Sunday, February 14, 2010

Xin Nian Kuai Le

A word that comes to me so often these days is...Hope.
I don't think I realised until quite recently just how important that word is...and yet it has been part of who we are at Hope4China'sChildren for many years.

In discussion with students in my class just last week, we reached a class opinion that there was no real life without Hope. It occurred to me that so many of the children we work with, and the people who help them have been through some awful situations...but what keeps us all going is Hope. Tomorrow is always a new day...with no mistakes in it yet :-)

So this New Year of the Tiger is another opportunity for us all to start again, make fresh committments and go on to be the change we want to see in the world.

I am, as always, so amazed by the wonderful team behind Hope4China who work together to give this Hope to so many wonderful children.
I am excited to go into the New Year with Hope....great things lie ahead..........

Here's to  New year, New Hope.....

I have just finished reading the letters from some of these girls... they are humbling & inspiring....

Dear Mr.Xu,

How are you!
Is everything goes well with you?
I am very busy on my study and my exam. I eager to talking with you and tell you my happy and unhappy things because you are always an honest audience and you will listen to me carefully. I believe you will stay with me although every one leaves me. So I am not afraid and I am not lonely. I have you, many aunties and uncles love and care about me. Also I have many friends so I fell my life also is colorful. I come to this world I should be happy to spend every day.


I can meet you in this world is my greatest honor in my life. You let me have family warm. I fell very happy to have GGEF this big family. I don’t know how to use words to express my thanks.


Every time I have difficulties I think I have to insist and I can deal with it. But I cannot and I hope some body can help me, when everybody cannot help me, my heart breaks. When others look down on me I feel very sad. Many times I want to give you a phone but I am very afraid I will bother you and let you worry about me. I hope I just share with you just my happy not sad. But this time I cannot and tell you.

You said I would have a good life in the future. I cannot be sure but I also hope it can be come true one day and I can help many people in the future.


No matter what happen, I will not give up myself. I have an aim and I will try my best to insist my dream.


I will tell you my life fee:


Sep.: fee for class 100Yuan, materials 100, food expenses 200, others 50Yuan.


Oct.: fee for class 50Yuan, paper of study 50Yuan, school uniform 50 Yuan, expenses for food 200Yuan, others 50 Yuan


Nov.(Nov.1t o Nov.20): food expenses 150 Yuan because I have no money to pay for more.


We live in a poor life and every month will ask my parents to get some food expenses. I had wanted to give up my study and go out to work. But now with your help I can stay in the classroom. Thanks very much. Thanks for god, he let me know love and make me change. Thanks for you and thanks everybody who have helping me. Thanks for god and he gives me everything.


Best wishes and have a good health!

Reading letter after letter, the one thing that jumps out at me is that we cannot solve all these problems - it is overwhelming just to think of them all - but the work of Matthew and his team in China along with the support of sponsors around the world, offers that one precious thing......................
                                          Hope 

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Jack...doing well!!!!!

Thanks to a small band of people from all around the world, from Spain, around USA to UK, little Jack set off on Friday for a new adventure in Giulin, where he has met new friends and will receive the help he needs.


"I just wanted you to know that Jack Zheng arrived safely on Friday afternoon. He settled in quite quickly with the other children and enjoyed the toys!"





"We’ll keep you up to date with his progress, but here’s the photos from Friday. He’s gone really well over the weekend, and is a very happy little boy playing with the others and responding well to the Carers."


Xie Xie!!!!!!!

Friday, February 05, 2010

Happy Birthday to our Desheng girls



Arriving back in Desheng town, we waited for all the girls to arrive from the schools all around the area.
 It was that time again........the Desheng GGEF girls look forward to it every year as their Birthday Party!!!!

Great excitement as the girls began to arrive. Last year we nearly had riots as they all tried to grab the squeally balloons I had taken along. I had only taken one large packet. This time I made sure we had lots!!!!!!! So there was great fun as we waited blowing up the ballons and giggling as they screeched up in the sky and flew back down on the girls.





Great Icebreakers!!!!!!

It took a wee while for everyone to settle around the tables and wait for the food.


Once it came, the fun began and everyone relaxed and had fun!


After a lovely dinner, the party continued........
Eilidh's Sunday school had purchased a parachute for the Desheng girls to keep - it is amazing how much fun can be had with a big sheet?




Some precious paper lanterns made by Eilidh's friends at Rainbows and transported all the way to China to share with friends.
Some lovely singing from the girls............
arts and crafts,making jewellery..... drawing, sticking things........
face painting........
And then time for the Big Birthday Cake!







Many of the girls have never had a Birthday party, Cake or Present.
Some don't even know when their birthday is, and so we take the opportunity when we are there to celebrate everyone's birth all together, reminding them of how precious they are!!!!!!!!
After all the sweet stuff, some new toothbrushes brought from USA - Great Excitement !!!!!!



Then the Silly Stuff started - with face-paints - and cream from the cake!!!!!!!!












Sponsors from all around the world had sent gifts - T-shirts this year:-), along with letters and photos. There is great excitement as these are given out. Really the girls seem to love the photos even more than the gifts - it is just fantastic to be a wee cog in the wheels that bring together such wonderful sponsors & fantastic girls across the world.



Here are some of the letters the girls have written............

Dear sponsor,


How are you! Do you remember me? I am one students of GGEF which you sponsor. My name is Qin Huixiao, I am very sorry that I don’t write a letter to you for a long time. And how are you? I miss you very much, sometimes you are in my dream. I will never forget your help and you kind forever. Your sponsor makes me feel more power and warm. And let me know there is love in this world.

Every time I receive your gifts, I am very happy and love them very much. So I pack them away very well because it is very precious for me. Thanks very much and l love you!

Best wishes for you and your family, wish you have a happy life!
Yours, Qin Huixiao


Dear sponsor,
How are you! I am happy everyday but I am also sad because I have no progresses in my study.

I can remember Oct.10 of 2009 forever, because Linda and Cindy come to meet us. We had a good time and were very happy. We played together, ate together and phoned together. We like friends.

It made me moved that you can come from far away to visit us. Thanks very much!

Best wishes for you!

Yours,

Lan Lihong





                                 So, A HUGE Thank You
to all the sponsors around the world
who make this possible each year,
and a wee reminder to you all to send letters and gifts for Matthew's next visit after Chinese New Year.
There will be some very excited girls in Desheng, and around Guangxi waiting to receive them.........