Beautiful Orphan

Something I wrote today after looking at pictures of Steven and Daniel and missing their sweetness.

Beautiful Orphan

You were never meant to be alone.

Alone is not a feeling I like

But when this broken world welcomed you

Alone is what you became.

But it is not who you are.

Born into heartbreak and sadness

You deserved so much more

Beautiful Orphan

Searching for hope in chaos

Wearing a label of lostness

It’s hard to go beyond this moment

To a plan that is bigger than you can see

But I believe this promise is for you:

“ I will not leave you as orphans

I will come to you”

I want you to know who you really are:

To be loved is your calling

To love is your purpose

You are not an Orphan at all,

But a Beautiful Son.



Ruth

Just to let anyone know who is still wondering about little Ruth, she did have her surgery on Friday, and apparently is doing very well. Thank you to all who have kept her in your prayers!!!

Here is a collection of my favourite pictures from our recent time at Morning Star Family Home. The song is by Casting Crowns "So Far to Find You"

The Great Wall and Good Byes

We are all safe and sound at home now. It's always good to come back to that place called home. But during these sleepless nights wrestling with jetlag, my thoughts are in China. I'm so sorry I did not post more on this blog, but the moments I had free were mostly moments I fell on my bed in exhaustion. So during these wee hours of this Sunday morning, I will fill you in on our last few days in China.
On Wednesday we took an amazing trip to the Great Wall. This was my third time visiting the Wall, and the third section of the wall I have been able to see. This was a very remote section with a sign posted "not open to the public". Needless to say, we were the only ones there! We climbed a steep, narrow pathway through the forest to a make-shift ladder, and crawled our way on to the wall. This section of the wall was gorgeous, no tourism, no vendors, just us, old stones, cold wind, sky and mountains. It was a breath taking experience, and not only because the climb was steep and dangerous!! Some sections were ramp, and we practically had to climb on all fours because of the steepness. other sections were uneven stairs, and also very steep. I did not make it to the top due to the final ascent of steep stairs, and an over active imagination as I could envision myself trying to climb down again and tumbling off that mountain!! But we proudly cheered Kim, Carol and Lisa as we watched them climb to the top!! Coming down again was a challenge, but not as bad as I thought it would be!
Thursday morning rolled around and as we packed our bags we faced the sad reality of having to say good bye to our darling little babies. Heading over to the babies house one last time for final cuddles and kisses was hard. Even though we were with these children only 2 weeks, we certainly fell in love with them all. As I kissed them all good bye I whispered prayers for them, for hope, for healing, for the love of a forever family. What an awesome privilege this has been to serve these precious children. Thank you to all who have followed this blog, and who have prayed along with us on this adventure. You are a blessing to each of us!

"I Will Not Forget You!"

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!" Isaiah 49:15

Something Geeta said to me after a few days with the babies really summed up my experiences here at Morning Star Family Home, and I'm sure this speaks for the other ladies here too, "it is so fulfilling".  Holding these children, even in the middle of the night, whispering prayers against their soft hair, soothing their crying.... though tiring, very fulfilling. So often in the past 2 weeks I have thought about their mothers, how they must be missing their children, also crying softly at night. Costs are so high here in China, the average person would not be able to afford the life saving surgery these children need. So their only option is to say goodbye, and hope that someone else can give their child the life they need. Life here is harsh, but it must go on. And so that verse in Isaiah has been rattling around in my head, how can a mother forget, how can she say good bye to her child, she doesn't have a choice, she just must make this decision so her child can live. And this choice means life for the child, and this choice means a child for a family somewhere else in the world, and maybe some day that mother will forget and move on. But God, He never forgets, He never lets go of us, He never moves on when we have wandered away. What an amazing God we serve, what a loving, perfect Father.

Some day after many years have passed, our memories are bound to fail us. Yes, even we will forget these beautiful children. They will grow up and have families of their own. But what a blessed reassurance to know that God says "I will not forget you!"

Update on Baby Ruth

So Ruth did not get checked in to the hospital for surgery on Monday due to the fact that Morning Star did not have the $6000 US to pay up front for her surgery. Yesterday afternoon, however, Ruth was in respiratory  distress, and had to go back to the International Hospital for observation. During this time, a foundation that often helps the Morning Star babies donated enough money to cover Ruth's surgery and hospital stay. Praise God!

I have the privilege of traveling to the international Hospital with Jenny (the MSFH manager) to pick up Ruth and her aiyi, and taking her over to the Chinese hospital this afternoon to check her in.  She may have to wait several days before she has her surgery, but we are praying they can take her in quickly, she really needs help.

Thank you for remembering Ruth in your prayers!

Please Pray for Baby Ruth

Please Pray for Ruth. On Monday morning she heads to the hospital to wait for her open heart surgery. She basically has to wait in line, so please pray that she will not have to wait long, and that the surgery is very successful. She will be having a large hole in her heart repaired. Ruth is a precious little one, and we are so thankful to know that she is in God's hands. It will be a Christian surgeon who operates on her!!

Thanks everyone!!

Does Morning Star make a difference….do any of us?

Morning Star Family Home is a small foundation that cares for 8 babies at a time. Out of the over 140 million orphans in the world, does this really make a difference? Do 6 ladies spending two weeks in China caring for these children mean anything at all?

We asked Lynsay this morning why they do this? It’s a stressful, uphill battle, swimming against the current in a culture that overlooks these children. Yet they LOVE these kids, and know that God has called them, all of us really, to care for them. They care for them on the frontlines; we are helping for a few weeks, many of you helped by sending us with resources to share with the babies. We can all do something, and in the Kingdom of God, even a cup of cold water offered in Jesus name means something.

Today Geeta and I went to the International Hospital with Lynsay for Corrie and Daniel’s appointments. The Doctor told us the sad news that Corrie’s MRI showed that her ear canal and nerves are badly malformed, and she is profoundly deaf, with no hope of ever hearing. She said that at least Corrie is happy, and that she is very lucky to be in the care of this orphanage. Corrie is blessed for sure, but what she really needs is a long term solution, a family.

 Though this hospital is expensive, they offer about the highest quality care available for these children. It is hard to find Doctors here who care about the well being of orphans. One doctor they have dealt with will NOT perform surgery on the babies, because they are orphans. He simply does not want to give his time and resources to the least of the least.

Yet Lynsay and Bill do see change happening. People within their community are asking how they can help. They are donating formula and diapers, volunteering, bringing by gifts, and giving financially to much needed surgeries. A few years ago this wasn’t happening at all.  Even one of the orphanages who calls them frequently to help with their babies told them that they are their favourite foster home…… God is blessing this place.

So yes, Morning Star is making a difference, in this huge city, in this small community, and in the lives of these 8 babies. They are making a difference in our lives by letting us join in their work for a few short weeks of the year.  

Kim and Hope 

Carol and Joshua