GongYi Home of Hope

WE MADE IT!
Thanks to so many of our friends and supporters, we have reached our needed goal to purchase a new Van for the Home of Hope.

We have been totally amazed at how people have responded to the need and listened to their heart in this effort.

We received offerings from people from various countries and places. Some donated as little as $10.00 and other stepped in to pick up larger portions of the need.

For the first time in an effort like this we even had donations from several Chinese people which was quite surprising. Charity giving is something new in China and many people just don’t understand it. When we can, we continue to teach the joy of giving… or as my father John M. Bell used to say, “The Romance of Giving”! the unique nature of which is the person doing the giving is not rewarded based on the amount they give but rather rewarded for the heart that motivated it!

As I write this letter it is Saturday so Monday we will go to the “Car Market” as they call it here in Henan Province and place our order for the new Van. It has been suggested to us that we look at the Ford Cargo Van (lower right) that has just been introduced and built in China by joint venture with the Ford Motor Company. It can be obtained with eleven seats for the same price as the Jin Bei brand (lower left) which is what we were thinking about getting and which is what our older van is.

There is also another vehicle that has been suggested to us which is a van built in China by joint venture with a company in the United Kingdom. It is called an Iveco (below center) and we will look into it as well. We have been told we can also purchase the Iveco for the same price we have budgeted for the van.

We are very excited about this as this purchase had been too long coming. It is quite normal and not surprising for our present vehicle to break down, leaving our children stranded until we can get them a ride home… usually by several taxis which of course is not cost effective! Thanks to all of your help, we won’t have to face this problem any longer!

So once again we say a tremendous “Thank You” to all who gave and also those who prayed for the funds to come in! They surely did!

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In Memory

 

The little guy had to fight for each step and each word learned ever since we first saw him during our first child search in 2000. He was the youngest of four children living with an old lady, whom they all called grandma. However, there was little blood relationship between the children with each having at least one different parent and in Calvin‘s case both parents were different from his siblings. We never did get all the family history straight to our own satisfaction but it included several different spouses brought in when one mother or father died or ran away… with the remaining parent bringing another person into the family to take the absent person’s place, only to either himself/herself run away or pass away a short time later.

In 2000 we brought Hazel Ge Hua Zhi (the oldest sister) into the Home of Hope because the local village leaders in their village felt that if we brought all the children in, the old lady would die of loneliness.

About a year later the youngest sister, Shirley Ge Qing Ya came to us and the following year the “grandma” died so Calvin came to us as well. By that time, the older brother was too old to come to the Home of Hope. He now works in the coal mines in Henan, Province.

Calvin was both mentally and physically challenged. He was not able to attend school and his little legs were twisted and his back was humped… even so, he got around quite well although with a noticeable, identifying gait… but he was always in the middle of whatever was going on around him.

I often asked him if it hurt to walk or run and he always smiled and said “No!”. We really never knew the truth on that but he never complained and as he got older Calvin became the lawn keeper and day time gate keeper at the Home of Hope. When someone would show up at our gate you could see him rambling (for lack of a better word) to the gate to greet the people… always in a hurry to get back to one of the dogs (above right) – his favorite friends at the Home of Hope next to visiting foreigners whom he really loved!

Some of his favorite foreigners were Justin (above left), Laura (to the right) and Andrea (below left). He often asked when they were coming back to visit… I don’t think he could grasp how difficult it is for people to get away and visit so often… His little world was the Home of Hope! Not much more.

One of the most amazing things to me was the year I decided to teach our kids to play baseball. Baseball is not a Chinese sport so this had to start with the basics.

As I was teaching them, I acted as the permanent pitcher, showing them how to hit and how to catch and run the bases… I was really concerned when Calvin came up to me and said he wanted to play. No coordination… no balance… no means to grasp the mental or thinking part of the game… but rather than worry about his loss of face at not being able to perform well, I decided to just put him in the lineup and see how things turned out.

The minute Calvin picked up the bat it was as if a magic myst had descended on our play area.

The first time I pitched to him I tried my best to give him the very best ball I could… When he hit the ball he never learned what to do. He never learned to run the bases… if he caught the ball playing the field, he would get this sad and confused look on his face…. but when the magic was on…. when he had that bat in his hand, it was like a different person had stepped into his little crippled body…. and his face was one big smile, covered with joy!

I quickly stopped throwing him “hitable” balls! I lobbed them in… high and lazy… I threw them hard and low… I threw them far outside… and so close inside he had to step back…. (before he knocked it out of the park) but no matter what I did, Calvin would hit the ball… the only time he waited for a better pitch was when I would throw one behind him… and even then I half expected him to whirl around and smack the thing over the trees!

He was so good at hitting that when we played, many of the children and staff who never played or were even interested in the game would come to watch Calvin hit… and it was a given, if the kids were choosing sides, the big argument was getting Calvin on their side! He was all boy… even to falling out of a tree and breaking both arms.

Calvin passed away last Thursday…. March 8, 2012

We always knew his life would be short but these kinds of things are never expected!

On Tuesday he complained about stomach discomfort. On Wednesday he was still uncomfortable so we took him to the doctor. Prognosis was no problem.. just a stomach and throat infection.

Thursday morning the staff said he wouldn’t eat so I went over and got him to drink a cup of soup. We argued about it for a minute then he smiled and drank it.

I was a little chilly so went back to get my jacket and when I returned he had suddenly gone into convulsions and passed away. So suddenly and unexpected! I had only been gone for less than five minutes! The good thing is that at his passing, his sister Hazel was with him.

We know Calvin had a great life at the Home of Hope while he was alive. Actually his life was better than many common children in Henan and far better than it was when he lived in his village with the elderly grandma.

However, that does not erase the empty place we all feel at the Home of Hope. During meals one can catch glimpses of the children looking over to the table where Calvin always sat to eat…

One thing for sure, we know where Calvin is. He never hesitated to accept Jesus into his life… and we just hope and believe that the first thing he was given was a golden, new bat! He would like that! We believe the Angels can play base ball… if for no other reason… then just for Calvin!

We miss him! Blessings to you all!

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“Tributes and Memorials”

Nathan,

I’m very sorry to hear the news about Calvin. He was a special little guy who left a big impression on all of us. Thank you for taking the time to write such a wonderful tribute.

Although it is indeed sad news, I can’t help but chuckle when I think about the joy that the little guy is experiencing now. There is no doubt in my mind that he was truly loved by the Lord in a very special way. You could clearly see that by how others loved him.  I remember chatting with Stacey Solomone about the HOH before my visit in 2005.  It seemed like every other sentence referenced Calvin. I remember him running into my room and looking for a hug every morning, and that nose….gosh, that nose…did it ever stop running?

I hope you are doing well, Nathan. We miss you all very much. Please give our love to the whole family.

Blessings,

Justin

p.s. I attached a picture that was taken one evening after returning from the Dufu School in the Fall of 2005.

Nathan,

Thank you so much for writing about Calvin. Having been there in 2005 I always say the names of the children when I see their picture in the letters or on the website. I remember Calvin’s smile!

In His blessings,
Joyce

Oh so sorry to read this.

I remember Calvin and his smile very well from my trip there. May the peace of God envelop you all during this grievous time and may His victory over death have an ever increasing value.

Sarah