Welcome Back to China

I’ve been in China a whole week and it feels so good to be back.  I’m amazed that I’m here already looking back on all that God has done to bring me here.  He brought me through some seemingly impossible things to show me that it’s him who is sending me.  It was only by his grace and provision that I’m here and I am so eager to be used by him here at Shepherds Field Children’s Village.  

 

Over dinner one night I got to hear the story of how Shepherds Field came to be from Tim Baker himself.  Hearing Tim tell the story of how God provided and how he made the seemingly impossible happen was so beautiful and so encouraging.  God is working in this place.  That is abundantly clear.  

 

Every Tuesday we have a staff meeting.  This week we prayed over our need for finances.  We are in the desperate position of leaning on God and his sovereign plan for the funding that will pay off the hospitals bills from five recent surgeries the kids had.  We prayed as a team in faith and in desperate need of God’s grace.  In this desperate place God answered.  A few hours later Tim told us that a generous donation was made that will cover a good amount of the recent surgeries.  God is so good.  He is providing for these kids.   How beautiful to see God at work here.  I invite you to pray with us for the rest of the funding and to watch God unfold another story.

 

Another great piece of news!!! I got to welcome a family onto our campus who was adopting one of our boys.  This match was just perfect; such a beautiful gift from God.  Andrew is hearing impaired being adopted by a family who adopted two other hearing impaired children already and they all sign.  I got to watch Andrew play with is new family.  I saw joy on everyone’s faces but mostly I saw the love of God shining.  God’s word came to life for me today.  

Stumbling Blocks

I have not been transparent with my plans for China.  It was happening incredibly fast.  I was so excited and eager that I was willing to neglect some very important details.  However, I have a church body that cares about me so deeply to tell me to slow down and think about the situation more rationally.  I am so thankful for this leadership I have at Grace Fellowship to guide me and support me even in these moments that I fail.  I want you to know the entire story of my journey to get back to China.

When I first inquired about Shepherds Field I became overwhelmed by the amount of support I'd need just to stay at Shepherds Field.  So I was going to give myself a year to support raise.  That would bring me to the summer of 2016.  But God provided the major cost of living there.  He provided my lodging which includes one meal a day. This is the biggest part of what I needed so I became so overjoyed. When this happened I thought all I'd need was a plane ticket.  I messaged my coordinator and asked if it was possible to come this summer instead.  We made plans for me to come July-January.  In a haste, I tried to get the $1,900 for my plane ticket so that I could leave immediately.

The loving leadership I have at Grace Fellowship encouraged me to slow down and ask myself some important questions that I was neglecting. That was the last thing I wanted to hear.  Slowing down was my biggest fear.  I absolutely despised the thought.  God softened my heart to hear the words my leader was saying.  I asked my coordinator what expenses I should expect.  Her response proved how thoughtless I was.  To get by in China for six months I'd need double what I was planning for!  I was broken.  I felt completely shattered.  I had missed so much in my haste.  But I am thankful!  God showed me so much and I'm glad I can see it now and not when I arrived in China.

Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way,

    but the Lord establishes his steps.

So to be completely transparent with all who are supporting me these are my needs:

• 2,000 RMB a month ($320) x 6 months = $1,920
• $1,900 for my round trip flight
• approximately $500 for a second flight in September to renew my visa in Hong Kong

The 2,000 RMB suggested by my coordinator covers the rest of my meals, travel between cities, and groceries/hygiene expenses.

Thank you guys for your forgiving me in my haste.  If you want to join me in this mission to love the least of these and learn more about my upcoming trip you can email me.  I would love to be able to email my supporters while I'm away or even Skype.  

Another China Adventure

Pretty suddenly I announced that I will be returning to China.  Many of you know my love for China and my longing to serve orphans so you could guess it was only a matter of time until I went back to the place that quickly stole my heart.  When I came home from my short ten day trip last year, a lot of people asked me when I was going back.  They knew before I could even say it.  Well, guys, the time has come and I will be getting on a plane at the end of August!! Crazy!

I bet you guys have a lot of questions.  The biggest one is probably, "How long are you going for?"  In short, I will be staying for six months.  I plan on working there July through January but that is subject to change (in either direction ;) haha).  I will be working at Shepherd's Field Children's Village located one hour outside of Beijing.  While I'm there, I will be helping with inventory by taking stock of donations that come in and go out, and I will be spending enormous amounts of time with those precious children. 

A little bit about Shepherd's Field:

Shepherd's Field's vision is to give hope to special needs orphans by providing love, security, family environments, medical care, and vocational and spiritual preparation.  Their ultimate goal is for each child to be adopted into a permanent family or prepared for an independent, productive, and fulfilling life. 

Some of their results the've listed on their website:

In their thirteen years they've:

Received special needs orphans from more than 20 government run orphanages

Cared for more than 4,000 orphaned children

Provided more than 3,000 surgeries and medical procedures

Seen more than 800 children adopted into forever families

Developed relationships with 100 complimentary organizations. 

Read more here

http://chinaorphans.org/about_shepherd_field.html

If you want to stay updated you can follow this blog, Skype me, or email me.  Message me if you have any questions about that or want to know more.  I really appreciate all the support and love i've had over the years.  Thank you for the prayers and your willingness to be a part of the story God has called me to.

galatians220faith@gmail.com