All In 2007

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2007Header

From the Director

GroupShot2007

The war is won! This whole summer I kept telling myself what running this camp is just like a war, except without any blood. Well, just a little blood. And there was a hospital visit but no broken bones and no stitches. But it was a war this summer. Everyday we suffered casualties. And when someone was crying, upset, or angry, I kept telling myself that this is a war. When you go to war, there will be wounds. No mess, no ministry.

Dance2007

Yet even though we had casualties, we had bigger victories! You may have heard about a little orphan boy named Kevin. His first day at camp was probably the best day of his whole life. He loved every minute of it. Then we got word that the orphanage director wanted to take him back. The director was furious at us because we sent back non-orphans that snuck into camp. (A week 1 battle that I like to call “The Invasion of the Non-Orphans.”) We asked our Father that night to have mercy on Kevin and let him stay at camp. Each day went by without any sight of the director. The last day came and we said goodbye to all the lil’ campers. I looked down and there was Kevin. The very last camper to leave!

Translator2007

And bigger victories- We had over 100 college student translators this summer and found that they are so curious about why in the world we would come all the way across the world to run a camp for orphans. It is the perfect platform to tell them that WE ARE ALL ORPHANS, in need of a perfect Father.

We also stood in awe at watching Him provide $10,000 in just over a week. Thank you all so much! Every night I would update everyone at camp and then would cheer to hear the amount get closer and closer to our need! It was just amazing!

Thank YOU for the part you played in making this summer possible. Whether coming to a fundraising event or going to China or praying for us. I’m so grateful for all of you!

David Bolt

David2007

From the Orphans

Kristen,

Big sister! Since you said I was just like your little sister, I confirm that you are my big sister! You are my family. Sis, although you’re only 21, although I call you big sis all the time, I do want to call you mom, a very young Mom! From you, I get a special love, which never happened. And you, you are wearing my bracelet which is carrying my whole heart. I hope when you’re not happy, you can overcome that by thinking of me.

I love you mom! One more time, I love you, forever, very much love!

Sierra

Kristen2007

Dear Rufino,

Here is the children’s heaven; here is the place where the sun rises; here is the hope of us. Not only did I open my eyes, but also I learn a lot of knowledge of a foreign country. I also learned toleration, and I know what love is. At the same time, I thank you for taking care of us. Here I feel the warm feeling of family which is what I want to get all of the time. Love is what I need.
Meanwhile, I would like to thank Lily (translator). Because of her, we can have the opportunity to talk with each other. The family feeling is wonderful!

Yours,

Sam

Rufino2007

From the Translators

During these days we shared a lot with each other. When I listened to the orphan’s stories and knew how their parents deserted them, my heart was painful for them. I felt that they are so lovely and cute, and I can never understand the reason their parents deserted these angels…. In the future, I would like to do more for those poor kids.

Coco

Coco2007

My heart was moving almost everyday, when we were having dinner, we talked and joked each other, brought fruits for each other. Well, just like a real family.

Lucia

2007Lucia

From the Volunteers

Since I’ve been home, I cannot stop talking and thinking about the kids from the trip. I knew from the moment I arrived in China this year that it would not be my last time in that country. I have fallen in love with the people and orphans in China as well as the culture and breathtaking landscape. I have seen the pain that these children go through on a daily basis but have also watched them completely open up when shown love for the first time. The transformations that I have witnessed in these kids remind me that it is all worth it.

Katie

Katie2007

No experience can surpass the wonderful time we shared with our little Chinese “buddies,” and how much a week with them has changed our lives, dreams and ambitions. We now spend every evening planning our return to China, and not a day goes by where we don’t think about the children and wonder what they are doing.

The week was filled with so many fun times, smiles, hugs, laughs, and songs, but it was the relationships with our Chinese “kids”, our lovely translators, and the time spent with the staff and volunteers that changed our lives.

The Vidler Family

Vidlers2007

“I felt like I had four little brothers by the end of two weeks of camp, though at times they felt more like my own children. I was blessed with ‘buddies’ who taught me more about life in two weeks than I have learned all year; I realized what real love is. “

Jason Hsu

Jason2007

A big thank you to everyone who helped make camp possible. It was wonderful to unite with the common goal of reaching Chinese orphans. Thank you!

Forever Families

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Fu Xia is a sweet, ten year old girl that Bring Me Hope staff and volunteers at the Yantai location had the privilege to meet and grow to love. Fu Xia’s special need is dwarfishness; and, she loves to sing, dance and play just like every other child. She lit up the room with her sweet smile and loving personality. But the resounding echo, the one we hear for every child, is that she needs a family.

 

Our hope is that through camp and raising awareness about the orphan crisis, forever families would be led to the precious children that we have the privilege of working with.

 

The victorious news for Fu Xia is that she now has a forever family and will be going to live with them soon! More than that, her parents have also decided to adopt a little boy! They hope to be able to bring the two kiddos to their forever homes together, but with that come a heap of expenses. The biggest barrier between this family and their newest additions is money, that is where you come in! Depending on where you feel led to give, the Parker family would so appreciate donations to help bring their kids home.

Heartsent Adoptions, Inc. China Waiting Child Fees
-HAI Program fee (part 1) $2,750
-HAI Program fee (part 2) $2750
-Beijing Service Fee $500
-I-800A Approval $2,850
-Visa Processing Fee $380
-Post-Adoption Service Fee (part 1) $1,800
-LSC $2,180
-China Travel Coordination Fee $2,000
-Article 5 Submission $2,000

In-Country Travel Expenses
-Orphanage Donation Fee $5,500
-China Notary Fee $550
-Registration Fee $325
-Application Fee in Province $95
-China Passport Fee for Child $110
-Flight from Province to Guangzhou for 3-4 people $1,000
-Incidental Fees: medical, photos, etc. $100

Heartsent Adoptions, Inc.
140 Brookwood Rd.
#100
Orinda, CA 94563

 

The vision of Bring Me Hope:
“To convince orphans of their incredible worth and value, and to inspire volunteers to use their influence, skills, and resources to help orphans”

 

What a joy it is to serve the children for the one who loves us. We must never forget that we can cover these kids in love and trust that there is a greater love than even that, one that we cannot in and of ourselves give to them, one that only the Father can provide. We can trust him with their forever families.
So many more orphans are in need of forever families, and we want to do everything possible to bridge that gap, from the families to their kids.

 

Rally Day through Bring Me Hope is coming up December 1, 2012. This is the FIRST EVER Rally day in which the volunteers and staff will join efforts in their own cities, states, and countries, and raise awareness for the orphan, for their buddy or buddies froom camp. The goal is that our voice might be loud enough to be heard.

 

That resounding echo does not go away when we leave camp. It gets more intense. Living here knowing that our kids still don’t have families is heart breaking. This is our chance to really do something. Please continue looking at our facebook page, website, and twitter. Videos for several of these children will be posted on www.defendfoundation.org

We Declare His Love

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As our tired tears watched the bus full of little ones drive away,

all we could do was declare His love over them in faith.

Knowing that His love is more satisfying and steadfast than anything

we could give these precious kids we had grown so close to.

This was the emotional departure that was shared among volunteers, translators, and staff across each camp site, each week of Bring Me Hope Camp.

Bring Me Hope had camps for four weeks in Xinzheng, Kunming, Taiyuan, and Yantai; and, one week of camp in Nanchang.

Week 2 of Xinzheng camp: after having a paper fashion show!

96 Volunteers from around the world came together for one purpose….to give China’s children HOPE.

Taiyuan Week 1
Taiyuan Week 1

24 staff members and 31 Chinese staff gave support and encouragement throughout the many weeks of camp.

Yantai Week 2

274 translators helped immensely with the language barrier and had opportunities to be poured into by the staff and volunteers

All of this…

For the kids!

Bring Me Hope held camp for 347 Chinese Orphans this summer!

The goal of BMH camp is to show orphans their incredible worth and value, and to inspire volunteers to use their skills, resources, and influence to help orphans. Everyone that was part of the summer camps grew as a family and enjoyed crafts, swimming, and family time. Seeing the smiles as the children got into the pool, the first time for many, filled our hearts with a joy that is hard to describe; and, seeing the kids slowly begin to trust that their volunteers would protect them was such a beautiful picture.

The children and the volunteers wrote good-bye letters to one another; and, the responses from the kids show just how much love the children were shown and learned how to show while at camp.

“Dear sister, I really enjoy your laugh because it makes me feel that you love me and have fun with me.  I love you.  The happiest thing is that we went to the swimming pool together and you kept holding me all the time without any rest.  Thank you.  I was so happy with your company.  I really don’t want to go home.”

“I’ll be a good example of helping people.  If you have any difficulties, I will help you.  Because you helped me, I should also help you. Isn’t that fair?”

“I like to draw pictures with you and swim together.  I cannot swim, but you are here and make me feel safe.  I am so thankful.  I will miss you.”

“Thank you for taking care of me this week.  I know you are tired sometimes but you are always smiling.  You are a good sister.  I really wish we can meet together again in the future.”

Hearts were forever changed by these precious children. Hearts break because their value and worth is not always recognized.

The goal of Bring Me Hope is that these kids would see their worth and beauty in the way they are created; and, that we would be a stepping stone for forever families to be united with these little blessings.

…FAST FORWARD…

Bring Me Hope has a follow-up program in which the life of each child that attended camp is looked into and examined. For some of the kids it is addressing a medical issue or working on improving their living conditions. For others, it means contacting their orphanages and asking officials to start on adoption paperwork.

Since August we have:

–moved several children into foster homes

–researched medical treatment options for the kids

–helped find several adoptive families

–provided many adoptive families with information and photos of their little ones waiting in China

For children who are ready to be adopted, many volunteers have been actively trying to find families for their children. An outlet making it possible for voices to be heard is Defend.

Defend is an extension of Bring Me Hope that seeks to defend the poor and needy.  Through videos, social media, and word of mouth volunteers spread the word about specific needs; and, raise up teams to meet those needs through awareness, prayer, and financial support.

Right now we are featuring children from our camps who need families or sponsorship.  Eventually we hope to expand to feature needs from other non-profits and help people defend needs around the world.

www.defendfoundation.org

Our heart’s cry is that families would be led to these children who are in such need of a family that will give them the unconditional love that we seek to show them through camp!

Thank you to everyone who made camp happen this year!  We look forward to continuing to work with you to show love to Chinese orphans – both at camp and year-round!