Portion for Orphans Newsletter

November 15, 2005

Thanks to so many of you for keeping in touch and for all of the encouragement. We've just spent two incredible weeks traveling by train from Moscow to Beijing via Mongolia, and then one week in the backpacker world of Beijing, China. We have met people from all over the planet and ... it has been so very interesting. I cannot think of a moment when we have not been surrounded by people from at least 2-3 different countries, even in our dorm room there are at least 5 countries represented.

Some time to relax and explore has been good, but I've been really looking forward to today. This afternoon we will make our way to China Care Orphanage in NorthEast Beijing. We will spend one month volunteering with the children and staff at China Care. So far, we know that there are just under 60 children being cared for and that our daily responsibilities may include, "Sending a child into a fit of giggles, teaching another how to walk, encouraging a toddler to speak her first words, to successfully locate her ears and nose, teaching songs and clapping hands." We consider it an honor and a joy to be a part of these children's lives. To read more about what our volunteer life will be like... http://www.chinacare.org/volunteer.htm

"The predicament of orphans in China is something few Americans can fathom. Every year tens of thousands of children are thrust into overcrowded, under-funded orphanages. They are abandoned because parents can't afford to care for them. Or, simply because they're born into an enormous population forced to maintain a policy of one child families. They are forgotten because there are simply not enough resources to provide adoption, foster care or even the basic necessities to such a large number of orphans.

And for children born with disabilities, the outlook is far grimmer. Even conditions corrected with routine medical procedures in America can render a child unadoptable and destined for an unthinkable existence in a cold institutional setting." Quoted from www.chinacare.org, please check out the site when you have a few minutes.

We will write again soon with more information and an update on our first week. :) Thanks again for all the support. We hope you all thoroughly enjoy seeing the faces of the children that 100% of the donations that you've made will directly benefit.

Prayer Requests:

• For St. Joseph House of Hope in Mombasa, Kenya, for Carol and all of the children there.
• For children in need around the world.
• That we would reflect light and love in all that we do.

Psalm 34:10 "...But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing."