Children’s Day – June 1st

June 1st is quite a day around the Home of Hope.  We generally go all out on Children’s day but this year was extra special as we had about twenty friends from around China… Primarily from Beijing and Shanghai… come to visit the children.

Some of them came a day or two early and stayed a day or two afterward which sure made it an exciting time around here.  Of course the children always love it when visitors come and this time was really special as toys and games and other things came with the visitors and the children thought it was Christmas in June!  We hadn’t ever had anything quite like it before with all the toys and games they brought and it went over quite well, to say the least.

One of the main reasons the children love for visitors to come is it usually means we will have our evening dinner outside for one of the evenings and then everyone entertains each other with songs, poems, dancing and other activities.  This time was no exception except that for the first time, Happy and Sissy joined in and had an awesome time. Actually, they entertained us! Of course, Happy must wear her sunglasses all the time but once she learned she could get out there in front of everyone and dance and get all kinds of applause and whistles and shouts… she wanted to go and go and go… it was so cute.

It wasn’t long until Sissy also got out there and was throwing kisses at everyone and bouncing around to the music the way she had seen Happy do it. We think that one of the reasons Happy is so popular is first of all her amazing personality… and second, in a country of black hair and brown eyes… the white hair and red eyes just can’t be denied!

Even though this was a Children’s Day celebration, since most of the visitors were from out of town and stayed overnight, some even staying a couple of days, it seemed like a weekend of excitement for the children.

As I watched all the fun and joy as the children and adults interacted and played together I could not help but think about our awesome support base back in the States that helps make all of this possible. Oh how I wish there was some way each of you could come and enjoy a day or two with these children.  Each child has his/her own story and I have intimate knowledge of each one of them and know how destitute and hopeless their lives would be without the Home of Hope.  Then my reflection turns to the fact the Home of Hope would not be here if it were not for the loving and caring hearts of you and people like you.  On behalf of the children and myself I extend a warm and meaningful “Thank You” for all you do!When I saw these pictures (above) someone was able to capture, I was not able to resist including them here.  One can let one’s imagination hear these little ones talking… A.) Happy… “Do you want to share my candy?”  B.) Xiao Nan Hai’er… “I have my own candy” as he steals a kiss!  C.) Happy (as she jumps back)… “What did you do that for?”  D.) Happy… “You stay on your side and I’ll stay on mine!”One little guy  came up and asked if this was what it was like when Jesus fed the 5000…. I thought that was really cute… I told him “Maybe… but I don’t think they had watermelon… <grin>  He liked that!

There are so many more pictures we want to share with you about this special day at the Home of Hope so we are going to include them for your enjoyment without a whole lot of explanation.

For some reason Children’s Day really is like Christmas in June here… I think it is because most of the activities are outside and the Chinese really enjoy the out of doors… including meal times.The above pictures tell so many different stories… stories like the visitors all wanted to take over the kitchen and cook the traditional Children’s Day JiaoZi… which they did.. and it was delicious…

All over the Home of Hope grounds you could see little groups doing various projects from making sail boats to showing the little ones how to fold “Paper Stars” (see the yellow one above) to many and varied art projects. One group made the theme… ‘Love your neighbor as yourself” which fit right in.

As the weekend progressed I was amazed to find that these visitors were some very important people in China. One is a famous movie maker and several of them are involved in the Chinese movie industry.

Another is one of the most famous flautists in China. He played several beautiful and haunting numbers for us on bamboo flutes.

And yet another is high up in the Chinese government’s Welfare Bureau and another is a well known professional photographer and he will be sending me all the photos he took during the weekend. It was an awesome time.

I made the comment to someone that Happy seemed to be in almost every picture taken over the weekend.

Within seconds I was being shown the photo above left and was asked… “Is it any wonder? Doesn’t she look like a little Angel to you?” I had to agree!
We hope you enjoy this update… and again want to Thank You so much for your continued participation in this journey of Love and Hope for these so deserving children of China.

If you would like to sponsor one of the Home of Hope children or simply wish to help support the orphanage, please click on the “Donate Now” menu button at the top left. Any offering, large or small is greatly appreciated.. greatly needed.. and will go toward providing a good life for these children, they so richly deserve.

Miscellaneous Pictures