Bringing Hope to China's Children

Setting off across town in Nanning on the bus, taking in real life....

                                         travelling to a very poor part of town with Helen

                                            Mothers, children hanging about the streets

           ..one of the poorest, and most "depressing" areas we have visited in all our years in Guangxi

                                        buying some fruit to take to the homes we were visiting

..so many children running about on their own...
....but so touching to see how this little boy took such care of his "mei mei"

Heading up the stairs to meet mothers who come from beautiful rural areas, 

but have left "home" and "family" to live in this area, to be able to travel to Angel House each day

 to get the help their children, born with cerebral palsy, so desperately need!

Little Lin & her Mama waiting for us at the top of the stairs

                                                      and our Zhou, who lives in this room with his mama.

                                  Both children loved to see their photos on the iPad :-)

                                                              and loved the lollies we brought :-)

I so wish we could have bottled the pure joy and excitement on this little one's face when she hit the magic drum which lit up, and flashed for her!

                                  and Zhou was just delighted with his musical walker, which lit up & played a tune whenever he stepped on it!

Helen talked with the mothers to ask how they were doing, what hopes they had for their children, 

and how we could help.

                                                        Each mother was just so proud of their child.
Lin's mother has had to leave behind Lin's twin sister at her village home for father & grandparents to care for, so that she can come to give Lin every chance she can. She misses her other daughter so much, and has to struggle here on her own.

Zhou's mother is also here on her own. 

This is her son, she loves him, she is proud of him, 

she knows he is a smart boy who needs help to grow and develop as he should.

                                         Gifts from a lovely family in the Netherlands for both twin girls.

The mama was so delighted to receive them!

We asked what we could do?

Please help us to go to Angel House.

Each child gained so much from being there!

Zhou also needed a new Wheelchair which would help his mother to take him to Angle House each day, 

getting on & off buses.

Lin needed some equipment to enable her to continue doing the exercises & therapy at home which would improve Lin's development.

We are beyond THANKFUL for the families who donated for our trip which made it possible for us to say YES

We can do this!

And for the families & businesses who have also agreed to help continue the care these precious families so need.

                          I have to confess that we walked away from this area with deeply heavy hearts
                                and I don't know that I can ever forget how it felt to be there.........
                                                                         but
                                   the shining example of the Mother's Love we experienced there
                                      and the support we have received to help care for them
                                                                is BEAUTIFUL!

And we have to end the tale with a photo of Zhou, in his element, back at Angel House, learning to walk!

We have enough for 3 months treatment for both children, 

a new wheelchair for Zhou, 

and new equipment for Lin!

Together, bringing Hope for China'sChildren.

Angels of Hope

Last October 2011, one of our last visits was to Angel House

          where children with CP are cared for 

by an amazing team of teachers and therapists.

Helen arranges for our New Hope children to attend here regularly, for therapy with training for the foster mothers to continue helping the children at home. 
Alison was attending to visit the children & introduce some music therapy to help in the training.

                          My very own special helpers :-)

Wheelchair Park 
for many of the children who attend, 
but families still need to get their children up the stairs! 
No lift yet:-(

It is always brilliant to meet our little friend Linda.

Her happy excited face greets us each year, and we wonder at her growth and development. She has come so far from the poor baby we discovered bleeding in her cot, banging her head on the sides.

She has been in Foster care thro Grace-Hope since 2005,

 sponsored by a friend in Hope4China, 

who has even travelled to China to meet her!

                    Monique, who sits and watches quietly

Little Lee, who struggled all thro his short life, cared for by his amazing foster family. 

Sadly he passed away only a few days after our meeting. 

We can only be thankful that he was loved....and my friend said- he is now dancing in heaven,

 free from pain!

                     Little souls patiently awaiting their turn on the 
                                    Magical Music Machine.

         Patricia also cared for by a loving foster mama 

and a faithful Hope4China friend since 2005

And this year, new members to our little team were the families from the community, 

bringing their children here, 

full of hope for the future. 

These families are sponsored by Hope4China and need our help!

The Magical Music Machine was switched on and the children laughed excitedly as the sounds rang out!

                       Warming the heart to hear the sounds :-)

     Our little Bertha, getting some special one-to-one attention

                            Patricia, who is almost blind, 

enjoying the feel and the sound of the music......

Our two young mums enjoying the music with their babies, enjoying each other's company and the strength they have gained by being together in this environment which offers hope for the children their community had shunned.

                     

 Each child had a chance to have a song sung with their name in it,          play with the musical instruments and have one to keep!

      Then it was time to feed the tummies as well as the souls...........

         So we all headed out, wheelchairs and all 

to a local restaurant for dinner

We marvelled at the patience and skills of the foster mothers as they transported these children down stairs, into wheelchairs, across busy roads and into the restaurant to eat

                                             
                   In fact, we were truly moved to tears...........

               These women and the work they do for these children just overwhelms me every time.

                                     They are the Angels!

          Sadly little Adam here who we had also sponsored and cared for since 2005 passed away this year

               and so two of our Angels are now dancing in heaven!

It is impossible not to be touched by our Linda's infectious giggles and zest for life, so while we inwardly struggled with so many emotions, outwardly we joined in with the silly games and thoroughly enjoyed our precious time with this little girl.

                                                 

 Once again, time to leave.........

               struggling into taxis, up and down stairs...just a daily part of life for these Angels.

We left money, donated by friends of Hope4China 

with the foster mothers 

to buy warm clothes for the winter for the growing children, 

and to buy good quality nappies for those who needed them .

It is little, but helps to make a difference, giving encouragement to these angels in their work.

              And, as always, our Kiss from Lovely Linda xxx