GongYi Home of Hope

Nate writes: Today all of the Home of Hope Children started their 2000 ­ 2001 school year. Many of the children felt so much better and were more prepared for school this year after the summer school we held here from July 1st through the second week of August. We worked with them on their English, Math, and Putonghua (formal Chinese).

This summer was a busy one. We moved from the original orphanage site to a much larger facility and increased our Home of Hope family from the original twelve to thirty two children. The move took place on July 7th and went very smoothly. The additional children were brought down from the mountains and given physicals. After they passed their physicals they were given haircuts and new clothes. They all looked so sharp.

The new facility, including a complete shower house with six shower heads, has been one of the highlights for the children who never had access to such things before. Clean warm beds, regular meals and SHOWERS. At times we have to curtail how many showers they take a day. They really enjoy them.

There are four separate dorms. The children are divided according to age and gender and it is working out simply beyond our wildest dreams. I was in the hospital during this time and after they had their new clothes they all came to the hospital room (there are no visitor rules in China) to “show off”. It was a wonderful sight to see.

As soon as they settled in, the new children joined the original group in the Home of Hope summer school. Four third-year university students who Shannie and I taught the last two years came and held classes. The classroom sessions went four hours in the morning and two in the afternoon. The children were divided by age and ability in the various subjects. The reason we did this is most of the children have had limited education and they are behind their peers in the local schools. My heart filled with joy as I realized the “kids” we had been teaching were now teaching our children at the Home of Hope.

By the end of the six weeks it was obvious the plan had worked. The children would come to see me in the hospital (I finally had to narrow it down to five at a time) and each time they wanted to try out their new English sentences on me or show me something they could do in Math they could not do before. Even little Luke and Jenny were excitedly saying “Hello Grandpa” and “My name is Jenny. I am a girl. I am five years old.” It was quite a job for the teachers but they all realized by the end of the program that they had been given the chance to impact the lives of these children in more ways than just education.

During this same time we also had two young ladies from the United States working and teaching here. Mandy and Alma were such a great blessing. Mandy’s singing and guitar playing helped fill many of the non-classroom hours. Alma’s sweet nature and prowess in the Chinese language made translations and explanations much easier for everyone. I was not able to be there personally but I understand the classroom time was just a “structured” learning time. The learning continued until about 10:30 each night with the kids visiting one of the six young ladies and keeping them going full time.

Shannie is in the States right now and will be returning on September 10th. We both wish to thank all of you for your prayers and support. It is you who are helping us that make all of this possible. Thank you for listening to your heart.