To give a brief description of Maria's Big House of Hope: it is a Show Hope Special Care Center which provides life-giving care for at-risk orphans living with acute medical needs. This special care not only brings the hope of healing to these children but also offers many the hope of a loving forever family. I truly believe that God has a family for every orphan. This facility is taking children that are sometimes neglected because of their disabilities and giving them the special attention they need to thrive. The main mission of the groups who travel to China with Show Hope is to help provide this attention and love on the children. It is very important work and I am honored to have been chosen to be a small part of it.
I knew going into this my heart would be broken by the children I will encounter there, but I had no idea how much it would break during the last few months. Plus, I was thrown completely out of my comfort zone with trying to raise funds for the trip. I have been able to pay for the few mission trips I have been a part of here in the US. However, due to my employment situation and other financial responsibilities - it is not something I can do alone. So, I began sending out letters and trying fundraising projects. I even spoke at church one night about adoption and missions. While I have had some favorable responses from close friends, the majority hasn't even responded. I sent out over over 120 letters - approximately 10% responded. I don't know if that is a good percentage, but to me it is sad. Not that I expect them to support a mission trip - but to be interested in the welfare of orphans and at-risk children. A pastor told me before I spoke at church, "Don't be upset if only a few respond, it may only touch a few people." This has been hard for me to accept though. Maybe because I am personally involved having adopted...maybe because I have personally seen how just a little love can transform a child...maybe because others have not is the reason for disinterest. There are too many maybes.
We...not only as Christians, but human beings...should be interested in the welfare of others - especially children. I suppose the reason it is bothering me so much is that it seems we are not. I admit that I was probably not as involved until I started considering adoption and looking into the numbers of children without homes and loving families. It is staggering!
* 43.4 million orphans live in sub-Saharan Africa, 87.6 million orphans live in Asia, and 12.4 million orphans live in Latin America and the Caribbean.
* 1.5 million children live in public care in Central and Eastern Europe alone.
* At any given point there are over 500,000 children in the U.S. Foster Care system.
It is estimated that if only 7% of Christians would adopt a child, there would be no orphans. Realistically, I know that people have different issues they are drawn to and are important to them. Even so, I would like to think that offering an encouraging word or prayer is not out of their reach. I suppose that is what has been so sad to me more than anything - the lack of response.
I am praying that my "last ditch efforts" will have a more positive response. I am committed to this endeavor - not just in mind, but I actually had to sign a Show Hope form saying I am (which I admit provided a bit of apprehension). To the 10% of friends and family who have responded, you will never know how much it has meant to me. Your words of encouragement have been a constant source of strength. I know that it wasn't just for the trip - but for the reason of the trip...showing God's love to orphans and those we encounter in China.
I would encourage everyone to find an outlet to show the love of God. I truly believe that we are meant for more than just living and dying. There are people in need - and if we are at all able, we should be there for them. In closing, please do not take anything I said as harsh. I am just writing my thoughts and I hope will provoke thoughts of your own. I will challenge you in this...to spend one day with my daughter or any adopted child and not feel the responsibility to make the world a better place for orphans - to not take James 1:27 to heart. It would be a hard thing to do. I think about this verse each day I see my little one smile and know she is thriving.
From: More To This Life - Steven Curtis Chapman
Today I watched in silence as people passed me by,
And I strained to see if there was something hidden in their eyes;
But they all looked at me as if to say life just goes on.
The old familiar story told in different ways,
Make the most of your own journey from the cradle to the grave;
Dream your dreams tomorrow because today
Life must go on.
But there’s more to this life than living and dying,
More than just trying to make it through the day;
More to this life, more than these eyes alone can see,
And there’s more than this life alone can be.
