was amazing…except the lamb some of us had for lunch early in the trip!

One thing we did on our trip was to build a deck on the roof of MBHOH. There are five nurses who live at MBHOH, and they each have their own apartment on the floor that they oversee. Their place to “get away” in the evenings is up on the roof. As roofs go, it is nice and safe, but we wanted to really make it a special space for them. Earlier in the week, Mikey (our do-it-all guy on staff at MBHOH), James Barnard, and I went to the local lumber yard to find materials to build a rooftop deck. If you are picturing an indoor lumber yard like Home Depot or Lowes, think again! We went to an alleyway market area where everyone sold building materials of some sort. I love home remodeling, so this was a fun experience for me!

To my surprise, we actually found treated lumber to build the deck.  Then we went to the “tool store”…a 10′ x 10′ store just down the street, to purchase saw blades, tape measures (metric, of course) and a speed square. We found this last tool to be the most necessary, as nothing was actually square! When we got back to MBHOH,  the lumber would not fit on the elevators. Carrying it up 7 flights of stairs while battling the heat and extremely high HUMIDITY was a job in itself. Then, after working into the evening up on the roof, the bad lamb kicked in. Wow…welcome to China!

We stayed up all night on the last evening we were in Luoyang to finish the deck. The nurses are amazing young women who love the children at MBHOH, and I’m excited to give them a place that will make their time a little nicer as they relax, laugh, pray and enjoy cool nights on the roof…I just wish they had warned me about the lamb!!